Zenithal Priming
Prime with black, then spray white from above to create a built-in light map on your model.
Zenithal priming creates a pre-shaded undercoat by first priming the entire model black, then spraying white primer from directly above (the zenith — where the sun would be). This creates a natural gradient from dark shadows underneath to bright highlights on top. When you paint over this with thin paints or Contrast paints, the dark-to-light gradient shows through, giving instant depth without any shading work.
Best For
Recommended Paint Types
Step-by-Step
Prime the entire model with black primer (spray or brush-on).
Let it dry completely.
Hold the model upright and spray white primer from directly above at a 45-degree angle.
Rotate the model while spraying to hit all the upper surfaces.
The result should be: black in deep recesses, grey on sides, white on top surfaces.
Optionally, do a final targeted spray of pure white on the very highest points.
Paint over with thin paints or Contrast paints — the shading will show through.
Pro Tips
Grey primer works as a middle step between black and white for smoother gradients.
Take a photo of the zenithal prime — it shows you exactly where highlights and shadows should go.
Contrast paints over zenithal priming is one of the fastest ways to paint an army.
You can do this with an airbrush for the smoothest results, but rattle cans work fine.
Common Mistakes
Spraying white from all angles — only spray from above and slightly to the front.
Applying too much white — you should still see plenty of black and grey.
Not letting the black coat dry before applying white.
Painting over the zenithal with opaque, thick paint that hides the gradient.