So I've been given a bottle of transparent resin to 3D print minis, and I want to use it to make the minis that would benefit from it being transparent, see through, translucent, etc either because their body is naturally see through like.water or air elementals, they always or potentially invisible like invisible stalkers, or for other reasons. it'd be nice to have as full a list as possible so I can just print them all off and then the resin can be used for more mundane printing.
Do you know which monsters have those kinds of qualities? Examples I've thought of so far:
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The Vampire's "Mist Form" might be something to consider making. There might be several creative designs other than just a standard cloud; but even that could be an interesting addition to the table.
The Nightmare might also work based on its description: "A nightmare appears in a cloud of roiling smoke, its mane, tail, and hooves wreathed in flame. The creature’s unearthly black form moves with supernatural speed, vanishing in a cloud of brimstone as quickly as it appeared." So using a translucent design captures the fiend in a stages between appearance and disappearance.
One other thought, maybe look up some Celestials that are described to radiate divine powers or energy. Try to give the mini an illusion of glowing with the powers of the heavens.
If it were tinted, the gem dragons might be cool, but I assume it's not. Similarly, I wouldn't do the Fire elemental because it needs the tint.
The resin itself is clear, but I'm hoping contrast paints on top would work...or maybe I can borrow some inks, so colour isn't a major issue.
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If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
I would not do fire elemental or water elemental. Fire tends to be a mix of red, orange and yellow (although a blue-white one could also work). Water tends to be a mix of blue-white (although a blue-green one could also work).
If it were tinted, the gem dragons might be cool, but I assume it's not. Similarly, I wouldn't do the Fire elemental because it needs the tint.
The resin itself is clear, but I'm hoping contrast paints on top would work...or maybe I can borrow some inks, so colour isn't a major issue.
Citadel makes a few technical paints (like Sandstone Red, Waystone Green, and Blood for the Blood God) which do great for painting transparent pieces. They are designed to be clear when dry and stick well to clear resin without a primer. Warcolours also makes a lot of gemstone and transparent paints which work well—the citadel ones go on easier, but Warcolours has a lot more color selection.
The real secret to painting transparent resin is how you finish it. No matter what paint you use, you’ll want to use a high gloss topcoat on it. This helps give the entire piece a shine, which makes up for some of the dull, cloudiness of transparent resin, and brings the whole thing together.
For a more substantive response to your underlying question - Oozes in general are a good option, even beyond Cubes.
I also recommend considering things other than just monsters. I have a number of 3D printed acid pools in different sizes which are great for all manner of things. Traps, terrain, showing status effects. Spell effects are another good option - Bigby’s Hand, spiritual weapons, etc., since those are things which players can use and which can double as traps or animated weapon enemies in a pinch. Big fan of minis which can easily serve multiple purposes.
If it were tinted, the gem dragons might be cool, but I assume it's not. Similarly, I wouldn't do the Fire elemental because it needs the tint.
The resin itself is clear, but I'm hoping contrast paints on top would work...or maybe I can borrow some inks, so colour isn't a major issue.
Citadel makes a few technical paints (like Sandstone Red, Waystone Green, and Blood for the Blood God) which do great for painting transparent pieces. They are designed to be clear when dry and stick well to clear resin without a primer. Warcolours also makes a lot of gemstone and transparent paints which work well—the citadel ones go on easier, but Warcolours has a lot more color selection.
The real secret to painting transparent resin is how you finish it. No matter what paint you use, you’ll want to use a high gloss topcoat on it. This helps give the entire piece a shine, which makes up for some of the dull, cloudiness of transparent resin, and brings the whole thing together.
For a more substantive response to your underlying question - Oozes in general are a good option, even beyond Cubes.
I also recommend considering things other than just monsters. I have a number of 3D printed acid pools in different sizes which are great for all manner of things. Traps, terrain, showing status effects. Spell effects are another good option - Bigby’s Hand, spiritual weapons, etc., since those are things which players can use and which can double as traps or animated weapon enemies in a pinch. Big fan of minis which can easily serve multiple purposes.
Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it. I've not done printing or painting with this stuff before, just the normal opaque resin. With respect to the high gloss, I have 'Ardcoat gloss varnish (Citadel), would that be gloss enough, or not really?
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
If it were tinted, the gem dragons might be cool, but I assume it's not. Similarly, I wouldn't do the Fire elemental because it needs the tint.
The resin itself is clear, but I'm hoping contrast paints on top would work...or maybe I can borrow some inks, so colour isn't a major issue.
Contrast/speed paint over clear PLA/resin totally works, however the key is to gloss varnish first. This will allow the contrast/speed paint to flow smoothly and maintain a good transparency.
If you have access to it, airbrushing contrast/speed paints over a clear, varnished model will give more of a even tint rather than darkening the recesses
If it were tinted, the gem dragons might be cool, but I assume it's not. Similarly, I wouldn't do the Fire elemental because it needs the tint.
The resin itself is clear, but I'm hoping contrast paints on top would work...or maybe I can borrow some inks, so colour isn't a major issue.
Citadel makes a few technical paints (like Sandstone Red, Waystone Green, and Blood for the Blood God) which do great for painting transparent pieces. They are designed to be clear when dry and stick well to clear resin without a primer. Warcolours also makes a lot of gemstone and transparent paints which work well—the citadel ones go on easier, but Warcolours has a lot more color selection.
The real secret to painting transparent resin is how you finish it. No matter what paint you use, you’ll want to use a high gloss topcoat on it. This helps give the entire piece a shine, which makes up for some of the dull, cloudiness of transparent resin, and brings the whole thing together.
For a more substantive response to your underlying question - Oozes in general are a good option, even beyond Cubes.
I also recommend considering things other than just monsters. I have a number of 3D printed acid pools in different sizes which are great for all manner of things. Traps, terrain, showing status effects. Spell effects are another good option - Bigby’s Hand, spiritual weapons, etc., since those are things which players can use and which can double as traps or animated weapon enemies in a pinch. Big fan of minis which can easily serve multiple purposes.
Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it. I've not done printing or painting with this stuff before, just the normal opaque resin. With respect to the high gloss, I have 'Ardcoat gloss varnish (Citadel), would that be gloss enough, or not really?
I have used that before and it worked fine. Presently, I am using Vallejo Metal Varnish and that has worked fine as well. As long as it is clear and glossy, you should be good to go.
I have not tried Davyd’s trick of also glossing first, but that makes a lot of sense to me. It might not be necessary for the glossy paints, like the Citadel gemstone technicals, which go on a little thicker, but I can see that working wonders for thinner paints, which sometimes struggle with clear resin.
Another trick, for things like fire elementals, it is really easy to make things like that by blurring transparent paints together. For example, for a fire elemental (mentioned since someone indicated might be hard to paint), I would do Blood for the Blood God at the bottom, then the Sandstone Red (which is really more orange) above that, blurring the two paints while still wet at the border, then use the orangey-color Citadel shade (which comes out more yellow when dried) at the top, blurring the seam with Sandstone Red. That creates a nice little fire effect that goes from darker red to yellow, with a slow transition due mixing paints while wet. You can do the same thing with water, acid, ooze, etc. to give a little dimension to your clear pieces, in a way that opaque paints do not quite do as well.
So I've been given a bottle of transparent resin to 3D print minis, and I want to use it to make the minis that would benefit from it being transparent, see through, translucent, etc either because their body is naturally see through like.water or air elementals, they always or potentially invisible like invisible stalkers, or for other reasons. it'd be nice to have as full a list as possible so I can just print them all off and then the resin can be used for more mundane printing.
Do you know which monsters have those kinds of qualities? Examples I've thought of so far:
Air Elemental.
Fire Elemental?
Water Elemental.
Gelatinous Cube
Ghost.
Invisible Stalker.
Specter.
Water Weird.
If you could help, that would be appreciated. I'll add any new ones to this list as people mention them.
Thanks!
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Specter, Ghost
If it were tinted, the gem dragons might be cool, but I assume it's not. Similarly, I wouldn't do the Fire elemental because it needs the tint.
Monsters specifically referred as being invisible or transparent among your list are Gelatinous Cube and the Invisible Stalker. The Water Weird in invisible in water but i think it would be better with blue color and the Fire Elemental with red color. Other monsters that could be made transparent poltergeist , Banshee, Air Elemental, Ghost, Specter and other incorporeal creatures
The Vampire's "Mist Form" might be something to consider making. There might be several creative designs other than just a standard cloud; but even that could be an interesting addition to the table.
The Nightmare might also work based on its description: "A nightmare appears in a cloud of roiling smoke, its mane, tail, and hooves wreathed in flame. The creature’s unearthly black form moves with supernatural speed, vanishing in a cloud of brimstone as quickly as it appeared." So using a translucent design captures the fiend in a stages between appearance and disappearance.
One other thought, maybe look up some Celestials that are described to radiate divine powers or energy. Try to give the mini an illusion of glowing with the powers of the heavens.
The resin itself is clear, but I'm hoping contrast paints on top would work...or maybe I can borrow some inks, so colour isn't a major issue.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
I would not do fire elemental or water elemental. Fire tends to be a mix of red, orange and yellow (although a blue-white one could also work). Water tends to be a mix of blue-white (although a blue-green one could also work).
Citadel makes a few technical paints (like Sandstone Red, Waystone Green, and Blood for the Blood God) which do great for painting transparent pieces. They are designed to be clear when dry and stick well to clear resin without a primer. Warcolours also makes a lot of gemstone and transparent paints which work well—the citadel ones go on easier, but Warcolours has a lot more color selection.
The real secret to painting transparent resin is how you finish it. No matter what paint you use, you’ll want to use a high gloss topcoat on it. This helps give the entire piece a shine, which makes up for some of the dull, cloudiness of transparent resin, and brings the whole thing together.
For a more substantive response to your underlying question - Oozes in general are a good option, even beyond Cubes.
I also recommend considering things other than just monsters. I have a number of 3D printed acid pools in different sizes which are great for all manner of things. Traps, terrain, showing status effects. Spell effects are another good option - Bigby’s Hand, spiritual weapons, etc., since those are things which players can use and which can double as traps or animated weapon enemies in a pinch. Big fan of minis which can easily serve multiple purposes.
Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate it. I've not done printing or painting with this stuff before, just the normal opaque resin. With respect to the high gloss, I have 'Ardcoat gloss varnish (Citadel), would that be gloss enough, or not really?
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Contrast/speed paint over clear PLA/resin totally works, however the key is to gloss varnish first. This will allow the contrast/speed paint to flow smoothly and maintain a good transparency.
If you have access to it, airbrushing contrast/speed paints over a clear, varnished model will give more of a even tint rather than darkening the recesses
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I have used that before and it worked fine. Presently, I am using Vallejo Metal Varnish and that has worked fine as well. As long as it is clear and glossy, you should be good to go.
I have not tried Davyd’s trick of also glossing first, but that makes a lot of sense to me. It might not be necessary for the glossy paints, like the Citadel gemstone technicals, which go on a little thicker, but I can see that working wonders for thinner paints, which sometimes struggle with clear resin.
Another trick, for things like fire elementals, it is really easy to make things like that by blurring transparent paints together. For example, for a fire elemental (mentioned since someone indicated might be hard to paint), I would do Blood for the Blood God at the bottom, then the Sandstone Red (which is really more orange) above that, blurring the two paints while still wet at the border, then use the orangey-color Citadel shade (which comes out more yellow when dried) at the top, blurring the seam with Sandstone Red. That creates a nice little fire effect that goes from darker red to yellow, with a slow transition due mixing paints while wet. You can do the same thing with water, acid, ooze, etc. to give a little dimension to your clear pieces, in a way that opaque paints do not quite do as well.