When I was new to wargaming, I kept hearing people talk about something called “Tabletop Quality.” This is when your miniatures are painted in a way that looks good from a distance, like they would be on a table at a tournament. If your miniatures don’t meet this standard, people might judge you for it.
Basic tabletop quality means that your model has been painted so it looks good from the side of the table. It has multiple colors that help distinguish the different areas of the model. The base of the model should also have something on it, like sand.
The three foot “rule”
When you are looking at a 3D model on a tabletop, you are usually looking at it from about three feet away. This is the distance that you are concerned with when trying to get a basic understanding of the model.
In order to meet this painting standard, your work does not need to look good in extreme close up pictures, or when someone picks up your model and turns it around to look at it.
I usually don’t take the time to paint small details on my army, such as making the bullets two different colors for the casing and the bullet, or painting eyes on 100 grunts.
Why would you want to paint to this standard instead of doing your best on each model
There is a trade-off between how long it takes to paint a model and how much time you have to spend on the hobby. If you want to play the game with painted models, you need to finish painting them.
You can set a minimum level of acceptable craftsmanship for your army. This will make sure that the models look good, but they may not be as efficient.
This is a personal decision that is different for each person. You need to decide how many unpainted models you want in your army. Some gamers are okay with just gaming and don’t care about the appearance of their models.
In some games, you have a lot of models that are basically the same. For example, you might need to paint 100 space marines for your Warhammer 40,000 army.
If you paint these models to a basic tabletop quality, it will probably only take you a couple of weeks. However, if you want to put a lot of effort into each and every one of these marines, it could take months or even years to finish painting all of them, depending on how quickly you can paint.
I like to paint my armies quickly and simply, so they look okay but not great. This way, I can focus on playing the game instead of worrying about painting.
I put a lot of effort into making my best model look really good, so it stands out from the other models in my army.
Use Blocking: different colors for different things
“Blocking” is the term we use for painting different colors to represent different objects. For example, the skin of the model will be one basic color, metal objects will be another color, and cloth and leather will be distinct colors from each other. This makes it easy to keep things straight and to paint them in an assembly-line method.
You can increase the speed at which you paint miniatures by using an assembly line method. This means that you will do all of the same steps for painting a model, but on different models. For example, you can base coat the skin of all of the models at once. Then move on to painting the armor on each model, and so on.
I usually start with the light colors and then move to the dark colors. The light colors are easier to cover with the dark colors, but if you get some dark color on a light spot, it is hard to cover it up.
Shading
Adding a wash to your models can quickly make them look better. A wash is a dark color that you put over the whole model. This will make the colors on the model look more alive and realistic.
You can use different color washes on different parts of an object to create different effects. For example, you could use a sepia wash to make something look dirty or grimy, or a black wash to create more shadows.
You can give a shirt a color shift by applying a light coat of a colored wash over it. For example, you could use a green wash to make the shirt look more aqua in color.
Washes are also a quick way to make things look different colors than they originally were. If you paint the jacket and trousers of a mini the same color tan, for example, the washes will help them stand out more.
If you want to make one area of your wood look like leather, you can use a slightly red wash. To make the other area look darker, you can use a brown wash. But be careful – these washes will create distinct differences between the two areas.
Base
Choose a base style for all your army models. This will make them all look similar, even if they are different colors or styles. This will help them feel like they are all in the same place together.
Beyond the Basic Quality
To take your tabletop models to the next level, you can start painting small details on them like eyes, rivets, and other small items. You can also make gradual transitions between colors to make the model look more realistic.
When painting your models, you will want to use highlighting to make the brighter areas stand out. This makes it look like the light is coming from a certain direction on your model. This level of painting is for the models that people will look at more often during and after the game.
Competition Painting
Competition painting is a more advanced level of painting. At this level, you spend more time on the models and make them look as good as possible. This is usually only done if there is an upcoming competition or if you want to be able to compete in competitions.
There are different levels of competition. In some cases, people may vote on the best painted unit or model. These competitions are usually less important than the main tournament, and they are just for people who didn’t win.
There are contests at stores. My local game store has a monthly contest where people bring in their unpainted models. The store takes a picture of the model, and then the people have to paint it up for the competition. The customers vote on their favorite, and the winner gets a gift certificate.
These local competitions are fun. People compete to see who is the best painter. This is usually for bragging rights more than anything else. These competitions are something that most of us will enter at some point.
There are many prestigious painting competitions at large gaming conventions, such as Adepticon, Gencon, and Lock and Load. If you are interested in these competitions, you need to be a great painter of miniatures.
You will be very careful when painting your model. You will usually plan out the color scheme long before you start painting. Different colors are used to shade areas in a room. This is done to create different effects with directional lighting. Highlights are gradually built up to create a smooth transition between colors.
Some painters spend many months on a single model that they plan to enter into a high-level painting competition. If you tried to do the same with all of the models in your army, you would never finish your army. You would have some of the best-looking models around, but most of your army would be unpainted.
Paint
There are many different ways to paint a scheme on a model. You can use one color or many colors. You can also use washes to create different colors, shades, and highlights. You can use multiple colors on the same model to create a more interesting paint scheme.
When painting your models, you should always start with a plan. You should know what colors you want to use and how you want to apply them. This will make painting your models much easier and will help you avoid making mistakes.
Once you have a plan, you can start painting your models. Begin by painting the base color of the model. Then, add washes to create different colors and shades. Finally, add highlights to make the colors pop.
FAQ
What is tabletop quality?
Tabletop quality is a term used in the printing and publishing industries to describe the level of detail and sharpness that can be seen when an image is printed at its actual size. Images that are considered “tabletop quality” will have enough resolution to be used in catalogs and other print media without appearing pixelated or blurry.
How can I tell if a product is tabletop quality?
To determine if a product is tabletop quality, you can print out a test image at 100% of the product’s actual size and view it from a distance. If the image appears sharp and without any noticeable pixelation, then the product meets the standard for tabletop quality.
What are the benefits of using tabletop quality products?
Using tabletop quality products can give your print media a more professional look, as the images and text will be sharper and less likely to blur or pixelate when printed. This can be especially important for catalogs and other marketing materials that are meant to represent your business in a positive light. In addition, using tabletop quality products can help you save time and money by preventing the need to reprint flawed materials.
Are all tabletop quality products created equal?
No, not all tabletop quality products are created equal. In order to meet the standard for tabletop quality, an image must have a certain resolution that allows it to be printed at its actual size without appearing pixelated or blurry. There are many products on the market that claim to be “tabletop quality,” but only a select few actually meet the standard. When choosing a product to use in your print media, be sure to ask about its resolution and compare it to other products available. If the resolution is not high enough, the image may appear distorted or blurry when printed.
How can I be sure that I’m getting the best tabletop quality products for my business?
When choosing a product to use in your print media, be sure to ask about its resolution and compare it to other products available. If the resolution is not high enough, the image may appear distorted or blurry when printed. In order to ensure that you’re getting the best tabletop quality products for your business, ask the supplier about the product’s resolution and compare it to other products available. If the resolution is not high enough, the image may appear distorted or blurry when printed.