Priming · Painting · Basing
Painting & Finishing
Priming, painting, basing, sealing, and color schemes for 3D printed miniatures.
Why it matters
Printed minis require specific prep work that metal and plastic minis do not. Resin needs UV-curing, proper sanding, and a flexible primer before paint will adhere. Getting the surface prep right unlocks the full quality of your prints.
Guides
How to Fix a Broken Resin Miniature: Gluing, Pinning, and Hiding the Repair
Resin snaps clean instead of bending. Here is how I glue, pin, fill, and repaint broken miniatures so the repair holds up to actual play and disappears under paint.
How to Paint Faces on Resin Miniatures: A Step-by-Step Technique Guide
Resin faces are sharper than cast plastic but the technique is different. This guide walks through basecoating, washing, layering, and adding eyes on 3D printed resin miniature faces: from beginner-friendly contrast shortcuts to the full layering method.
Wet Blending and NMM for Resin Miniatures: Advanced Technique Guide
Resin's smooth surface changes how wet blending and non-metallic metal painting work compared to cast plastic or metal. Here's the advanced technique for painters who have mastered contrast and drybrushing and want the next level.
Speed Painting an Army: Contrast Paints and Drybrushing for Resin Minis
You printed 40 minis. Now what? The zenithal prime to contrast paint to drybrush workflow gets a full army to tabletop quality in hours, not weeks. Real batch sequencing, real time estimates.
Miniature Storage and Transport: Protecting Your Resin Collection
Foam cases, magnetic bases, and varnish-first rules for getting resin miniatures to game sessions without losing an arm or a weapon tip. What to buy, what to skip, and why varnish is not optional before transport.
Zenithal Priming for Resin Miniatures: Technique Guide for Dramatic Results
Zenithal priming is the fastest way to add light and depth to a resin miniature before the first drop of paint. Here's how to do the three-coat black-gray-white spray pattern correctly, common mistakes, and why it works.
Using Contrast Paints on 3D Printed Resin Miniatures: Tips for Better Results
Contrast paints are a natural fit for resin minis, but resin surfaces behave differently from injection-molded plastic. Primer choice, surface prep, and application tips specific to printed models.
Drybrushing Resin Miniatures: Technique Adjustments for Smooth Printed Surfaces
Drybrushing works differently on 3D printed resin than on cast plastic. Here's how to adapt the technique for resin's smoother surface and still get sharp, natural-looking highlights.
How to Base 3D Printed Miniatures: Texture, Paint, and Finishing
The base is the last thing people look at and the first thing that tells them your model is finished. Here's how to base 3D printed miniatures using texture paste, sand, static grass, and printed custom bases.
How to Varnish and Seal 3D Printed Resin Miniatures
Resin miniatures chip without varnish: it's not optional. Here's how to apply matte, satin, and gloss varnish without frosting, cloudiness, or ruining a paint job you spent hours on.
How to Remove Support Marks from Resin Miniatures Before Painting
Clean support nubs, pock marks, and scars off resin miniatures before primer. Tools, timing, and the fill technique that hides the damage for good.
How to Paint 3D Printed Resin Miniatures: From Wash to Highlight (Beginner Guide)
A step-by-step painting guide built specifically for 3D printed resin miniatures, covering surface prep, primer, basecoat, wash, and highlight for beginners.
Articles
Best Beginner Airbrush for Painting 3D Printed Miniatures (and How to Start)
Iwata and Master Airbrush picks compared for priming and basecoating 3D printed resin miniatures, plus an honest read on whether you've actually hit the point where you need one.
Sep 7, 2026Best Paint for 3D Printed Resin Miniatures (2026): Acrylic Lines Compared
Citadel, Vallejo, Army Painter Speedpaint 2.0, and Pro Acryl: compared on adhesion to resin, coverage, and price per ml. The buyer's guide for painters choosing their first or second line.
Jun 22, 2026