How to create fabric texture using Titanium White Pigment
We often place figures in different poses on our builds, vignettes or dioramas to convey a storyline and for added drama. Adding a human element adds interest. Figure painters who know how to add fabric texture create more attractive, life-like depictions than the same figure left with the original lifeless styrene smooth finish. Creating fabric texture in scale can be tough, especially when using fine brush manipulation such as stippling or feathering layers, both time consuming, and require lots of practice. Here is an alternative to consider, TITANIUM WHITE PIGMENT.
- depending on the fabric, such as cotton, hemp, synthetic, wool or fur, successive layers of pigment can be added to achieve the desired look using a pigment fixer
- the zinc oxide pigment has body permitting the creation of coarser material such as wool or heavy canvas tarps
- figures primed with TAMIYA, Mr.COLOR, or REAL COLORS, the pigment can be applied using X-20A or TAMIYA LACQUER THINNER or Mr.COLOR THINNER as fixer because it reactivates and bonds with the previous layer
- water-based paints require a pigment fixer because they do not reactivate when dry
- alternatively use the primer that would otherwise be applied to the figure as a pigment fixer
- zinc oxide pigment will not mess with any base coats by introducing unwanted undertones not will it bleed through
- modify or remove any zinc oxide pigment with water and reapply if using water-based acrylics while still wet
- modify or remove any zinc oxide pigment on lacquer-based paint by using TAMIYA LACQUER THINNER or MR.COLOR THINNER
- use the appropriate retarder for water-based acrylics, TAMIYA ACRYLIC and TAMIYA LACQUER PAINT/REAL COLORS/MR.COLOR for extended work times.
This is a great way to add more interest and realism to figures.
