Vallejo Xpress Color: Full Review & Complete Guide 2026 | Mr Resin

Hey makers! Today we're diving into one of those paint ranges that has honestly been a complete game-changer for me when it comes to painting armies and printed pieces: the Vallejo Xpress Color range. If you want to paint faster without sacrificing results that'll leave people speechless, stick around — this one's for you. In my experience, these are the secret weapon for bringing my 3D printer resin creations to life in record time. I've got you covered!

What is Vallejo Xpress Color? The Magic in a Bottle

If you're wondering what exactly these paints are, forget the technical jargon. Think of them as a magic potion for those of us who love painting minis and getting hands-on with the maker hobby.

Picture this: imagine being able to lay down your base color, create automatic shading, and even pick out the first highlights — all in a single brushstroke. That's essentially what I've been getting from Xpress Color.

One Coat, Automatic Shading

The secret behind Xpress Color is in the formula. They have a very fluid consistency and a property called capillary action that is genuinely impressive. When you apply them to a miniature, the paint flows in an almost intelligent way:

• It flows straight into the recesses: The paint slides into the deepest areas of the miniature, darkening them and creating shading automatically. Say goodbye to hand-lining for hours!
• It pulls back from raised areas: At the same time, the pigment retreats from raised surfaces and edges. This lets the light color of your primer show through, acting as an instant highlight and creating stunning contrast right away.

For me, this effect is a complete 180 in the way I work. Projects that used to take me weeks of layer-by-layer painting, I can now knock out in just a few days with results that more than hold their own.

Since their release, Xpress Colors have exploded in popularity — especially in the wargaming community with games like Warhammer, and of course among us 3D printing enthusiasts. The time savings are incredible: I've gone from spending two hours on a 28mm figure to just 30 minutes. These are an amazing tool for any painter who values their time.

Let's Get Painting: How to Use Xpress Color Like a Pro

Alright, we've covered the theory. Now it's time to roll up our sleeves and get to the fun part: how do we get the absolute most out of these paints? Don't worry — after countless tests and experiments, I've put together a no-nonsense guide for you.

First things first, and I want you to burn this into your brain: preparation is everything. A good primer coat is practically 90% of the battle with this range.

The Key to Success: A Clean, Even Primer Coat

Xpress Colors need a smooth surface to flow properly on their own. That's why my top recommendation is to always start with a quality Vallejo primer spray.

After trying pretty much everything out there, here's my personal cheat sheet for choosing a base colour:

• White: My go-to for about 80% of projects. It gives you the most vibrant colours and incredible contrast.
• Light grey: A fantastic alternative if you're after a slightly more muted or "realistic" finish. Colour transitions come out much smoother.
• Zenithal (white over black): This is a slightly more advanced technique, but the results are on another level. Prime in black, then spray white from directly above. When you apply the Xpress Colour, you get stunning shading and highlights almost effortlessly.

If you want to nail this part, I'd recommend checking out my miniature priming guide, where I cover everything in detail.

Application: my hands-on experience

There's no big secret here — the trick is loading your brush with just the right amount of paint. Not too much, not too little. My method is simple: load the brush well, offload a little onto the palette, then apply a generous coat over the area. After that, let gravity and surface tension do the work.

My golden tip: if you notice pooling on a flat area, grab a second clean, slightly damp brush to "steal" the excess and redistribute it. Works like a charm!

My little secret weapon is the Xpress Colour Medium. This stuff is genuinely brilliant. It lets you thin down any colour in the range without losing its properties — perfect for glazes or a more translucent finish.

My most useful Xpress Colour paints (the ones I can't live without)

Walking into a shop and staring at a wall full of Xpress Colour paints can feel pretty overwhelming. Trust me, I know. Where do you even start? That's exactly what I'm here for. I've done the hard work for you, and here are the pots I keep buying in threes.

• Dwarf Skin: The go-to flesh tone for humans, dwarves, and elves — you really can't go wrong.
• Copper Brown: My all-purpose brown for leather, wood, pouches, belts... you name it.
• Black Lotus: A very dark grey for shading black without it looking like a featureless void.
• Storm Blue: A versatile dark blue for wizard robes or sci-fi armour.
• Snake Green: The perfect green for orc and goblin skin.

A friendly tip: if you're just starting out, I'd highly recommend the Xpress Colour Starter Set. It comes with a really well-thought-out selection that covers almost all the basics.

And then there's the Xpress Colour Intense range. Watch out for these — the pigmentation and saturation are seriously impressive. My personal favourites are Intense Imperial Yellow and Intense Vampire Violet.

The Big Showdown: Vallejo Xpress vs. Citadel Contrast vs. Army Painter Speedpaint

Alright, let's get into it. The question everyone's asking: how do Vallejo Xpress Color paints stack up against their biggest rivals, Citadel Contrast and Army Painter Speedpaint? I've put serious hours into testing all three ranges, so here's my honest take.

Flow, Finish, and the Dreaded Reactivation Problem

The first thing you notice is how the paint behaves on the brush. Xpress Color has near-perfect flow that gives you total control. Citadel Contrast tends to be thicker, and Army Painter Speedpaint is an absolute saturation bomb.

But where Vallejo really shines, in my opinion, is the finish: completely matte. This unifies the miniature and leaves a perfect surface for highlighting afterwards. Contrast paints lean more satin, and the original Speedpaints had that same sheen issue (though 2.0 has improved things).

Now for the big one: reactivation. This happens when you paint over a dry layer and the paint underneath "wakes up" and bleeds into the new coat.

• Army Painter Speedpaint (1.0): Notorious for this. They'd reactivate if you so much as looked at them.
• Citadel Contrast: Some reactivation, but you really have to work at it.
• Vallejo Xpress Color: Once dry, zero reactivation whatsoever. None. For me, that reliability changes everything.

Contrast Paint Comparison Chart

In my experience, Vallejo Xpress Color is the most well-rounded and versatile option of the three. The matte finish, zero reactivation, and outstanding value for money make them the go-to choice for the vast majority of projects.

When to Use Xpress Color vs. Traditional Paint

Now, let's be honest. Xpress Color paints are fantastic, but they're not a solution for everything.

• When to USE them: They're perfect for painting entire armies, monster hordes, terrain, or any large project where time is of the essence. The results are more than solid, and the speed is unbeatable. They're the ideal pairing for models printed with Elegoo resins or Anycubic resins.
• When NOT to use them: For that competition entry or display piece where you want full control over every highlight. In those cases, traditional layering techniques are still king.

Advanced techniques: Mixing with Game Color

Got the hang of the basic application? Great — now the real fun begins. One of my favourite combos is using Xpress Color as a super-fast basecoat and then going in with regular acrylics, like Vallejo's Game Color range.

• Controlled edge highlights: After applying your Xpress layer, pick a lighter Game Color shade and highlight only the most exposed edges. This gives you full control over your final light placement.
• Smooth transitions: Apply your Xpress Color and, once dry, use a heavily thinned regular acrylic (a glaze) to blend the joins between colours without disturbing the shading underneath.

And don't sleep on the Xpress Color Medium. It's the secret weapon for turning any acrylic you already own into a custom Vallejo contrast paint. A total game-changer! If you want to go deeper, check out my article on colour theory for miniature painting.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Vallejo Xpress Color

To wrap things up, here are the questions I get asked most often. Let's clear them up so you can paint with confidence.

Can you use Xpress Color straight from the bottle?

Absolutely! That's actually what they're designed for. Give them a good shake and apply them directly over a light primer. A white or pale grey Vallejo primer spray is where you'll really see the magic happen.

What's the difference between Xpress Color and an ink or wash?

A wash or ink is designed to define shadows, but it tends to tint the entire surface. The Xpress Color formula is smarter than that: the pigment pulls away from raised edges (letting the primer show through as a highlight) and pools more heavily into the recesses. You get base colour, shading, and a first highlight in a single pass.

Can you mix Xpress Colors together?

Absolutely! In fact, I'd actively encourage it. Mixing Xpress Colors is a great way to create your own custom tones. The mixture retains the same properties, so the results are completely predictable.

Do you need to varnish miniatures painted with Xpress Color?

My advice? Yes, always. Especially if those miniatures are going to hit the gaming table. They're tough paints, but a coat of matte varnish will protect them from scuffs, scratches, and the oils from your hands. It's a small extra step that makes sure all your hard work lasts.

Do Xpress Colors reactivate with water?

No, and this is one of their biggest advantages. Once a layer is dry, it doesn't reactivate at all. You can paint over it with another colour, apply a drybrush, or fix a mistake without any worry. That reliability makes a real difference. For more information, I recommend checking out our complete guide to Vallejo paints.

Conclusion

Right then, folks — if you're asking what I think of Vallejo Xpress Color, I'll give it to you straight: they're absolutely brilliant and have earned a permanent spot on my hobby desk.

For beginners, they let you achieve results that used to take hours of frustration. And for those of us who've been in the hobby a while, they're an incredible project accelerator. They're not the answer to everything (for competition work, traditional layering still reigns supreme), but for 90% of projects, they're unbeatable.

What I love most about these paints is the combination of ease of use, that perfect matte finish straight out of the bottle, and a colour range that keeps on growing. If, like me, you value your time and want to see your armies painted and ready in record time, I wholeheartedly recommend giving them a go. I'm sure you'll be just as blown away as I was!