Try making life a little easier on yourself. Keep the tone variations to a low odd number...like 3-5 shades.
Why?
1) Fewer people will rip into your hide here.
2) Do as I say, not as I did (tried myself...on a different ship). (See #1 above)
3) You will get a reasonable effect with less work. If you're using a more advanced program than "Paint" you should be able to toggle for fewer tone gradations but it probably won't randomize it over the hull.
4) If you're doing it by hand, fewer is better, you won't go both blind and insane.
Take a look at my FD USS Wasp thread:
http://www.shipbucket.com/forums/viewto ... =19&t=5319 There will be examples using both graded shading and one more suitable for upload.
If you need to use scores of shades and it gets the endorphins running, go for it! You're a sick person.
CraigH