I’m often asked why I choose this approach so often in my models! It’s a good question, and there’s more to it than just showing off technical skills or avoiding metallic paints.
Why NMM? Control
Using NMM gives me a lot more control over how the light and reflections work on my models. This is especially important in competitions like the Golden Demon. With metallic paints, the reflective highlights move around depending on how you look at the model. NMM lets me fix those highlights in one place, which is crucial for consistency and the overall look I’m going for.
Gold NMM allows for some really fun contrast between the deep shadow and the lush gold shine.
Why NMM? Lighting and Shine
Say, for example, I’ve got a model with strong lighting on the front painted on, but then I move that model to an area that’s lit from the side, the reflections and light bounces on true metallic paint would move to match the new source of light, while the rest of the model would remain strongly lit from the front the way it was painted. Painting the metal areas instead with NMM maintains the illusion of metal lit from one angle, no matter where the model is really lit from in person.
Steel NMM allows me to really ramp up dramatic shine.
Style
NMM brings a unique style to my work, allowing for a certain look that you just can’t get with regular metallic paints. I can add fun reflections, interesting colour bounces and make something extra shiny, which is a lot of fun.
Also, NMM is a great challenge. It’s not easy to do well, and it really pushes my skills. Working with NMM helps me understand light and how it interacts with different surfaces, which is a big part of improving as a painter. I love what I do and pushing myself to get better and better with each model. (And I hope you love learning with me!).
The strong focal point of this model with the bounce off the front on his metal armour will always be there, allowing for more dramatic effect, even when the “real life” light source changes. True metallic will reflect the real life light source and move around the model, depending on where its lit from.
TMM Paints are great, too!
It’s not that I have anything against metallic paints. They’re great for certain models, especially larger ones where their natural shine works well and you are covering a lot of ground, like a Titan. My preference for NMM is more about what it adds to my work, especially in a competitive setting. It’s a choice that fits what I’m trying to achieve with my painting.
Using TMM (True Metallic Metal) paints on my titans saves a lot of time!
So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get started on some NMM for your next project!
Latest Non-Metallic Metal Tutorials
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