Miniature Painting Glossary: 24 Terms Explained
The words that show up in miniature painting specs, reviews and how-to guides, explained without jargon. Open any term for the full explanation and what to look for when buying.
- Basecoat
- The first solid, opaque layer of color applied to a primed miniature, covering an area before any shading or highlighting begins.
- Read more about basecoatRelated: Best Miniature Paint Sets for Tabletop Painters
- Basing
- Texturing and decorating the base a miniature stands on with materials like sand, static grass and tufts.
- Read more about basingRelated: Best Basing Materials for Miniatures
- Brush tip
- The very point of a paintbrush, whose shape and condition, not the brush's overall size, determines how fine a line it can paint.
- Read more about brush tipRelated: Best Miniature Paint Brushes for Every Budget
- Contrast or speed paints
- One-coat paints that both color and shade a miniature at once when applied over a light or textured primer.
- Read more about contrast or speed paintsRelated: Best Contrast Style Paints for One-Coat Miniature Painting
- Drybrushing
- Wiping most of the paint off a brush, then dragging it across a model so color only catches raised texture and edges.
- Read more about drybrushingRelated: Best Drybrushes for Miniatures and Terrain
- Edge highlight
- A thin, bright line of paint applied along the sharp edges of armor, weapons or robes to make details read from a distance.
- Read more about edge highlight
- Flock and tufts
- Static grass fibers and pre-made clumps of foliage glued onto a base to add texture, color and realism.
- Read more about flock and tufts
- Glazing
- Applying very thin, translucent layers of paint to subtly shift a color's tone or smooth out a rough transition.
- Read more about glazing
- Green stuff
- A two-part epoxy putty, cured yellow and blue mixed together, used to sculpt detail, fill gaps and convert miniatures.
- Read more about green stuff
- Layering
- Building up several progressively lighter shades of the same color on raised areas to create smooth, gradual highlights.
- Read more about layering
- Magnetizing
- Gluing small magnets into a miniature so weapons, heads or other parts can be swapped instead of glued permanently.
- Read more about magnetizing
- Mold line
- A thin raised ridge left on a miniature where the two halves of its injection mold met during manufacturing.
- Read more about mold lineRelated: Best Mold Line Removers for Miniatures
- Non-metallic metal
- Painting metal objects using ordinary colors and sharp contrast instead of metallic paint, to mimic the look of polished metal.
- Read more about non-metallic metal
- Object source lighting
- Painting a glowing light source, like a lantern or energy weapon, so it appears to cast colored light onto nearby surfaces.
- Read more about object source lighting
- Paint thinning ratio
- The proportion of water or medium mixed into paint straight from the pot to reach a smooth, workable consistency for the brush.
- Read more about paint thinning ratio
- Painting handle
- A grip or clamp that holds a miniature by its base so you can rotate it in hand without touching wet paint.
- Read more about painting handleRelated: The Best Painting Handles for Miniatures
- Pinning
- Reinforcing a glued joint between miniature parts with a thin metal or plastic rod drilled into both pieces.
- Read more about pinning
- Priming
- A layer of primer sprayed or brushed onto a miniature so paint grips the surface evenly instead of chipping or beading up.
- Read more about primingRelated: Best Primers for Miniatures: Sprays and Brush-On Compared
- Varnish
- A clear protective topcoat, matte or gloss, applied over finished paintwork to seal and protect it from handling and dust.
- Read more about varnishRelated: Best Varnish for Miniatures: Matte, Satin and Gloss Sealers
- Wash
- A thin, heavily diluted paint that flows into recesses and cracks on a miniature to add shadow and depth automatically.
- Read more about washRelated: Best Washes for Miniatures: Shades and Panel Liners Compared
- Weathering
- Techniques that add wear, dirt, rust or battle damage to a finished miniature so it looks used rather than pristine.
- Read more about weathering
- Wet blending
- Blending two wet paint colors directly on the model so they merge into a smooth gradient without visible layering steps.
- Read more about wet blending
- Wet palette
- A palette with a damp sponge and a thin membrane on top that keeps acrylic paint workable for hours instead of minutes.
- Read more about wet paletteRelated: The Best Wet Palettes for Miniature Painting
- Zenithal priming
- Spraying a dark primer first, then a lighter primer from above, to pre-shade a miniature with natural-looking light and shadow.
- Read more about zenithal priming