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PAINTING·WHITE DWARF 331

Citadel Toolbox: The Three-step Layer

July 2007·p. 89

THE SHORT VERSION

The colour chart reduces a useful gaming finish to three deliberate applications: a dark foundation, a broad middle colour and a restricted highlight on raised surfaces. Separate rich and natural palettes show combinations across reds, greens, blues, cloth tones and greys. The examples preserve the first colour in recesses rather than painting over it, giving newcomers a predictable starting point for later mixing and experimentation.

AT THE PAINTING DESK

Paints in this article

Every named colour below is searchable across the archive.

Warlock PurpleTentacle PinkSkull WhiteMechrite RedBlood RedBlazing OrangeScab RedRed GoreFiery OrangeMacharius Solar OrangeGolden YellowBad Moon YellowBronzed FleshSunburst YellowKnarloc GreenCamo GreenRotting FleshDark Angels GreenSnot GreenScorpion GreenOrkhide ShadeScaly GreenHawk TurquoiseNecron AbyssMordian BlueUltramarines BlueEnchanted BlueIce BlueSpace Wolves GreyLiche PurpleHormagaunt PurpleKhemri BrownDheneb StoneCalthan BrownSnakebite LeatherTausept OchreBubonic BrownBleached BoneChaos BlackCharadon GraniteGraveyard EarthDesert YellowAdeptus BattlegreyCodex GreyFortress GreyAstronomican Grey

Only explicitly named Citadel paints and mediums are indexed; unnamed colours and third-party products are not guessed.

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Three-step layering Colour chart Shading Highlights Foundation Paints Gaming standard

Back to the original

Find this article in White Dwarf 331, p. 89.

This is an original summary. Refer to your magazine for the complete article, rules, images and painting steps.

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PaintingWD 331 · pp. 20–24

Painting Mighty Empires Maps

Four maps demonstrate how colour and modest alterations turn the same tiles into Khemri’s desert, Middenland’s forests, Bretonnia’s farmland or the polluted Dark Lands. Rivers become coastlines, marshes become oases or lava fields, and clipped mountains make volcanoes. Painting techniques range from broad drybrushing to fine water highlights, while preparation advice preserves the tiles’ reversibility and keeps ownership pennants visually clear.

Warhammer Fantasy BattlesTomb Kings17 paint colours
July 2007Read summary
PaintingWD 331 · pp. 40–43

Painting Flagellants

Neil Hodgson paints the varied Flagellant figures as individuals within a coherent, weathered band. Different dark cloth basecoats receive a unifying wash before selective highlights restore their character; rust and tinted grey hair add further variation. Flames, parchment, ropes and dirt are treated in separate detail sequences, making a richly accessorised Prophet of Doom stand out without losing the regiment’s ragged common appearance.

Warhammer Fantasy BattlesThe Empire28 paint colours
July 2007Read summary
PaintingWD 331 · pp. 70–71

Painting Your Dragon

The red dragon’s scales progress from a purple-red foundation to fine orange edges, leaving darker centres and joins for depth. Wings use the same palette through drybrushing, while bone-tipped horns and yellow-glazed eyes create contrasting details. Mark Bedford’s green alternative follows the scale method with a restrained reptilian palette, showing how real animal references can produce a convincing monster without changing the underlying technique.

Middle-earth Strategy Battle GameMonsters of Middle-earth13 paint colours
July 2007Read summary