Best Way to Opaque a Model?

[Tchail]

What's the best way to block light?

Silver, white, or black paint?

Paint the inside or the outside of the model?

Any advice would be appreciated.

-Tchail

[talon]

What's the best way to block light?

Silver, white, or black paint?

Paint the inside or the outside of the model?

Any advice would be appreciated.

-Tchail

if you have the time, bare metal foil.

[tetsujin]

Short of using metal foil - personally I've found silver paint to be more effective than black or white paint at blocking light.

[Mad-Modeler]

I tend to block with Silver and than paint with gloss white. Black and Silver show light leaks easy.

Silver will reflect more but white will brighten the contained light.

My view.

[Tchail]

Thanks for the feedback!

It seems like blocking the inside with silver foil / paint is one way to go.

But what about clear parts?

It looks like DLM suggests painting clear parts from the outside with black:

http://www.dlmparts.com/lightingtips.html

-Tchail

[Ziz]

If you're working from the inside, all three.

Silver because it has the metallic element. That actually helps block light better than straight black.

Then black to reduce heat buildup if you're putting a lot of bulbs in there.

Then white to reflect light around in larger open areas to so that you DON'T have to put a lot of bulbs in there.

[Kylwell]

I got with silver with flat white on top. The plates in sliver paint work like a light channel and are much more effective than just pigment to block light.

[DLMatthys]

My method is proven rigid and dogmatic...
Correct most times and on the record.

[Madman Lighting]

I've used adhesive silver mylar foil with good results. Goes on easy and very reflective.

All those painting tricks work good too.

-JC.