questions and more questions.

[kustom paint workz]

I'm doing a layout on a tank and have a few questions this is my first time going full blown into a grafic layout. I've done single color and multiple color flames but i want something to add a little more to the layout. i want to put skulls in the flames but i don't want them to really stand out i guess you colud say i want to ghost them in. i already have the skull part down but i can't seem to get the color right for the ghost look. i'm practicing on a blank plate first and i'm using hok spanish gold with and orange pearl over it. what color do i use to tint the gold in order to get the ghost look i'm after. if anyone can show me how to add a pic link i can show you what i'm trying to achieve.

 

[rex]

You can do a few things here.Tinting the base gold is simplest.I'd use a little red for darker skulls or silver for lighter.The amount to add will depend on the color difference you want and can only do a dab test or spray some out.You can also tint the candy for the skulls with a little red or yellow.I like to use the nature of candy ghosting.Spray out a panel of base and then do the candy in strips of each coat so you can see the difference of each.If you pick 2 in the first 4 or 5 coats you'll get a nice change.It seems you get to a certain point around 4 or 5 and the it gets real hard to distinguish the difference.Something like 2 and 4 coats gives a nice effect,but 2 and 3 is subtle enough that you pretty much need to be in sunlight to see it.This depends on how you apply the candy too.Some put it on really thin,I usually spray it just like anything else.I like the candy stripe that buils up at the tapeline.It has a flop effect where it shows up as a fine darker line but at another angle dissappears.

 

[rex]

Close.I did this on my bike.I laid out the flames over the base and sprayed 2 coats of candy(your skulls in this case).Then I untaped them and candied the whole thing.The sheetmetal has 2 coats while the flames are 4.They kind of show under flourescent lights but hardley at all under house light bulbs.Out in the sun they stand out in direct light but fade away as you look toward the shaddowed edges.The nice thing about this is as you cover the the whole thing it helps melt away a little of the tape edge from the first few,along with not needing to have more colors to spray.If I screw it up later it's simpler to redo.Tinting the base is fine though,just try to save enough for a touchup later or document the formula for the tinted stuff so it isn't a hit and miss if you need to get back into it later.Waiting for pix.Here's a pic of mine in the booth so you have to look for them.

 

[kustom paint workz]

thanks rex i'm gonna tint the base on this one but the idea of changing the candy is quite intriging. so what your saying with the candy is use you regular color for two coats come in with the tinted color for detail on top of coat two. add two more candy coats once again detail w/ tinted color and final candy coat to finsh it off. this actually sounds like it would give off a cool effect. just let me know if i understood you correctly.