COMPLEMENTARY PRE-SHADING - Trying out a new pre-shading method

[Nikola Topalov]

Hi gents,

 

First pass of post shading done. I used a 50/50 mix of Tamiya Flat Black and Purple. This time I did Complementary Post Shading for the first time.  

I like the richer shades of gray in the post shaded areas produced by a mixture of purple and yellow tones (I don't know how well my phone camera has captured this).

We'll see how it looks after weathering is complete. Might have to do a bit more post shading afterwards.

 

Thanks for looking guys.

 

Best,

Nikola 

 

 

 

 

 

[Nikola Topalov]

Almost there...

Here it is visible (I hope ) how the purple Complementary Pre/Post-Shading created an interesting and subtle tonal shift. Again, apologies for bad phone camera pics.

This is under a gloss coat before final weathering touches.

 

I am very satisfied, but still a long way until mastering the method.

 

Thanks for looking!

 

Best,

Nikola

 

 

 

 

[Nikola Topalov]

And here is the end result (as best as my camera and my photography skills could pick it up)...  

 

 

Thanks for looking guys!

 

Best,

Nikola

 

 

 

 

[Nikola Topalov]

The current build - Revell's 1/32 P51D.

 

 

 

I try to keep the initial effect very subtle and then modify with post shading later.

My phone camera and the dining room light bulb just can't capture the subtle differences and tonal variations that well, but they are there, trust me.

 

 

 

 

Best,

Nikola

 

 

Edited October 16, 2021 by Nikola Topalov

[Nikola Topalov]

The hardest part for me now is judging how much to cover initially knowing that weathering and subsequent coats will affect it. It's just like regular pre-shading only more difficult because if it is with black, no risk of too much of it showing through since it only gives a darker tone of the base color with no hue modulation. Still long way to go until I master this one.

 

In reality, the red is more subtle but it's very hard to get it right with phone camera and regular room lighting conditions so you guys can see it properly. I'll keep trying to take better shots without all the fancy setup.

 

Best,

Nikola

[Nikola Topalov]

This is I think as close to reality as I could get with phone camera. I guess we'll have to wait until proper photos in the end.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 30, 2021 by Nikola Topalov

[ShogunBallistic]

This is a really interesting method! 

 

How do you find out the complementary colour? The app Paintrack has a function for this, is that it?

[Nikola Topalov]

9 hours ago, ShogunBallistic said:

This is a really interesting method! 

 

How do you find out the complementary colour? The app Paintrack has a function for this, is that it?

Hi Shogun,

 

You can just look at the colour wheel. The complementary colours are opposite each other.

 

Best,

Nikola

[stringbag]

Nice to see alternative techniques tried out so thanks for posting Nikola.

 

[Nikola Topalov]

On 12/31/2021 at 12:30 AM, stringbag said:

Nice to see alternative techniques tried out so thanks for posting Nikola.

 

You're very welcome Stringbag! 

I love playing and experimenting with colours in any medium. It's fun!

 

Best,

Nikola

[Nikola Topalov]

Hi gents,

 

Here is the end result:

 

 

Best,

Nikola

[Nikola Topalov]

Hi gents,

 

White primer done. 

Again, I continue to experiment with my complementary pre/post-shading method.

For the blue belly, I chose to go with brown and orange, since the complementary to blue is orange. Also, brown is nothing else but a very dark orange so it fits the bill.

For the top sand yellow, which is actually some kind of orange again, I did the opposite, using blue as it's complementary.

 

We'll soon see what we get... 

 

Best,

Nikola

 

[Nikola Topalov]

And this is the result (as best as my phone camera can reproduce). You be the judges...

Personally, I like the subtle rich grayish tones and tonal shift which it produced. We'll see how much of this is lost to further filters, clear coats and weathering.

 

Best,

Nikola