Dip as Primer?

[Ares]

I use a pigmented acrylic-based dip to seal and shade my painted (metal) figures, and am wondering if there is anything chemically inadvisable in using this as a primer also? I've got some figures to work on where I would like to bring out detail before painting, but don't want to resort to white priming. I normally use black primer, but this tends to obscure detail and I'm not always able to work under strong lighting. Any thoughts or knowledge?

Eric

[xeswop]

I "prime" figures with whatever color is to cover the largest area. Skin if native peoples, whitish if for robes and cloaks. No standard primer. Then consider the dip as a protective coat to protect against oxidation. The problem I have had with putting a polyurethane coating on first, is that some paints do not adhere well. I do not use acrylic dip, maybe that is better. Try on a spare figure to see if you can paint over it.

[Roland Fricke]

I have the same problem with black (bad eyes, bad light) so I started doing a very very light white or grey drybrush to pick out the details before I started painting. Have to be careful to not get too crazy or it covers areas that you wanted to stay black.

[ November 28, 2005, 18:36: Message edited by: Roland Fricke ]

[Dhingis Khan]

Yes, a light drybrush brings out details and also gives a base for colors like red that don't do well over a black undercoat. I'm now sold on black undercoat, drybrush white.