Contrast
Citadel Contrast – fast colouring, shading and highlighting in a single step
Citadel Contrast paints are more transparent acrylic paints designed for quickly painting miniatures over a light undercoat. When applied correctly, the paint naturally collects more strongly in recesses while remaining lighter on raised areas, allowing you to create a base colour, shading and partial highlighting in a single step.
Contrast paints are suitable both for quickly painting entire armies and for individual areas of a model, including cloth, skin, organic surfaces, armour and striking colour effects. Individual shades vary in intensity and transparency, so they can produce anything from a subtle tint to a strong, saturated layer.
Contrast paint naturally settles unevenly across a textured surface – more pigment remains in the recesses and less on raised areas. This quickly creates a basic sense of light and shadow.
The final colour is strongly influenced by the colour of the undercoat. Contrast works best over light, smooth base layers that allow the transparent paint to create natural transitions.
Contrast does not have to be used only as a speed-painting technique. It can also be used for tinting, glazing, colour filters, shading details or as a base for further Layer highlights.
Load the brush with enough paint and work smoothly across individual areas of the model. The paint needs enough volume to flow naturally into the recesses. If too much paint pools in one area, remove the excess with a clean or slightly damp brush before it dries. For the best effect, use a smooth, light undercoat.
