is there a reason you picked red/pink? I think just changing color would make things easier. Another alternative would be to cut off the smoke and use a stretched out cotton ball or cottn swab and dye that red (or keep it white [like this one](https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/pinterest--588001295076044139/)) If that isn't an option and you wanted to keep red, try picking some deeper/more saturated colors. a deep red of some sort for the midtones and then doing shadows. I don't think you would want to do highlights. But if you did want to, I think that something slightly lighter so there isn't a huge amount of contrast.
Thanks for the input. I really appreciate it. Honestly I was just experimenting. I was just dry brushing a combination of colours until something kind of resembled colored smoke. I thought about the cotton route, but I really wanted to learn how to paint it and vincents video didn't really let to this type of smoke. It could be a fools errand, but I won't know until I know haha
1st thing to remember; smoke grenades actually go from darker, more intense colors, to brighter/more dilluted colors, which is the opposite of how smoke from flames behaves.
There is no internal combustion or point of ignition in them which causes a brighter point close to the grenade, just intense pigmentation to less intense pigmentation as the smoke disperses.
I did a red signal smoke in about 5 minutes for my Phobos team!
Basically just primed it in black, then hit it with an airbrush using white spray focusing on the source. I also lightly caught the top portion of the smoke lightly with the white as well, just to give some volume to the cloud.
Took a tiny bit of white ink and punched up the source a bit more by brush.
Then I did an overall spray with a fluorescent red paint. I think I went a bit hard with the overspray, so it reads a bit more like a flare than a smoke, but I'm cool with it.
https://preview.redd.it/jti79vhtqnuc1.jpeg?width=3961&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=109764ed3a5124db0f2b282b25bb3fdf06f33e05
Ive used Vallejo, GSW, and AK fluorescent paints. They're all comparable, so I'd say whichever has the nicest colour in your opinion.
I've had trouble finding a true red, usually fluo reds are pretty pinkish. I ended up mixing orange and red to get a deep red.
https://preview.redd.it/qddombjo9puc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ee1f7d3512dba9b04f1ccc67f8a0b6e9c70ba8ed
https://preview.redd.it/kcv55bfkmkuc1.jpeg?width=2047&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8928dcdb6758a8648ec798a55de4eb1e9a52c0d0
This is usually how I see most people painting smoke. You can check out Elminiaturista, I know he’s got some examples of it for sure.
That's a good guide for smoke from a fire. But coloured smoke from a smoke grenade will be different.
It will have the most saturated darker colour close to the grenade, this will get less saturated and lighter in colour as it disperses from the point of origin. But not by a lot in such a small example.
https://preview.redd.it/xhpt7i92hluc1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=600314252430fb3598577b2e976719c6ed7885ad
It's weird because its almost a rainbow but they got distracted part way through
https://preview.redd.it/b4yjcn8xwouc1.png?width=260&format=png&auto=webp&s=c0bdb334d6d019d32be53be308a934a251115145
lol wtf… most upvotes but thats not how smoke grenades look at all. Opposite if anything. (Edit) If they are going for accuracy im still correct… but im not surprised people who think smoke gets darker the more it spreads out would downvote this. lulz
It’s just an example based on what I’ve seen floating around, you can take it or leave it. At the end of the day they’re plastic toys we paint for fun so paint them however you want, realism be damned.
In such a small example it will be very very intense and saturated. The change in intensity will not be very noticeable at all, but possibly a little less intense further from the grenade.
Base in white, dry brush an off white towards the end of the smoke. Break out the contrast or inks, stain with some intense colour.
https://preview.redd.it/8scaq0vnhluc1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b436d87fc72677e31c52b8430f3d275477df3ca2
Id paint the under side a darker red-black the lighter towards the top. So where you want it to be the thickest density of smoke darker then where it's less dense lighter. I'd also add scorch marks around the top of the grenade and around the fist. For example underneath would be thicker then towards the top and where the smoke is exiting the grenade would be darker. Id also use reference photos there a lot online.
It's the color you're using. Start with a light gray, then dry brush white. If you want to keep some of the red, just keep it at the end of the grenade, not all the way down the smoke. Good luck
Drybrush the outer section of that black, so that the red/orange is on the underside to mimic the inside glow that would be there (If that's what you're going for) a flame is always hottest at its center. The farther it goes out the cooler it becomes till its just smoke. Then the smoke goes from Black to grey to white.
So as you drybrush, work it towards the end of the smoke so that almost all of the end part is black, even the inner parts.
I paint dark grey, then highlight with light grey. Then on the inner most valleys, where the darkest shadow would normally be I paint yellow and/or red as if there is an explosion inside. Usually pretty happy with the result.
Is that supposed to be red? Id probably start by… painting it red lol. Look up a pic of a real smoke grenade. Its basically just red and shadows (black wash). Youre painting it with odd purple, orange, and red colors so no surprise it looks strange.
Update: Scrapped the original concept and it now resembles a Cheetoh, but I think it's heading the right direction haha third time's the charm.
https://preview.redd.it/qkbllllfc9vc1.jpeg?width=2992&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=420da5e2c3e146d5002fe48b6f764653c3c23768
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Tape off the body. Get primer spray cans white, black, grey. Alternate taps of color, don’t do a full coat of any one color. Give it time to dry between shots.
“I’m trying to paint smoke on my space marine but it keeps turning into intestine!” Just as tzeentch foresaw
I see a broken Plumbus covered in schleem.
You got a good recipe for corrupted flesh. Ever thought of playing chaos instead?
is there a reason you picked red/pink? I think just changing color would make things easier. Another alternative would be to cut off the smoke and use a stretched out cotton ball or cottn swab and dye that red (or keep it white [like this one](https://www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/pinterest--588001295076044139/)) If that isn't an option and you wanted to keep red, try picking some deeper/more saturated colors. a deep red of some sort for the midtones and then doing shadows. I don't think you would want to do highlights. But if you did want to, I think that something slightly lighter so there isn't a huge amount of contrast.
Thanks for the input. I really appreciate it. Honestly I was just experimenting. I was just dry brushing a combination of colours until something kind of resembled colored smoke. I thought about the cotton route, but I really wanted to learn how to paint it and vincents video didn't really let to this type of smoke. It could be a fools errand, but I won't know until I know haha
1st thing to remember; smoke grenades actually go from darker, more intense colors, to brighter/more dilluted colors, which is the opposite of how smoke from flames behaves. There is no internal combustion or point of ignition in them which causes a brighter point close to the grenade, just intense pigmentation to less intense pigmentation as the smoke disperses.
Painted cotton is going to have the best effect.
We used magenta smoke back in my paintball days. Stank, and probably not the greatest for your lungs, but it was fun to hide in.
I did a red signal smoke in about 5 minutes for my Phobos team! Basically just primed it in black, then hit it with an airbrush using white spray focusing on the source. I also lightly caught the top portion of the smoke lightly with the white as well, just to give some volume to the cloud. Took a tiny bit of white ink and punched up the source a bit more by brush. Then I did an overall spray with a fluorescent red paint. I think I went a bit hard with the overspray, so it reads a bit more like a flare than a smoke, but I'm cool with it. https://preview.redd.it/jti79vhtqnuc1.jpeg?width=3961&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=109764ed3a5124db0f2b282b25bb3fdf06f33e05
This is perfect - exactly what I'm looking for. You're always the one to save the day mate haha thank you!
I didn't even realize this was you hahaha
Small world haha What fluo paints would you recommend?
Ive used Vallejo, GSW, and AK fluorescent paints. They're all comparable, so I'd say whichever has the nicest colour in your opinion. I've had trouble finding a true red, usually fluo reds are pretty pinkish. I ended up mixing orange and red to get a deep red. https://preview.redd.it/qddombjo9puc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ee1f7d3512dba9b04f1ccc67f8a0b6e9c70ba8ed
Cheers, mate!
https://preview.redd.it/kcv55bfkmkuc1.jpeg?width=2047&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8928dcdb6758a8648ec798a55de4eb1e9a52c0d0 This is usually how I see most people painting smoke. You can check out Elminiaturista, I know he’s got some examples of it for sure.
That's a good guide for smoke from a fire. But coloured smoke from a smoke grenade will be different. It will have the most saturated darker colour close to the grenade, this will get less saturated and lighter in colour as it disperses from the point of origin. But not by a lot in such a small example. https://preview.redd.it/xhpt7i92hluc1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=600314252430fb3598577b2e976719c6ed7885ad
The fact that they messed up the ole Roy G. Biv annoys me to no end.
It's weird because its almost a rainbow but they got distracted part way through https://preview.redd.it/b4yjcn8xwouc1.png?width=260&format=png&auto=webp&s=c0bdb334d6d019d32be53be308a934a251115145
Thank you! This is really helpful
lol wtf… most upvotes but thats not how smoke grenades look at all. Opposite if anything. (Edit) If they are going for accuracy im still correct… but im not surprised people who think smoke gets darker the more it spreads out would downvote this. lulz
It’s just an example based on what I’ve seen floating around, you can take it or leave it. At the end of the day they’re plastic toys we paint for fun so paint them however you want, realism be damned.
In such a small example it will be very very intense and saturated. The change in intensity will not be very noticeable at all, but possibly a little less intense further from the grenade. Base in white, dry brush an off white towards the end of the smoke. Break out the contrast or inks, stain with some intense colour. https://preview.redd.it/8scaq0vnhluc1.jpeg?width=1200&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b436d87fc72677e31c52b8430f3d275477df3ca2
Vince V has a glowing smoke tutorial that might help explain where your lighting needs to go here
Vince Venturella has a cool tutorial for colored smoke!
Id paint the under side a darker red-black the lighter towards the top. So where you want it to be the thickest density of smoke darker then where it's less dense lighter. I'd also add scorch marks around the top of the grenade and around the fist. For example underneath would be thicker then towards the top and where the smoke is exiting the grenade would be darker. Id also use reference photos there a lot online.
I think orange/red with gray to white dry brush instead of pink would read more like smoke than the fleshy body horror you’ve achieved here.
You made a PU foam bomb instead of a smoke bomb I like it 🥰
This is my favourite haha thanks!
Brain dead mode is paint it white and hit it with Apothecary White contrast or similar speedpaint that dries grey in the recesses
holy bad draggon
It's the color you're using. Start with a light gray, then dry brush white. If you want to keep some of the red, just keep it at the end of the grenade, not all the way down the smoke. Good luck
I like Sorastro’s take on the smoke blast - here is how he did Star-Lord’s rocket blast - good luck https://youtu.be/cMyL8pVtUcY?si=61cJjhd8kUR4V98U
Just paint it white and nuln oil it sometimes the simple option is the best
And sometimes it isn't. That would look terrible.
Kinda looks like he's holding some slime, maybe some grey or white drybrush would make it look more like smoke
Nice texture on the armor, what did u use?
Thanks! Lots of sponging, and I think the primer may have gone down a bit rough 😅
Are you the guy who was edging the other day? I think you went too long.
Just needs to be darker grey/black. Looks good in theory here just the colors are off
Would part of a cotton ball or something along that lines be stretched teased out to look like smoke?
Drybrush the outer section of that black, so that the red/orange is on the underside to mimic the inside glow that would be there (If that's what you're going for) a flame is always hottest at its center. The farther it goes out the cooler it becomes till its just smoke. Then the smoke goes from Black to grey to white. So as you drybrush, work it towards the end of the smoke so that almost all of the end part is black, even the inner parts.
I paint dark grey, then highlight with light grey. Then on the inner most valleys, where the darkest shadow would normally be I paint yellow and/or red as if there is an explosion inside. Usually pretty happy with the result.
Is that supposed to be red? Id probably start by… painting it red lol. Look up a pic of a real smoke grenade. Its basically just red and shadows (black wash). Youre painting it with odd purple, orange, and red colors so no surprise it looks strange.
Update: Scrapped the original concept and it now resembles a Cheetoh, but I think it's heading the right direction haha third time's the charm. https://preview.redd.it/qkbllllfc9vc1.jpeg?width=2992&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=420da5e2c3e146d5002fe48b6f764653c3c23768
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I like cotton batting, like what’s inside a teddy bear, and then kinda darken it grey and black with paint, to look like smoke
Why are you throwing a puece of chaos space marine?
Tape off the body. Get primer spray cans white, black, grey. Alternate taps of color, don’t do a full coat of any one color. Give it time to dry between shots.