How Experts Use Transfers
This post is part of the Notts Hobbies 30 Day Army Painting Accelerator, Click here to get your free copy.
Creating a high level of detail and realism in miniature painting can be both the most rewarding and challenging aspect of the hobby.
Using decals or transfers is a powerful technique that helps painters achieve highly detailed results. These small, printed images, often found in model kits or sold separately, offer an efficient way to apply intricate designs such as insignias, numbers, or symbols that would be extremely difficult to paint by hand.
Transfers can easily apply intricate designs to your models or create a uniform look across an army. A typical example is using transfers to apply the chapter symbol, and this extra step can elevate a squad with minimal effort.
While some may view decals as "cheating," most experienced painters recognise them as a skill. Applying a decal well to look integrated and natural requires as much attention to detail as any other aspect of miniature painting.
There are many ways to apply transfers, which can be found online. I use Micro Sol and Micro Set, finished with a couple of layers of a glaze or Lahmian Medium.
Below, you can see how the transfer applied to the Space Marine adds some extra detail and finishes the model nicely.
A way to add another level to your transfers is to layer transfers on top of each other to create a unique design only your army has. Once the first transfer has completely set, you apply the second transfer the same way, but be careful not to move the first transfer.
Most people apply transfers as an afterthought at the end of their painting process. Painting over them is an easy way to make your transfers look less stuck on.
Some examples include using a wash after applying the transfer to shade that part of the model, highlighting the transfer, or sponge chipping the transfer to make it look worn and faded.
In the following example, I added light sponge chipping to the transfer and a wash to the shoulder pad. You can see how the transfer looks part of the shoulder pad, not just stuck on afterwards.
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This post is part of the Notts Hobbies 30 Day Army Painting Accelerator, Click here to get your free copy.
Glossary
Glazing - painting a very thin layer of paint to tint a surface
Highlight – painting the bright colours on raised parts of a model so they stand out.
Sponge Chipping - a paint-dabbed sponge is lightly applied to edges and surfaces to create realistic chipped or worn effects
Wash – A thinned-down paint that runs into the recesses