If you enjoy making miniatures for your tabletop games, you’ve likely heard of Citadel paints. These paints consist of high-quality acrylics and are perfect for applying to your Citadel miniatures. There are different types of paint you can use in different situations. One of these is the Citadel dry paint.
Citadel dry paint is the best option for dry brushing a model. You can use it to apply highlights and more details to the piece. It’s best to add the dry paint in small amounts, then go over the layer again once it dries. There are plenty of techniques that you can use as well.
Overall, dry paints have plenty of uses! This type of paint works well for quick, stunning highlights and other details. If you want to add a metallic look to your models, this is one of the best ways to do it! There’s plenty to learn about Citadel dry paints, so be sure to stick around.
How Does Citadel Dry Paint Work?
Citadel dry paints have a thick consistency, making them great for the small details you want to embellish on your models. You use this paint last after you’ve already added all the base colors to the piece. The dry paint should go on top so it’s visible.
The company specifically designs this dry paint to work with dry brushing techniques. This painting style quickly adds “pops” of color to raised areas on a miniature, making it look more realistic. The best part is that the technique is easy- you don’t need to be an advanced painter to do it.
This paint also doesn’t require water. You want to use a stiff, dry brush directly in color, then wipe off some of the pigment on a paper towel. In other words, these paints stay opaque and vibrant, which gives your models an impressive effect.
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Do You Need to Shake Citadel Dry Paint?
Since Citadel dry paints are thicker than their other figure paints, you won’t need to shake them. If you see lumps in the paint, you can use a toothpick to stir them back into the liquid.
Many people tend to shake their Citadel dry paints out of habit when they don’t need to. This reaction often happens because their varnishes and primers require shaking the containers for about two minutes. However, you can save some time with the dry painting by not doing this.
While you technically don’t need to shake your Citadel dry paints, it won’t hurt the color if you do. The paint is so thick; it may not even move around much inside the container during shaking.
How Do You Use Dry Paint?
Using dry paints in your miniatures is straightforward. You’ll want a small brush with stiff bristles, often referred to as a dry painting brush. You also should have napkins or a paper towel around since this technique can be a bit messy.
Start by dipping the brush directly in the paint without watering it down. Make sure to wipe off the excess paint, then flick the brush across the surface of the figure wherever you want to add a highlight. You’ll notice a subtle gradient building up in that area.
You can dry paint anywhere you want to add more detail to the model. With this technique, the brush should catch raised surfaces, making it a fast process for you. Although, you still want to make sure you don’t rush and make mistakes.
You should add paint slowly to the model. Allow for plenty of drying time before adding another coat of dry paint. It’s always best to work slowly and build up the color on the model instead of adding extremely thick layers all at once.
How to Rehydrate Citadel Dry Paints
If you haven’t used the dry paints in a long time, you may notice that they’re dried out next time you open them. Unfortunately, this can happen to anyone, so you must know how to revive your dried-out paints!
Luckily, fixing your paints is easy. Simply add a few drops of room temperature water into the container with the dry paint. From there, you can stir it together with the back end of your paintbrush or a toothpick. You’ll need to work the lumps that appear back into the paint before you try to use it.
If you need to add more liquid, you can close the lid and shake the container. Then, stir the paint like normal. You want to continue stirring and adding small amounts of water until the dry paint returns to its normal consistency. Don’t forget that dry paints are thicker than ordinary Citadel paints!
Are Citadel Dry Paints Worth It?
Citadel dry paints are very worth it! These materials are straightforward for anyone to use, regardless of their skill level and age. Dry painting allows you to add more detail to your figure, giving it a finished look. Many people enjoy dry brushing and creating unique designs with these paints.
However, if you don’t like the appearance of dry brushing, you don’t need to add it to your models. Your miniatures can look however you want them to, which is the best part of painting them! You shouldn’t hesitate to experiment with different kinds of painting techniques. You’re sure to find a style that you enjoy recreating.
Final Thoughts
To summarize, Citadel dry paints work best with a dry brush. You can quickly apply the paint to create highlights, shine, and metallic effects. You want to build up the color slowly, so you should work in thin layers.
Adding dry paint should be one of the last steps when painting your figure. You can take time to add all the details you want at this stage, giving you exceptional final results. Overall, make sure you provide the paint with enough time to dry before you move on to adding more.
If you enjoy painting miniatures, then dry brushing is a technique you’ll want to familiarize yourself with. It’s excellent for painting armor and other metal objects.