help with 3D background, shading, and final coat.

DarkSoul

DarkSoul

Mad Scientist
Mar 12, 2007
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London, Ontario
I've got a 3d background coming along nicely, and it is now coated in cement, and looks pretty durn good.....except that its all one colour.... kinda looks like a wall of cement.

I need to add some shading... or something to it, to make it look a little more natural, but im not sure what to do, or how to do it.

I am in NO WAY an artist, and probably couldnt shade my way out of a paper bag.

Secondly, Im having a hard time finding an appropriate sealant with which to voer everything for a final coat.

Marine epoxy is deadly expensive, and also has a high gloss (or so ive read) so i dont think its worth paying the $85 USD (an im Canadian) for a gallon of the stuff, especially if im never going to use it again.

what could i use to seal the cement up instead of marine epoxy?
 
I've never done a background like yours so this comes from reading other folks trials and tribulations.

First off, for coloring, most folks buy the powdered dyes (available just about anywhere concrete is sold) to add to their concrete mix. Making a few small batches, each with it's own color, and then applying them at random (it seems) gives a nice look. if you want to go this route, you could just do a thin final "color" coat of cement on yours.

As for sealing it. Most folks dont seal it at all. They cure it. I'm not sure what the procedure is exactly. But it entails placing the piece in a container of water with salt (I think) for several days while changing the water daily.

Hope this is useful in some way. :)
 
Use a stippling effect by dabbing the tints on with a brush to create the shaded effects.
 
I know how to cure cement, the problem is the stuff i used was pretty old..... and i probably didnt mix it quite right, but it still applied fairly well, and gave a decent looking texture, despite the texture i had cut into the foam lol.

Being that the cement is so old, and maybe not done properly, it would seem that if i submerge this in the water, even after its dry, it would end up just washing off.

I had read one article at least, where the guy used a marine epoxy to seal his background. This also allows me to add such things as sand, to dull the epoxy shine, and to give a more natural texture.

I have purchased this stuff, as it seems to fit the bill.
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270085871957&ssPageName=ADME:B:EOIBSA:CA:11

My shading problem is that i dont know where shaded effects should be happening.

I should have included pics before, but forgot.

This is after applying the first coat of cement, and while its still wet.
It dries to a much much MUCH lighter shade of grey.

DSCF1949.JPG
http://theinterstellardestroyers.com/DSCF1949.JPG
 
I'm at the same point, but am using DeMoZ's and rbishop's ideas. I got some concrete color mix and am adding additional coats by spackling to make it look somewhat different than straight grey. Yours looks good so far
 
ive got both pieces coated right now, and they fit fairly well together.

It will be a good snug, permenant fit :)

still though, at this point im not sure what to do about colour or shading.
i got a feeling that if i try and start adding colour with a paintbrush, im going to end up with a solid colour, and not something that looks good.

the castle i have, has a deep red/burgandy colour to the rock... id like to match it if possible, but i dont know how to apply this stuff to look natural..... ive always tended to mess this sort of thing up when attempting the colouring part of things.
 
I took the liberty of photoshoping your image above. It was quick and dirty, but might give you some ideas. Basically, I adjusted the contrast a little and added a tan color. Maybe, just maybe, it might look pretty good using one color. Your lighting should cause shadows here and there that will handle the shading.

If unsure, coat the entire piece with one color and then use your hood to light it up as though it was in the tank. If you like it, good job, you're done. If not, you'll see it in the light it will be used with. That alone might give you some ideas as to where you want darker or lighter colors.

dscf19492ru9.jpg


Like I said, it was quick and dirty. :)
 
holy crap.... thats amazing.

I cant explain to you how helpful it is to actually SEE what the piece might look like with various colours.

I think that looks pretty good, and i hate to be a pain, but do you think you could do one of those shop jobs using a dark deep red. kind of a more opaque red wine colour?

That is the colour of the rocks that adorn my castle, and it would be nice if i could make the background kind of look like it matches slighty with the castle rocks.
 
How's this. Took 30 seconds lol.
dscf19493zx6.jpg


Not quite what you had in mind? take a snapshot of the castle and I will get it a little closer.
 
i got a pic of the castle..... on the camera...... at my parents house lol.

its darker... way darker, and sort of faint'ish .... if that makes sense, as if aged by time.

i think the best description i could give of the colour would be some sort of 80s era burgandy leather jackets for ladies....
for some reason that comes to mind.... probably because one of my family members wore one at some point, and i remember the hideous colour on a person lmao.

probably better suited for a rock anyway heh :D
i think that red would kill my eyes.... though sadly, i think if i attempt to shade this thing, i will end up with something like that as my final product.
that scares me, because this so far looks really good, and if i screw up this shading/colouring step, id have to start all over again :(

I was thinking of even using some spray paint, and standing back really far, and just sort of misting it with a few various colours.... but im not sure if that would look rock like.

Also, they had a can of granite texture spray paint at the hardware store, but again, i felt that this would really achieve a natural look.

when i think of trying anything art like, i remember any past art like projects i have tried, they all looked amazing..... in my head, but what my hands produced, where abominations of "art", or an entirely different form of art all together.... :D

dont get me wrong, im a very good handyman, electrician, plumber, framer etc, but when art is in anyway involved, i become a flaming idiot :D
 
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