Edge highlight

An edge highlight is a fine line of light paint, often near white or a bright version of the base color, run along the physical edge of a raised surface, a sword blade, the rim of a shoulder pad, the fold of a cloak. Because real edges catch more light than flat surfaces, this technique mimics how light behaves and makes flat plastic read as a three-dimensional object.

Edge highlighting matters most on models viewed from tabletop distance, where fine layering blends together but a crisp bright edge still pops. It is often the fastest way to make a simple, quickly basecoated army look sharp and finished on a game table, which is why many painters use it heavily for large batch-painted units.

A fine detail brush with a good point, steady hands, and thinned paint are essential, a blob of paint on an edge looks worse than no highlight at all. Common mistakes include highlighting every edge the same width regardless of the model's scale, and forgetting that edges facing away from the main light source should stay darker rather than getting the same bright line as the rest.