Levels
Objective Painting Standards
Here is a visual guide:
http://www.bluetablepainting.com/view_gallery.php?galleryID=839
This is a guide for painting figures, to keep quality within a range of quality (not too low nor too high). This is only a guide. The Art Director’s judgment can lean in either direction, but not jump from one Level to another.
Some models are more complex than others by virtue of how they are sculpted. This is primarily why there is a range of price inside each level.
Models that are larger will pay more because of the amount of area that needs to be painted. However, they must still meet the same definitions according to their level.
When the Art Director critiques a group of ten or more models of Level 3 or less, the models are considered as a group with only a few pulled out as representative of the group. Level 4 and higher models are all given 360 degree consideration of every model.
Rating 1-9 Client pays for Infantry
Level 2- Tabletop $2.50-$3.00
Paint applied to whole model
Two levels of shading
Standard base
Looks good at 36” away (across the table the unit as a whole has a good appearance)
No eyes
Level 3- Wargamer $5.00-$7.50
Three levels of shading (see below for explanation)
Standard base
Looks good at 18” away (on your side of the table the models have an attractive appearance, you might note some minor errors on close inspection, but not the kind of examination the models will typically get during a game)
Zero or one form of embellishment
Basic Eyes
This is the recommended level for models for large-scale wargames (eg Warhammer).
Level 4- Elite $8.00-12.00
Four levels of shading (see below for explanation)
Standard base
Looks good at 9” away (any closer and your eyes couldn’t focus properly, errors if any are very minor and only evident if the model is photographed and blown up to six inches tall)
Clean Eyes
Two or Three of the following:
§ Embellished or Decorative Base
§ Embellishment
§ Detailed Embellishment (counts as two)
This is the recommended level for models for small-scale skirmish games (eg Confrontation, War Machine, Mordheim, Rezolution).
Level 5- Champion $13-20
Five levels of shading (see below for explanation)
Decorative base standard
Looks good at 9” away (any closer and your eyes couldn’t focus properly, the model is embellished and detailed more—something to look at for a minute)
Detailed Eyes
Three or Four of the following:
§ Embellished or Decorative Base
§ Embellishment
§ Detailed Embellishment (counts as two, for example: highlighted runework, dual layer weathering)
This is the recommended level for Hero models for large-scale wargames (eg Warhammer).
Level 6- Hero $22-35
Six levels of shading (see below for explanation)
Decorated Standard base
Looks good at 9” away (any closer and your eyes couldn’t focus properly, colors are bright and details are clean, the model is embellished and detailed—something to look at for a few minutes)
Detailed Eyes and Face
Four or Five of the following:
§ Embellished Base (for example: added foliage, bloodstains, runes on rocks)
§ Embellishment
§ Detailed Embellishment (counts as two)
This is the recommended level for single Hero models for small-scale skirmish games (eg Confrontation, War Machine, Mordheim, Rezolution).
Blue Table does not currently offer painting services above Level 6. However, here is a reasonable price range for work of higher levels.
Level 7- Display Quality $50-150
Level 8- Award-Winning $200-450
Level 9- Divine $500-1500
Levels Shading
Shading has reference to the blending of one color into another to create the illusion of depth. The smoothness and distinctness of the transitions is the key here. In this case it can also refer to other elements added to enhance the appearance or feel of the model. Most, if not the entire model should meet the requirements for shading even if different parts qualify for different reasons.
Traditionally, shading is achieved with layering, drybrushing or blending. And these techniques can be used to qualify for a layer of shading according to this guide. However Drybrushing can only ever count as one level of shading.
A well-applied single or dual layer of glaze can count as two or three layers of shading
1) a deep, almost black layer.
2) a mid-range layer.
3) and a lighter layer at the highest points.
To achieve further levels of shading, or the equivalent to meet the standards of this guide, you can:
§ Deepen the recesses
§ Highlight the high areas
§ Provide differentiation of tone or color between areas
§ Undercoat with a solid layer of paint
§ An embellishing layer (eg rust, slime, polished areas)
§ Differentiation of color or contrast (eg picking out belts, rivets)
§ Blackscale on top of a deeper layer (counted as one or two layers)
Basing
http://www.bluetablepainting.com/view_gallery.php?galleryID=481
Standard Base (Included in cost of painting)
Typically two features, eg gravel and grass. We have a menu of bases to choose from.
Specialty Base ($1.50 per base)
These are bases with more complicated composition, most often taking up the entire top of the base with green-stuff work, corking, multiple levels, etc.
Decorative Base ($0.75 per base)
A Standard or Specialty base can have a decoration added. Decoration types appropriate for a base are listed in the Standard Bases album.
If there is no feature included during assembly, the painter should create one (this can be something non-integral, like a pool of blood, or a bush which can be added after priming and painting)
Dioramic Base
Generally can only be done for large models, includes features that tell a story, up to and including one simple additional figure. These are quoted individually and usually cost $10-50.
Embellishments
An embellishment is a detail that does not exist on the model, but is added by the hand of the artist.
· War paint
· Tribal markings or Tattoos
· Embroidery (on a cloak, for example)
· Runework (on clothing, weapons, sheathes, quivers, etc.)
· Patterns (on clothing, weapons, sheathes, etc. could be dags, spirals, squares, arabesques, or the like)
· Weathering (dust on robes, rust, pock marks, dribbling slime)
Detailed Embellishment (same as above but with more detail)
There will be occasions where a model does not lend itself to embellishments, the existing figure’s detail presents opportunities for detail and depth.
Eyes and Face
Basic Eyes (white with black iris)
Clean Eyes (edge, white with black iris)
Detailed Eyes (edge, white with black iris and eyebrows)
Detailed Face (same as above but with lips)
Levels and Assembly
For models assembled en masse for Level 2 or 3 painting there is some margin for error on parts of the model. For example, If there is a mould line on the underside of a leg here and there, that is all right.