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Hi folks?

Are Vallejo Game Color Inks the same as a wash? They seem heavier?
Should I be diluting them with some medium to get a wash or can I use them straight out the bottles?

Thanks

Inks are used to add to or change the tint of a surface not shade the recesses. You can make a wash from inks but straight from the bottle they aren't meant for that and do a poor job. Vallejo makes washes in addition to their inks.

Straight out of the bottle, they make for a moderately intense glaze, thanks to the predominantly vibrant but translucent pigment. I usually thin them down a bit with water, even for that purpose.

To make a wash with them, you'll definitely need to thin them down, as well as adding a surfactant (I use Liquitex Flo-Aid, but even dish soap/washing up liquid can work, in a pinch) for proper flow and pooling. If you thin heavily with water, you may get better results after adding a bit of matte medium in there - it doesn't add a ton of body, and it greatly improves pigment distribution and adhesion in otherwise overly thin mixes. I find it less necessary when making washes with inks than with paint (translucent pigment requires less thinning to achieve a similar level of coloration), but it's something to keep in mind, should you find your washes less than satisfactory.

Drop them into the recesses.

they also make a great wash. just dilute it a bit with some glaze medium first or it will be too strong. they can dry glossy but matt varnish will fix it easily enough.

Thanks for the tips folks!

Yes I tried the blue ink straight out the bottle and it was a different experience than what I was used to with Citadel washes, hence the question

Cheers.

I have been using inks straight out of the bottle into my airbrush and they work exceptionally well. I have fond they are MUCH better for doing gradients than regular paint. I have no tried the Vallejo ones, but I do own a few so I will. I have been using the Daler-Rowney inks primarily.