What is a "wash" versus "pin" or "dot" shading?

[LyleW]

Please feel free to fill in.

[DoogsATX]

To offer a few definitions:

Wash - Heavily thinned paint - often oil-based - that is applied over paint for weathering or definition. There are many different kinds of washes. Filter washes. Sludge washes. Pin washes.

Filter Wash - Heavily thinned paint applied over a broad area to slightly modulate color tones. One of the most common filters is a dark brown (such as raw umber). Filters are often used to tie together disparate elements...so camoflage or contrasty decals/markings or the like. They're also useful for "aging".

Sludge Wash - Similar to a filter wash, but a sludge was is "sludged" on, and then mostly wiped off, leaving the wash only in panel lines and around fine details. Usually best done over a gloss or semi-gloss varnish.

Pin Wash - Very localized wash geared at picking out small details. Applied with a small brush and depends on capillary action of highly thinned paint to "draw" into and around detail.

Dot Shading/Dot Filtering - Applying and then working in and blending many multiple tiny dots of oil paint. The effect is to subtly shift color tones. The amount of variation depends on the modeler. Some use very vibrant colors like reds and blues. I prefer to stick to colors that are at least generally related. So for a green, I will use black, raw umber, a few different greens, a few different grays (green gray, warm gray, Payne's Gray), yellow ochre, and transparent white.

Oil dots are typically applied with an airbrush needle, then "worked in" to the surface with thinner (I prefer Mona Lisa Odorless) and a fattish round brush. At this point it'll look all nasty. But as it sets up a bit, you go in with a broad flat brush and gradually blend the worked in oils into the surface.

[tigrazor]

Washes and filters come in a big variety. Depending on the results you want to achieve, there are some differences between recipe, consistence etc.

Almost every color can be changed into a wash by thinning it. Two examples:

You build a plane that needs lets say a sludge wash over all. Id doesnt matter if you use thinned acrylic paint or Vallejo, GamesWorkshop washes or whatever else. The same thing happend when you paint figures (and feel the need to use washes - no "must have" but very helpful).

When it comes to smaller spots that need some dirt, leaks etc, its called a "pin wash".

As always its a bit about personal favor and experience. You wont need ANY wash - a basic equipment should be enough.

Heres a video showing pros and cons of Citadel Washes issued by Games Workshop:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NThhrt56yo