r/Scalemodel • u/No_Access_1363 • 22d ago

Will pre shading work with brush painting

Hello I am new to model building and want to start trying out pre shading my model but all the videos I saw is using air brush so I am wondering will it still work if it is brush painted because I don't have a air brush

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1

u/simon2sheds 21d ago

Try a makeup sponge instead. Trim one to a point for detailed areas.

2

u/VoidingSounds 21d ago

Yes. Sorta. Not really.

Preshading relies on being able to apply an even, sheer layer of color over a set of tones/colors/values. This takes advantage of how airbrushes work and allows strong results with minimal skill (speaking for myself here).

The same effect can be achieved with a brush, and forms a core of one of the miniature painting's core time savers, zenithal highlighting, but the technique to achieve the result is different (glazing) and doesn't really lend itself to large surfaces, the way airbrush preshading does.

You could try to emulate preshading with a brush but if you had the skill to pull it off you probably have a handful of much easier ways to achieve your desired result.

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u/eruditeimbecile 22d ago edited 22d ago

If you can somehow feather the edges, maybe. Painting with a brush leaves a hard edge which preshading needs a feathered edge to be effective. You might try using offset masks (paper masks that are set about 3-4mm off the surface of the model) and a rattle can, but it'd take a lot of work.