Is it possible to add tint to Woodland Scenic’s Realistic Water?
The reason I ask is this; I created a lake bottom with natural sand and small gravel and added several layers of the Realistic Water over it. I like how the lake bottom looks, but the “water” is so clear that there is very little illusion of deptht to it. I was hoping that adding another layer or two (which I still have room for) with some color in it would help the illusion.
If it is possible, any suggestions on colors and ratios would be appreciated.
I haven’t used Realistic Water, but I always tint the Envirotex Lite that I use for water.
I add a drop or two of acrylic craft paint to small batches (2 or 4 ounces) of Envirotex. This is enough to “cloud” the mixture, but it remains more or less transparent. For ditches, I want muddier water, so I add a bit more, and use brown. For freshwater ponds and streams, I start with a bit of blue and black for the first layer, then just blue for the second, light green for the third and I leave the top layer clear.
Like Mister Beasley I have not used Realistic Water, but I usually tint the two part epoxy resin I like to use.
I like to use brown first - just a dab of acrylic paint to start with - then see how it looks. It might look quite dark in a small mixing pot, but when spread out it’s surprisingly transparent. It’s much easier and far more economical to add a pinch more rather than having to add a whole load more ‘water’ to dilute it.
Over the brown I like to use green - same story.
This river was brown then green then blue-green. Each one just a mild tint. There’s a weird reflection in there.
It might be my imagination, but I think adding paint reduces the bubble count.
Don’t be tempted to water down the paint first. Use it neat. With the resin, at least, it sends the mix milky - and that’s actually quite useful if you want ice! [which I do]
Mike
Add only a VERY SMALL amount of paint.
I dip a straw, a swizzle stick, or similar thing about an inch into the paint and then into the Realistic Water and stir. Sometimes even that is too dark.