What is a paint scheme planner for miniatures?

A paint scheme planner lets you choose colors for each zone of your miniature before you buy a single pot. You assign colors to roles like primary, secondary, accent, metallic, and wash, then preview how they work together. This saves money by avoiding paints that clash and helps you plan a consistent army scheme from the start.

How do I choose a miniature color scheme?

Start with your primary color and work outward. Choose a secondary color that is two to three steps away on the color wheel for contrast. Pick an accent color that pops against both (complementary colors work well here). Metallic and wash colors follow the base scheme. A classic approach: dark primary with light secondary and a warm metallic accent keeps armies readable on the tabletop.

How do I plan a Warhammer paint scheme?

Warhammer army schemes typically use two to three main colors plus a metallic and a wash. Look at the faction's official palette for inspiration, then decide whether to follow it or diverge for a custom chapter or successor faction. Set your primary armor color first, then choose secondary trim and detail colors that complement it. Test on a single model before committing to a full unit.

How do I pick paint scheme miniatures will look good with?

Contrast is more important than matching. A dark primary (Kantor Blue, Abaddon Black) works best with a light or warm secondary (bone, gold, off-white). Avoid using two desaturated colors together since the result reads muddy at arm's length. A single strong accent color, like a bright orange or yellow, unifies an otherwise dark army. Keep washes and metallics neutral so they work across all your chosen colors.

What are complementary colors for miniature painting?

Complementary colors sit opposite each other on the color wheel. Red and green, blue and orange, purple and yellow are the classic pairs. On miniatures, complementary accents make the primary color read more vivid. Blue marines with orange weapons or red armor with green lenses both use this principle. Analogous colors (adjacent on the wheel) give a more harmonious look that suits nature themes and organic models.

All tools

Join the community Like this tool? Help keep the site aliveTip

Free tool

Miniature paint scheme planner

Choose colors for each role in your scheme, preview them on a miniature silhouette, and get complementary color suggestions. Works with Citadel, Vallejo, and Army Painter. No signup needed.

Track your full build in one place

Costumary lets you log every paint purchase, attach reference photos, and track progress across your entire army or model collection. Free to start.

Start free

How to plan a miniature paint scheme

Most painters pick colors by eye and regret it after painting twenty models that do not read well as a unit. Planning a scheme before you open a pot saves money on paints that do not work and produces a more consistent result across an entire army.

Start with the primary and build outward

Your primary color covers the most surface area and sets the army's identity. Choose it first, then pick a secondary that creates contrast. Two similar colors at the same value (brightness) blend together at arm's length. A dark blue primary with a light bone secondary reads clearly; a dark blue primary with a medium grey secondary disappears.

Accent colors tie the scheme together

A single accent color on weapon casings, lenses, or trim unifies a diverse army. Warm accents (gold, orange, yellow) work well against cool primaries (blue, green, purple). Cool accents (teal, ice blue) can break up an otherwise warm scheme. Limit your accent to one or two colors or the scheme becomes busy.

Metallics and washes are not neutral

Gold reads warm, silver reads cool. A Retributor Armour metallic with a warm brown wash (Agrax Earthshade) suits imperial and fantasy armies. A Leadbelcher silver with a blue-black wash (Nuln Oil) fits sci-fi and undead armies. Choose metallics and washes that reinforce your primary color temperature.

More free tools for makers

What Should I Cosplay?

Not sure what to build next? Answer 5 quick questions and get cosplay ideas matched to your skill, budget, and timeline. Real build plans, no signup.

Budget Calculator

Estimate your build cost before you start. Add materials, track spending, and stay on budget from first sketch to con floor.

Commission Pricing Calculator

Figure out what to charge. Factor in materials, labor hours, complexity, and overhead so you never underprice a commission again.

Prop Scaling Calculator

Scale any weapon, staff, or accessory to your height. Input the character's canon dimensions and your measurements, get cut-ready numbers.

Prop Weight Estimator

Estimate how much your prop will weigh before you build it. Choose material, enter dimensions, and check comfort for all-day convention carry.

Spray Paint Color Matcher

Upload a reference image or paste a hex code, then find close spray paint matches for props, helmets, 3D prints, and model kits.

Miniature Paint Matcher

Upload box art or paste a hex code to find the closest miniature paint from Citadel, Vallejo, Army Painter, and 21 more brands. For Warhammer, Gunpla, and scale models.

Fur Color Matcher

Pick a color from your reference sheet and find the closest faux fur matches from Howl Fabrics and other suppliers. Validated against Pantone codes with ΔE 3.6 average accuracy.

Full Fur Palette Database

Browse real faux fur colors from 14 suppliers, build a palette for your fursuit, and start a project with your color picks pre-loaded.

Fursuit Price Calculator

Estimate what a fursuit will cost. Pick your type, complexity, fur quality, and features to get a price range based on real maker data.

Convention Packing Checklist

The packing list cosplayers actually use. Con essentials, repair kit, sewing survival, wig and makeup, and everything you forget until the parking lot.

Convention Budget Calculator

Know what your next con will actually cost. Badge, hotel, travel, food, and shopping breakdown with per-person split for groups.

Commission Tracker

Track commissions from inquiry to payment. See your pipeline, pending payments, and total earnings at a glance. No signup, runs in your browser.

Convention Profit Tracker

Was your show worth it? Estimate break-even before a craft fair, log actual sales after, and compare which shows actually make you money.

Cosplay Material Wizard

EVA foam, Worbla, or 3D printing? Answer 4 questions and get the right material with thickness guides, glue charts, and paint compatibility.

Fabric Yardage Calculator

How much fabric do you need? Pick a build type, enter your measurements, and get yardage estimates with stretch and waste factors for cosplay and sewing.

Circle Skirt Calculator

Enter your waist and skirt length to get cutting radius, yardage, and waistband fabric for full, half, quarter, and 3/4 circle skirts.

Army Cost Calculator

See what your Warhammer 40K, Age of Sigmar, or Kill Team army will actually cost. Add units, adjust paint and supply budgets, and compare retail vs. discount pricing.

Carousel Composer

Drop your slide templates, overlay photos on each one, crop and rotate, then export everything as a zip. Runs in your browser, nothing uploaded.

What are you building next?

Start with a template, customize the milestones and materials, and build without losing track.

Malenia, Blade of Miquella

~11w

Elden Ring's deadliest warrior: the ornate gold armor plating, the massive winged helmet, and the iconic scarlet rot-scarred prosthetic arm. This is an advanced build spanning EVA foam shaping, multi-layer metallic painting, weathering effects, and prosthetic construction. 8 major components, 18 materials, 10-12 weeks, $350-700 budget covering foam, automotive paint, electronics, and precision detail work.

18 milestones·18 materials·$350-700·

Use template

Cartethyia

~7w

Wuthering Waves' Blessed Maiden in her signature layered silhouette: a form-fitting black undersuit with white tabard overlay, weighted shoulder stole panels, long floating sleeve panels draping to the knees, and an elaborate multi-part gold crown. The make-or-break details are the headpiece assembly and keeping the shoulder stole panels locked in place through a full con day. Designed for cosplayers comfortable with fitted garments and accessory construction. Includes 7 components, 14 materials with cost estimates, a 12-step build plan, and a realistic 7-week, $110 to $280 budget.

12 milestones·14 materials·$110-280·

Use template

Wednesday Addams

~6w

Netflix's darkly witty Nevermore student in her signature black and gray uniform, double braids, and pale ghostly makeup. The Nevermore uniform is a custom design (not standard plaid), and the braids demand wig stability work. 7 components, 13 materials, a 6-week build plan accounting for wig testing and makeup practice, budget $85 to $220.

17 milestones·17 materials·$85-220·

Use template

Goku

~4w

The most iconic anime hero: the orange gi, the blue undershirt, the spiky black hair. Goku's look is a martial arts uniform with Saiyan flair, and it's one of the most recognized cosplays on any con floor. This template covers the full outfit: the wrap-front gi top, the blue wristbands and obi, the boot covers, and the gravity-defying wig. 7 components, 10 materials with cost estimates, a 12-step build plan, and a realistic 4-week, $70 to $200 budget.

12 milestones·10 materials·$70-200·

Use template

Start free forever Browse all templates

Used by makers from r/cosplay, The RPF, Cosplay.com, r/Gunpla, and r/minipainting

Miniature paint scheme planner