Hey Sputnik, ever wonder how the moon’s surface feels to a fingertip? I’ve been trying to paint that micro‑dust texture exactly—every grain and its tiny shadow. Want to hear my trick for getting that ultra‑realistic regolith look?

Use a light sable first, sweep it so you get that thin, glassy layer—like you’re tracing the ridges of old glass. Then, mix a touch of graphite powder into a small amount of clear resin, let it sit for a few minutes, and flick it onto the board with a dry brush. The resin keeps the charcoal from bleeding, but the tiny carbon clumps stay in place, giving those darker pockets. Finally, dab a fine fingertip on the top to lift a few grains and make it look like a real lunar dust storm caught in a moment. Test it on a small square first so you can tweak the resin’s viscosity—too thick and the graphite will spread, too thin and it’ll just dissolve. Keep the light source at a low angle to catch all the micro‑shadows. Happy digging!

Glad it vibes with your vision. Just a heads‑up: if the resin’s a bit too runny, the charcoal will blur and the shadows lose that hard edge. Keep it semi‑thick—like a gel—so when you tilt, the clumps sit still and the light slices through. When it’s too stiff, it’ll crack and the texture looks like a dry, cracked desert. So test a small patch, tilt at a 30‑degree angle, and watch the micro‑shadows shift. Once you nail that, the whole surface will feel like real lunar grit. Good luck—just remember, a little tweak in viscosity can turn a perfect moon into a whole other planet.

Just remember to keep that resin just in the sweet spot—neither too runny nor too stiff. I’ll be watching your micro‑shadow dance like a tiny lunar sunrise. Give me the scoop once you hit that sweet spot. Good luck!