MACRAGGE BLUE (12ML)

Tutorial: Base Paints

Base paints are designed to give your miniatures a solid foundation. These paints are specially formulated to provide a high pigment count, ensuring a strong base coat that will hold up through the rest of your painting process. They also provide a smooth matt finish, which is perfect for highlighting and adding details later.

Why Use Base Paints?

• High Pigment Count: Base paints contain more pigment than regular paints, which helps to cover your miniatures more effectively with fewer layers.
• Solid Coverage: They create a strong, uniform coat, which makes them the perfect first layer on your model.
• Smooth Matt Finish: The smooth finish gives your model a clean, non-reflective surface, ensuring subsequent paint layers adhere properly.

How to Use Base Paints:

1. Prepare the Miniature:

   • Make sure your model is clean and primed. Priming is essential as it allows the base paint to stick better.

2. Shake the Pot:

   • Always shake the paint pot thoroughly before use to ensure the pigment is properly mixed.

3. Apply the Base Coat:

   • Using a Citadel Starter Brush or similar, dip the brush into the paint and load it evenly.
   • Start by applying a thin, even layer across your miniature.
   • Work in sections, covering large flat areas first, then moving to smaller or more detailed parts.
   • Don’t over-saturate the brush; it’s better to build up the coverage with thin layers.

4. Allow Drying Time:

   • Allow the first coat to dry completely before applying a second layer (if needed). Drying time will vary, but typically takes 20-30 minutes.

5. Apply More Layers:

   • If the coverage isn’t strong enough after the first layer, apply a second or third coat. Always let the paint dry between layers to avoid streaks.

6. Ready for Next Steps:

   • Once the base coat is dry, you can move on to other techniques like shading, highlighting, and detailing.

Pro Tips:

• Use Thin Coats: Multiple thin layers give better results than one thick coat, which can result in uneven texture.
• Clean Brushes Regularly: Clean your brush before dipping it back in the paint to avoid mixing in excess amounts of paint on the brush.
• Use a Palette: Consider using a palette to thin the paint slightly if you find the consistency too thick.

Conclusion:

Base paints are essential for laying down the groundwork on your miniatures. With their high pigment count and smooth finish, they provide the perfect foundation to build up further layers. With just a few simple steps, you can have your models ready for highlights and details, ensuring that your miniatures look fantastic on the tabletop.