Arcane Elements Set

The light of a spell as a discipline of its own

Seven bottles are chosen for a single task, namely for glowing effects that are meant to look as though they shine of their own accord. The lightest point is a pale yellow, and around it spread transparent inks in yellow, red, green and blue. They are accompanied by two opaque tones, a pink and an electric blue.

Why inks in particular

An ink is heavily pigmented and yet almost transparent, so it can be layered over a light base without covering it. That is exactly how the transition from an almost white core to a saturated edge of a flame, a rune or a crystal is built up. The opaque shades serve as the first color layer under an ink, or conversely as a sharp highlight of light on an edge. In the role of a base opaque coat an ink on its own would disappoint.

What to watch out for

• Always lighten the base under an ink, as on a dark ground the effect is lost.
• Layer thinly and let it dry, as the saturation builds up faster than you would expect.
• Tune the reflection on the surrounding armor to the color of the source, as otherwise the spell looks stuck on.
• Decide where the source of the glow is before you reach for the first bottle.

Within the range this is the smallest package, holding seven shades against the usual eight. It finds a use outside fantasy as well, for instance on instrument panels, dials and the signal lights of vehicles. The same procedure will also bring out the glass of a lantern or a smoldering ember in the fire of a diorama.