RELATED: HOW TO ACHIEVE A TABLETOP STANDARD OR BATTLE READY MINIATURE PAINTING? In the dipping method, you literally dunk your models in a shading solution, like Army Painter Quickshade. Suffice it to say, a lot of products appeared in the market to aid the hobby tabletop gamer. This was done through “dips” in all sorts of darkened pigment chemical solutions. This required another step to add contrast through shading (or adding shadow to recesses). The need for hobby efficiency bred the miniature dip method.Īfter a base coat of color, a miniature’s details still required more definition. To get armies painted, techniques were developed to speed up the process. Historical military war gamers and scale miniature battle reenactments required huge numbers of models. The “dipping miniature” technique is a classic. One of the easiest methods for enhancing contrast in your miniature paint jobs is using the shade dipping method. The good news is that once you understand how contrast works as a principle for miniature painting, then you have a host of techniques you can explore. In short, contrast is what gives your model life on the tabletop or wherever you display your miniatures. Miniature dipping techniques help you quickly shade recesses, define texture, and makes highlights show up better. This photo example shows the appearance of high or low contrast. As others have said, “contrast does all the work–but, color takes all the credit.” Contrast is what makes a painted model “pop”. When you paint miniatures, your challenge will always be to maintain contrast while adding color. In photography terms, contrast helps you to distinguish objects from each other through the appearance of shadows and light.
It is also known as the “dynamic range” of a paint job. Contrast is defined as the difference in brightness value between the darkest dark, and the brightest bright on a miniature. When someone talks about the 3D pop of a miniature paint job, they are referring to contrast. Why “Contrast” is Really Important for Painting MiniaturesĬontrast is what makes a painted miniatures standout from the tabletop. There are several great ways to use Quickshade. Protecting models for gameplay and handling (Quickshade acts as a varnish)Īrmy Painter Quickshade is great for enhancing contrast and adding definition to a lot of miniatures, quickly.Dipping miniatures (small/medium sized).Board game and tabletop RPG miniature painting.Speed painting a large number of miniatures.To take the shine off them, coat them with a matt varnish such as Army Painter Matt Spray.Summary: Best Uses for Army Painter Quickshade this method allows you to apply the shade in a more controlled manner, and crucially lets you wipe off any excess from the model with more accuracy.Īs a final note, I would like to point out that, once dry, your models will be insanely shiny (and probably smell funny for a few weeks too ). This stuff gums up brushes like nobody's business, making them unusuable unless you wash them in turps or something). Apply Quickshade to the models using an old paintbrush (I stress the use of the word OLD. I havent tried anything else on my models, but I imagine woodstain would work just as well (you might need to thin it a bit though).Īs was also said, do NOT dip your models.
Price can be an issue though (as others have said), but Im lucky in that I get the stuff from an independant stockist with whom I get discounts (FYI it costs about $40 - $50 dollars normally).
If nothing else, its a great way to get your painting score up in tournaments. Advocate of Quickshade here! This stuff is a godsend for people who are not very adept at painting much more than base colours onto models (like myself).
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