Don’t miss our 100% unofficial DIY tutorial on how to make your own Citadel Contrast paints, as we put them through their paces again!
Contrast paints came out in the summer of 2019 with a bang. A handful of colors (approx. 7 of them) are much more popular and therefore worth buying for pre-mixed out of the bottle use. However, for the less common colors, maybe we should try making our own with Rob!
We’ll use these mediums and some Airbrush Flow Improver as the primary solvent. Which medium you wish to use is solely dependent on the effect you are aiming for. Rob thinks he got the best flow using the regular old matte medium (right), that can be purchased in bulk (above).
Combine whichever medium you prefer in a half and half mix with flow improver to create your own “Contrast thinner”
For a quick comparison, the left model was made with the normal Contrast Paints and the right model was made with the samples Rob mixed together. Other than minor color differences that can be fine-tuned, the properties of the paint can be seen and they are almost identical in that respect!
Rob suspects that the Contrast uses super high pigments (like inks) to make those vibrant colors, so try experimenting with some of those for similar color pops!
The way we handle these mixtures is simply by placing some of our 50-50 medium/flow improver mix and the paint we want to use on the palette and mixing them a little bit to create the consistency we are looking for.
In the glowing green above, we see the GW Contrast on the top coils, with Rob’s mix on the bottom ones. Other than the color, the “pop-iness” and general characteristics of the paints are very similar as we can see!
Rob says there are about 7 “must-have” Contrast paints for his hobby toolbox. With this DIY Contrast thinner, you can make any other color you want by mixing it with washes, acrylics, and even inks.
Be sure to check out some other examples and Rob’s in-depth commentary as seen in the video below!
These are affiliate links, as an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
About the Author: Andrew Schrank
Andrew Schrank
Job Title: Miniatures & Warhammer Hobby Staff Writer
Socials: Facebook
About Andrew Schrank: Over the past 15 years, Andrew has played all the games, including tabletop and video games, and immersed himself in the associated lore. Andrew joined the Spikey Bits team in 2018 and covers the Warhammer hobby and tournament scene, along with the latest in tabletop miniatures, each week.
Aspiring diplomat, Lord of Fluff, and Master of Ice Hammer, He loves Star Wars, Chaos Undivided, and Gundam. During his free time, he hunts Platinum trophies on PS5 and reads international news. On weekends, Andrew plays commander and cEDH games, often with unique strategies that push the limits.
He believes each day presents a new opportunity to grow and be challenged.
