Primer: Black or White?

[Qwyksilver]

I prime black because I tend to like darker figures.

If I really need something bright I prime black then use brush on primer for those specific spots. Like a face or something.

 

Grey primer typically has all the negatives of black and white with none of the positives from my experience.

[smokingwreckage]

I used to use grey, now I use black for stuff that wants deep dark shading or lots of steel, and white for stuff that wants lots of light or pale colours.

[Mad Jack]

For me, it depends on the figure - I usually go with white but use black for when I want a darker feel to it. Sometimes, I'll actually use two (or even three) different colors of primer on different parts of the mini if I really want the different areas set apart from each other. For example, on one mini I primed the cloak and loincloth shw was wearing black, because I wanted to paint them a very deep red, but I primed her flesh with white because I wanted it a very sickly pale color.

[Adrift]

When I was a novice, I used black primer. If I was speed painting an army for someone, I would use black primer.

 

For all painting that is important to me personally, I use white primer.

 

When I paint NMM, I start with a base shade that is intermediate to the color of the metal that I want, and then shade both down and up from that shade to get the desired sheen or luster. I never start with black and just begin to highlight up; that is, I used to do this when I was a less experienced painter. To achieve the level of painting that I'm constantly working towards, I paint differently now, than I used to back then.

 

For instance, on this recent dwarf, the hammer started out a medium dull grey color. The polished gold/bronze armor started out a dull medium-yellow-brown color. I went lighter and darker at desired points at every stroke of the brush.

[psyberwolfe1]

I use all three. I actually prefer gray but I'll still use black or white. I tend to use black more on terrain but use it on other things too.

[SaintRigger]

Classically trained painters don't paint on a white canvas either ;) There is usually a layer put down of an umber or a grey to take the sheen off of the canvas - but it brings up some interesting comparisons.

 

Often painters will do a tonal underpainting with a pigment and thinner and build up from a dead painting and dark colors to light - which is a perfectly acceptable way to paint miniatures.

 

Other miniature painters like to lay in with the lighter colors and shade down to get depth.

 

That said, I personally like painting on black primer and working my way up. Vibrant colors sometimes take a little bit of doing - but it isn't hard. I like that the black tends to mute the colors down, and acts as my shadow and black lining.

 

I suggest to try out both, and see what you like - but also don't limit it to black and white. Try using browns and greys too and see how it feels and what you like. There is no "Wrong" way or "optimal" way. There is an old saying that there are many paths up the mountain, but at the top, they all stare at the same moon. ;)

[dispatchdave]

I prime white, partly *because* it screams "You missed me!", and partly because I like lighter schemas. Black priming is nice if you're going for a post-apocalyptic dark grunge look.

 

However, for those that like to prime black, and have problems with too many layers to get the shade right: try painting white in the spots you want your colors to pop. Then paint over with the regular color. Works wonders everytime.

 

-Dave

[smokingwreckage]

A like for dispatchdave even though I slightly prefer black.

[Nocturne]

I usually go black as I tend to paint with a lot of browns and dark reds, and with some of the paint ranges going now it's a lot easier to work up from a dark colour to a bright than it used to be. If a figure is mostly flesh though I tend to go white with a thin browk ink wash as a guide layer.

[Paheej]

It really depends upon how I am painting the miniature. By "how" I mean . . .

• Painting the Miniature entirely by hand entirely by hand
  
• Painting the Miniature with basecoats and dipping
  

When painting by hand I almost always use black and work up to the brighter colors. This gives the coloration and overall feel of the miniature as darker, more muted, and I feel more realistic. This is my preferred way to paint historical miniatures and miniatures that are designed off of movies (such as Lord of the Rings). Additionally this allows for highly stylized black lining on non-historical miniatures and like other posters have stated, reduces the chance of having "you missed a spot!" areas.

 

When dipping miniatures (using wood stain) I never ever ever use black undercoat as the dipping method greatly darkens the overall miniature. I tend to use gray or white primer, which means the basecoats come out bright, but after dipping the mini comes out at a reasonable color.