
The Citadel Colour range by Games Workshop is a comprehensive collection of high-quality paints designed specifically for miniature painting, offering a vast array of colors and finishes to bring tabletop models to life. For hobbyists and enthusiasts, understanding the scope of this range is essential, as it includes not only base, layer, and shade paints but also technical paints, contrast paints, and specialty finishes like dry compounds and textures. With over 100 individual paints and counting, the Citadel range caters to every skill level and project, from intricate details to large-scale armies, making it a cornerstone of the miniature painting community.
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What You'll Learn
- Base Paints: Core range for base coating models, includes foundational colors for various schemes
- Layer Paints: Thicker consistency for adding highlights, enhances detail and depth on miniatures
- Shade Paints: Water-based washes for shading, adds depth and shadows to recessed areas
- Technical Paints: Special effects like blood, rust, or textures, for unique model finishes
- Spray Paints: Primer and base colors in spray cans, for quick and even coverage

Base Paints: Core range for base coating models, includes foundational colors for various schemes
The Citadel Colour range by Games Workshop is a comprehensive system designed for miniature painting, offering a wide array of paints to cater to every aspect of the hobby. Among these, the Base Paints form the core range for base coating models, providing foundational colors essential for various painting schemes. These paints are specifically formulated to offer excellent coverage with a smooth, matte finish, making them ideal for the initial layers of your miniatures. The Base Paints range includes a carefully curated selection of colors that serve as the building blocks for any project, whether you're painting armies for Warhammer 40,000, Age of Sigmar, or any other tabletop game.
The Base Paints range typically consists of around 50 to 60 colors, depending on the latest updates from Games Workshop. These colors are divided into categories such as reds, blues, greens, yellows, browns, grays, and metallics, ensuring that painters have access to a broad spectrum of hues. Each color is designed to be versatile, allowing painters to achieve consistent results across different models and factions. For example, colors like *Mephiston Red*, *Macragge Blue*, and *Waaagh! Flesh* are staples for base coating, providing vibrant and rich tones that form the foundation of many iconic schemes.
One of the key advantages of the Base Paints range is its compatibility with other Citadel Colour paints, such as Layers, Shades, and Technical paints. This allows painters to seamlessly transition from base coating to more advanced techniques like highlighting, shading, and texturing. The formulation of Base Paints ensures they dry quickly and leave a surface ready for additional layers, making the painting process efficient and enjoyable. Additionally, the range includes essential colors for terrain and scenery, further expanding its utility beyond just miniatures.
For beginners, the Base Paints range is an excellent starting point, as it provides all the foundational colors needed to complete a model. Games Workshop often offers bundled sets, such as the *Base Paint Set*, which includes a selection of essential colors to get new painters started. These sets are curated to cover a wide range of schemes, from the grim darkness of the far future to the vibrant fantasy worlds of Warhammer. By mastering the Base Paints, hobbyists can build a strong foundation for their painting skills and gradually explore more advanced techniques.
In summary, the Base Paints range is a cornerstone of the Citadel Colour system, offering a comprehensive selection of foundational colors for base coating models. With approximately 50 to 60 colors, this range caters to a variety of painting schemes and is designed to work seamlessly with other Citadel paints. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced painter, the Base Paints provide the essential tools to bring your miniatures to life with vibrant, consistent, and high-quality results.
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Layer Paints: Thicker consistency for adding highlights, enhances detail and depth on miniatures
The Citadel Colour range, a staple for miniature painters, boasts an extensive collection of paints designed to cater to every aspect of the hobby. Among these, the Layer Paints stand out as a crucial component for achieving stunning results. These paints are specifically formulated with a thicker consistency, making them ideal for adding highlights and enhancing the intricate details on miniatures. With a vast array of colors available, painters can bring their models to life with precision and depth.
When it comes to layering, the Citadel range offers an impressive selection. As of recent updates, there are over 50 Layer Paints in the Citadel Colour system, each carefully crafted to provide optimal coverage and pigmentation. This extensive palette ensures that artists can find the perfect shade for their desired effect, whether it's a subtle highlight or a bold, vibrant accent. The thickness of these paints allows for controlled application, enabling painters to build up layers gradually and create smooth transitions between colors.
The process of layering is an essential technique in miniature painting, and the Citadel Layer Paints are tailored to make this process seamless. Their consistency allows painters to apply thin, even coats, ensuring that the underlying details remain sharp and defined. By building up layers, artists can achieve a realistic sense of depth and volume, making their miniatures appear more three-dimensional. This is particularly crucial for highlighting raised areas, such as muscle definition, armor edges, or fabric folds, where the thicker paint can catch the light and create a striking visual impact.
One of the key advantages of the Citadel Layer Paints is their ability to enhance the overall presentation of a miniature. By strategically applying these paints, artists can guide the viewer's eye, emphasizing specific features and creating a focal point. The range includes various shades and tones, allowing for intricate shading and highlighting techniques. For instance, a painter might use a lighter Layer Paint to edge highlight a model's armor, making it appear sleek and well-defined, while a darker shade could add depth to the recesses, creating a sense of realism.
Furthermore, the Citadel Layer Paints are designed to work in harmony with the entire Citadel Colour system. This means that painters can easily integrate them into their existing workflows, using base coats, shades, and glazes to create complex and nuanced effects. The thickness of the Layer Paints ensures that they can be applied over other paint layers without obscuring the underlying details, providing a versatile tool for both beginner and advanced painters alike. With such a comprehensive range, artists are empowered to explore various techniques and styles, making the Citadel Layer Paints an indispensable part of any miniature painter's arsenal.
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Shade Paints: Water-based washes for shading, adds depth and shadows to recessed areas
The Citadel Colour range by Games Workshop is a comprehensive collection of paints designed specifically for miniature painting, offering a wide array of colors and types to cater to every aspect of the hobby. Among these, Shade Paints stand out as essential tools for adding depth and dimension to miniatures. These water-based washes are specifically formulated to flow into recessed areas, creating natural shadows and enhancing details with minimal effort. Unlike traditional paints, Shade Paints are thinner in consistency, allowing them to settle into crevices and grooves without obscuring the underlying details. This makes them ideal for both beginners and experienced painters looking to achieve professional results quickly.
When considering how many paints are in the Citadel range, it’s important to note that the Shade Paints are a distinct category within the larger collection. As of recent updates, the Citadel Colour system includes over 100 paints, with approximately 20-25 dedicated Shade Paints. These washes come in a variety of colors, from neutral tones like Nuln Oil and Agrax Earthshade to more vibrant options like Druchii Violet and Reikland Fleshshade. Each shade is designed to complement specific base colors, allowing painters to achieve cohesive and realistic shading effects. For example, Nuln Oil is a universal black wash that works well with most colors, while Carroburg Crimson adds a deep red tone to darker areas.
Using Shade Paints is straightforward but requires a bit of technique for optimal results. Start by applying a base coat to your miniature, ensuring the paint is fully dry. Then, load your brush with the shade and apply it generously over the areas you want to shade. The wash will naturally flow into recessed areas, so there’s no need to be overly precise. Once applied, allow the shade to dry completely before assessing the effect. If the shading appears too intense, a light dry-brush with the base color can tone it down. For deeper shadows, a second layer of shade can be applied after the first dries.
One of the key advantages of water-based washes like Citadel Shade Paints is their ease of use and cleanup. Unlike oil-based washes, they can be thinned with water and cleaned from brushes effortlessly. This makes them beginner-friendly while still offering the precision and control needed for advanced techniques. Additionally, their non-toxic formulation ensures a safer painting experience, especially for younger hobbyists. Whether you’re working on a single miniature or an entire army, Shade Paints streamline the shading process, saving time without compromising quality.
In the context of the Citadel Colour range, Shade Paints are a cornerstone of the layering and shading techniques that define the Games Workshop painting style. Their inclusion in the range ensures that painters have the tools needed to bring their miniatures to life, from tabletop-ready models to display-quality pieces. While the exact number of paints in the Citadel range may fluctuate with new releases and discontinuations, the Shade Paints remain a consistent and indispensable part of the lineup. For anyone looking to elevate their miniature painting, mastering these washes is a crucial step, and the variety available ensures there’s a shade for every project.
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Technical Paints: Special effects like blood, rust, or textures, for unique model finishes
The Citadel Colour range by Games Workshop offers a vast array of paints, including a dedicated line of Technical Paints designed to create special effects and unique finishes on miniatures. These paints are not for base coating but are specifically formulated to add realism, texture, and striking visual elements to models. With over 90 paints in the Citadel range, the Technical Paints category plays a crucial role in elevating the detail and storytelling of your miniatures.
Technical Paints are ideal for effects like blood, rust, grime, and various textures. For instance, Blood for the Blood God is a fan-favorite for creating realistic blood splatters, wounds, and gore effects. Its thick consistency allows it to pool and drip naturally, adding a gruesome touch to models. Similarly, Typhus Corrosion and Ryza Rust are perfect for achieving weathered metal effects, simulating the look of aged armor or machinery. These paints crack and dry in a way that mimics real rust, enhancing the realism of your models.
Textures are another strength of Technical Paints. Astrogranite and Martian Ironearth are excellent for basing, creating stone and earth-like surfaces that ground your miniatures in their environment. Armoured Tracks adds a rubberized texture, ideal for tank treads or mechanical components. These paints are designed to be applied directly over base coats, drying to provide a tactile and visually convincing finish.
For those seeking to add grime or wear to their models, Agrellan Earth and Stirpius Gunk are go-to options. Agrellan Earth cracks as it dries, creating a parched, cracked earth effect, while Stirpius Gunk adds a slimy, oily sheen to surfaces. These paints are perfect for models in industrial or swamp environments, adding depth and character to your miniatures.
Lastly, Technical Paints are user-friendly, even for beginners. They can be layered, mixed, or applied directly, depending on the desired effect. Their versatility allows hobbyists to experiment and achieve professional-looking results. With over 20 Technical Paints in the Citadel range, there’s a solution for nearly every special effect you can imagine, making them an essential addition to any painter’s toolkit.
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Spray Paints: Primer and base colors in spray cans, for quick and even coverage
Citadel's spray paint range is an essential toolkit for any miniature painter, offering a convenient and efficient way to lay down primer and base colors. These spray paints are specifically designed for use with miniatures, ensuring optimal adhesion and a smooth finish. The range includes a variety of primers, such as Black, White, and Grey, which provide a solid foundation for your paint jobs. Additionally, there are base colors like Corax White, Mephiston Red, and Abaddon Black, allowing you to quickly cover large areas with even, consistent color. This saves significant time compared to brush painting, especially for armies or large projects.
One of the standout features of Citadel spray paints is their formulation, which is optimized for miniature-scale models. The spray is fine and controlled, minimizing overspray and ensuring that the paint adheres evenly to even the smallest details. This makes them ideal for both priming and basecoating, as they dry quickly and leave a surface ready for layering or detailing. For best results, it’s recommended to shake the can thoroughly and apply the paint in thin, even coats from a distance of 6-8 inches, holding the can perpendicular to the model.
The Citadel spray paint range is part of the larger Citadel Colour system, which includes over 100 paints in total, encompassing base, layer, shade, dry, and technical paints. While the exact number of spray paints can vary depending on availability and new releases, there are typically around 10-15 spray paint options, including primers and base colors. This ensures that painters have a solid selection to choose from, catering to a wide range of color schemes and project needs.
When using Citadel spray paints, it’s important to work in a well-ventilated area or use a spray booth to avoid inhaling fumes. Additionally, masking off areas you don’t want painted can help achieve cleaner results, especially for complex models. After spraying, allow the paint to dry completely before handling or applying additional layers. This not only ensures durability but also enhances the overall finish of your miniatures.
For those new to miniature painting, Citadel spray paints are a fantastic starting point. They simplify the initial stages of the painting process, allowing you to focus on more advanced techniques like layering, shading, and detailing. Whether you’re working on a Warhammer 40,000 army, a Warhammer Age of Sigmar force, or any other miniature project, these sprays provide a reliable and efficient way to get your models table-ready in no time. Pair them with Citadel’s brush-on paints for a seamless painting experience from start to finish.
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Frequently asked questions
As of recent updates, the Citadel Colour range includes over 100 different paints, including base, layer, shade, technical, and contrast paints.
A: Yes, all Citadel paints are water-based acrylic paints designed specifically for miniature painting.
A: Yes, Games Workshop occasionally releases limited-edition or exclusive paints, often tied to specific campaigns or events.
A: There are over 50 Citadel Contrast paints, which are designed to provide shading and base coating in one application.
A: Yes, the Citadel range includes spray primers and technical sprays, such as textures and effects, in addition to the traditional paint pots.











































