Types of miniature paints

Before painting with any of these, apply to miniatures a primer layer. Use either a spray primer or a classic brush-on primer. All the paint types listed below should be thinned with water.

Citadel miniature paints

A range of high-quality acrylic paints from Games Workshop. Scoop the paint from the pots and thin it directly on your palette.

Base - base paints that are thick and offer high coverage. Perfect for the first coat, which you can then enhance with thinner layers.

Layer - thinner paints with lower coverage, used for subsequent layers. They help tint your miniature without completely covering the base coat. Great for adding extra color tones.

Shade - thin paint used for shading. It flows easily into crevices and gaps. It won't significantly change the miniature's base colors but provides a great shading effect.

Technical - paints that vary in shade, consistency, or final texture. Use these when you want unique effects like cracked earth, dried blood, or glossy slime.

Dry - paints designed for dry brushing large areas to achieve specific effects. Use them for weathering, dirt, or even the sheen on armor. They work perfectly in combination with Shade paints.

Contrast - contrast paints for when you want to apply just a single layer of paint to your miniatures. They combine the properties of other paint types to create subtle shading and highlights, though they don't replace specialized paints.

Army Painter miniature paints

High-quality acrylic paints made in Denmark. These bottles feature a dropper cap. No need to scoop with a brush; just drop the paint directly onto your palette and thin it there.

Warpaints - use these as a base coat or for layering. With less thinning, they offer high coverage for base coating. When thinned more, they are perfect for layering and tinting your miniature's base coat.

Metallics - glossy paints perfect for creating metallic effects. Great for armor, swords, and firearms.

Washes - thin paint used for shading. It flows easily into crevices and gaps. It won't significantly change the miniature's base colors but provides a great shading effect.

Speedpaint - contrast paints for when you want to apply just a single layer of paint to your miniatures. They combine the properties of other paint types to create subtle shading and highlights, though they don't replace specialized paints.