How to Prime and Paint Resin Miniatures (Beginner's Guide)

So Your Resin Mini Arrived — Now What?

First of all: congratulations! Unboxing a freshly printed resin miniature is genuinely exciting. Whether you ordered a licensed character from our Spirit of Resin range, a terrain piece from Terrain Essentials by Cast n Play, or anything else from the Tattles Told 3D catalog, your mini was printed to order just for you. Now let's make it look amazing.

This guide walks you through every step — no prior painting experience required. We keep it practical and jargon-light, because that's how we roll.

Step 1: Clean Your Mini Before Anything Else

Resin straight off the printer (or out of the shipping box) can have a thin film of uncured resin or release agent on the surface. Paint won't stick well to that, so a quick clean makes a huge difference.

• What you need: A soft toothbrush, isopropyl alcohol (IPA) at 90%+, and a small bowl.
• How: Gently scrub the mini with the toothbrush dipped in IPA. Rinse with clean water and let it air-dry completely — at least 30 minutes.
• Pro tip: Do this in a well-ventilated area. IPA fumes are no fun in an enclosed space.

Step 2: Check for Support Marks

Made-to-order resin minis are printed with support structures that get removed before shipping. Occasionally a tiny nub or rough patch remains. Run your finger gently over the surface — if you feel anything, a quick pass with 400-grit sandpaper or a hobby knife smooths it right out.

Step 3: Prime the Mini

Primer is the foundation. It gives paint something to grip and helps colors pop. Skipping primer is the #1 beginner mistake — don't do it!

• Rattle-can primer (easiest): Brands like Citadel, Vallejo, or Army Painter all make sprays formulated for miniatures. Gray is the most versatile starting color.
• Brush-on primer: Great if you don't have a spray area. Thin it slightly with water and apply in thin, even coats.
• Distance matters: If spraying, hold the can 10–12 inches from the mini and use short sweeping bursts. Too close = pooling. Too far = grainy texture.

Let the primer cure for at least an hour (overnight is better) before painting.

Step 4: Base Coat — Block In Your Colors

The base coat lays down the main flat colors across different areas of the model. Don't worry about neatness yet — just get the right colors in roughly the right places.

• Work from large areas to small (skin → clothes → weapons → details).
• Thin your paints with a little water so they don't obscure fine detail.
• Two thin coats beat one thick coat every time.

Step 5: Wash / Shade for Instant Depth

This is the step that makes beginners feel like pros. A "wash" is a thin, dark paint that flows into recesses and creates instant shadow and depth.

• Citadel Nuln Oil (black-gray) and Agrax Earthshade (brown) are beginner favorites.
• Apply it liberally over the whole mini or just targeted areas, and let it dry fully.
• The recesses darken; the raised areas stay lighter. Boom — depth.

Step 6: Dry Brush for Highlights

Load a stiff brush with paint, wipe most of it off on a paper towel until almost no paint comes off, then lightly drag it across raised surfaces. The tiny amount of remaining paint catches edges and gives a natural highlight effect. Works beautifully on texture-heavy surfaces like the dungeon terrain in our Terrain Essentials collection.

Step 7: Detail Work

Now go back in for small details — eyes, gems, runes, metallics. A size 0 or 00 brush helps a lot here. Take your time; details are what make a mini truly yours.

Step 8: Seal It

A varnish seals all your hard work and protects paint from handling wear.

• Matte varnish: Most common choice — gives a realistic, non-shiny finish.
• Satin or gloss: Great for gems, eyes, or wet-look effects.
• Apply in thin coats, same rules as primer — distance and light passes.

Paints We'd Recommend Starting With

You don't need 200 colors to start. A beginner kit from Army Painter or Vallejo Game Color covers most bases. Add a black wash, a white highlight paint, and a metallic silver, and you're genuinely set for your first several minis.

Browse Minis Ready to Paint

Looking for your next project? Explore our full made-to-order catalog — from licensed character minis to dungeon scatter terrain. Every piece ships ready to prime.