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I’m pretty inexperience with contrast paints but in tutorials I’ve always seen them used over a light colours prime coat. I’ve used them that way myself but I’m wondering if anybody has any thoughts on whether they can be used over a zenithal prime. Does that work? Is it a good idea?

They can Definately be used over a zenithal prime to get enhanced shadow effects.

Ive not exactly done this myself, but I have done a few slap-chop style minis, which is basically the same concept but using drybrushing



The one on the left is contrast over pure white primer, while the one on the right is slap-chop.

These are both slap chop using different palettes.

Yeah it works really well. Same principle as slapchop really. I find it's better if, rather than going for pure black on the undersides, you use an appropriate shade to just tone down the colour going over it a bit. E.g. for my Salamanders, I spray from below with a mid blue (Vallejo equivalent of Ultramarine blue I guess) that just darkens the green contrast a bit.

Yeah, works. I used the idea to paint my Deathwing Space Hulk models so they look like they're walking through a dark space hulk. Not my best Space Marine models, but almost certainly my fastest painted ones

It's all just contrast paints (and speed paints / xpress colours) over a zenithal primed model.

I have found that I get the best results from the following priming process;

Mid grey base coat (or black, if I want deeper shadows)

Light grey spray at 90⁰

White spray at 45⁰

Zenithal spray of white.

Dry brush with a bright white.

Contrast goes over that beautifully.