Topic: Highlighting Black

[DaJayhawk]

I decided to use paint all the spear/halberd shafts black, as well as several horses.
So my question is what is the best way to highlight black?

[ZeroTwentythree]

When I paint black horses, I tend to paint them a very dark grey, then give them a black wash. I usually do a little layer or two of highlighting with a dark and then medium grey.

For spear/halberd shafts, I would just paint them black and add a single dark grey highlight (more or less a line) along the the uppermost surface.

[DaJayhawk]

Thank you for the quick response!

I will try it tonight!

[Gnosis]

Depends on what effect you want to achieve. For a worn looking black surface I go black > adeptus battlegrey > codex grey > black wash. For a slightly new effect, I use black > fenris grey > shadow grey > black wash. I wouldn't do the latter on horse coats or wood, though, as it would look a bit artificial.

[Aranel]

I would highlight the same way as I am my Nuln army - codex grey.  Try to be very thin.  If you want a stable line, take a brush that is near the end of its days and use the side of the bristles as opposed to the point.  It should spread in an even line.  I'm not sure if that makes sense - try it first 

[Tiny]

I tend to just mix 50:50 black and codex grey for a highlight then wash with badab black to blend. Seems to work ok and doesn't end up looking like its meant to be dark grey.

For a more glossy-looking black, you'd want to give it some sharper edge highlights in coded grey or even pure white.

Hope this helps.

[steveb]

blue works also. steveb

[DaJayhawk]

I would highlight the same way as I am my Nuln army - codex grey.  Try to be very thin.  If you want a stable line, take a brush that is near the end of its days and use the side of the bristles as opposed to the point.  It should spread in an even line.  I'm not sure if that makes sense - try it first 

Unfortunately all of my brushes are new.

[FR1DAY]

I always use blue mixed in to the black for the first highlight and then add a little fortress grey for the final highlight,

[ZeroTwentythree]

Cool figure, steveb. I was recently looking at that miniature in the store, but ended up not buying it. Seeing yours all painted up makes me want to go back and get it!

[scarletsquig]

Yeah, dark grey + badab black wash (as many coats as you need) is great for doing black on soft detail like cloth, as opposed to hard detail where edge-highlighting is best.

[DaJayhawk]

So a thin grey line on the shafts and wash for the horses?

[JAK]

Black isn’t just one colour so don’t stick to grey to highlight it, experiment with other colours. I’ve used Navy Blue and Purple on witches, Dark Green on one specific assassin who recommends this shade over plain black, and even Red on Kaos warriors.

As for your original question you are correct in choosing a different method for each, you don’t want your spears looking like they’re made of horse flesh.

The model below was an experiment in black – he has black hair, a black leather scabbard and wood lance, black metal armour, black material and a black horse.

[Hetelic]

I'd also consider browns for highlighting your horse. I am also doing black horses, and when you look at a glossy animal coat, especially in sunlight, it's bright, reflective, and often comes across as a golden-brown in colour.

Just something to think about.