Miniature Paint Sets

A paint set is the easiest way to start painting miniatures or to fill out your collection without picking paints one bottle at a time. Here you'll find Vallejo sets: 4-colour BSL sets for one specific colour, 8 and 16-colour sets, the Squidmar sets, the Xpress Color starter, TMM metals and cases with complete ranges. There are also Artis Opus brush sets and drybrushing brushes.

Below we explain which set to go for, depending on what you paint and how experienced you are.

Which set to choose if you're starting out

To get started, the Game Color 16-colour Introduction Set has the basics, including 4 metallics, to paint almost any fantasy mini. If you want quick results, the Xpress Color Starter Set does colour and shading in a single coat over white primer.

The Squidmar Essential Paint Set is another good way in: colours chosen by a well-known painter, so you can follow along with his tutorials. Whichever you pick, add a fine-tipped brush, some primer and, if you can, a wet palette.

4-colour BSL sets: one colour, three tones

Vallejo organises its Game Color range using the BSL system: Base, Shadow and Light. Each 4-colour set gives you one colour in its tones, already matched: reds, blues, greens, yellows, oranges, purples, leathers, and light or dark skin tones.

They're ideal for filling the gaps: if you're painting a green army, you buy the green set and you've got base, shadow and highlight without having to think about it. The system is explained in depth in the Color BSL System book by Ángel Giráldez and Pedro González, which also has its own paint set.

8 and 16-colour sets to level up

The 8-colour sets focus on one technique or theme: skin tones, inks for washes and glazes, or metallics. The 16-colour sets are for taking a step up: after the Introduction set come the Advanced and the Specialist, with subtler colours for highlights and shading.

If you like effects, the Squidmar Fantasy, Dark Future and Special FX sets bring colours for magic, sci-fi, fluorescents and effects. And the Inspiration Color Set is a wide selection so you've got a bit of everything on your painting desk.

Which Vallejo paint set to choose

Set	What's inside	Who it's for
Introduction Set, 16 colours	16 Game Color paints, including 4 metallics	Getting started on fantasy minis
Xpress Color Starter	Xpress Color for one-coat painting	Painting armies fast
Squidmar Essential	Core colours picked by Squidmar	Starting out with his tutorials
4-colour BSL sets	One colour in base, shadow and highlight	Filling in one specific colour
8-colour sets	Skin tones, inks or metallics	One technique or theme
Advanced and Specialist 16	Colours for subtle highlights and shading	Levelling up
Squidmar FX, Fantasy and Dark Future	Effects, fluorescents and themed colours	Effects and specific styles
TMM 4 colours	True Metallic Metal paints	Realistic metals
Paint cases	Complete ranges in a case	Painters who are already serious about it

Metals, paint cases and complete ranges

For realistic metals, the TMM 4-colour set is the way into True Metallic Metal. If you want the whole range, go for the TMM case.

Paint cases are for people who already paint seriously: the Foundation Case has the Game Color basics and the Artist’s Selection Case a ready-made colour selection. They come neatly organised with everything in view. If you'd rather buy bottle by bottle, we have Game Color, Model Color and Xpress Color.

Artis Opus Series S - Set 5 pinceles - caja abierta mostrando los pinceles Mr Resin

Brush sets

A good brush makes a bigger difference to the result than a load of new colours. The Artis Opus Series S sets are natural hair brushes for detail, Series M for layering and larger areas, and Series D for drybrushing.

If you want something cheaper for drybrushing, Vallejo's Dry Brushes also come as a set of three sizes. All our brushes are in brushes and Artis Opus. And for everything else on your painting desk, see miniature paints.

Miniature paint sets: frequently asked questions

The Game Color 16-colour Introduction Set or the Squidmar Essential set. If you want to paint fast, the Xpress Color Starter Set. Add a fine-tipped brush and some primer.

Base, Shadow and Light. Vallejo groups its colours into matching trios, so you know which shadow and which highlight go with each base colour.

When you're starting out, a set works out cheaper and guarantees colours that go together. Once you know what you use most, single bottles let you fill the gaps.

The Introduction set covers the basics. The Advanced and Specialist sets add tones for highlights, shadows and smoother transitions.

Vallejo sets put together with Squidmar Miniatures, a painter with loads of video content. There's an Essential set, a Fantasy set, a sci-fi set and a Special FX set.

Yes. You paint them just like a plastic mini, as long as the print has been washed, cured, degreased and primed.

For standard metallics, the Game Color set of 8 metallic colours. For more realistic metals, True Metallic Metal, as a 4-colour set or in a case.

It depends on the case. The Foundation Case has the Game Color basics and the TMM case has the complete True Metallic Metal range. Check what's inside on each product page.

The paint sets don't. Brush sets are sold separately, such as Artis Opus Series S, M and D or Vallejo's Dry Brushes.

Shake the bottles before use, close them properly and don't dip your brush into them. Put the paint on a wet palette and it'll dry out much more slowly.