Highlights on wet uniforms?

Your initial idea sounds about right, going for an opverall darker effect. I'd avoid using gloss ona very pourous material, like wool or cotton. Leather, helmet, exposed skin could be glossed.

"Wet" would tend to darken a figure; I would lightly gloss the flesh parts, rifle, hard non-porous parts....agreed about NOT "glossing" the fabric. I would not do that at all, even in DB mode.

Maybe try a very thin overall wash of raw umber or bunt umber. Those will give the darkening to the base color and may leave something of a sheen as well. With some areas left in the orginal dry color there will be a noticeable difference.

Don't forget to kep in mind how he got wet.  If he waded, he would completely wet to a certain point with splashes going higher.  If it was rain, he'd be wet on top and dry underneath.  A pocket may be wet but it might be drier under it. If it is still raining, water might still be dripping in places, like his chin or helmet rim.

cassibill wrote:

Don't forget to kep in mind how he got wet.  If he waded, he would completely wet to a certain point with splashes going higher.  If it was rain, he'd be dry on top and dry underneath.  A pocket may be wet but it might be drier under it. If it is still raining, water might still be dripping in places, like his chin or helmet rim.

 

Good point.  It would look cool, and get across the point that he's wet, not simply painted too dark, if you had like half his unifrom darker, maybe chest up dry, as if he was wading in chest deep water.  Would be hard but look awesome if you pulled it off.

Getting soaked while feeding the livestock can be a valuable learning experience.  If the jacket turns water really well, the pants get soaked from the run off, water tries to pool in the folds of the pants. Lots of little things.

Thanks, everyone, for the advice. These particular dudes will be storming Omaha. Fully soaked, tossed around.

Steve