8- Misting your nerf gun

Misting can bring a pixelated appearance to a real-life prop, further enhancing the idea that it came out of a video game. It also can also make your blaster look like it was casted from the toughest metals in the known universe.

Two contrasting colors work best for misting. You can even use more if you feel like experimenting. I used black and brushed nickel.

What you will learn in this step

  • How to enhance the metallic look through misting
  • What distance to spray from

What you need to get started

  • Two contrasting colors of spray paint
  • Your accent paint
  • Good lighting

In the video I mist the blaster with a silver spray to give the blaster a metallic-alloy look.

The half I am holding on the right was not misted, and you can see how glossy it looks compared to the left half I misted.

It’s as easy as that! Once you’ve misted the pieces you want, give them an hour or so to air dry.

Misting recap

  • Hold the spray paint can at least 16–20 inches away to get a light spray mist
  • Use two contrasting colors to create a textured effect (we used black and brushed nickel)
  • Misting can reduce the sheen of your paint job while also making it look more metallic

Ultimately, what separates a professional painter from a beginner is their ability to make cheap materials look expensive. Misting is just one of the ways you can create the illusion your blaster is made of a metal alloy, and not cheap plastic.