jbuckley421
Gravity Guru
Does anyone know a simple method to achieve a crystal like texture? I'm painting a snow flake, and would like a crystal texture, similar to stippling, but with sharper edges, if that makes sense.
crystal texture
- Thread starter jbuckley421
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Tradeshowjoe
Guest
jbuckley421
Gravity Guru
Yep, thats exactly the texture I'm looking for. Was hoping to not have to buy anything new though.
haasje dutchairbrush
Air-Valve Autobot!
There are some tricks to do textures like the plastic wrap, for this particular texture I haven't yet heard of a trick that gets this specific texture
jbuckley421
Gravity Guru
Plastic wrap was going to be my fall back. Was hoping somebody might know something else. I tried sprinkling salt on the paint while it was still really wet, but it didn't really do what I wanted.
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xvwarrior
Guest
Hi @jbuckley421, here in UK a lot of traditional narrow boats had faux wood grain painted on interior parts of the cabins, the product used was 'Scumble glaze' predominently for us on oil based coatings. The substrate was coated in the base colour and left to dry, a contrasting colour was mixed with the scumble and this kept the paint 'open' for ages. once painted over the first colour a comb was used to create the wood grain effect. I know this is not crystal effect, but by using the same product and you could 'rag' on the scumble colour. so on a dry base you apply the second colour with a scrunched up rag, dabbing it on in alternating angles. This is also possible with water based paint, using a very weak second colour. Do a search for broken colour effects.
hope this helps
Iv
hope this helps
Iv
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Tradeshowjoe
Guest
hey there j, your in the us. no, it's not very expensive. I have bought it direct from Alsa and also from a guy in Cali. The cost from "the guy" was around $20 for a smaller amount than Alsa sells. I'll try to find some info on "the guy" 
. sorry not more specific, yet. The only down side to the stuff is that it doesn't keep very long, so smaller size is nice. I'll be back
. sorry not more specific, yet. The only down side to the stuff is that it doesn't keep very long, so smaller size is nice. I'll be back
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Tradeshowjoe
Guest
http://www.kustomrides.com/
Ok, it's been a couple years since I bought from this store. they sold a small amount (then). On the website just now I only found it in 4LBs. Maybe if you contact him, he will sell less.
Or try this:
http://www.instructables.com/answers/How-to-chemically-reproduce-a-product-called-cryst/
I'll keep lookin for ya'
Ok, it's been a couple years since I bought from this store. they sold a small amount (then). On the website just now I only found it in 4LBs. Maybe if you contact him, he will sell less.
Or try this:
http://www.instructables.com/answers/How-to-chemically-reproduce-a-product-called-cryst/
I'll keep lookin for ya'
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Tradeshowjoe
Guest
wow, from all I can find, it is expensive. Really, no more than two years ago, I bought it cheap. wouldn't have got it otherwise! Crazy.
jbuckley421
Gravity Guru
Thank you for your help! This will essentially just amount to practice in the end. Just doing a favor for a friend, so Im not going to spend any money on it at this point. Maybe if I had paid better attention in chemistry class, I could reproduce the Alsa product, haha. I'll keep it in mind for any future projects!
Cpt.Nemo
Gravity Guru
Check this out
That's on black paper that some guy did just using Epsom salts in boiling water. Don't know how it would work on 3d surface or even on something other than paper but I'm going to find out. Time to hit the kitchen!
http://papermaniac.weebly.com/jayne/epsom-salts-background
There's the link. Will look into this more as I need the crystal effect for a bow I'm painting. Thoughts on photo? Is this what you're looking for?
That's on black paper that some guy did just using Epsom salts in boiling water. Don't know how it would work on 3d surface or even on something other than paper but I'm going to find out. Time to hit the kitchen!
http://papermaniac.weebly.com/jayne/epsom-salts-background
There's the link. Will look into this more as I need the crystal effect for a bow I'm painting. Thoughts on photo? Is this what you're looking for?
jbuckley421
Gravity Guru
Check this out
That's on black paper that some guy did just using Epsom salts in boiling water. Don't know how it would work on 3d surface or even on something other than paper but I'm going to find out. Time to hit the kitchen!
http://papermaniac.weebly.com/jayne/epsom-salts-background
There's the link. Will look into this more as I need the crystal effect for a bow I'm painting. Thoughts on photo? Is this what you're looking for?
That would be perfect! Well within my time and financial budget too! I'll be giving it a try as soon as I'm done with my current project!
jbuckley421
Gravity Guru
I could probably get away without having to paint them. I wonder if they would have any masking properties if painted over though?
Cpt.Nemo
Gravity Guru
That's what I was thinking. Maybe white background then put crystals on and spray a black paint down then wash the crystals off. Off comes the black paint like a stencil. I would think there would have to be some oil/water involved somewhere so the paint doesn't mix with the salt...
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Tradeshowjoe
Guest
sorry guys, work has been time and energy consuming the last couple days. I thought you understood the "temporary mask" nature of the beast here. Yes, you got it now. Basecoat, apply the "fx", light coats of another color, then wash the fx off. You really need to use light coats on the top pass, otherwise it has a tendency to "lock in" the fx, making removal a pain.
I haven't checked the link, but that epsom salt photo looks the same as the Alsa. With the Alsa crystal fx you can get different results by using differing degrees of scuffing before applying it. You also get differing results from air drying vs force drying.
I haven't checked the link, but that epsom salt photo looks the same as the Alsa. With the Alsa crystal fx you can get different results by using differing degrees of scuffing before applying it. You also get differing results from air drying vs force drying.
