The MLP Arena

Creativity => Customs => Topic started by: Shenanigans on February 17, 2014, 03:05:36 AM

Title: Question about sealing
Post by: Shenanigans on February 17, 2014, 03:05:36 AM

I was wondering if I should seal the pony's body first and then paint the symbol on or if I should wait to seal the whole thing after she's completely finished. I'm afraid of messing the symbol up and I was thinking if her body was sealed then I could use a bit of acetone to wipe the symbol off... but it may take the body paint off too XD If I mess the symbol up I suppose I could just paint over it with the body color, right?

So do you guys seal before or after painting on the symbol?

Title: Re: Question about sealing
Post by: StrawberryMeadow on February 17, 2014, 04:18:53 AM

Acetone would be a bad idea but if you're using acrylics or watercolours you should be able to quickly wipe it off with water if you make a mistake. Acrylics bond so if the body colour is properly dry, you should be able to wipe off the new stuff if you make a mistake, just don't let it set.

Title: Re: Question about sealing
Post by: mlp4me on February 17, 2014, 08:39:53 AM

I seal the body before I paint on symbols. I use matte mod podge. If I mess up I usually clear it off quickly with water (as strawberrymeadow has mentioned). I usually mix the paint that I use for body so it can be difficult to match colors later on...

Title: Re: Question about sealing
Post by: kaoskat on February 17, 2014, 10:08:32 AM

I seal between each step, so yeah, before adding symbols. The acrylics will wipe off with water as mentioned if you make a mistake.

Title: Re: Question about sealing
Post by: Shenanigans on February 17, 2014, 05:32:13 PM

Thanks for the advice :D

Title: Re: Question about sealing
Post by: Diamond on February 17, 2014, 05:36:53 PM

I seal too, but I use Testors Dullcoat.  Works great.

Title: Re: Question about sealing
Post by: Pythia on February 17, 2014, 10:23:51 PM

Yep, I seal between FBRs and symbols, and wipe off any mistakes with a damp cotton bud. :)

Title: Re: Question about sealing
Post by: Griffin on February 18, 2014, 02:06:44 PM

Looks like I'm an oddball here as I usually don't seal until I've painted the whole thing. :D I think it really just depends on how you feel, and possibly on the sealant you use. I've noticed paint actually comes easier off a coat of paint rather than a coat of sealant (at least the one that I use) in case I need to wipe it off with water. Sometimes I need to add some more of the FBR colour to fix mistakes, and it seems to blend much better if I haven't sealed the body yet. Other sealants may work differently of course, and it looks like sealing first works for others. There's really no right or wrong way to go about it. :)