Painting Numbers

bjorn9486 · Post by **bjorn9486** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:22 pm

I did a search for this and did not find anything.

I am currently painting a couple teams for my brothers and I have gotten to the part where I am ready to put numbers of their shoulder pads/ chest guards and am wondering how other people do it. I can paint a number on to the base so you know what it is (it is by no means pretty) but I want something more detailed for what other people are going to see. I especially like when the numbers have a border; a white number with a black border around the number. I was thinking maybe a pointed toothpick, but if there is a better way I would love to hear it.

Thank you for your time.

traveller · Post by **traveller** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:35 pm

I especially like when the numbers have a border; a white number with a black border around the number.

One way to do this ... paint the number first using black. After drying paint the number using white a bit smaller on it again. That leaves a small black border... it works for me much better than painting a small black border around a white number ! I did this on some minis of my orcteam. Maybe a bit messy in this case, but those are orcs ...

You can do this the other way painting white number first, too... that leaves a white border.

Hope, this helps a bit.

Traveller

Grendel · Post by **Grendel** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 1:43 pm

I always do he white first and then a black line around it.

Do the number with a size "0" brush with white paint and then the line around it with a size "000" brush in black ink.

Brage97 · Post by **Brage97** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 2:29 pm

I also paint white first as neatly as possible and then the black line around. Then I correct with white and the jersey colour. Repeat until perfect.

It's much harder to paint a thin black line perfect twice and then fill the number.

It takes for ever to make it look good, but the result will be nice.

El Hombre · Post by **El Hombre** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:08 pm

I don't do black edges, but a darker shade of the colour the number is in, so I guess it will be the same principle...

First do the biggest one (being the black in your case), I find that then, it's easier to put a good, smaller version of the number within the outlines of the first, bigger one...

bjorn9486 · Post by **bjorn9486** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 3:57 pm

And everyone that posted (except Grendel because he said) you are painting with a small paintbrush? I guess that is the part I need help on is what materials do you use? But thank you for all of your answers so far.

Warpstone · Post by **Warpstone** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 5:13 pm

I guess it's cheating, but I've black outlined fig names with a fine tipped Sharpie before. If your numbers are the same size as the decals (transfers) that came with the team, then the this may work for you.

I've also heard Gundam Markers are good for this sort of work, but have yet to try them myself.

Grendel · Post by **Grendel** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 6:37 pm

bjorn9486 wrote: what materials do you use?

I use da Vinci brushes:

http://www.gdfa.net/wc_nova.html

I use a size 2 (out of the Round series) for most of the paintwork, a size 0 or 1 for the black lining and a size 000 of the retouch series for the eyes and numbers.

Citadel colors (the GW ones) and Citadel black ink (which is sadly no longer available, so i am slowly changing to Reaper Pro paint inks.

Brage97 · Post by **Brage97** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 6:43 pm

One detail about actually painting the numbers:

First paint a rectangle in white; sides should be 1 wide - 2 tall

For number "8" for example: Cut off the corners with paint and make the V-shapes on the middle. Then fill two squares with the jersey colour.

Always tidy up, it's going to take some patience.

Here is an example of football numerals:

Norse · Post by **Norse** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 2:40 am

use the smallest brush you can find, keep your paints thin, and be prepared to spend upwards of an hour to get it looking vaguely decent...

some of my nicer (IMHO) numbers below..

Mo · Post by Mo » Tue Feb 24, 2009 4:06 am

Warpstone wrote:I guess it's cheating, but I've black outlined fig names with a fine tipped Sharpie before.

Sharpies can run when varnished. But Micron Art .005 pens are great and they come in a lot of colours. They will smear if handled before they've fully set, so just be careful handling the figure for the first day. You can draw the outline of your numbers, names, stripes, whatever -- and then just paint between the lines. Touch up the lines if necessary. They're also good for outlining any details, doing eyes, etc.

Mo

traveller · Post by **traveller** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 8:12 am

I´m using brushs, too. Cant remember the typ.. i think, daVinci, too... and the smallest ones, too.

@ Brage97... thx for posting the number sheet. Maybe i can use it, too.

Traveller

El Hombre · Post by **El Hombre** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 9:26 am

I'm using Citadel fine detail brushes

But my numbers aren't to compare with Norse's

Norse · Post by **Norse** » Tue Feb 24, 2009 2:25 pm

most of my brushes are citadels..

above numbers were done with the smallest and nicest brush I ever owned.. bought from an art shop.. it lasted for years, but died about 18 months ago.. which explains why I have not painted many other numbers since...

to be honest, much like everything else in painting, the biggest problem most people have is patience.. my Orcs took around 8 hours each to paint (and a further hour or so each to convert) so if you're not willing to invest the time, you won't get the end results either..

Brage97 · Post by **Brage97** » Wed Feb 25, 2009 8:32 am

@ Brage97... thx for posting the number sheet. Maybe i can use it, too.

Sure use them for all dark purposes you can think of

One thing that has always made me wonder; why aren't Impact already making these?
(Impact: If you can use these numbers for making decals; please do so; don't wait for Sal