ZENITHAL PRIMING GUIDE

(Credit: Creature Caster) Miniature Mage(Model Credit: Creature Caster)

What is Zenithal Priming?

Zenithal priming is a powerful technique that can take your miniature painting to the next level. Here are a few reasons why you should zenithal prime your miniatures to make them come to life:

  1. Adds depth and dimension - By using black and white primer to create highlights and shadows on your miniatures, zenithal priming can make them look more realistic and three-dimensional. This can really make your miniatures pop on the tabletop and help them stand out from the crowd.

  2. Easier to see details - When you're painting a miniature, it can be hard to see all the details and highlights that you want to include. By using zenithal priming as a base, you'll be able to easily see all the details and where the highlights and shadows should be, making it easier to paint your miniature to its full potential.

  3. Saves time and effort - Zenithal priming can help you save time and effort during the painting process. By starting with a base coat of black and white primer, you'll have a head start on the painting process, and won't need to spend as much time layering highlights and shadows.

  4. Works with any painting style - Whether you prefer to paint with bold colors or subtle shades, zenithal priming can work with any painting style. By providing a base layer of highlights and shadows, zenithal priming can help you achieve the look you want for your miniature.

Overall, zenithal priming is a powerful technique that can help your miniatures come to life. By using black and white primer to create highlights and shadows, zenithal priming can add depth and dimension to your miniatures, make it easier to see details, save time and effort during the painting process, and work with any painting style. If you're not already using zenithal priming, give it a try and see the difference it can make in your miniature painting.

How to Zenithal Prime
Here is a step by step guide to zenithal priming miniatures using both spray primer and airbrush techniques:

Materials:

  • Miniature
  • Black spray primer
  • White spray primer or airbrush paint
  • Airbrush (if using airbrush technique)
  • Airbrush thinner (if using airbrush technique)

Spray Primer Technique:

  1. Start by spraying the miniature with black spray primer. Hold the can about 6-8 inches away from the miniature and spray in short, controlled bursts. Make sure to get full coverage on the miniature.

  2. Once the black primer has dried, shake the white spray primer can well and spray the miniature from above at a 45-degree angle. This will create a highlight on the top of the miniature, creating a sense of depth and shadow. Again, make sure to spray in short, controlled bursts and get full coverage.

  3. Let the white primer dry completely before continuing with painting the miniature. You can now use a brush to add additional layers of paint to the miniature, making sure to follow the highlights and shadows created by the zenithal priming.

Airbrush Technique:

  1. Start by mixing your airbrush paint with airbrush thinner according to the manufacturer's instructions. A typical ratio is 2 parts paint to 1 part thinner.

  2. Using your airbrush, spray the miniature with black paint. Make sure to get full coverage on the miniature and not to overspray, which can cause the paint to pool or run.

  3. Once the black paint has dried, load your airbrush with white paint and adjust the air pressure to a lower setting. Spray the miniature from above at a 45-degree angle, making sure to focus the spray on the top of the miniature. This will create a highlight on the top of the miniature, creating a sense of depth and shadow.

  4. Let the white paint dry completely before continuing with painting the miniature. You can now use a brush to add additional layers of paint to the miniature, making sure to follow the highlights and shadows created by the zenithal priming.

And there you have it! By following these simple steps, you can achieve professional-looking results with zenithal priming using either spray primer or airbrush techniques. Happy painting!


Bestiarum Games - Miniature Mage(Model Credit: Bestiarum Games)