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I've got a couple of questions regarding IG:

1) If you're using Infantry Squads, Special Weapons Squads and/or Veteran Squads in the same army, how do you distinguish between them? I'm especially curious as to whether you make any changes to models to distinguish veterans from normal infantry.

2) How do you differentiate between different squads? As in, if you have two squads adjacent to each other, how do you make it clear which model belongs to which squad? (I know this could technically apply to any army, but it rarely comes up for me outside of IG.)

When I was doing guard my idea about that was to mark their shoulderplates differently to distinguish squads. The Cadian infantry transfers has a lot of different symbols/numbers to distinguish squads. You could also use different flora on the bases to do it. For example, Squad 1 on Platoon A has "103" on their shoulders to say they are squad 103 and blue flowers to suggest they are a member of Platoon A. Platoon B would have, say, red flowers or whatever.

Between squad types? I never really saw the need to do so. Usually weapon load outs was sufficient to mark them out. But if you really needed to you could paint a thin line down their shoulder pads to distinguish them. Like, a white stripe indicates conscripts, red infantry, orange artillery etc etc.

For my IG, I do this:

1. I differentiate between models with colour patches on the shoulder pads.

2. I use different numbers/letters for squads.

Easy to see, and also easy to paint!

Generally, with the exception of veterans, I try not to.

The main reason for this is that when you're between games tweaking your list, you'll be trying different builds, weapon load outs in different squads etc.
Unless you are certain that you are building your final loadout that is.

My veterans all have shotguns and extra equipment so that's what I use to distinguish them. for everything else I just remember what is what.
If you really like you could use something temporary like coloured stickers on sides the bases.

Different coloured helmets, kneepad's, shoulder pads, etc.

Coloured rims on their bases.

Different basing schemes (like one squad all on roads, another all on grass, third just with skulls)

Little magnetised charms like skulls or spare weapons or coloured beads.

My Guard army also incorporates colour-band markings on shoulder pads in most cases.

In the case of Veterans, Scions and the like, they're two colour bands - First for Number of squad - Red, Blue, White, Yellow, Green, in similar pattern. The second is the Type of squad - Gold for Company HQ for example, Silver for Platoon HQ, Orange on Scions.

Within larger formations, like Platoons themselves, there's three bands - First is Formation Number, Second is Squad Type, Third is Squad Number - Red/SkyBlue/Red is First Platoon, Flak Squad (Autocannons), First Flak Squad.

That's generally how I do it, maybe it's a bit involved, but it works for me

Of course, inside platoons/formations I also use different styles of infantry, representing a culturally diverse auxiliary for the Alpha Legion.

I differentiate my different platoons (back when guardsmen used to be in platoons) with a different coloured left shoulder pad. Veterans and Company Command Squads had black, 1st Platoon had red, 2nd had blue, 3rd had yellow.

The reason I keep them in platoon order still is because of switching out certain weapons for others. I might want to experiment with a plasma SWS, so I take the plasma out of my command squad and put it in my SWS instead. I keep each platoon seperate, but the models in those platoons switchable.

for my vets I used some WHFB (now AoS) heads with beards & added grenades, pouches & backpacks to make them look less uniform.

I've seen everything from different colour uniforms/jackets/trousers, to the more common helmet stripe, shoulder pad, or even a simple colour or mark on the base of the miniature (usually at the back).

Like many others, I use shoulder pad colors.

You can go crazy and have a lot, but as you may not want to commit models to those individual builds, you could just use two - one green and one brown for example, then just don't deploy two squads of the same color adjacent.

Nothing new to say, but just adding to the discussion. I use a three digit number on the shoulders of all infantry squads, and a two digit for command, heavy/special weapons etc. Veterans get extra gear (and mine carry shotguns). Added to this, my army has a background, Vanastia has been overrun, and so it has been a long war and because of blockades, warp storms whatever, outside help has not arrived. Because of this, I made sure to slightly vary the camo colors, as if each unit was raised from different areas and so their gear was locally manufactured (to Imperium requirements) but using the materials available. Variety gives me the option for more veterans or conscripts. You will find one squad with berets I made, Some Firstborn, and such. Anyway, here are some group pics. Hope they help.





My tanks and vehicles get a similiar treatment. The rest of the army can be found here but not sure any of these pics show much of the markings.
http://edwardmystcreations.weebly.com/imperial-guard.html

Hey, share what you end up doing. I always want more ideas.

(edit) removing double image

I use different heads.

These are my platoon commanders: https://madrobotminiatures.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9_10&products_id=17

These are my Veterans: https://madrobotminiatures.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9_10&products_id=74

These are my standard guardsmen: https://madrobotminiatures.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9_10&products_id=26
https://madrobotminiatures.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9_10&products_id=116
https://madrobotminiatures.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9_10&products_id=231

These are my Conscripts: https://madrobotminiatures.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9_10&products_id=260

I don't differentiate between squad types (i.e. special weapons, heavy weapons) because I want to be versatile with my builds.