Technique Library
Master these techniques to level up your painting game.
Two Thin Coats
The foundation of all mini painting — thin your paint and apply multiple coats for smooth, even coverage.
Washing (Shade Paints)
Apply a wash over basecoated areas to create instant shadows in recesses and add depth.
Drybrushing
A fast highlighting technique where you use an almost-dry brush to catch raised edges and textures.
Edge Highlighting
Paint thin lines of a lighter color along the edges and corners of surfaces to define shapes.
Layering
Build up smooth color transitions by applying progressively lighter colors to smaller areas.
Wet Blending
Blend two wet colors directly on the model for seamless, smooth transitions.
Glazing
Apply very thin, translucent layers of color to tint surfaces and smooth transitions.
Contrast / Speed Painting
Use self-shading Contrast paints over a light primer for a basecoat, shade, and highlight in one step.
Zenithal Priming
Prime with black, then spray white from above to create a built-in light map on your model.
Basing
Create a realistic ground surface on your model's base using texture paints, sand, or flock.
Non-Metallic Metal (NMM)
Simulate the look of metal using regular matte paints with careful highlight and shadow placement.
Object Source Lighting (OSL)
Paint the effect of a light source on the model, like a glowing sword or magic spell illuminating nearby surfaces.
Weathering & Battle Damage
Add realistic wear, chips, scratches, rust, and dirt to make models look battle-worn.