Painting Infinity Minis Might Seem TERRIFYING... but it really isn't!

[@khr217]

That was not Matt, that was Joey! Nice tutorial, helpful, I have just decided to give Infinity a try, so this video really lets me to prepare properly.

[@torn.blue.sky101]

Probably worth mentioning on the point of the metal; Cleaning these guys is so easy, minimal flash and mold lines. I actually find that 99.9.99% of the time with Infinity sculpts, if there's a gap then *you're* the issue. They seem to fit so well that any gaps can be measured in microns....And that's not a joke. Corvus Belli are to minis what Audi is to Germany, engineered to perfection.

[@ArcKing01]

The first minis I ever painted were N3 Edition Nomads from the starter pack. Not 40K, which I’ve played and possibly painted more of. I still find myself enjoying painting Infinity a lot more than 40K. Hell, I just got my Crimson Stone set in. I’m excited as hell for all the goodies in that box.

[@TheSixthWorld]

Side brush:when your brush gives you the side eye. Got myself some Infinity minis to possibly use for Shadowrun. Should be interesting using oil paints on them.

[@mikehendon7327]

My worry with metal is mostly assembly, keeping things assembled, especially when the bits are a spot small for pinning. (See: old Malifaux and some Confrontation sculpts) I mean, primer is primer, it makes the paint stick.

[@TesseractMinis]

Infinity uses a very robust socketing system that means all but the largest, and heaviest minis hold together really well, without any pinning. Just make sure you're using accellerant with CA glue to create a harder cured bond. When we get to those bigger, heavier minis, we're also comfortably into the territory where they WILL easily take pinning. It's one of those problems that it's hard to realise isn't a problem, until you've experienced it first hand.

[@jherazob]

Given that i've been around Infinity for long enough to have worked with the N2 sculpts, i have picked up some helpful details: * First, glue. While it's possible to pin those thin tiny arms (i have pinned the arms of a Devabot! I think about it today and realize how crazy that is!), it's not necessary. Yes, CA glue can have issues sticking well to metal sometimes, but that's only when you try to glue smooth metal surfaces together. Rough them up (rough sandpaper, or take a pointy instrument and scratch the two surfaces a bit) and the glue will have a much better time, it's like it has something to grab onto, an actual chemist could explain how it works as i don't know. If you don't do it you'll find unglued limbs every time you open your transport box (i once saw a mini literally explode into it's pieces during a game when it was dropped from a light height), so do it, takes only seconds per mini and will save your sanity. The historical players used to metal minis and tanks and whatever call this technique "scoring". For heavier things like TAG and some remote parts then yes, you pin, but for most of the infantry? Not really needed for most of them. * Second, if you don't use the normal slotta bases (you go with resin, toppers, texture rollers or whatever), a good technique to fix the minis to the bases is to cut the little metal tab, but not completely, leaving the bits under the models feet to be turned into pins, here's a tutorial: www.corehammer.com/how-to-tab-pin-infinity-miniatures-to-bases/ *Third, primer and varnish. Some GW spraycans are NOT primer, so use an actual primer. Do it light enough that it serves it's purpose, but avoid going too far to not clog that beautiful detail. Then varnish at the end. That should hold up to (some) abuse. That, and the tips given :)

[@the98themperoroftheholybri33]

I've used these models for stargrave games as they're the perfect aesthetic for it, they match the artwork of the game very well

[@zackcook5123]

I don't get the metal stigma, it's another material like resin or plastic. It's another tool. Now I've found for blending using satin paints (most of my paint) a bit of Matt medium makes it much more workable. I can appreciate that infinity actually tries to get people to paint nmm, despite it not being my type of thing.

[@TesseractMinis]

I too got a little confused by the stigma at first. But I've been around the hobby since metal was the norm, so I understand my view is different. There are folks who just find it alien.

[@Mikey__R]

Hey Zack, sorry to reopen an old thread, but you made a couple points. I've spent the day kitbashing Space Marines from plastic and resin, I'd never be able to do anything like this with metal. But, Infinity models aren't really for modifying since they're so near perfect as they are. So I suppose the medium fits the subject? And with NMM, I'm just not that good, it's not a technique that interests me just yet. I know the studio painters use it, but I'm not Angel or Sergio, and I quite like TMM anyway, so I'm just going to use my metallic paints.

[@zackcook5123]

​@@Mikey__R sorry to reply really late,all good points

[@ratelmike8825]

I've loved painting GW miniatures but when I did my Ariadna miniatures I was seriously impressed. Vallejo are my go to colours. Ammo Mig Matt air brush spray works bloody well. Excellent video again.

[@ArcaanRitual]

09:00 I feel your pain, just refreshed my paint supplies to Monument Hobby and Oh God I can't get a good photo for my page anymore!

[@adamkerby-jones5711]

Really didn't need the climax face....but by god it was gorgeous 🤣🤣

[@FairieSword]

This was a great video, I felt the same when i transitioned from Games Workshop into Infinity, the minis are gorgeous and super detailed but there is definitely an intimidating factor to them (Probably also didn't help I made Infinity one of my first attempts at NMM ). I started using Zenithal Priming on Infinity minis mostly because it helps me pick out all the details by putting a little contrast on there.

[@xenith21]

Tossing around the idea of making the jump and adding infinity to my skirmish collection. This is the first of many in my watch later list exposing me to Infinity. Appreciate the content.

[@Fontzig]

I also like priming my miniatures black with an airbrush, but I add a light grey as step 2 from above to get a zenithal highlight. Then when I base coat I thin my paints so that the primer shows through and I get different values of the same color for free 👍

[@TesseractMinis]

I find that when applying that method, it produces really desaturated tones, so I tend to avoid it personally. I like good, full coverage on a lot of my stuff and by the time you get there, you've completely covered a zenithal highlight. The one great use I think you can get from a zenithal highlight is if you aren't very good at visualising light, you can apply a zenithal, then take some pics of the mini to give you a reference for something that works well as a lighting scheme. That's really helped me a few times, in the earlier days of getting into volumetric painting.

[@Fontzig]

@@TesseractMinis Yeah, that's true. But I guess I'm more fond of desaturated colors. Call it a habit from working with historical minis where I find desaturated colors a little more realistic looking.

[@TesseractMinis]

Oh for sure, there's totally a place for that look....and that place is "if you prefer it". Always paint to achieve the look you want, not the look someone else tells you to ❤️

[@rykerm4249]

I'm slowly getting over my fear of painting Infinity miniatures lol.

[@audioweasel6997]

One thing I feel should be mentioned is that, with the amount of detail in Infinity models, they take VERY well to Contrast paints

[@jherazob]

Not just that, they work even better on Infinity minis than on their posterboy Primaris, and that is a fact that i never ever get tired of :P

[@audioweasel6997]

My Shasvastii are all Contrast painted, and they look fairly good on he table, if I do say so myself

[@28mmRPG]

Angel Giraldez is a good source to paint infinity minis, I have both of his books, very good info to up your skills.

[@TesseractMinis]

I'm a huge Angel Giraldez fan :)

[@GodOfMoxie555]

love the shades on the gangbuster.

[@TesseractMinis]

Thanks, Josef! It was reallllly fun doing an ESR on something that small.

[@TheAjcostello5672]

I absolutely love Reaper Master Series paints.

[@Mikey__R]

This is absolutely the video I needed to see right now!

[@WarLore]

Thank you so much for making this video :)

[@TesseractMinis]

Thank you for watching it!

[@lilchinesekidchen]

i side brush all the time for raised areas. the only way to get a quick even and precise coat

[@rykerm4249]

Are the matte paints recommended for other detail dense metal models? I'm getting into Bushido, and the game also uses some pretty high detail metal miniatures.

[@TesseractMinis]

Personally I use them for everything. I'd happily recommend others do, too.

[@audioweasel6997]

As the person who is responsible for making sure the entire household gets fed, can I suggest to you that, as a former chef, some recipes for tasty, healthy meals that can be easily picked up and put down while painting may be a piece of content of interest?

[@bobavontanelorn5713]

by the way: Corvus Belli announced that they will switch from metal miniatures to made from plastic recently. So the "I am afraid, it is metal..." will be over soon. But I personally prefered to have them in the metal based material, because the minis seem to have something like "more value". And also you can be sure to have hurt your opponent when you threw his minis against him after you lost the game (please do not not throw your own minis - they are too expensive...)... *smirk*

[@flappy_fish345]

To be fair, its currently only for new releases over S2 going forward, the latest Dice Abide Podcast with Bostria covers the start of their inclusion of SioCast and what we as Infinity players can expect.

[@seewhatdude]

Once I've finished bastardizing my remaining Imperial fist vehicles with some very Iron Warriors hazard stripes i might be able to think about picking up an infinity model or two. 😅

[@atothe40khomeboi]

Yo man, I’d be interested in a vid about photographing matte minis… and other types of finishes… if you have thoughts on it?

[@TesseractMinis]

The main difference with matte, is just that you want to overexpose them and then pull the exposure down in post. Not sure I could stretch that out to a full vid, but I'll have a think if I can come up with some other ideas for a fuller video! Cheers :)

[@atothe40khomeboi]

@@TesseractMinis Cheers homes!

[@bogatyr2473]

Battle Barbies... never before have I been so insulted by something so true.

[@Aburame1313]

A Challenge i want to accept!

[@gex1290]

Hey man I've got a question. So I've recently got my first few infinity miniatures after painting warhammer for 4 years. Ive found that although painting infinity minis with regular paints works well and looks good, it takes a lot of time to do. I feel like using contrast paints would make it muxh faster and maybe evem make it look beter. The problem is I'm worried if I paint using contrast will make it seem as if im bad or worse at painting than those who do it the regular way. This makes me fear painting them with contrast as I want to improve my painting skills and people keep telling me that if you use contrast paints your a "noob". Ant insight to this, what do you think I should do?

[@TesseractMinis]

Hiya, that's a great question... And a bit of an abstract one to answer. There's definitely things that contrast paint can do well, and chief amongst those is dense texture. Since infinity minis tend to have a ton of texture, obviously that means contrasts can get some really good results on them, in not a ton of time. The problem comes when you start thinking about long-term results. For example, the basic method of applying contrast over a basecoat can certainly get some results that look nice... but it's never gonna teach you how to communicate lighting information in paint. You're only ever gonna get exactly shadows in the recesses and highlights on the raised parts. Which isn't how light behaves. And so if this is the only way you paint, it's easy to find yourself backed into a corner in terms of your growth as a painter. Now don't get me wrong, there are amazing results you can get by using contrast as the base, and then manually adding highlights over the top... But in real world application, this is no different to traditional painting, and if anything is a bit gimmicky or "for the sake of it". You're using a transparent base layer, and then painting over all of its transparent parts... Not really worth buying a separate product for, imo. My advice would be to focus on ways you can speed up your traditional painting techniques. Consider your process efficiency, how you set up your workspace...and also just bear with yourself a little! If you've only been painting 4 years, you've probably spent most of that focused on getting better, so getting faster might take some dedicated time and practice. Thanks for a really great question, and I hope that all helps! Good luck!

[@gex1290]

@@TesseractMinis Wow thanks for such a comprehensive answer. What you said seems like great advice. I love painting especially infinity miniatures. I cant wait to get faster and faster while still getting good results.

[@TesseractMinis]

No worries at all! Your question has inspired a video that I think will be great. I'm sat here with my laptop writing a script as we speak! So it's you who deserves thanks!

[@gex1290]

@@TesseractMinis Glad to hear that! Looking forward to seeing the vid when it comes out.

[@Mikey__R]

Hey, how did you glue the arm to the model? With a pin? Superglue or epoxy?

[@TesseractMinis]

Just superglue and accelerator :)

[@mberryman7720]

I watched as promised, still shaky on metal but looking forward to trying side brush.

[@Vroomerz]

Lol. started on Lead. Then pewter.. so, plastic is nice.

[@OldManRogers]

Infinity minis are detailed but unlike GW are not overly cluttered. Also you're only painting 15-20 minis for an army not 100s

[@seankavanagh3742]

I love the models but the aesthetic is to clean for me; war is conducted in the dirt and the grime where is the grime!

[@TesseractMinis]

The grime comes in the paint jobs! Did you see how I painted my Ariadna SAS? I put it in a community post, a few days ago.

[@seankavanagh3742]

@@TesseractMinis I didn't but shall!

[@CupCakeUnleashed]

Infinity seems expensive...

[@TesseractMinis]

I felt similarly, when I first looked at it from the periphery, but as someone who's now played it for about a year, I feel differently. The per model quality in terms of sculpting and casting is the best I've ever seen and every miniature in my collection is an individual with no repeats. This makes the nearest fair comparison something like a GW character model - which is less detailed and harder to put together but costs about 2-3 times the average Infinity miniature. Compared to other Skirmish games with poorer quality models, it could certainly look expensive...like I say, did to me too! But when you consider that it's a game where you never need to buy a rulebook unless you just like owning one. A game where every starter box contains actual useable, quality terrain, that you'll keep using and can flatpack down if you ever need to...or even just the quality of sculpting, casting and general production... You may well change your mind too!

[@highlordalcadizakyr1479]

i wasnt concerned that they are made out of metal and then the reality hit me. its shit and i hate it. not even primer wants to stick to it and no i did all the prep work recomended

[@Oreo_cakester]

some note, the video is kind of slow

[@Weusten1]

Good Video. Only contra point is i realy dont like the parts where he is talking about his own skills on painting and beeing a cheff. Yes he is good but it is super cringe