Contrast Paints (early impression)

Down at the local GW store (or Warhammer store), I managed to play around with the new contrast paints for all of 5 minutes. Not much time to see what they can really do, but enough to get an impression of them.

They're definitely something different.

I've seen the term "thick wash" bandied about a little bit. Is that accurate? Well, yes and no. Contrast paints do share some of the properties of a wash (shade) paint: the contrast paint will pool more in recesses, leaving raised areas with a thinner application. They are more translucent than a base, or even layer, paint, and do appear to work best going from light to dark (e.g are best applied over a lighter colour rather than a darker one).
Where a wash is close to the flow properties of water however, a contrast paint is more like a gel. It doesn't pool in recesses so much as the pigment seems to get drawn into them as the paint drys. I'm not sure it should be applied either as heavily as some apply a wash, or if it should be applied more. The tagline is "one thick coat", and I didn't really play around with that aspect much - too used to the multiple thinner coats to do much else. Contrast paint is also designed to be applied everywhere, whereas a wash is more for applying in select areas.

I'll be honest. I don't think contrast fits well with Space Marines. The armour plating is too smooth and large of an area, and the contrast paint can easily leave "tide marks" behind. A bit of experience will help with that, but it's still very difficult to get an even application over a larger smooth surface. The end result is a lot of samples look blotchy. I personally think traditional layer paints will give a much smoother finish on the armour.

It's not all bad though. Perhaps some of the browns (or whichever colour) can be used to dirty around the feet some, tying the model more in with the base. Where a contrast paint really shines however, is anything organic. Skins tones, perhaps fur, parchment, cloth, skeletons, rope, etc. I can see it being extremely useful in those cases. Lizardmen especially are likely going to benefit from these paints, and Orks. Even Eldar (or Aeldari now I suppose) where there is something closer to fabric between their armour plating. An Avatar would look pretty nice.

So I don't see the paints as the answer to everything. They're another tool to be used - good in some areas, not in others. I personally will see how well the black works with boltguns as well - initial impression with that shows promise, but it will take some experimentation to get right.

Sadly, the local store was unable to order any for me (everything sold out already - though quite how that should happen with a pre-order I don't know). I suspect it will be a few weeks before I can get my hands on some.

Last note: Grey Knights Steel base paint. The airbrush variant is a very nice colour indeed, and I'm glad to see it coming to the traditional brush.

-- silly painter

P.S - photos of slow works in progress coming soon. I hope.