alcohol filters?

[Mr.Marx]

Hey,

I've recently been reading up on using alcohol to mix filters...only, I can't find any clear indication oofwhat 'alcohol' i should throw into the mix. I'm guessing pharmacy rubbing alcohol? Or is their some sort of special art alcohol that I don't know about?

Thanks for any help.

MM.

[Steve63]

The only way I know to filter alcohol is to drink it first 

[Connectamabob]

Denatured (ethanol) alcohol maybe. Find it in the paint section of hardware stores. Basically pure ethanol with no water in it (but with a tiny twist of something to make it pukey so folks won't buy it to drink), used as a thinner/stripper for some kinds of paints. Also as a fuel for some types of stoves/lamps and small engines.

I can has links? I'm curious because the filters stuff I've seen in the past dealt with oil/enamel paints with mineral spirits or turps being the solvents of choice. I've not heard of alcohol filters.

[Etranger]

Isopropyl alcohol (medical or rubbing alcohol), used as a solvent, cleaning agent & disinfectant. You may be able to find it at pharmacies or hardware stores. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isopropyl_alcohol

Definitely undrinkable!

[6milPhil]

I don't understand the question, which filters? 

[Connectamabob]

I don't understand the question, which filters? 

A "filter" is a painting technique similar to a wash, but instead of flowing into the crevices to highlight/shade them, it's intended to stick more or less uniformly over the whole surface. The intent is to impart a slight color bias to the underlying paintwork, either to help unify contrasting colors, or to provide some sort of subtle weathering effect.

Here's a couple explanations:
http://www.missing-lynx.com/rare_world/rw02.htm
http://gamerabaenre.com/?page_id=1361

[matthais-mouse]

So its like a colour filter lense in photography? 
May give this a go myself if I feel confident enough...

[6milPhil]

A "filter" is a painting technique similar to a wash, but instead of flowing into the crevices to highlight/shade them, it's intended to stick more or less uniformly over the whole surface. The intent is to impart a slight color bias to the underlying paintwork, either to help unify contrasting colors, or to provide some sort of subtle weathering effect.

Here's a couple explanations:
http://www.missing-lynx.com/rare_world/rw02.htm
http://gamerabaenre.com/?page_id=1361

Thanks for the illumination. 

[zemjw]

So if a filter is a carefully applied wash, is it closer to glazing as a technique? By this I mean thinned paints, and a lightly loaded brush, rather than the heavily loaded brush of a wash.

I've read quite a few vehicle modelling books, but I've never been completely sure where a filter lies between wash and glaze...

edit: swapped "it" and "is" in my first sentence to actually make it a question

[Vermis]

I've read quite a few vehicle modelling books, but I've never been completely sure where a filter lies between wash and glaze...

Personally I don't know why they don't just call it a glaze, other than from subculture parochialism.

[Cosmotiger]

My understanding of where the "filter" diverges from washes or glazes, is that a filter involves placing very small random dots of several colors on the painted  model (usually artist's oil paints), then using odorless turpentine on a flat brush to push the color around on the surface, moving into shadowed areas, around raised detail, etc. It gives a subtle multicolr blending effect, especially on mono-color models.

[tin shed gamer]

Filter's are one of those methods we use to fill time without knowing it.You can achive the same with washes and a direct re - highlight whilst the wash is still wet.Or just remove glazing with a soft brush/fine fibred cloth.
When you break it down into tasks,All you are doing is mixing multipule small washes on the figure,.Rather than on a pallet.
Its not bad method but its more of a method for pleasure painting than for large orders.It stains the base medium rather than creates a new layer.(That how I see it anyway )
Matt you can come round in the new year and I'll run through the other methods you wanted to know about.
Theres pritty much the same methods in oil based as in acrylic.You can even blend by mixing both mediums(it will kill brushes but it can be done.)

[dijit]

Afilter isn't a glaze, but a way of adding slight colour differentiation to parts of a model. It's makes panels, etc seem more lifelike and defined. It's similar to a glaze, but not as heavy.
Fichenfoo is a master at using them, here's a link to his blog entries with the tag 'filters'
http://fichtenfoo.net/blog/tag/filters/

and some pictures to show the effect:

from this:



to this:


Very subtle I know, and probably not something most of us wargamers would  be bothered with.

[OSHIROmodels]

Talented fella that Fitchen-Foo, got him on my blog roll 

cheers

James

[Vermis]

Afilter isn't a glaze, but a way of adding slight colour differentiation to parts of a model.

What does a glaze do, then?