Miniature Painting Glossary: 15 Terms Explained
The words that show up in miniature painting specs, reviews and how-to guides, explained without jargon.
- Basecoat
- The first solid layer of colour on an area.
- Related: Best Miniature Paint Sets for Tabletop Painters →
- Basing
- Texturing and decorating a miniature's base with sand, flock and tufts.
- Related: Best Basing Materials for Miniatures →
- Brush tip
- The point of a brush. A good tip, not a tiny brush, is what lets you paint fine detail.
- Related: Best Miniature Paint Brushes for Every Budget →
- Contrast or speed paints
- One-coat paints that shade and colour at once over a light primer.
- Related: Best Contrast Style Paints for One-Coat Miniature Painting →
- Drybrushing
- Dragging an almost dry brush across texture to catch raised edges.
- Related: Best Drybrushes for Miniatures and Terrain →
- Edge highlight
- A thin, bright line painted along sharp edges to make details pop.
- Glazing
- Applying very thin translucent colour to shift tones or smooth transitions.
- Layering
- Building up progressively lighter colours on raised areas.
- Mold line
- A thin ridge left by the casting process, removed before priming.
- Related: Best Mold Line Removers for Miniatures →
- Painting handle
- A grip that holds a miniature so you do not touch fresh paint.
- Related: The Best Painting Handles for Miniatures →
- Priming
- Spraying or brushing a primer so paint grips the model evenly.
- Related: Best Primers for Miniatures: Sprays and Brush-On Compared →
- Varnish
- A clear protective coat applied over finished paint, matte or gloss.
- Related: Best Varnish for Miniatures: Matte, Satin and Gloss Sealers →
- Wash
- Thin paint that flows into recesses to add shading.
- Related: Best Washes for Miniatures: Shades and Panel Liners Compared →
- Wet palette
- A palette with a damp sponge and membrane that keeps paint workable for hours.
- Related: The Best Wet Palettes for Miniature Painting →
- Zenithal priming
- Spraying dark primer, then lighter primer from above, to map natural light and shadow.