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Hi everyone!

I'm pulling out some old models to work on, and I just have a quick question about what process will get me the best results with a shade I'm using.

After my base coat on the skin of my Tyranids I want to apply a shade to the recessed areas, before drybrushing to highlight. While the shade does a solid job bringing out detail, I'm not a fan of the way it tints the original color used on the base coat everywhere else.

Would it be better to carefully apply the shade only to the recessed areas, or to apply it all over and then layer the base color back on top before moving on to highlights?

Thanks for your help!

Neither has any advantage in speeding up the paint job so do two test models, only way you will find out. All shade washes tints the colour, even the smallest amount.

You could also modify the shade both in terms of concentration and flow characteristics. Mix up a batch of "wet water" with either flow aid or just a little dish soap in water and use it to thin the shade. See if you can get it to flow more completely into the recesses without as much pigment staying on the raised portions. With a bulky army like Nids you'll want to keep moving quickly, and hand painting washes into all those little corners sounds like a pain.

He could try oilwash, properly thinned down it flows like milk. ofc not as strong colour tone as a regular wash, but might be a tought for the future.

I think this is what you want to do.
And it is an Oil wash, because solvents are much thinner than water and get into the nookiest of cranies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8Oz33NuoPY
10:00 on wards ---->
He uses arcylic wash and oil wash in his work
Plasimo is good, but cotton swab cleaning doesn't work for me because tiny DE snag on cotton unlike flat vehicle surface.

Or you could try this: Surface is sprayed with a light solvent that is thinner than water, like isopropanol alchohol (I hope it is diluted enough! as it will break down acrylic paint, not as instant as acetone but it will) And then water based paint is applied so it can flow into every noock and crany.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxhZ7uE7glY
12:53 on wards ---->
I know this example is the terrain, but I think it illustrates the concept. I used to pre wet the model with water, and then try to apply the wash or paint.

Have fun experimenting