Priming drow - black vs. white

[TollHouseGolem]

So I'm about to start painting up a drow war band, and was wondering what color primer my fellow painters prefer for their drow. I'm going for a more traditional D&D dark-skinned drow if that makes a difference. Thanks in advance for your answers!

[Rastl]

For me it would depend on the other colors being used on the figure. I only use black when the figure is mostly armor and I can see the benefit in doing black primer on black skin but again, for me it would depend on how the rest of the figure was going to be painted. I actually use white on almost anything as it gives me more control over my shadows than black does. There are others here *cough cough Heisler cough* who prefer grey for almost everything because it keeps a neutral color.

 

If all your colors are dark then it makes sense to use a black primer.

[Bumble_B]

I planned on just doing mine in white, as its easier for me to go from lighter to darker if need be, then from darker to lighter in color.

 

The grey primer sounds like an interesting idea though .... hmmmmmm

[Mercius]

I personally use grey primer for everything.

[Doug Sundseth]

Gray primer is obviously the correct choice of color in every circumstance.

 

 

 

I actually use several different colors, depending on the effect I want to get. I've even used Red-Brown for figures with predominantly tertiary color schemes. But gray is my first choice in most cases.

 

 

[fieldarchy]

I would say white regardless of everything else on the drow that way you don't have a huge headache painting the hair. I prime everything in white. White is THE BEST! No matter what Merc and Doug say.

[Mercius]

I would say white regardless of everything else on the drow that way you don't have a huge headache painting the hair. I prime everything in white. White is THE BEST! No matter what Merc and Doug say.

 

 

Ohhhhhhhh why I oughtta!!!

[Dr.Bedlam]

I almost always use white. With drow, I'd use white because you want the non-black colors you're going to use to stand out; with black primer, they'd get muted. I've had good results undercoating drow skin in cobalt blue after priming in white.

[Mercius]

I have a dream, that one day...white primers and black primers can be used together without regard to the color of their content, but the character of their coverage!

 

 

I apologize in advance for that.

[Doug Sundseth]

I have a dream, that one day...white primers and black primers can be used together without regard to the color of their content, but the character of their coverage!

 

And another convert to gray primer is born.

 

[Mercius]

I have been a convert since I bought my first can of Tamiya Fine Surface primer. I mentioned that I used it at a painting competition judging at Games Workshop and got dirty looks from the manager, who was telling the person how great their primer is. (Citadel primer never covers right for me, I always get bumps and grit and poor coverage no matter what conditions I use it in).

[darksharpthings]

I used Black primer on my Drow (she's up in the WIP section) & I now regret it. The hair hasn't been as much of a pain as trying to see the little bitty details of her face. I used the Reaper Dark Elf Skin Triad paint, but getting that base coat of skin down was a pain.

[Hot Lead]

I have a dream, that one day...white primers and black primers can be used together without regard to the color of their content, but the character of their coverage!

I apologize in advance for that.

 

 

Can't we all just get along?

 

Later,

Laszlo

 

 

[Hot Lead]

I have a dream, that one day...white primers and black primers can be used together without regard to the color of their content, but the character of their coverage!

 

And another convert to gray primer is born.

 

 

Honestly, when I started painting in the early 90's everyone I knew used grey. Then Mike McVey started priming his minis white (*gasp*!) Then after he left GW they started pimping the black primer "method" for quick painting. Partly it depends on what you learn when you start out.

 

I personally like white for minis that need to be brighter, but I've started using grey again for ones where I want a subtler look. With grey you can still bring it up to pure white if you need to. That's much harder with black primer.

 

Take care,

Laszlo

 

 

 

[Mercius]

I think grey primer works for me, because I use more earth tones and subtler highlights and shades at the moment.