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How do i know which color washes i should use? Should they be the same color as the model or different color? Im so confused.

It really depends on what you're doing with it and what your goal is. Most basic washes, like Armour, Flesh or Earthshade etc. Are designed to add a little depth. They'll make fingers stand out or details on a solid color stand out more by sinking into the recesses. So Flesh for skin, Armour for Armour etc etc. I've been doing that for years as a finish on my models and just started to branch into different colors to achieve effects and highlights. If you're going for more effects like highlighting or changing the shade of something then use a color that complements what it's going on. If you want to make a pair of pants look dirty, use am earthy color, if you want to make someone look really pale or add a purplish tint to em try a color that you think will make that effect.

There are some really good articles on Dakka and other sites that you can google for tutorials on washing a model, hope that helps!

That very much depends on what effect you are trying to achieve.

Please, clarify a bit more....after all, we cannot read your mind.

Steelmage99 wrote:
That very much depends on what effect you are trying to achieve.

Please, clarify a bit more....after all, we cannot read your mind.

well right now im doing a purple spacemarine with gold outlined paldrons. Im going for a pre heresy emperors children line marine. I did 2 coats of xereus purple then 1 coat of red black wash and cant see any depth.

Thussiler wrote:

Steelmage99 wrote:
That very much depends on what effect you are trying to achieve.

Please, clarify a bit more....after all, we cannot read your mind.

well right now im doing a purple spacemarine with gold outlined paldrons. Im going for a pre heresy emperors children line marine. I did 2 coats of xereus purple then 1 coat of red black wash and cant see any depth.

Pictures?

It sounds like you maybe trying to apply it like paint. You do not want to spread a wash on evenly. You want to apply it from the top down and let gravity do most of the work so that it pools up thicker in some places.

This is were Im at right now.

For purples that dark, you can use a black wash, or even a home-made wash of 50/50 xerxes and black (thinned to wash consistency).

For colors like Yellow and Golds, for example, you can use a brown-based wash.

I'm not familiar with the new GW product scheme, so stick with me, I'll use base terminology rather than product names.

As was already iterated, keeping the wash color similar to the color in question will usually work fine. The darker the wash, the more contrast you'll cause, to make the detail definition more extreme.

But, the darker the color in question, the darker the wash will have to be to stay effective. For your purple marine I would agree with TheMeanDM and say use a black wash.

For lighter colors, use a wash of the same color family. Yellows, golds, oranges will usually use a brown based wash (sepia, raw umber, burnt umber, etc). The more subtle you want the effect, the more you'll thin it down. More extreme desires? Don't thin it as much, if at all.

It takes a little practice, but you'll get it. The 3 washes you'll probably use most often are a Black wash, a darker brown wash (for weathering and general "Grime.") and a mid-range brown wash (for yellows, golds, browns, etc). All other color washes (blue, green, purple, etc) will typically only really apply to those particular colors (or grey, to somewhat "tint" the area).

Also keep in mind, you can use multiple applications of multiple washes, if you wish. As an example: apply a darker brown wash all over a surface, allow to dry, then apply a black wash in only the lowest recesses, for a deeper gradient of shading.

Might I suggest a video?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCAx_mpZD1w

And, being that you've such a low post count, and you're asking a fairly early painter question, here's a video on drybrushing, another building block for our hobby:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRLsaXGHPfc

Hope I helped, good luck