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Hello everyone. I wanted to start a Tau army for a while now and I finally got my codex and a first box to start with.
So, I got a pathfinder team, cause I liked the drones and lots of bits that I could mess around with. Problem was that even though I set my mind to Vior'la sept, I read fluff-wise, that even though there are some standard armor colors, I could change them with the excuse of being according to the environment. I chose graveyard earth (dunno the new GW line name) and decided to go with catachan green for the cloth parts. I did like the theme (but I didn't). That was because the whole model was too dark. I tried going 2:1 graveyard earth:snakebite leather but still it was too dark. My initial thoughts were that the green was doing all the harm along with the earth being a dull color.
Here is an example of my first pathfinder:


The pants on this one are 1:1 scorpion green:catachan green

And another one


Cloth here is catachan with a heavy wash of devlan and some highlights

Please keep in mind that these models are not finished, but need a lot of work once my color theme is decided. Finally what I would like to ask is how I can keep the main idea for painting my models with an earthly tone (mudland/desert environment) and still make my models brighter?

Highlights should help pick up the tone, and metallics should do the same.

And as for sticking for one sept, it makes no difference to the colour scheme save the the rank markings. Tau always wear colours to blend into surroundings, unless you are going for a farsight enclave. So you can go mad!

I agree with Division: Highlights will help, and adding a bit of metal (some sort of brass or gold, covered with a wash) will really lighten it up. I like the feet in the second picture. I added a blue part to all my pulse weapons along the top of the rifles, and part of their antenna on their helmets.

You could also try moving up a shade or two in brightness in a similar color, then use a wash to bring it back a bit.

Then a bit of lighter color highlighting (as the others had suggested) would bring out the details and brighten it a bit.

best of luck, and keep us posted!!!