I am a beginner and am talking about ww2 armour, I am very confused as why people airbrush highlights in the middle of panels. To me highlights are for high points on a model, how is the middle of a panel any higher than the edges? If anything I would be highlighting the panel edges as they are high points. If it is not used for this then I think people use it as colour fading and as weathering. However I dont understand why fading occurs only in the middle of panels, or am I wrong and everyone makes fading random all over panels.
In other words, where do the highlights go when using an airbrush on a tank? By the way highlighting in the middle of panels does make models look stunning but I just dont know why people do it. Please help
There is a forum specifically for painting and airbrushing. It is the one just below this one. You might get better responses there.
However, one effect the shading folks are trying to achieve, by adding lighter tones to middle of panels, or by pre-shading, is based on the idea that dirt, grease, grime collects mostly in seams and then leaches out over panel from edge inward.
Oh ok, That answered my question, so what you are saying is that they (maybe you) highlight the middle of panels for fading and weathering, not highlighting. Leaching makes a lot of sense thanks very much.
“Nathan” - thank you for the suggestion, I will try and ask them too, incase there is anything else thats missing, Don explained it very well and I understand now.