Discovering Paint Washing
Hey everyone! Recently, I embarked on a fun little project that involved a bit of a new technique for me—paint washing. You might have seen my other painted 3D prints before (or not, there’s not a lot of them), but this time around, I tried something a bit different. I got this really cool dice tower printed out for a buddy of mine, and though it looked awesome in plain red, I thought, why not jazz it up a bit?
First Attempts and Lessons Learned
Paint washing is quite straightforward, at least on paper. The basic idea is to dilute some paint with water, brush it on your piece, and then wipe off the excess to highlight details and textures. Sounds simple, right? Well, as I quickly learned, the choice of base color and how you layer them can dramatically affect your results.
Initially, I opted to use the dark red print as my base. My plan was to apply a black wash directly, hoping it would seep into the nooks and crannies, giving the tower a more aged, weathered look. I dove in—mixed my black paint with water, got it all nice and diluted, brushed it on… and, well, it didn’t quite pop like I expected.
Switching Gears
Not one to give up easily, I decided to switch tactics. I painted over the dark red with a white base layer, thinking it would help the subsequent layers stand out better. After a bit of impatience (I didn’t wait for it to dry completely—rookie mistake!), I applied black again. This time, instead of a stark black, it mixed with the wet white and turned a bit gray. Not exactly what I was aiming for, but it was a learning moment for sure!
Achieving the Desired Effect
After letting everything dry properly (patience is key!), I did a 180 and just decided to paint the model with a brush and some acrylics. Eventually, I did go back and tried paint washing several areas of the print with much better success. This included both areas that I had painted traditionally, as well as bare 3D printed areas. When it comes to paint washing a bare 3D print, the trick is to really let the paint sink into the print and wipe only the excess. I had previously been wiping too soon, which created the effect that I had spilled something and did a poor job cleaning it up.
Final Thoughts
Though my first foray into paint washing had its ups and downs, the final outcome was worth the trial and error. It’s a great technique for anyone looking to add depth and character to their prints, especially if you want to highlight intricate details that might otherwise go unnoticed.
So, if you’re thinking about giving paint washing a try, remember—experiment with base colors, be patient with drying times, and don’t be afraid to layer different shades. Each piece is a learning curve, and every mistake is just a stepping stone to mastering the art of paint washing in 3D printing.
Until next time, keep printing and painting!