I've tried to keep track of what colors I use for each mini as I work on them, but it's not always the case. I also have the tendency to misplace whatever medium I was recording colors on as well. However, I do tend to use a lot of the same color combinations in my painting. I decided to make an online database of these recipes for my use and for anyone else who might get mileage out of them.
IMPORTANT! I know I'm going to get a lot of questions and whining, so here's all the disclaimers up front. All of the swatches for colors were taken from the various companies' websites or promotional material. The colors as they appear on the swatches may not be the same as the actual color itself. All colors are provided as a reference only; I truly don't care if something appears darker or lighter than it should. The manufacturer SKU's are listed in order to let you find a color in your own collection to do eyes-on evaluations. Also, all ratios supplied are just that, ratios. I don't use one drop when doing any technique (except maybe glazes, but even then I use two drops usually); the ratios are only in regards to the different colors. No, I won't say how many drops of paint per drops of water/gunk/etc. That's information that 1) changes from day to day depending on the weather and 2) you can get by reading tutorials or just practicing and experimenting. Also, I mix a lot of colors for various uses. Because I know someone will ask, no, I'm not going to scan a sample of the finalized mixed color to upload to the site to show what the final result is. If I had that much free time I'd find more fun things to do than that; stop being lazy and cheap and mix it up your own darned self :).
Black 1
Swatches |
Ratios and Techniques |
Minis using Recipe
Basecoat
Ratio: 2 drops Brown Liner (RMS 9064)
to 1 drop Blue Liner (RMS 9066)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Brown Liner (RMS 9064)
to 1 drop Shadowed Stone (RMS 9085)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Shadowed Stone (RMS 9085)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Stone Grey (RMS 9086)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Weathered Stone (RMS 9087)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Leather White (RMS 9062)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Pure White (RMS 9039)
Blue Cloth/Leather
Swatches |
Ratios and Techniques |
Minis using Recipe
Basecoat
Ratio: 1 drop Brilliant Blue (RMS 9116)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Ritterlich Blue (RMS 9115)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Clear Purple (RMS 9099)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Brilliant Blue (RMS 9116)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Cyan Blue (RMS 9117)
Layering
Ratio: 2 drops Cyan Blue (RMS 9117)
to 1 drop Ghost White (RMS 9063)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Cyan Blue (RMS 9117)
to 2 drops Ghost White (RMS 9063)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Ghost White (RMS 9063)
Glaze
Ratio: 1 drop Pure White (RMS 9039)
Blue Flames
Swatches |
Ratios and Techniques |
Minis using Recipe
Basecoat
Ratio: 1 drop Ghost White (RMS 9063)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Cyan Blue (RMS 9117)
Layering
Ratio: 2 drops Cyan Blue (RMS 9117)
to 1 drop Ghost White (RMS 9063)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Cyan Blue (RMS 9117)
to 2 drops Ghost White (RMS 9063)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Ghost White (RMS 9063)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Pure White (RMS 9039)
Glaze
Ratio: 1 drop Clear Blue (RMS 9097)
Cream 1
Swatches |
Ratios and Techniques |
Minis using Recipe
Basecoat
Ratio: 1 drop Dune Shadow (RMS 9154)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Desert Khaki (RMS 9155)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Stained Ivory (RMS 9142)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Yellowed Bone (RMS 9143)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Creamy Ivory (RMS 9144)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Linen White (RMS 9061)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Pure White (RMS 9039)
Gold Metallics
Swatches |
Ratios and Techniques |
Minis using Recipe
Basecoat
Ratio: 1 drop Uniform Brown (RMS 9127)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Tin Bitz (CC 61-58)
Glaze
Ratio: 1 drop Brown Liner (RMS 9064)
Glaze
Ratio: 1 drop Ruddy Leather (RMS 9109)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Tin Bitz (CC 61-58)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Shining Gold (CC 61-63)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Burnished Gold (CC 61-62)
Greying Brown Hair
Swatches |
Ratios and Techniques |
Minis using Recipe
Basecoat
Ratio: 1 drop Shield Brown (RMS 9161)
Glaze
Ratio: 1 drop Muddy Brown (RMS 9028)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Palomino Gold (RMS 9074)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Linen White (RMS 9061)
Greyish Blue
Swatches |
Ratios and Techniques |
Minis using Recipe
Basecoat
Ratio: 1 drop Breonne Blue (RMS 9055)
Layering
Ratio: 2 drops Breonne Blue (RMS 9055)
to 1 drop Blue Liner (RMS 9066)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Breonne Blue (RMS 9055)
Layering
Ratio: 4 drops Templar Blue (RMS 9056)
to 1 drop Breonne Blue (RMS 9055)
There are currently no pictures tagged as being used by this recipe. Either it's a new recipe that hasn't been assigned yet, the picture it was assigned to was deleted improperly, or it's just something I'd use for a certain color but haven't put on a mini yet.
Leather 1
Swatches |
Ratios and Techniques |
Minis using Recipe
Basecoat
Ratio: 1 drop Russet Brown (RMS 9199)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Blackened Brown (RMS 9137)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Russet Brown (RMS 9199)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Harvest Brown (RMS 9200)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Orange Brown (RMS 9201)
Layering
Ratio: 2 drops Orange Brown (RMS 9201)
to 1 drop Linen White (RMS 9061)
Leather 2
Swatches |
Ratios and Techniques |
Minis using Recipe
Basecoat
Ratio: 3 drops Russet Brown (RMS 9199)
to 1 drop Driftwood Brown (RMS 9162)
Layering
Ratio: 2 drops Russet Brown (RMS 9199)
to 1 drop Blackened Brown (RMS 9137)
Layering
Ratio: 3 drops Russet Brown (RMS 9199)
to 1 drop Driftwood Brown (RMS 9162)
Layering
Ratio: 3 drops Driftwood Brown (RMS 9162)
to 1 drop Russet Brown (RMS 9199)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Driftwood Brown (RMS 9162)
to 2 drops Stained Ivory (RMS 9142)
There are currently no pictures tagged as being used by this recipe. Either it's a new recipe that hasn't been assigned yet, the picture it was assigned to was deleted improperly, or it's just something I'd use for a certain color but haven't put on a mini yet.
NMM Gold 1
Swatches |
Ratios and Techniques |
Minis using Recipe
Basecoat
Ratio: 1 drop Ruddy Leather (RMS 9109)
to 5 drops Uniform Brown (RMS 9127)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Blackened Brown (RMS 9137)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Ruddy Leather (RMS 9109)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Uniform Brown (RMS 9127)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Green Ochre (RMS 9128)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Saffron Sunset (RMS 9182)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Buckskin Pale (RMS 9075)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Linen White (RMS 9061)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Pure White (RMS 9039)
NMM Gold 2
Swatches |
Ratios and Techniques |
Minis using Recipe
Basecoat
Ratio: 1 drop Uniform Brown (RMS 9127)
to 1 drop Ruddy Leather (RMS 9109)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Ruddy Leather (RMS 9109)
to 1 drop Blackened Brown (RMS 9137)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Uniform Brown (RMS 9127)
to 1 drop Ruddy Leather (RMS 9109)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Uniform Brown (RMS 9127)
to 1 drop Desert Khaki (RMS 9155)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Buckskin Pale (RMS 9075)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Linen White (RMS 9061)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Pure White (RMS 9039)
Glaze
Ratio: 1 drop Saffron Sunset (RMS 9182)
Peachy Flesh
Swatches |
Ratios and Techniques |
Minis using Recipe
Basecoat
Ratio: 1 drop Burnt Orange (RMS 9111)
to 2 drops Tanned Skin (RMS 9044)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Ruddy Leather (RMS 9109)
to 3 drops Tanned Skin (RMS 9044)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Volcano Brown (RMS 9179)
to 3 drops Tanned Skin (RMS 9044)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Linen White (RMS 9061)
to 1 drop Sandy Yellow (RMS 9192) to 3 drops Tanned Skin (RMS 9044)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Tanned Skin (RMS 9044)
to 1 drop Sandy Yellow (RMS 9192) to 3 drops Linen White (RMS 9061)
There are currently no pictures tagged as being used by this recipe. Either it's a new recipe that hasn't been assigned yet, the picture it was assigned to was deleted improperly, or it's just something I'd use for a certain color but haven't put on a mini yet.
Red 1
Swatches |
Ratios and Techniques |
Minis using Recipe
Basecoat
Ratio: 1 drop Carnage Red (RMS 9135)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Red Liner (RMS 9112)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Red Liner (RMS 9112)
to 1 drop Bloodstain Red (RMS 9133)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Bloodstain Red (RMS 9133)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Clotted Red (RMS 9134)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Carnage Red (RMS 9135)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Carnage Red (RMS 9135)
to 1 drop Saffron Sunset (RMS 9182)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Saffron Sunset (RMS 9182)
Rosy/Tanned Skin 1
Swatches |
Ratios and Techniques |
Minis using Recipe
Basecoat
Ratio: 1 drop Rosy Skin (RMS 9068)
to 1 drop Tanned Skin (RMS 9044)
Layering
Ratio: 5 drops Dark Elf Highlight (RMS 9165)
to 1 drop Tanned Skin (RMS 9044)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Ruddy Leather (RMS 9109)
to 5 drops Tanned Skin (RMS 9044)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Rosy Skin (RMS 9068)
to 1 drop Tanned Skin (RMS 9044)
Layering
Ratio: 2 drops Tanned Skin (RMS 9044)
to 2 drops Rosy Skin (RMS 9068) to 1 drop Sandy Yellow (RMS 9192) to 1 drop Linen White (RMS 9061)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Tanned Skin (RMS 9044)
to 1 drop Rosy Skin (RMS 9068) to 2 drops Sandy Yellow (RMS 9192) to 2 drops Linen White (RMS 9061)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Linen White (RMS 9061)
Steel Metallics
Swatches |
Ratios and Techniques |
Minis using Recipe
Basecoat
Ratio: 1 drop Cloudy Grey (RMS 9089)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Boltgun Metal (CC 61-57)
Glaze
Ratio: 1 drop Brown Liner (RMS 9064)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Blue Liner (RMS 9066)
Layering
Ratio: 0 drops Green Liner (RMS 9113)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Boltgun Metal (CC 61-57)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Boltgun Metal (CC 61-57)
to 1 drop Mithril Silver (CC 61-55)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Mithril Silver (CC 61-55)
Steel NMM 1
Swatches |
Ratios and Techniques |
Minis using Recipe
Basecoat
Ratio: 1 drop Grey Liner (RMS 9065)
to 1 drop Ghost White (RMS 9063)
Glaze
Ratio: 1 drop Grey Liner (RMS 9065)
to 1 drop Ghost White (RMS 9063)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Grey Liner (RMS 9065)
Layering
Ratio: 5 drops Grey Liner (RMS 9065)
to 1 drop Ghost White (RMS 9063)
Layering
Ratio: 2 drops Grey Liner (RMS 9065)
to 1 drop Ghost White (RMS 9063)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Grey Liner (RMS 9065)
to 1 drop Ghost White (RMS 9063)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Grey Liner (RMS 9065)
to 2 drops Ghost White (RMS 9063)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Grey Liner (RMS 9065)
to 5 drops Ghost White (RMS 9063)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Ghost White (RMS 9063)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Pure White (RMS 9039)
White
Swatches |
Ratios and Techniques |
Minis using Recipe
Basecoat
Ratio: 1 drop Leather White (RMS 9062)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Cloudy Grey (RMS 9089)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Misty Grey (RMS 9090)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Leather White (RMS 9062)
Layering
Ratio: 1 drop Pure White (RMS 9039)
Legend:
CC = Citadel Colours
CF = Citadel Foundation Paints
P3 = Formula P3
RMS = Reaper Master Series
VGC = Vallejo Game Color
VMC = Vallejo Model Color