How to Prime Miniatures: Complete Priming Guide

Priming miniatures is one of the most important steps between assembling a model and painting it.

A good primer creates a surface that acrylic paint can grip, helps produce a consistent finish across plastic, resin, and metal components, and establishes the colour underneath every layer that follows.

Priming incorrectly can create problems before painting even begins. Too much primer can obscure detail. Poor weather conditions can create a rough or dusty finish. Spraying too close can cause pooling, while spraying too far away can allow paint to partially dry before reaching the miniature.

The good news is that miniature priming is relatively simple once you understand the basic techniques.

This complete guide explains how to prime miniatures, including spray primers, airbrush primers, brush-on primers, black vs white vs grey primer, zenithal priming, coloured primers, common mistakes, weather conditions, drying time, and the best approach for different miniature-painting techniques.

Browse primers, spray paints, acrylic paints, washes, varnishes, and other miniature paints at Tistaminis.

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Quick Summary

• Best All-Purpose Primer Colour: Grey
• Best Primer for Dark Miniatures: Black
• Best Primer for Bright Colours: White
• Best Primer for Speedpaint and Contrast-Style Paints: White, ivory, light grey, or zenithal
• Fastest Priming Method: Spray primer
• Most Controlled Priming Method: Airbrush primer
• Best Indoor Option Without an Airbrush: Brush-on primer
• Best Advanced Technique: Zenithal priming
• Best Army-Painting Shortcut: Coloured primer matching the dominant army colour
• Most Important Technique: Apply several thin coats rather than one heavy coat.
• Most Important Weather Rule: Avoid unsuitable heat, cold, and high humidity when using aerosol primer.
• Most Important Safety Rule: Follow the primer's label and use appropriate ventilation and respiratory protection.

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Why Do Miniatures Need Primer?

Miniature paints are generally designed to be applied over a prepared surface rather than directly onto bare plastic, resin, or metal.

Primer creates a thin foundation between the model and the paint.

Primer Helps With:

• Paint adhesion
• Durability
• Consistent surface colour
• Coverage
• Visibility while painting
• Identifying mould lines and gaps before painting
• Creating an undercoat for specific techniques

Can You Paint a Miniature Without Primer?

You can physically apply acrylic paint directly to some miniature materials, but it is generally not recommended.

Unprimed paint may:

• Rub off more easily
• Pull away during brush painting
• Provide inconsistent coverage
• Reveal bare plastic or metal after handling

Recommendation: Prime gaming miniatures before painting unless the manufacturer specifically recommends another process.

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Primer vs Basecoat

A primer and a basecoat perform related but different jobs.

Primer

Primer prepares the miniature's surface and improves adhesion for later paint layers.

Basecoat

A basecoat establishes the primary visible colour of an area.

Can Primer Also Be a Basecoat?

Yes. Many hobby colour primers are specifically designed to function as both primer and basecoat.

For example, an army dominated by green armour can be primed green instead of:

1. Priming black
2. Waiting for the primer to dry
3. Painting the entire army green afterward

This can save considerable time when batch painting armies.

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Types of Miniature Primer

Primer Type	Best For	Main Advantage	Main Drawback
Spray Primer	Armies and general miniatures	Very fast	Weather dependent
Airbrush Primer	Controlled indoor priming	Excellent control	Requires airbrush equipment
Brush-On Primer	Individual models and bad-weather days	No spraying required	Slow for large armies
Coloured Primer	Army painting	Primer and basecoat in one	Less flexible between schemes

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Spray Primers

Aerosol spray primer is the fastest and most popular method for priming tabletop miniatures.

Advantages

• Very fast
• Excellent for entire units
• Easy to achieve thin coverage
• No airbrush required
• Available in many colours
• Useful for terrain and vehicles

Possible Drawbacks

• Weather conditions matter.
• Requires appropriate outdoor or well-ventilated use.
• Overspray can travel beyond the miniature.
• Heavy application can obscure details.
• Spray distance varies between products.

Best For

• Warhammer armies
• Historical miniatures
• Board-game miniatures
• Vehicles
• Terrain
• Batch painting

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How to Spray Prime Miniatures

Step 1: Prepare the Miniature

Before priming:

• Remove mould lines.
• Clean sprue attachment points.
• Fill obvious gaps.
• Finish major assembly.
• Remove dust or debris.
• Ensure the model is dry.

Step 2: Check the Primer Instructions

Different primers specify different shaking times, spraying distances, temperature ranges, and drying conditions.

The product label should always take priority over a universal rule.

Step 3: Shake the Can Thoroughly

Primer contains pigments and other materials that can settle during storage.

Insufficient mixing can produce:

• Uneven colour
• Glossy patches
• Thin coverage
• Poor surface texture

Shake the can for the full period recommended by the manufacturer.

Step 4: Test the Spray

Spray briefly onto cardboard, spare sprue, or another disposable surface before aiming at the miniature.

This confirms:

• The nozzle is clear.
• The primer is mixed.
• The spray pattern is normal.

Step 5: Use Short Controlled Passes

Begin the spray slightly beside the miniature, move across it, and release after passing the model.

This helps prevent a heavy burst from landing in one location.

Step 6: Rotate the Miniature

Prime from several angles to reach:

• Front
• Back
• Left
• Right
• Above
• Lower areas where necessary

Step 7: Stop Before the Model Looks Wet

A primer coat should be thin.

You do not need to create one perfectly opaque coat immediately.

Step 8: Allow the Primer to Dry

Let the first layer dry according to the manufacturer's instructions before adding more primer or beginning to paint.

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How Much Primer Should You Apply?

Less than many beginners expect.

The goal is to cover the miniature with a thin functional layer, not bury the model beneath a thick shell of paint.

Too Much Primer Can:

• Fill facial details
• Reduce armour texture
• Soften panel lines
• Fill chainmail
• Round sharp edges
• Create drips
• Produce an uneven glossy surface

Better Approach

Use several light passes instead of one heavy application.

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Do You Need 100% Primer Coverage?

You want enough primer to create a consistent painting surface, but this does not necessarily mean every recess needs to contain a visibly thick, completely opaque layer.

If the model is evenly covered and paint will adhere properly, continuing to spray simply because a tiny recessed area appears slightly different can cause more harm than good.

Thin coverage is more important than excessive coverage.

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How Far Away Should You Hold Spray Primer?

There is no universal distance for every primer.

Different manufacturers design their nozzles and formulas differently.

If You Spray Too Close:

• Primer can pool.
• Paint can run.
• Details may become obscured.
• The model may look excessively wet.

If You Spray Too Far Away:

• Paint can partially dry before reaching the model.
• The finish may become dusty.
• The surface can become rough or grainy.
• Coverage may be inconsistent.

Recommendation: Begin with the distance printed on the primer can and adjust only when necessary.

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What Is the Best Temperature for Priming Miniatures?

Aerosol primer performs best within the environmental range specified by the manufacturer.

Extreme heat or cold can change how the aerosol behaves between the nozzle and the miniature.

Cold Conditions Can Cause:

• Poor atomization
• Inconsistent spray
• Slow drying
• Uneven coverage

Extreme Heat Can Cause:

• Primer drying too quickly
• Dusty texture
• Poor surface flow

Store aerosol cans according to the manufacturer's directions rather than leaving them in extremely hot or cold environments.

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Can You Prime Miniatures in Humid Weather?

High humidity can interfere with some aerosol primers and varnishes.

Potential problems include:

• Rough texture
• Slow drying
• Unusual surface finish
• Inconsistent coverage

If weather conditions are outside the primer manufacturer's recommended range, use an airbrush or brush-on primer instead.

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Can You Prime Miniatures in Winter?

Yes, but aerosol priming becomes more difficult in very cold climates.

Better Winter Options

• Airbrush primer with suitable ventilation
• Brush-on primer
• Wait for an appropriate weather window

Do Not Spray Aerosol Primer Indoors Simply Because It Is Cold Outside

Aerosol primers can contain flammable solvents and produce airborne spray. Follow all ventilation, respiratory, and fire-safety instructions on the product.

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Airbrush Priming

Airbrush primer provides greater control than an aerosol can and is particularly useful for painters who regularly prime indoors in an appropriate spray setup.

Advantages

• Precise control
• Thin coats
• Less weather dependent
• Easy colour switching
• Excellent for individual models
• Useful for zenithal priming
• No aerosol can required

Possible Drawbacks

• Requires an airbrush.
• Requires a compressor.
• Requires cleaning.
• Requires appropriate ventilation.
• Some primers require thinning.

How to Airbrush Primer

1. Prepare the model.
2. Shake or mix the primer thoroughly.
3. Thin only if recommended or required for the specific product.
4. Spray a test pattern.
5. Apply several light passes.
6. Rotate the miniature.
7. Allow the primer to dry.
8. Clean the airbrush immediately afterward.

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Does Airbrush Primer Need Thinner?

It depends on the primer, airbrush, needle size, air pressure, and manufacturer instructions.

Some surface primers can be sprayed directly, while others perform better with a small amount of compatible thinner.

Primer May Be Too Thick If:

• The airbrush sputters.
• The nozzle repeatedly clogs.
• The spray pattern is inconsistent.
• You need excessive pressure.

Primer May Be Too Thin If:

• It runs immediately.
• It spiders across the surface.
• Coverage becomes excessively weak.

Use the thinner recommended for the exact primer rather than automatically using water.

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Brush-On Primer

Brush-on primer is useful when spraying is impractical.

Best For

• One or two miniatures
• Apartment hobbyists
• Winter painting
• Small repairs
• Areas missed during spray priming
• Models that cannot easily be sprayed

Advantages

• No aerosol
• No airbrush
• Very controlled
• Minimal waste
• Works in small hobby spaces

Possible Drawbacks

• Slow for armies
• Brush marks are possible.
• Pooling can occur in recesses.
• Heavy coats can obscure detail.

How to Brush Prime

1. Mix the primer thoroughly.
2. Load a medium-sized brush.
3. Apply a thin coat.
4. Move excess primer away from recesses.
5. Do not repeatedly brush areas that are beginning to dry.
6. Allow the layer to dry.
7. Add a second thin coat where necessary.

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Black vs Grey vs White Primer

Primer	Best For	Main Effect
Black	Dark armies, metallics, grim schemes	Creates deep shadows
Grey	General painting	Neutral foundation
White	Bright colours and transparent paints	Maximum brightness

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Black Primer

Black primer is forgiving because deep recesses naturally remain dark.

Best For

• Black armour
• Dark fantasy miniatures
• Metallic armies
• Vehicles
• Undead
• Industrial models
• Models with many hard-to-reach recesses

Advantages

• Creates natural shadows
• Missed recesses are less visible.
• Excellent under metallics
• Good for grim colour schemes

Drawbacks

• Yellow can require many coats.
• White can require many coats.
• Bright red and orange can become muted.
• Transparent paints perform poorly directly over black.

Verdict: Excellent for dark armies and painters who want forgiving recesses.

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Grey Primer

Grey primer is the safest all-purpose choice when you are unsure which undercoat to use.

Advantages

• Neutral foundation
• Works with bright and dark colours
• Easy to see sculpted detail
• Useful across many miniature styles
• Less extreme than black or white

Best For

• Mixed-colour armies
• Historical miniatures
• Vehicles
• Character models
• General miniature painting

Verdict: The best general recommendation for traditional acrylic painting.

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White Primer

White primer creates the brightest possible foundation.

Best For

• Yellow
• Orange
• Bright red
• White armour
• Pastels
• Fluorescent paint
• Speedpaint
• Contrast-style paint
• Transparent paint techniques

Advantages

• Bright colours require less work.
• Transparent paints remain vibrant.
• Easy to identify details.

Drawbacks

• Missed recesses are very obvious.
• Dark miniatures may require additional shading.
• Uneven application can be easier to see.

Verdict: The best primer for bright and transparent painting systems.

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Ivory and Bone Primer

Ivory, cream, and bone primers provide a warmer alternative to pure white.

Excellent For

• Skin
• Historical uniforms
• Fantasy miniatures
• Speedpaint
• Contrast-style paints
• Leather
• Natural colour schemes

Warm off-white primer can produce softer results than stark white while remaining bright enough for transparent paints.

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Coloured Primer

A coloured primer can eliminate one of the largest painting stages when most of the miniature shares the same dominant colour.

Excellent Examples

• Green primer for green-armoured armies
• Blue primer for blue power armour
• Red primer for red-armoured forces
• Bone primer for skeleton armies
• Brown primer for terrain
• Metallic primer for heavily armoured models

Advantages

• Saves painting time
• Creates consistent army colour
• Useful for batch painting
• Can function as primer and basecoat

Possible Drawback

If the spray colour differs from the matching brush paint, correcting mistakes may create visible patches.

Testing the colour match before priming an entire army is useful.

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What Is Zenithal Priming?

Zenithal priming creates a simple representation of overhead lighting before the main colours are applied.

The basic technique uses:

1. Dark primer across the entire model.
2. Grey applied from above.
3. White applied more selectively from the highest angle.

The result creates a grayscale map showing where highlights and shadows would naturally appear.

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How to Zenithal Prime Miniatures

Step 1: Prime Dark

Cover the miniature with black or another dark primer.

Step 2: Apply Grey

Spray grey from roughly above and around the upper angles of the model.

Leave the deepest recesses dark.

Step 3: Apply White

Add a smaller amount of white from directly above and toward the most prominent surfaces.

Step 4: Apply Colour

Use:

• Speedpaint
• Contrast-style paint
• Transparent acrylic layers
• Glazes
• Airbrushed transparent colour

The grayscale values underneath influence the final colour.

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Why Use Zenithal Priming?

Advantages

• Provides a lighting guide
• Creates automatic tonal variation under transparent paint
• Helps identify details
• Speeds up army painting
• Works well with Speedpaints and similar systems

Possible Drawbacks

• Less visible under highly opaque paint
• Adds another preparation stage
• Poorly placed highlights can create strange lighting

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What Is Slapchop Priming?

Slapchop is a popular grayscale underpainting workflow designed for transparent one-coat paints.

Basic Slapchop Workflow

1. Prime black.
2. Heavy drybrush with dark or medium grey.
3. Lighter drybrush with pale grey.
4. Apply white selectively to the highest surfaces.
5. Apply transparent colour over the grayscale model.

Zenithal vs Slapchop

• Zenithal: Highlights are usually sprayed from above.
• Slapchop: Highlights are commonly drybrushed across raised texture.

Which Is Better?

Zenithal priming creates smoother directional lighting.

Slapchop emphasizes sculpted texture and is especially effective for fur, cloth, chainmail, bone, and highly detailed infantry.

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Best Primer for Speedpaint

Transparent one-coat paints depend heavily on the undercoat.

Best Choices

• White
• Ivory
• Bone
• Light grey
• Zenithal undercoat
• Slapchop underpainting

Avoid Solid Black as the Final Surface

Transparent paint cannot create a bright colour when applied directly over an extremely dark surface.

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Best Primer for Contrast-Style Paint

The same general principle applies to transparent contrast-style paints.

Use:

• White for maximum saturation
• Ivory for warmer colours
• Light grey for a cooler or more neutral result
• Zenithal for stronger shadows

The primer colour remains part of the final visual result.

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Best Primer for Metallic Miniatures

Black Primer

A strong general choice beneath steel, iron, gunmetal, and dark metallic schemes.

Gloss Black

Gloss black can be useful beneath specific high-shine metallic systems, particularly when the manufacturer recommends it.

Metallic Primer

Armies covered predominantly in plate armour, robots, or machinery can sometimes save substantial time by beginning with a metallic primer.

Examples

• Knights
• Robots
• Space Marines with metallic armour
• Necrons
• Vehicles
• Gunpla frames

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Best Primer for Yellow Miniatures

Yellow can be difficult to build over a dark surface.

Best Undercoats

• White
• Ivory
• Cream
• Pale pink for certain warm yellow workflows
• Yellow coloured primer

Black primer generally requires substantially more work to create a bright yellow finish.

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Best Primer for Red Miniatures

Good Options

• Grey for neutral red
• Black for dark dramatic red
• White for bright red
• Brown or red-brown for warm red
• Red coloured primer for army painting

The correct choice depends on whether the desired red should appear dark, bright, or warm.

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Best Primer for White Armour

Pure white primer seems like the obvious choice, but it can make highlighting difficult because there is nowhere brighter to go.

Useful Approach

1. Prime light grey.
2. Apply an off-white basecoat.
3. Shade the recesses.
4. Highlight selected surfaces with pure white.

This preserves visual contrast while still producing white armour.

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Best Primer for Black Armour

Black primer provides the easiest starting point.

However, the finished armour should rarely remain completely unchanged primer black.

Add:

• Dark grey highlights
• Edge highlights
• Blue-grey highlights
• Metallic wear
• Selective reflections

This creates definition while preserving the appearance of black armour.

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Priming Plastic Miniatures

Hard plastic miniatures are straightforward to prime after normal model preparation.

Before Priming

• Remove mould lines.
• Clean sprue marks.
• Assemble the model.
• Remove sanding dust.

Most dedicated miniature spray, airbrush, and brush-on primers are designed to work well with hobby plastic.

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Priming Resin Miniatures

Some resin miniatures may have mould-release residue or other contamination on the surface.

Before Priming

1. Inspect the miniature.
2. Remove supports and flash.
3. Wash the miniature if recommended by the manufacturer.
4. Allow it to dry completely.
5. Assemble and fill gaps.
6. Prime normally.

Why Cleaning Matters

Oil, release agent, uncured residue, or handling contamination can interfere with primer adhesion.

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Priming 3D-Printed Resin Miniatures

3D-printed resin models should be fully washed and cured according to the resin manufacturer's instructions before hobby painting begins.

Before Priming

• Complete washing.
• Complete curing.
• Remove supports.
• Sand support marks carefully where needed.
• Remove dust.
• Ensure the model is fully dry.

Important Safety Note

Follow the resin manufacturer's safety requirements during washing, curing, sanding, and handling.

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Priming Metal Miniatures

Metal miniatures benefit strongly from primer because exposed metal provides a challenging surface for ordinary acrylic paint.

Preparation

• Remove mould lines.
• File casting imperfections.
• Wash away oils where necessary.
• Allow the model to dry.
• Prime with a product suitable for metal miniatures.

Varnish Is Also Important

Painted metal gaming miniatures experience additional wear because of their weight. A suitable final varnish can improve durability.

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Should You Wash Plastic Miniatures Before Priming?

Most modern hard-plastic gaming kits can often be primed after ordinary cleanup without an additional washing step.

However, washing may be useful when:

• The surface feels oily.
• The model has been handled extensively.
• Sanding dust remains.
• The manufacturer recommends washing.

Resin and metal models are more likely to benefit from cleaning when mould-release residue or oils are present.

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Should You Assemble Before Priming?

For most tabletop miniatures, yes.

Advantages of Full Assembly

• Faster preparation
• Consistent primer coverage
• No need to clean glue joints later
• Easier army batch painting

When Sub-Assemblies Are Useful

• Large shields block the body.
• Weapons cover important details.
• Vehicle interiors remain visible.
• Large wings obstruct painting.
• The miniature is a display piece.

Important Tip

If parts will later be connected using plastic cement, consider masking or avoiding primer on the contact points so the adhesive can bond directly with the plastic.

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How Long Should Primer Dry?

Drying and curing time varies by formula, application thickness, temperature, humidity, and manufacturer.

Always follow the product instructions.

Surface Dry vs Fully Cured

A primer can feel dry to the touch before it reaches maximum durability.

For normal miniature painting, many hobbyists begin after the manufacturer-recommended drying period, but avoid heavy handling immediately after priming.

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Can You Prime and Paint the Same Day?

Usually yes, provided the primer has dried sufficiently according to its instructions.

There is generally no requirement to leave every miniature overnight unless the specific primer recommends a longer curing time or environmental conditions slow drying.

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Can You Prime Over Existing Paint?

Yes, but only when there is a reason to repaint the miniature and the existing surface is stable.

Potential Problems

• Every additional layer reduces detail slightly.
• Old thick paint remains underneath.
• Primer cannot repair a rough surface.
• Loose paint can still detach.

Better Option for Heavily Painted Models

Consider safely stripping the old paint using a method appropriate for the miniature material before starting again.

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Can You Prime Over Varnish?

It is possible, but varnish can create a surface different from bare miniature material.

If repainting an old model:

• Clean the surface.
• Ensure the varnish is stable.
• Lightly prepare glossy areas if appropriate.
• Test the primer on a small section.

For a heavily varnished miniature, stripping may produce a cleaner final result.

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Why Does Primer Look Grainy?

A grainy or dusty primer finish is one of the most common aerosol problems.

Possible Causes

• Spraying too far away
• Primer drying before reaching the miniature
• Unsuitable temperature
• Low or high environmental conditions outside product guidance
• Poorly mixed primer
• Partially blocked nozzle

How to Prevent It

• Follow the manufacturer's recommended distance.
• Shake thoroughly.
• Test the spray pattern first.
• Avoid unsuitable weather.
• Use light controlled passes.

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Why Is My Primer Glossy?

Primer can sometimes appear unusually glossy when:

• The can was insufficiently shaken.
• The coat was too heavy.
• The product naturally has a different finish.
• Environmental conditions affected drying.

Check the expected finish of the primer before assuming something has gone wrong.

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Why Is My Primer Sticky?

Primer that remains tacky longer than expected may indicate:

• Heavy application
• Incompatible surface material
• Environmental conditions
• Improper mixing
• Insufficient drying or curing time

Do not immediately add more paint. Allow the primer additional time and consult the manufacturer's instructions.

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Why Is My Primer Cracking?

Cracking or crazing can result from:

• Extremely heavy coats
• Incompatible underlying products
• Applying a new coat before the previous layer has stabilized
• Solvent interaction

Test unfamiliar primer and paint combinations before using them across an entire army.

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How to Fix a Bad Primer Job

Minor Roughness

Very lightly smooth the affected area with a fine sanding tool if the miniature's surface allows it.

Small Missed Area

Touch up using brush-on primer.

Small Pool or Drip

Allow it to dry fully and carefully smooth the raised area before repainting.

Severely Obscured Detail

If primer has buried significant detail across the model, stripping and restarting may be the best solution.

Do Not Keep Adding Primer to Fix Primer

Additional heavy coats usually make an already thick finish worse.

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Priming Miniatures for Army Painting

Army painters should choose primer strategically because the undercoat can remove hours of repetitive painting.

Example Workflow

For an army dominated by blue armour:

1. Prime blue.
2. Shade recesses.
3. Highlight armour.
4. Paint secondary colours.
5. Finish details and bases.

Instead of:

1. Prime black.
2. Basecoat every model blue.
3. Apply a second blue coat.
4. Continue painting.

Best Army Primer Choice

Choose a primer close to the colour covering the largest percentage of the miniature.

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Priming Miniatures for Display Painting

Display painters often benefit from neutral or zenithal undercoats because the goal is maximum control rather than speed.

Good Options

• Grey
• Black and white zenithal
• Neutral off-white

Why?

A neutral foundation makes it easier to control every subsequent shadow, midtone, and highlight.

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Priming Vehicles

Vehicles contain large flat surfaces where primer texture becomes much more visible.

Important Tips

• Apply especially smooth thin coats.
• Avoid pooling on horizontal panels.
• Check panel lines after priming.
• Use coloured primer when appropriate.
• Airbrush primer provides excellent control.

Best Choices

• Grey for general vehicles
• Black for dark armour and metallic vehicles
• Coloured primer matching the main camouflage or armour colour

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Priming Terrain

Terrain requires special consideration because some scenery materials can react poorly to solvent-based aerosol sprays.

Common Materials

• Plastic
• MDF
• XPS foam
• Polystyrene foam
• Resin
• Plaster
• Cardboard

Important Warning

Some aerosol products can damage exposed foam.

Use a primer specifically identified as foam safe or seal the material appropriately before applying products that may attack it.

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Priming Miniatures for Drybrushing

Black primer works especially well for workflows that rely heavily on drybrushing.

Example

1. Prime black.
2. Drybrush dark grey.
3. Drybrush medium grey.
4. Add pale grey or white highlights.
5. Apply colour or leave as stone/metal.

This is useful for:

• Terrain
• Stone
• Chainmail
• Skeletons
• Industrial miniatures
• Slapchop painting

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Priming Miniatures for Airbrushing

An airbrushed paint scheme still benefits from primer.

Recommended Workflow

1. Apply airbrush primer.
2. Allow it to dry.
3. Apply shadow colour.
4. Add the main base colour.
5. Add directional highlights.
6. Continue with brush details.

Primer creates the foundation; ordinary airbrush paint creates the colour scheme.

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Should You Prime Bases?

Usually yes.

Priming the base helps acrylic paint and texture products adhere consistently.

Exceptions

Some texture pastes, adhesives, or scenic products may have their own surface requirements.

Good Workflow

1. Build the base.
2. Allow glue to dry.
3. Prime the model and base together.
4. Paint the miniature.
5. Paint and finish the base.

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Common Priming Mistakes

1. Spraying Too Much Primer

The most common mistake. Use several thin passes.

2. Not Shaking the Can

Pigment and other components can separate during storage.

3. Spraying Too Close

This can create pooling and obscure details.

4. Spraying Too Far Away

This can create a rough dusty surface.

5. Priming in Bad Weather

Extreme temperatures and humidity can affect aerosol performance.

6. Choosing Black Under Bright Transparent Paint

Speedpaint and similar systems require a light undercoat.

7. Trying to Achieve Perfect Coverage in One Pass

Thin coats are safer.

8. Holding the Spray on One Spot

Keep the can moving.

9. Ignoring Model Preparation

Primer will not hide mould lines or bad gaps. It often makes them easier to see.

10. Painting Before the Primer Is Dry

This can damage the surface or create poor adhesion.

11. Using the Wrong Primer for the Material

Check that the primer is suitable for plastic, resin, metal, foam, or whichever material you are using.

12. Priming Over Dust

Dust becomes permanently trapped beneath the paint layer.

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Best Primer Colour by Painting Project

Project	Recommended Primer
General miniature painting	Grey
Dark armour	Black
Bright fantasy army	White or light grey
Speedpaint	White, ivory, light grey, or zenithal
Slapchop	Black followed by grey and white
Metallic army	Black or metallic primer
Yellow army	White, cream, pale warm colour, or yellow
Skeleton army	Bone or ivory
Vehicle	Grey or dominant vehicle colour
Display miniature	Grey or zenithal

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Recommended Priming Workflows

Beginner Traditional Painting

1. Prepare the miniature.
2. Prime grey.
3. Apply base colours.
4. Add washes.
5. Restore midtones.
6. Add highlights.

Fast Army Painting

1. Prepare the unit.
2. Prime with the dominant army colour.
3. Shade.
4. Highlight.
5. Paint secondary details.

Speedpaint Workflow

1. Prime white, ivory, or light grey.
2. Add optional zenithal or drybrushed highlights.
3. Apply transparent Speedpaint colours.
4. Paint metallics.
5. Add final highlights.

Slapchop Workflow

1. Prime black.
2. Heavy drybrush grey.
3. Light drybrush pale grey.
4. Add white to highest details.
5. Apply transparent colours.

Display Painting Workflow

1. Clean and prepare the miniature carefully.
2. Prime grey or black.
3. Add a controlled white zenithal.
4. Use the grayscale values as a lighting reference.
5. Apply traditional layered colour.

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Miniature Primer Safety

Always read the product label before using primer.

Aerosol Primer

• Use outdoors or in an appropriately ventilated location.
• Do not breathe spray or mist.
• Keep away from flames and ignition sources.
• Do not expose pressurized cans to excessive heat.
• Wear appropriate protection according to the product instructions.

Airbrush Primer

• Use appropriate ventilation.
• Use a spray booth where appropriate.
• Wear respiratory protection suitable for what is being sprayed.
• Do not assume water-based paint is harmless when aerosolized.

General

• Keep products away from children and pets.
• Do not eat or drink while spraying.
• Wash hands after handling hobby chemicals.
• Follow local disposal requirements.

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Priming Buying Tips

• Choose grey when you are unsure which primer colour to buy.
• Choose black for dark armies and metallic schemes.
• Choose white or ivory for Speedpaint and other transparent paints.
• Use coloured primer when one colour dominates the army.
• Choose spray primer when speed matters most.
• Choose airbrush primer when control matters most.
• Choose brush-on primer when spraying is inconvenient.
• Use thin coats rather than trying to achieve perfect coverage immediately.
• Shake aerosol cans thoroughly.
• Follow the manufacturer's recommended spraying distance.
• Avoid extreme heat, cold, and humidity.
• Test unfamiliar primer on spare material first.
• Make sure the primer is suitable for the miniature material.
• Use foam-safe products on exposed foam terrain.
• Allow primer to dry before painting.

Browse spray primers, airbrush primers, coloured primers, acrylic paints, washes, varnishes, and other miniature paints at Tistaminis.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Final Thoughts

Priming is one of the simplest steps in miniature painting, but it has an enormous effect on everything that follows.

For traditional painting, grey primer is the safest all-purpose choice. It provides a neutral surface that works with both bright and dark colours.

Use black primer when the model contains dark armour, metallics, deep recesses, or a generally grim colour palette. The dark undercoat creates natural shadows and makes difficult-to-reach areas more forgiving.

Use white, ivory, or light-grey primer when painting bright miniatures or working with transparent systems such as Speedpaint. These paints rely on the brightness underneath them to create their characteristic highlights.

For large armies, consider a coloured primer that matches the primary armour, skin, uniform, or vehicle colour. Combining the priming and basecoating stages can save hours across a large collection.

Zenithal and slapchop techniques add more information before the colour stage begins. Zenithal priming establishes directional light, while slapchop uses drybrushed grayscale texture to exaggerate sculpted detail beneath transparent colours.

Regardless of the technique, the most important rule remains the same: keep the primer thin. Several controlled passes are safer than one heavy coat that fills detail.

Shake the primer thoroughly, follow the manufacturer's distance and environmental recommendations, allow it to dry properly, and choose the primer colour based on the painting technique you intend to use.

Browse miniature primers and paints at Tistaminis and choose the undercoat that gives your next army, character, vehicle, or terrain project the best possible foundation.

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