Priya Kapoor
Citadel paints can be overwhelming for beginners due to their variety, but understanding the differences between them can help you get started with confidence. Citadel Base paints are the foundation of your miniature, providing a solid base to build upon. They contain more pigment, resulting in a solid finish with fewer layers, and are designed to give a smooth matte finish over black or white undercoats with a single layer. Layer paints, on the other hand, are used to add depth and highlights. They are slightly thinner, facilitating colour building and smooth blends. They allow the colour beneath to slightly show through, aiding in blending. Additionally, Contrast paints offer both a vivid base and realistic shading in a single application, while Technical paints add unique effects. Understanding these distinctions will enhance your miniature painting experience.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Base paints | Foundation of miniatures, starting point |
| Block in main colours after priming the model | |
| Contain more pigment | |
| Opaque | |
| Generally, don't take as many layers to get a solid finish | |
| Designed to give a smooth matte finish over black or white undercoats with a single layer | |
| Layer paints | Add depth and highlights |
| Slightly thinner than base paints | |
| Let some of the colour below bleed through | |
| Provide a huge range of colours and tones | |
| Designed to be used straight over base paints without any mixing | |
| Designed to be used over one another | |
| Can be used to create a rich, natural finish on models |
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What You'll Learn
- Base paints are the foundation of miniatures, used to block in main colours
- Layer paints are used to add depth and highlights, creating smooth blends
- Base paints are opaque and thicker than layer paints
- Layer paints are slightly thinner and can be used to build up colour
- Base paints are generally applied first, with layer paints used on top
Base paints are the foundation of miniatures, used to block in main colours
Citadel Base paints are the perfect starting point for your miniatures, providing a solid foundation of colour. These paints are designed to be used after priming your model, blocking in the main colours with thin, even coats. The base colour you choose will have a significant influence on the final look of your miniature, so feel free to experiment and find the right shade. Base paints contain more pigment, often requiring fewer layers to achieve a solid finish. They are also slightly thicker than layer paints, allowing for a smooth matte finish over black or white undercoats with just a single layer.
When it comes to adding depth and highlights to your miniatures, Citadel Layer paints come into play. These paints are designed to be used over Citadel Base paints, providing a wide range of colours and tones to choose from. Layer paints are thinner than base paints, making it easy to build up colours and create smooth blends. With a smaller brush and a bit of thinning, you can achieve precise results and bring your miniatures to life.
It's important to remember that layer paints allow some of the colour below to bleed through, aiding in the blending process. By using several layers of Citadel Layer paints, you can create a rich, natural finish that will make your models stand out on the battlefield. The key to success is thin, controlled coats, ensuring you don't hide the intricate details of your miniatures.
Citadel Base and Layer paints work together harmoniously to create stunning results. The base paints provide the initial coverage, while the layer paints add depth and dimension. By understanding the role of each type of paint, you can confidently experiment with different colours and techniques, taking your miniature painting skills to the next level. So, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned painter, always remember to start with a strong foundation and build upon it to bring your creations to life.
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Layer paints are used to add depth and highlights, creating smooth blends
When painting Warhammer miniatures, it can be challenging to choose from the many Citadel paints available, such as Base, Layer, and Shade paints. Citadel Base paints are the foundation of miniature painting and are used to block in the main colours after priming the model. They are opaque and have a higher pigment concentration, resulting in a solid finish that requires fewer layers.
Citadel Layer paints, on the other hand, are used to add depth and highlights, creating smooth blends. They are slightly thinner than base paints, making it easier to build up colour gradually and achieve smooth transitions. This gradual build-up of colour allows for a rich, natural finish on the miniatures. Layer paints are applied in multiple thin coats, with each layer adding subtle variations in colour and tone. This technique of layering helps to create depth and visual interest in the painted surface.
To achieve the best results with Citadel Layer paints, it is recommended to use a smaller brush for precision work. Additionally, thinning the paints with a small amount of water can enhance their performance and improve the blending process. Layer paints are designed to be used over Citadel Base paints, and they allow the underlying colour to show through slightly, aiding in the creation of seamless blends.
Citadel Layer paints offer a wide range of colours and tones, providing artists with numerous options to choose from. This variety allows painters to create subtle gradients and add highlights to their miniatures, enhancing the three-dimensional appearance of the models. The use of Layer paints is an essential step in achieving a professional and detailed finish on Warhammer miniatures.
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Base paints are opaque and thicker than layer paints
Citadel Base paints are high-quality acrylic paints designed to provide a smooth matte finish over black or white undercoats with a single layer. They are the foundation of your miniatures and are used to block in the main colours after priming your model. Base paints are opaque and thicker than layer paints, containing more pigment. This means they generally don't require as many layers to achieve a solid finish, and they are easier to apply in thin, even coats.
Citadel Layer paints, on the other hand, are also high-quality acrylics but offer a wide range of colours and tones to choose from when painting your miniatures. They are designed to be used over Citadel Base paints and can be applied in multiple layers to create a rich, natural finish. Layer paints are slightly thinner than base paints, allowing for easy blending and smooth transitions.
The difference in opacity and thickness between base and layer paints is intentional and serves specific purposes in miniature painting. Base paints, being opaque, provide a solid coverage that hides the underlying surface. Their thickness also contributes to their ability to create a uniform base layer. On the other hand, layer paints are designed to let some of the colour below bleed through, facilitating blending and adding depth to your miniatures.
It's important to note that while base paints are thicker, they are still applied in thin layers to avoid hiding the intricate details of your miniatures. The thickness of base paints also means that they may require thinning before use, depending on the desired consistency and the specific painting technique being employed. Layer paints, due to their thinner consistency, can be built up gradually to achieve the desired colour intensity and blending effects.
In summary, the difference in opacity and thickness between base and layer paints in the Citadel range is intentional and serves distinct purposes in the miniature painting process. Base paints provide solid coverage and a foundation for further detailing, while layer paints offer versatility in colour blending and adding depth to your creations.
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Layer paints are slightly thinner and can be used to build up colour
When painting Warhammer miniatures, the variety of Citadel paints available can be overwhelming. Base paints are the foundation of your miniature and act as a starting point. They are opaque and contain more pigment, which means you will generally not need as many layers to get a solid finish.
Layer paints, on the other hand, are slightly thinner than base paints. This makes it easy to build up colour and create smooth blends. You can use a smaller brush for precision work and thin the layer paints with a bit of water for the best results. Layer paints let some of the colour below bleed through, helping with blending and adding depth and highlights to your miniature.
Citadel layer paints are high-quality acrylic paints that provide a wide range of colours and tones to choose from when painting your miniatures. You can use them straight over Citadel base paints or over each other without any mixing. By using several layers, you can achieve a rich, natural finish on your models.
Citadel paints also come in shades, contrasts, technicals, and dry compounds, each serving a unique purpose in miniature painting. Shades, also called washes, are super thin and settle into the recesses, adding shadows and making details stand out. Contrast paints provide a vivid base and realistic shading in a single application, while technical paints are for creating unique effects. Finally, dry compounds are perfect for dry brushing, a technique used to highlight raised details.
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Base paints are generally applied first, with layer paints used on top
Citadel paints can be broadly categorized into base paints and layer paints. Base paints are usually applied first and are the foundation of your miniature models. They are designed to give a smooth matte finish over black or white undercoats with a single layer. These paints contain more pigment, which means you get a solid finish with fewer layers and more for your money. They are also opaque, acting as a base coat for your model.
Layer paints, on the other hand, are used to add depth and highlights to your miniature. They are slightly thinner than base paints, making it easy to build up colour or create smooth blends. These paints are not opaque, allowing some of the colour below to bleed through, which helps with blending.
Citadel base paints are high-quality acrylic paints that are specially formulated for basecoating your Citadel miniatures quickly and easily. They are designed to be applied in thin, even coats to avoid hiding the intricate details of your models.
Citadel layer paints also come in a wide range of high-quality acrylic colours and tones. They are meant to be used straight over Citadel base paints (and each other) without any mixing. By using several layers of these paints, you can achieve a rich and natural finish on your models.
It is important to note that the base colour you choose will influence the final look of your miniature, so experimentation is encouraged. Additionally, thinning your layer paints with a small amount of water and using a smaller brush for precision work can enhance the final result.
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Frequently asked questions
Citadel Base paints are high-quality acrylic paints formulated for basecoating miniatures. They are opaque and thicker than layer paints, providing a solid base of colour. Layer paints, on the other hand, are slightly thinner and designed to be built up in multiple layers, adding depth and highlights to your miniatures.
Yes, Citadel Base paints are designed to be used over a primer. You can use either a black or white undercoat, and the base paint will provide a smooth matte finish on top.
Yes, that is the recommended approach. Citadel Layer paints are designed to be used directly over Citadel Base paints without any additional mixing required.
Layer paints are ideal for creating smooth blends and transitions. Use a smaller brush for precision work and thin your layer paints with a small amount of water to achieve the best results.
Yes, Citadel offers a range of specialty paints, including Shade paints (or washes), Dry Compounds, Contrast paints, and Technical paints, each designed for creating unique effects and enhancing your miniatures.
