Question: Gradient without an airbrush

Digger1 · Post by **Digger1** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 11:54 am

How can one do a decent gradient (two or more colors fading into one another) without using an airbrush?

I want to tutor myself on how to do this before the Refit Enterprise hits the shelves so I can paint the blue into light blue of the navigational deflector.

I'm thinking brown into light brown for the TMP version and then blues for the Ent-A. I seem to remember the TMP Enterprise's deflector being shades of brown at impulse speeds and then when it was at warp, it turned blue. I just think the brown might be a more novel way to paint it on that version.

Kylwell · Post by **Kylwell** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 12:54 pm

Whew, now that's a question. Been a long time since I tried, back in college, but here's what I remember.

You'll need to work with a somewhat slow setting paint, which includes just about all hobby paints (don't use guache). Start with the lightest color as a base and slowly blend in the darker color. It takes some time and skill to get it right but it is possible. I'd suggest getting a sheet of glass to pratice on.

Lt. Z0mBe · Post by **Lt. Z0mBe** » Sat Feb 26, 2005 8:27 pm

What about blue pastels?

Just a thought I had.

Z0mBe

Mark Yungblut · Post by **Mark Yungblut** » Mon Feb 28, 2005 4:28 pm

If you really want to paint it, then I would use oils and blend the colors.

Shamrock_Don · Post by **Shamrock_Don** » Wed Mar 16, 2005 9:42 pm

Just a random thought between swigs of beer..

How about painting the deflector a reletively dark color and then lightening the paint on each progressively smaller circle?

I bet a 16th of an inch between circle edges wouldnt be noticable from farther than 2 feet away...

:BURP: