In July, I wrote an article about the arrival of the contrast paint for Games Workshop. It claimed that this is a new range and they will completely change the way we draw characters. I have developed a 4-step procedure that explains how I will investigate the properties of paints and help determine if they are things you might want to add to your paint library.

As always, my painting plan was disrupted a bit, especially because of the arrival of Warhammer AoS: Warcry. Looking back on this set has taken up quite a lot of my spare time, but it also means that I need to use some painting to crack it. In this regard, the arrival of contrast coatings is very accidental.

Here are 13 things I learned about contrast paint.

Although you can just use contrasting paint, you won't want it. First, you might want some metallic colors. Many painters greater than me have already mentioned it, but contrast paint is just another tool in your painter's box. They definitely have their uses, but just like you don't (and shouldn't) hammer screws into the wall, they can't do everything. However, there are some painting jobs that they are good at. After the initial suspicion, I would not be without them.

"A thick coat" is the marketing slogan of Contrasting Paint, which is an impromptu interpretation of Duncan's "two-layer thin coat" slogan in the Warhammer TV painting video. A thick coat is fine, but nothing more. We applied thick paint on some of the Star Warrior models, and frankly, the results were not so good. My son is particularly dissatisfied with his results.

My second son likes these paints very much, and we found that black is particularly good, even on large flat areas. My eldest son tried to paint some dark angels, but was the least impressed. I can't say I blame him. I think he would better spray the green primer, add detergent, and dry brush on the top.

If you only use contrast, you will have the same problems as my son. You can't put light colors on dark colors. This has been a problem in the past. Sunburst yellow almost always requires a fresh white primer on the area you want to paint. The current Citadel Base range is so good that for modern painters, this is hardly a problem. At my level of painting, even lighter colors can be applied to darker areas, with almost no effect on the final effect. Especially if you use two thin coats. With contrast, you can't do that.

In addition, if you use a mixture of contrasting colors and more solid colors, please take care to put down the contrasting color paint first. If you end up using a solid color primer on the finished contrast layer by mistake, the error is difficult to correct.

To solve this problem, you need some brush primer. This may be a deal breaker for my son. If you want to apply a darker contrasting paint to a lighter paint, you must repaint the error with a primer. This is not a big problem, although the primer is very viscous and may need to be diluted a bit. Psychologically speaking, I think this is daunting for new painters. It feels a bit like moving backwards, and then inevitably worrying that you will accidentally paint on the painted part. Even for people like me who paint often, there is a psychological barrier to painstakingly painting on the things you want to repaint.

Contrast paint comes in handy when painting organic materials, any grooved objects, or flowing surfaces. The paint is where it should be and provides good highlights on the protruding edges. Coloring my Sylvaneth Warhammer Underworlds model is like a dream, because the effect of the paint on their wooden skin texture is exactly the same as in the advertisement.

Likewise, the bones and cloak on this Middle-earth Journey model look amazing compared to the lack of effort. The ghoul spent a total of about 20 minutes painting time.

In addition to the paint series, you can also purchase several "technical" paints, two of which I have not used yet, and the third is a contrast medium, which I have used a lot. So when painting the Warcry landscape, I had to buy another bottle. There are several reasons for this. The first and most important thing is that it allows you to better control the paint. If you apply paint neatly, it may clump and eventually become mottled and too dark. By diluting at a ratio of 1:1, the paint can flow better where it wants to go, resulting in a cleaner surface. You can also better control the final color. You can leave it in one layer for a more subtle effect, or you can add additional coatings for a stronger, more uniform effect.

If you do get some contrast agent, consider buying a dropper bottle to transfer it. (See entry 12 below) Note: You cannot dilute these paints with water. I haven't tried it, but it obviously destroys the paint's properties.

I haven't done so many wet blends, but it is a popular technique that allows you to get smooth color transitions. The smoother consistency of Contrast coatings (especially when you use a moderate dilution) makes them very suitable. It is very easy to mix colors together by level to achieve a smooth transition from one type to another.

If you have used a light-colored contrast primer, mixing from dark to light is very easy, because paint goes a long way. Even if you simply mix it with your fingers or a piece of paper towel, you can make great results from dark to light. It is worth noting that you can push the paint farther when diluting the paint with a contrast medium, and you can make a small amount of paint play a greater role.

It is worth a try, because on different primers, you can get completely different tones. Even on the same primer, the degree of dilution of the paint and the range of paint application will greatly change the color of the finished model. I find this is particularly effective when painting landscapes. On wood, you can create different tones, so it looks like some have been bleached. When painting my battle cry scene, I can get a good sandstone effect. It took some experimentation. My first building was much darker than the others, because I didn't realize how far a little paint would go. The final result is obtained using approximately 15:1 medium:paint mixing. As mentioned above, I do use a lot of media in this way, and there must be a more cost-effective way of doing things.

If you are a bit sloppy with brushes like me, runny paint is not always ideal. Carry a paper towel or dry brush with you to absorb spills. On the plus side, due to its more transparent nature, it will not cause too much paint spillage.

Well-documented contrast coatings are more effective than metallic coatings, and my own experience proves this. I haven't finished drawing the necromancer, but I am very impressed with the effect I got. I also used them to produce good results on my Iron Golem.

I think GW has a blind spot for paint cans. They seem to like making jars with poorly sealed lids. This means that the paint dries too easily. I am replacing my Citadel paint with Vallejo equivalent. Every time I find a pot that has dried out since the last time I used it (frustratingly frequent occurrences), I will buy Vallejo paint to replace it. Mainly because Vallejo paint is contained in a dropper bottle.

The dropper bottle not only prevents the paint from drying out, but also better spreads the paint on the palette without clogging your brush. They are also more suitable for mixing. The dropper bottle prevents accidental cross-contamination of paint, because you don't have to insert the brush into the paint every time you want more paint. In addition, every time the brush is cleaned and added to the paint tank, it will change the consistency of the paint. I often get paint with the correct color but too thin. A dropper bottle can also solve this problem. 

For contrasting paints, because they are more fluid, they are less likely to dry out, but if you overturn an open can, they will overflow more easily. If they are in a dropper bottle, the risk of spilling is much smaller. Using a medium-sized bottle that is larger and easier to spill seems particularly short-sighted.

I haven't had any major problems, but I noticed that if you deal with a model with contrast paint, the paint is easy to peel off. You can solve this problem by adding varnish. Although this is relatively simple, this is another time cost you need to consider when deciding whether the comparison is right for you.

Contrast color paint has many uses, if you want to quickly bring a huge army to the desktop, they can definitely speed up your painting project. Paints are not as simple to use as they are made, or if you use them roughly, you may be disappointed with the finished model. However, on the right surface, a quick paint using 4 or 5 contrasting paint colors can give you a beautiful model in a fraction of the time with a more traditional paint.

Like all art tools, practice makes perfect, and even if you are not usually the kind of artist who uses "technical" paint to take your miniatures to the next level, you can use contrast paint to create some sublime effects. You will definitely want to choose some contrast media to help change the properties of the paint and better control the paint strength of the model. With a little practice and experimenting with color intensity, contrasting color pigments can help you improve your drawing to 11. 

Disclosure: I received a set of comparative paints to try. 

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