Citadel Shade Paints are specially formulated acrylic washes designed to flow into the recesses of a miniature, creating natural shadows and enhancing sculpted detail with minimal effort. Their thin, pigment-rich consistency allows them to settle smoothly into grooves and textures, adding instant depth, definition and realism to your models. Shade paints help unify colours, soften transitions and bring out fine details that might otherwise be lost.  

These paints are intended to be used after your base colours are applied and fully dry. Simply brush them over the area and allow the paint to naturally pool in the recesses, while leaving raised surfaces slightly tinted. Citadel Shade Paints work perfectly on Warhammer 40,000 and Age of Sigmar miniatures, adhering reliably to plastic, resin and metal. They integrate seamlessly with the complete Citadel paint system, preparing your model for layering, highlighting and final detailing.

Shade paints are ideal for painters of all experience levels because they produce dramatic results with minimal technique. They dry quickly, clean up easily with water and help create a smooth, realistic finish across armour, clothing, organic textures and more. Whether shading a character model or batch-painting an army, Citadel Shade Paints offer fast, consistent and professional-looking results.