madbeanpedals::forum

General => Open Discussion => Topic started by: chromesphere on April 17, 2015, 01:01:41 AM

Title: Ridiculously Easy Light on Dark Method
Post by: chromesphere on April 17, 2015, 01:01:41 AM
Posted this on my facebook page.  Has to be the easiest Light on Dark method I have found to date (next to sticker letters probably).

Drawing with posca paint pens!  At some point, going to do a short video with some visual demonstrations of how they draw on enclosures and what you can do with them but here's a short break down of what I have found so far, as far as benefits / drawbacks:

Benefits:
- Light on Dark option (big plus in my books as easy light on dark methods are few and fair between)
- Erasable (water based paint can be rubbed off with your finger or a wet cloth)
- Colors can blend while still wet (see the photo below of the Arcadiator, the little sun/web doodle next to the stompswitch)
- Limited only by creative ability (could be a drawback if your no good at drawing :) )
- Creative outlet (One thing I personally admire about midwayfairs pedals and others that paint/draw)
- Paint / draw over the top of already dried paint  for easy touch ups

Drawbacks
- Price, pens are around $5 each in Australia.  But...they will last MANY pedals.  For pedals you really only need 1 size, the larger sizes aren't really necessary, unless you plan on covering a large area in a solid color.  Might be worthwhile to get a larger size as well in that case.
- not durable, you have to clear coat over, but we are all used to that anyway.

Anyone else tried it?  If you have a bunch of dark enclosures and not sure what to do with them, get a white posca (I think the best size is 1.3mm from memory) and start drawing! 

Also you can use a black sharpie, or as I have used here, 1mm artline, to highlight areas as well, but a posca works better (see black lines in the photo of the Egyptian eye for what I mean by 'high lights')

The pharoh (rullywow King Tut) still needs ET (epoxy coat), arcadiator is done.

What do you think?
Title: Re: Ridiculously Easy Light on Dark Method
Post by: peAk on April 17, 2015, 01:12:42 AM
Dammit Paul,

You got me excited, then reality kicked in.

These are great.....IF YOU ARE AN ARTIST.

for everyone else, not so much.

Title: Re: Ridiculously Easy Light on Dark Method
Post by: chromesphere on April 17, 2015, 01:17:20 AM
Hahaha, artist...Seriously Justin, I have the art ability of a 2 year old, that's why I like posca's.  Give me a paintbrush and ill draw you a stick figure.  All you have to do is write neatly for the words.  For the eye, I googled pictures and just roughly copied. 

This guys an artist :|


Title: Re: Ridiculously Easy Light on Dark Method
Post by: Lubdar on April 17, 2015, 02:02:30 AM
That does look like a cool approach!
Title: Re: Ridiculously Easy Light on Dark Method
Post by: wgc on April 17, 2015, 04:00:51 AM
These look fantastic!  Thanks for sharing.  Might give it a try if I get brave.
Title: Re: Ridiculously Easy Light on Dark Method
Post by: chromesphere on April 17, 2015, 08:59:13 AM
OK, we're learnin!  Dont use artline / sharpies if you are going to clearcoat with epoxy :D
Or maybe, you could say, USE artline / sharpies.  Looks like an electric effect!

Title: Re: Ridiculously Easy Light on Dark Method
Post by: Willybomb on April 17, 2015, 12:35:29 PM
Oh, that is heartbreaking.
Title: Re: Ridiculously Easy Light on Dark Method
Post by: midwayfair on April 17, 2015, 01:06:46 PM
(http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/ODUzWDY1OA==/z/PUkAAMXQDK1RxbTb/$(KGrHqMOKpYFG-CGJbR+BR)bT,vChg~~60_35.JPG)

(https://quinncreative.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/paintbrush.jpg)
Title: Re: Ridiculously Easy Light on Dark Method
Post by: Bret608 on April 17, 2015, 04:01:14 PM
Thanks for sharing! I could get my daughters to do the art for me. I thought of myself as okay at drawing when I was a kid but the things they do consistently blow me away.
Title: Re: Ridiculously Easy Light on Dark Method
Post by: billstein on April 17, 2015, 04:59:27 PM

Quote from: chromesphere on April 17, 2015, 08:59:13 AM
OK, we're learnin!  Dont use artline / sharpies if you are going to clearcoat with epoxy :D
Or maybe, you could say, USE artline / sharpies.  Looks like an electric effect!

I wonder if you could have sprayed on a few light coats of clear first. After letting the art dry for a few days. Then trying the epoxy.
Title: Re: Ridiculously Easy Light on Dark Method
Post by: davent on April 17, 2015, 05:40:15 PM
Quote from: billstein on April 17, 2015, 04:59:27 PM

Quote from: chromesphere on April 17, 2015, 08:59:13 AM
OK, we're learnin!  Dont use artline / sharpies if you are going to clearcoat with epoxy :D
Or maybe, you could say, USE artline / sharpies.  Looks like an electric effect!

I wonder if you could have sprayed on a few light coats of clear first. After letting the art dry for a few days. Then trying the epoxy.

+1 on clearcoating, a light, sprayed on isolation coat to protect the art from the epoxy, something that does't flow upon application.

Also i find Sharpies aren't truly black but a deep blue. Some of the Japanese and German permanent markers give you a much better black and are available in a very wide range of tip sizes. I like the the Microns and Staedlers.

Any idea on the 'light fastness' of the Poscas?
dave
Title: Re: Ridiculously Easy Light on Dark Method
Post by: alanp on April 17, 2015, 06:58:23 PM
As is probably infamous here by now, I like to use India Ink. I clearcoat it with clear nail polish (dries rock hard, doesn't come off easily (or at all), and you can get it at the pharmacy).

The only catch is that you have to brush the nailpolish on FAST -- after less than a second, the ink becomes liquid again underneath it, and will smudge if you touch the area. Speed is king.
Title: Re: Ridiculously Easy Light on Dark Method
Post by: wgc on April 17, 2015, 10:46:51 PM
Quote from: chromesphere on April 17, 2015, 08:59:13 AM
OK, we're learnin!  Dont use artline / sharpies if you are going to clearcoat with epoxy :D
Or maybe, you could say, USE artline / sharpies.  Looks like an electric effect!

Bummer, right in the nuts.
I also found out the hard way that sharpies are soluable in alcohol, so look for a clear that doesn't include alcohol base solvents. Easier said than done. Probably easier to use a different black ink (or dark blue/brown per davent).

The good news is now you know that you can fix misspelled words on dvdr with a little isopropyl
Title: Re: Ridiculously Easy Light on Dark Method
Post by: chromesphere on April 17, 2015, 10:56:46 PM
It turned ok, the eye looks kind of funky.  I wouldn't use it again though and just use a black posca instead.
Title: Re: Ridiculously Easy Light on Dark Method
Post by: wgc on April 17, 2015, 11:25:27 PM
Yah I dig it
Title: Re: Ridiculously Easy Light on Dark Method
Post by: cooder on April 17, 2015, 11:49:25 PM
This is pretty cool have to see if I can find those Posca pens here and give it a shot! Great!
Title: Re: Ridiculously Easy Light on Dark Method
Post by: davent on April 18, 2015, 12:13:51 AM
I like that too Paul, appears a lashes above the eye and veining around the eyeball, random enhancement! Don't tell people it's a mistake but turned out just as planned and no one will be the wiser.

dave
Title: Re: Ridiculously Easy Light on Dark Method
Post by: billstein on April 18, 2015, 02:22:42 AM

Quote from: davent on April 18, 2015, 12:13:51 AM
Don't tell people it's a mistake but turned out just as planned and no one will be the wiser.

dave

Yep. It's not a bug it's a feature. If somebody doesn't like it, look them in the eye and say "You don't like that! Really! It's the same technique all the big artist are using today. Dude Google it!" 

The best defense is a good offense.
Title: Re: Ridiculously Easy Light on Dark Method
Post by: chromesphere on April 18, 2015, 02:47:50 AM
Are you marketing billstein? :D

Seriously though, i have thought of a really cool effect for this.  Im thinking white enclosure, small black posca text for the knobs.  But for the name of the pedal, large black posca font.  Then tracing a small amount of artline / sharpie over that.  So the title of the text would have these waves spreading out from it.  Going to have to do that for a future build!
Title: Re: Ridiculously Easy Light on Dark Method
Post by: davent on April 18, 2015, 03:02:47 AM
Quote from: chromesphere on April 18, 2015, 02:47:50 AM
Are you marketing billstein? :D

Seriously though, i have thought of a really cool effect for this.  Im thinking white enclosure, small black posca text for the knobs.  But for the name of the pedal, large black posca font.  Then tracing a small amount of artline / sharpie over that.  So the title of the text would have these waves spreading out from it.  Going to have to do that for a future build!



If the Poscas are water soluble, to get the efffect and be somewhat in control you might just mist on some water after doing the lettering, if it's not to your liking the first time wash off and try again.

dave