True Metallic Metal LiGHT - Ruby Red

Ruby metal on the edges of armor

A ruby tone with a metallic sheen has a cooler core shifted toward purple compared with fiery reds. It comes across more as a precious stone set in metal than as red-hot sheet, and that is why it is sought on the decorative parts of armor, on grips, clasps and magical objects. The bottle carries the step of the system that is the lightest and goes on last, on the surfaces most exposed to light.

How it differs from the airbrush version

The same color exists in a form intended for the airbrush. That one is thinner, comes out of the bottle without further treatment and suits a case where a large continuous area is to be covered with metal, say a vehicle hull, a wing or a big shield. This thicker version, by contrast, can do what spraying cannot: a precisely aimed stroke along an edge without masking the surroundings. Anyone painting individual figures will reach for this one; anyone painting large parts will save time with the thinned counterpart. The two forms match in color and differ in density and technique.

A practical note on the work: metallic pigments need a smooth base. On a rough undercoat the sheen breaks up and the shade looks more like a matte red.

Stir the contents before every use, the heavier particles sink to the bottom within a few days of standing. Apply the layers thin and always let them set, otherwise the pigment is pulled up by the next stroke and the glossy surface goes dull.

The shade goes together with the other members of the metallic system and with the ordinary acrylics of the same manufacturer, so you can mix your own intermediate step right on the palette.