Painting to look like old photo

[coldshooter]

Has anyone tried painting a set of minis in only shades of grey to look like 1930s photographs? Any thoughts on skintones? Clothing should be rather straight forward black shadow to white highlight. I think shadow orientation will be notable in a group and illumination angle should be watched.

[Prof.Witchheimer]

a guy on CMON have painted something like this, in sepia clors, looked really good

[zbyshko]

i think that would be a really interesting, artistic endeavor to show off skills on a set piece (ie dispaly) or on a diorama - like i shadow box of the miniatures posed and framed as a "picture".

but as playing pieces, i would worry about looking sight of them - both where they are on the "field" and who is whom.  but then i tend toward some hyperrealism when i paint my figures:  "i know it's an alien from Aldeberon, but it's still a leather belt, and the leather should b this colour.."

so, give it a try and i'l already give you an "A" for effort!

kindly, yours

ralph

[WitchfinderGeneral]

I thought about painting my gangsters black/white. Because I know them from the movies only in b/w... and it's also a bit difficult to tell what the real colors are.
But I'd have to paint all my scenery also b/w and a whole table only in different shades of grey looks very boring, I think.

[Lowtardog]

I was just having the same thoughts but you are right the terrain would be a nightmare.

I quite fancied the Sin City look with the odd thing in colour like Mr Yellow or tyheir eyes etc

I am now looking at the Dick Tracey Movie for colourful costumes

OH and my Ape gangster came today along with the ape gang whihc has a Gangsters Moll (gorilla) and a nice bodyguard with a crowbar and pistol in his pocket. The others wil be pressganged into my Sci Fi gorilla armies though the hic orangutang could be a hill billy sniper  ::

[Malamute]

I saw a game at Salute many years ago based ont he black and white movie Stagecoach - John Waynes big break into movies.

All the figures where painted in black, grey and white, as was the stagecoach, the indians, and the desert terrain.

In my mind the whole thing just looked odd, I don't think the concept for a game is right, its fine for a diorama piece to photograph, but seeing them in the flesh it just doesnt work in my opinion. :

[W.B.Kurgan]

I thought about doing this for Pulp Sci-Fi (1930s Flash Gordon!) but I've gone off the idea as well.

 :roll:

[zbyshko]

I am now looking at the Dick Tracey Movie for colourful costumes

i think that Dick Tracey would be a better visual for the tabletop - visually catching.   would it be just as difficult as the b/w, keeping the bright colours bright and still shaded?

show off those skill my boy!!

ralph

[Westfalia Chris]

I agree on that, using a "four-color" comic book style might be more appropriate. Shading should be as reduced as possible, using warm, soft shades, for example a yellowy orange for yellow, etc - you know, just so much that the definitions become visible, but not too prominent.

[Lowtardog]

I am no expert and certainly not a good painter but would the low lights and high lights not be quite marked?

I was digging up some of the info on the film and tyhey say the colours used wer

Red/Blue/Yellow/Green/Orange and purple with black and white. I need to get a copy of the film for a look see but I am sure they used tints and shades of these colours for the costumes

[W.B.Kurgan]

If you are going for the film, then yes they would be shaded and highlighted naturally.

If you are going for the original four-colour comic strip look then they should be block-colours.

I'd go for the film-look personally.  :mrgreen:

[Lowtardog]

Yep you are right Kurgen I am talking at cross purposes, my apologies Chris  

It got me thinking you almost need to black line for a comic book look and the only way would to use a black undercoat and as you say Kurgen block paint.