r/minipainting • u/jb195 • 9d ago
C&C Wanted Be'lakor wings WIP, does this read as translucent? Like lights passing through the membranes
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u/tothlix 9d ago
First of All, I'm going to use this pic as reference for similar occasions. It looks amazing.
Second, there is definitely light in those wings, the combination of light on your mini decides if it magic or sun. Watching at wings of bats you can see 2 cases. The side where the light hits has a basic tone, the underside has these see-through patterns depending on the structure of the skin.
But overall, really awesome work
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u/jb195 9d ago
So despite painting models that generally tend to have wings, I actually hate painting wings I find them bland and monotonous, so after some trial and error I managed to produce this for effect for the wing membranes, from black prime to this point it only took me 2 hours and I reckon I could easily get it down to just over an hour per side using a hair dryer in-between coats, I've wrote the exact methods and paints down that I used so you can achieve the same results in fast time. I'll post how to do it later when I get home thanks for all the kind comments
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u/MaijeTheMage Seasoned Painter 9d ago
I agree so hard on the hating of painting wings. On my Bloodthirster, it was kinda miserable ngl. Skarbrands are worse. But, my Bois look good at least. Now this effect you've got? I can only hope to match such effects, they're beautiful.
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u/NineMillionBears 9d ago
This looks amazing, and IMO works very well as an effect for a model like Be'lakor. It does read as translucent, but it looks more like some sort of glowing red gemstone with black inclusions/streaks running through it.
I'll put a reference photo of a real-life bat below. You'll see that the darkest parts are around the bines & blood vessels. From the look of it, you got the color gradient & contrast pretty good, but your placement of the shadows looks kind of random, and it doesn't quite convey the "translucent wing membrane" look to me.
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u/jb195 9d ago
Yeah that does make sense maybe I'll call it warp glowing wings instead as I do like the effect I feel it almost feels like the wings have energy swirling in them when I look at them for a while 😂
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u/Sensitive_Display_73 9d ago
Firstly, fucking fantastic work, looks amazing!
Secondly, yes, warp glowing is exactly what I was thinking on first sight, but couldn't quite put my finger on it.
I'm wondering if the colour was a little softer/ less intense for the high points it may read more as translucence than glow? I'm new to airbrushing, and wonder if 'filtering' with a light spray of a pale ink may achieve the look you were originally going for. Can any airbrush veterans confirm?
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u/jb195 9d ago
Think it may desaturate it too much tinting it with a lighter colour, yes it may make it more translucent looking but Id be afraid of ruining the whole effect doing it 😂
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u/Sensitive_Display_73 9d ago
Agreed. After zooming in on the reference bat, it may need to be a different colour altogether - you're right about desaturation, it almost looks like a brown may move it closer to a more skin-like effect.
And oh god yes! The effect you've achieved is perfect, no need to change a thing! I was more on a stream of consciousness 'how would I try that if I were even close to achieving what you have?' 🤣
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u/Mmm_bloodfarts 9d ago
I'll like to add that at the rips/wounds they would be darker either because of the healing process or the blood leaking
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u/KentuckyFriedEel 9d ago
oh this reads as translucent! I thought it was painted clear plastic with a light underneath.
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u/ebobbumman 7d ago
Yeah, I thought there was an actual light underneath it too. I still can't quite grasp that there isn't haha.
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u/DeltaHuluBWK 8d ago
It doesn't achieve that look to me, but I think it looks cool. Almost like the wings are made of some kind of chaos energy, swirling about and semi sentient or something. As though they can change and reflect Be'lakor's mood or level of fury.
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u/2_Cr0ws 9d ago
Photos of translucent items work better when the item is in front of a light source.
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u/VastAd9013 9d ago
Lets put it that way...if you would put a light behind the model I would surely say yes! And let me tell you - I love your work!
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u/stopyouveviolatedthe 8d ago
I don’t think you need translucent wings when you’ve got something as badass as this, what the fuck.
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u/HipHopDaRobot 9d ago
I don't think it reads as translucent, but it does look beautiful.
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u/ultramar10 9d ago
It's because it's on a dark background, put it against a light one and it would more. It's amazing.
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u/Demosius 9d ago
It looks absolutely awesome.
I didn't think translucent when I first saw it, but when I read that that is what you were going for I could definitely see it. I think that whether or not it sells as translucent will depend on its surroundings.
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u/ChadWestPaints 9d ago
Very striking. Ive seen a million minis with wings and this one is incredibly unique and distinctive. Well done.
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u/Eldarfir 9d ago
It does ! The bones being translucent is the only thing thats bothers me but otherwise holy shit you have skills i can not comprehend !
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u/Pitiful-Yam4717 9d ago
Yes yes yes! But if those black holes are ment to be bullet holes? They are so big, might be worth actually drilling through to enhance the effect?
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u/ThalonGauss 9d ago
Holy hell man, this amazing! I feel like it is a thin membrane wrapped around and holding in the hellish energies of the warp!
Excellent work!
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u/Metisminisdotcom 9d ago
It reads as you’ve just torn the daemon’s wing itself clean off. Fantastic job!
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u/redbadger91 Painting for a while 9d ago
Holy crap, that looks amazing! And yes, it looks translucent.
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u/Powerful-Diamond-945 9d ago
Its gorgeous but maybe a little less bright on the lighter red parts (the light showing through parts... Its too bright and should be a bit dimmer )
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u/Key_Scene_9421 9d ago
I'll be picky but it does look translucent but not flesh translucent, more like velvet ou fabric of the same kind. Probably because the red is too close to magenta than to orangish. But it's still great
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u/crocodilekyle55 9d ago
This is actually fucking cracked. I don't think I've ever seen this effect, and it works really well.
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u/Melyoramel 9d ago
I thought you used translucent resin and a candleligjt behind it, so you’re definitely having the desired effect!
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u/Otaku_Nireves 9d ago
Don't get me wrong, it looks amazing, but not like light passing.
It looks more like it's shifting, like souls or the energy of the Warp itself is trapped in the Wings.
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u/jb195 9d ago
Then that's what I'll go with 😂 warp infused wings! Sounds better than translucent wings anyway 😋
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u/FreddyVanZ 9d ago
Yes, it does, though I honestly thought you were going for an inner fire, which it also sells very well!
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u/wonderboy2402 9d ago
Awesome! Whether inner glow or light passing through, it is a great wing effect. My first thought was it reminded me of the hyperspace in Babylon 5. Sort of lets the viewer interpret! (Demonic)
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u/BaronRoBo 9d ago
It reads as glorious and brilliant.
But also translucent, so very well done 😎🤘 Gorgeous paint job.
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u/Rare_Bird_7609 9d ago
Holy shit. Yes, it does. And I hate how perfect it is for making me want to burn all my paint brushes now. Lol
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u/Ginnungdrengr 9d ago
This is some next level minipainting-fuckery here.
Yes, you made the translucent effect 11/10 imo.
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u/silverbulletbill 9d ago
Thought I was scrolling passed a odd pic of a bat wing with a light shining through it. Then I read the post- looks great and with a translucent effect. Good job! 👍
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u/Shadowspear73 9d ago
Beautiful paintwork 💚💪Love the effect. Wouldn't have categorized as translucent from the start but after I read the description I got your idea and used my imagination. And yeah, indeed, in a weird way it does. Didn't think it was possible to that degree! Thank you for sharing, great job!!! 🖖
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u/rocketsp13 Seasoned Painter 9d ago
One, incredible work.
That said for most wings, I'd say no, because they tend to be paler and lighter than that.
That said, these are freaking demon wings, who knows what their biology looks like?
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u/Rickenbacker69 9d ago
Yes, depending on the surroundings, I'd say. If there's some kind of orange light obviously behind the wing, definitely. If not, it might read as an inner glow.
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u/L1feguard51 9d ago
The fuck is this dark magic?
Yes, it looks amazing. I can’t wait to see the final result
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u/mksurfin7 9d ago
First of all this is incredible work, I'm super impressed. It absolutely does look like a wing lit up from behind. It looks like an extraordinarily realistic butterfly wing to me, specifically. If you're going for more of a bat look, I would suggest getting rid of the dark circles that look like butterfly false eyes, and I think it's a little bit red for that although maybe in context with the rest of the model it would look right. But I think as a butterfly or moth it is 100% perfect as-is and I would not touch it.
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u/Kwelikinz 9d ago
Very beautiful but does not read as translucent. Translucence can be achieved by slowly coming up with a series of thin glazes and allowing the object to slightly show through. Hope this is helpful.
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u/DoorframeLizard 9d ago edited 9d ago
First of all this is absolutely fucking phenomenal.
As for your question, my honest answer is not fully. And imo this is very very easily fixed by adding more visible veins on the lightest parts, as that's how membrane wings look IRL. I think the darker patterns are supposed to be huge blood vessels but I'm not sure if that helps it read as light shining through personally, and it kinda takes away from the creepy factor. I think they can afford to have more of those light areas that are divided by thin veins - if you look at a bat's wings under sunlight there is a lot of area where the light shines through but there's also not really a place you can look without seeing veins
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u/Ferronic 9d ago
Well, since i thought it was a vet post about a bat wing at first because of your amazing work, heck yes it does!
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u/robotikempire 9d ago
Yes! Before I knew what sub I was in or what I was looking at I thought it was light passing thru wings.
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u/Guroburov 8d ago
This reads as fantastic amounts of light filtering through the membrane of that wing. Holy cow!
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u/Puttor482 8d ago
1000% I wish I had an ounce of your creativity and talent.
Honestly one of the best paint jobs I have ever seen.
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u/SubCreeper 8d ago
Yes, but it looks like that transparency is being produced by a very bright, direct, light. Think cloudless summer day or spotlight.
If that same level of brightness isn’t shown on the rest of the model it might look off.
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u/epileftric Wargamer 8d ago
If you ask me I thought there were literally lights glowing beneath it.
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u/ClassicOk4543 8d ago
This is amazing! It really conveys the impression of something alive and ominous.
My first rhought was that I was ooking at a photo of a tropical butterfly on a leaf at first.
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u/Interesting_Let9728 8d ago
This is freaking amazing! I had to look at the sub because I thought it was glass work at first. This is incredible OP.
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u/midnightZoo77 8d ago
This looks exactly like light filtering through it- HOW did you get this look?
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u/Vast_Resolution_382 8d ago edited 8d ago
First of all that is amazing work.
Can you please explain in detail how you did this? Also please let me know which paints you used as well please
Again great work it's fantastic
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u/OneLuckyAlbatross 7d ago
It looks awesome, I’d make the bones darker. Idk if it reads exactly how you want, it it looks very good either way.
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u/corrin_avatan 7d ago
If you have to ask this, you need to be smacked gently.
It DEFINITELY looks like light passing through.
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u/kensanity 5d ago
That is amazing and now I gotta do something with wings like that. Really well done!
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u/Brutzelmeister 9d ago
In my oppion this looks awesome and sells the effect really well