Painting etched brass number / name plates

[Buzzard]

I know the general rule is to paint the background colour and then remove it from the raised areas.  However I have a requirement for plates with a black background and the raised areas in white, don't ask why as it's a long story.

So how would I achieve the required effect?

I was thinking about painting the plates all-over white and when dry doing the black and wiping over the raised areas immediately to reveal the white underneath.  Sensible / stupid?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[johnlambert]

The approach of giving a coat of white then a coat of black sounds sensible to me.  It might be worth doing the first coat in enamel and the second coat in acrylic so that the second coat of paint doesn't lift or mix with the first.  I've found that brush painting acrylic on acrylic can result in a horrible mess as the thinners in the second lot of paint strip the initial coat of paint.

[dwv1968]

I tried it the other way - painted the sign white and then gave it a black wash. Perhaps needed to dry brush some white.

[maridunian]

I was thinking about painting the plates all-over white and when dry doing the black and wiping over the raised areas immediately to reveal the white underneath.  Sensible / stupid?

Yes, that'd work - but I'd endorse John's warning observation too!

Mike