Object-Source-Lighting or OSL is a mini-painting feature where the actual source of the light is depicted on your model or its base, such as a torch, lamp or glowing sword. Basically, the model is painted to look like the light is being projected onto the rest of the mini.
OSL is one of my favourite mini-painting techniques. I think it just looks so damn cool, and brings so much life and realism to a piece. It really makes it seem like it’s capturing a moment in time. I’ve tried it myself, but the results weren’t particularly great.
An interesting tidbit about OSL is that we can pinpoint exactly who brought it to miniature painting. In 2001, Victoria Lamb became the first female hobbyist in the world to win the Slayer Sword (an award given at the annual Golden Demon event for the top model of the entire show - Golden Demon is for the best miniature painters in the world), and she did it with the first known model in wargaming hobby to feature object source lighting:
Victoria herself is an interesting and inspiring figure. She started painting Warhammer back in the mid-eighties, and now has her own line of miniatures (check them out https://victoriaminiatures.com/)
Tomorrow I'm back to a basic technique, so I should have some better examples of my own work.
Hugs & Kisses,
-CDGK
That is pretty cool to add the light from the lightsabers. Hasbro Pulse recently introduced a Vader figure that's all highlighted in red like the original "Revenge of the Jedi" poster--when the movie was still called that. I guess that's kind of the same thing on a bigger scale.
ReplyDeleteThat technique is amazing. The first figure looks like there is an actual light there. Keep working at it.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to see some of your examples.