We used to do similar in the pre internet days of the eighties, spray black, dry brush white and then use watercolour paints or ink over the top. The result is very close! Good for doing lots of horses.
100% Its equal parts funny and infuriating that people think somebody came up with this in 2022. I've literally been painting this way for 30 years. Hey I just discovered this new action movie with Arnold Schwarzenegger. I bet nobody has ever seen it before, I'm going to call it COMMANDO!
Finally, someone does a multi-example video on this subject! My personal approach is flat black spray primer, flat grey spray primer zenithal, Vallejo white dry brush. That works well for me and leaves a less 'dusty' texture.
@@DanaHowl Nice to see you each (and others) putting bricks into the same wall greater hobby wall instead of each trying to build your own pile of bricks.
Great video, Dana! For me, the problem with regular slap chop in its mass appeal form is the monochrome starting point. Contrast over greys and blacks is desaturated and muddy. With proper grisaille you clearly define your volumes and textures first, which is a much more intensive process than the drybrushing in slapchop I think the key to getting this method to really pop is going to be color, and using different colors for the first two steps. With an orc, I'd personally either go with a dark blue or dark red (depending on whether I wanted to skew cool or warm) followed by a zenithal of an off-white cream color and then do the white drybrush and contrast. I think that would end up giving you a lot more color interest in your shadows and midtones because you wouldn't be going over black and grey. And for folks without an airbrush, a color primer followed by a zenithal of wraithbone will do a really similar job. As soon as army painter release their pink primer this month I'm going to grab a can and try slapchop+ my imperial fists without an airbrush.
I've been painting a bunch of Don't Look Back models and using the standard slopchop method and I really like how shadowed and desaturated they look. Feels thematic for horror minis!
I really am enjoying how many youtube minipainters are taking their own shots at Slapchop just really makes me happy to see this love of the art going on and everyone trying to expand that art. From what I have learned it really does seem that once again Airbrushes are amazing and worthwhile investments for not much more than a couple boxes of space marines, especially if you are trying to speed up your painting. I know the time I have saved with my airbrush just base coating has paid back the investment. And I think you and Ninjon are really on the right track here with a little more time spent highlighting after the initial slapchop not only doesn't take a lot of time but also really brings the model up that extra notch to make it more. Also that being sparing with the contrast paint seems to be the trick for bringing out the values you spent time building with the undercoat.
@@lordsnake1988 Honestly that's probably the most eye catching thing about this method: The amount of elitism that came out of the woodwork the moment everyone and their mother started using a method that gave satisfactory results without the need for specialized tools, or watching endless hours of painting tutorial videos. There has been far too much digital ink spilled on the subject of 'Slapchop shmapchop! Watch me take it up a notch by unironically adding 30 minutes to the process! Make sure to tune in to my next response video where I explore how much better air brushing than lame old Scrubchop!', completely missing the point that this is a speed painting method useful for beginners.
I suffer from unwarranted overthinking and I more than often get stuck in HOW I am going to paint something rather than actually painting something. Awesome video. I will watch it several times. Thank you!
Finally! A video that not only talks about slap chop, but also acknowledges the historical techniques that the slapchop is built on. I really like the underpainting and transparent paint method because I am horrible at placing highlights with a more traditional (classical?) layer and glaze approach, and this method really automates the placement of the highlights. I also struggle with mixing up highlights colors because I get analysis paralysis with trying to figure out how much of a jump in value I want to get to and how many layers I want to do it in. I do worry about the slapchop eventually just becoming a crutch though and not encouraging people to further develop their skills.
@@AceTaxiaGaming If we are being fair, slapchop isn't a technique as much as it is a process or a workflow that combines a couple of techniques together to come up with a result. In that regards, yes, Rob invented slapchop. Taking old ideas and combining them in new ways is a form of innovation just as much as coming up with a new idea is.
I want to piggyback off this comment and say thank you as well! The link that you provided that lists out the colors and uses is something that I'll be leveraging. Thanks so much for providing quality content. You rock!
I was also rooting for the grey undercoat, so I was shocked to see how "poorly" it preformed in comparison. I think I'm going to try "Palechop", but with following Marco Frisoni's method of applying shade -not just to the deepest recesses but the undersides of the entire mini before drybrushing.
Dana! The moment I saw the 'slap chop method' I thought back to your own videos, where you demonstrated and explained this technique with more nuance and in a way that was helpful to me, even though I only brush paint. The concept didn't change. Your contrast paint videos have been really helpful for making some purchase decisions. Love your work. Ty.
I've found that painting the skin white on otherwise normally-underpainted models really helped when using caucasian flesh-colored Contrast/Speed paints. YMMV on darker flesh tones. Otherwise, it really felt like the skin came out too shadowed and hard to read. It also helped it contrast more with clothing/armor/equipment/hair.
Yeah! I'm using Army Painter Speedpaints and found zenithal does not work well. The shading is just too dark even when using a grey primer. Especially for the faces/skin.
I am just starting painting miniatures or any painting for that matter in over 25 years. I have purchased an airbrush kit, brushes, primers and paints with no skill and tones of ambition. :) I am so glad people like you make videos like this. I am not so scared to start painting again. I feel like life has beaten the artistic side out of me over the years but I am determined to be a good artiest again.
So you know: I have ADHD and really struggle to follow along with tutorial videos or focus on a video I'm watching instead of doing something on the side. But your videos have such a pleasant pace and such interesting visuals that I actually *watch* them and whenever my attention does drift, I promptly rewind and rewatch because I am deeply engaged and don't want to miss any of it! The music is perfect in pace, mood and volume, your voice has just the right balance of energy - it's fun to follow along and I feel like I really absorb the knowledge!
Scandalous! I have been using the "white prime, black wash, white drybrush, Contrast paints" method since last year. Since Slapchop came along and made it trendy to give these things catchy names I've been calling it the "Zingbo method". 🤣 And now you come along and rename it! If only I'd told more than about a dozen people about it I might be Internet famous by now!
I actually really like how you standard/first attempt at slapchop looked, I love that darker dirtier look. To me muruading orcs, battle worn space Marines and alien monstrosities should be dark and dirty looking with washed out pale colors, war should be dirty. I can totally see scenarios where you'd want those brighter more vibrant colors too though, like you said it's all about what look you're going for. Awesome video, I'm just getting into this hobby and am super excited about it.
My underpainting process (adapted from yours) is spray paint zenithal (using wraith bone instead of white), black oil wash to darken the shadows, then finish off with a white dry brush to pick out the edges.
Ninjon suggested using golden high flow titan buff instead of white and I found i loved it more than regular slap chop. Helped with the sort of chalkiness you get with slap chopping sometimes.
Those Golden Highflow and SoFlat paints are really wonderful. I bought a bundle of each knowing at a minimum I’d get good utility out of the black and titan buff. Did not disappoint.
Fantastic comparison of variations on the method, Dana. thanks so much! I had tried doing the "Grey Chop" method on an Infinity model and found it a bit dark/flat when finished, and here you've identified Grey Chop as the least impressive variation, so after seeing your results with the "PaleChop" variation, I think that'll be what I try next. Thanks again!
Thanks for taking the time showcasing slap chop. You rock! As an entry level miniature painter who still hasn't gotten around to getting an airbrush, this was super informative.
Awesome, making a Nurgle-Blessed Ork army and I think ill try like this since I need to have a good way to properly crank out models in the midst of uni. Papa's blessing upon thee!
Those without airbrushes can also get a similar base as your airchop style by grabbing a black, grey, and white aerosol primer and just doing a layered zenithal prime job, if anyone might be interested.
I've also been doing Slap Chop Kruleboys for Orktober. The use of Contrast-alikes has made the painting process so fast. And, honestly, it's probably some of my best work as a mini painter thus far. Although I've been using a modified Slap Chop method I learned from a different TH-camr (whose name escapes me, unfortunately). It involves beginning with a bone-colored primer (Rustoleum "Fossil"), followed by a brown wash (Army Painter Strong Tone), then successive drybrush of bone (Army Painter Skeleton Bone), warm off-white (Army Painter Mummy Robes), and pure white (Army Painter Matt White). The point of the beige-y prime was to skew the undercoat warm, so the orange and yellow SpeedPaints wouldn't come out sickly (as might happen with a black prime). I don't know if it's really done much to improve it over regular Slap Chop primes, but it's worked out well enough for my purposes. On another note, it is indeed very important to spread your Contrast-style paints thin. Otherwise, the highlights don't show through, and it just looks like a dark, solid color.
I bought the Army Painter speed paint set after seeing your blog post on them(any product that will help me enjoy the hobby as a whole is ok in my book). Thank you for doing all the experiments and sharing with us because it only helps hopeless painters like myself.
I am painting the Dominion kruleboyz right now too! I was trying to go with a modified slapchop by undercoating with a color that I wanted my shadows to be tinted with, then dry brushing highlights with the color of my light source. Then slapchop as normal. So far the value difference between the colored undercoat and the dry brush hasn't been great enough to make it work as a one coat solution, but some layering to bring up the highlights really brings it home. Good tip in re-glazing with your original transparent paints to blend the highlights! Definitely gonna try that
AIRCHOP FOR LIFE, BABY! Thanks for coining a new phrase becuase I’ve been using your meathod but for lack of a better word I’ve been using “slapchop” to discribe it
Dana always coming with that perfect blend of get-to-the-point pragmatic guidance encapsulated in a healthy membrane of charisma and engaging editing that makes you go "oh no" when you notice the videos about to end.
Recently I started my zenithals with terracota>yellow>pale sand/white instead of black>gray>white when doing my glazing. It added a layer of realism to my final glazing.
A long time fan from up north, I point folks to your videos all the time. Videos like this are why I keep watching and why I tell folks to give you a look. Keep it up. BZ
been using your "airchop" method for a couple years, and LOVE IT!!! Only difference is I use Vallejo Pale Sand instead of White when drybrushing, find it helps "iluminate" the colors.
This has been a great thing to stumble across for a guy with very little time to invest in to traditional painting methods. It's taken nearly a month to get 10 skitarii Rangers and 10 ork boys plus terrain finished when I only have an hour each night to put into painting them.
The assembly and painting of minis gives me anxiety but the pay off for them being done is worth it lol I am so glad you reviewed a plane white base. I didn't hate they way it turned out and may use it in the future!
The absolute best compliment to an underpaint-focused speedpaint in my opinion, whether slapchop or with an airbrush, is an application of oil wash. All you need is a tube of black oil paint, one of brown oil paint, and some white spirits. Start with a very bright undercoat, put on your layer of transparents, and then slather organic surfaces with it, then wipe it down with q-tips, makeup sponges, or just some old rags. The directional highlight effect this produces has been the single largest step to making my speed paints look good. As a bonus, if you don't use the white spirits when wiping off the oil wash, the thin layer of oil that remains will protect speedpaints from reactivation somewhat.
Good one! I use the AB, but with white ink instead of gray to build up to the brightest highlight, with a final white drybrush. But not contrast paint. Just regular paint thinned down with a 1:1:1 mix of matte medium, flow improver and distilled water. I then mix in the coulour I want to get the consistency I like for the models. Takes maybe 1 oir 2 minutes longer, but provides for more flexibility in colour choice (besides it's good for the wallet).
That website is a fantastic idea. IIRC some of the nicer stores have displays like this to showcase each paint color. Easier (for me at least) to understand how the color would actual look.
Love the examination of the variations in technique Really helpful. I wonder about using that to create variations across your army while still having a consistent overall look. Also love the little bit of art history context dropped in. I don't have an art education and love learning the origins or "real world art" instances of mini-painting techniques to broaden my sources for inspiration. Would like to see more of that but can understand why it would be a distraction from what this video was really about. Patreon bonus content maybe?
This is spot on what I was wondering when I saw SlapChop. How does it compare to Dana’s undercoating? I have an airbrush but haven’t broken it out yet. This gives me the confidence that it is indeed worth mastering for undercoating. Well done Dana! These comparison-type videos are fantastic.
I don’t think my investment in this hobby can justify an airbrush but all of these undercoating methods look inspiring. There are 10 plaguebearers waiting for me to pick up my brushes and speed paints. I'm not sure which I like the best. It really depends what you are going for, in terms of vibrancy vs. shadow. This also makes me consider the value of undercoating if you want to create some variation in skin tones across a group of models.
I just did a batch of Chaos Cultists using Slap Chop for the first time. I have been painting a couple years, but almost exclusively with contrast paints and speed paints. So my layering and edge highlighting game is not great even being generous. My takeaway from Slap Chop is that the dry brushing is super super important. To the point if you go “I think this is enough” then it isnt. Reason being is some of my cultists I am dang proud of for 20ish minutes. A couple I have gone “That spot looks really really good… but has an abrupt falloff…”. As a guy without an airbrush I look forward to experimenting more with it. Bc the good stuff looks good.
I have some classical training and I always appreciate your full explanations of things. I knew I'd learned "slap chop" years ago but I had completely forgotten the name: grissalle. Thank you for your great videos
I've been recently experimenting like this as well (but without an airbrush). Even still, it's really useful to see the examples side by side, especially since I have been using different models and different colours. I appreciate Dana taking the time to demonstrate a variety of techniques using similar models and similar colours. Maybe the biggest take away should be the common sense approach of: Try out different things, and then do whatever works best for you.
I've found a happy medium: Spray can Grey primer, spray can beige zenithal, then white drybrush the raised edges. This works best with speedpaints. Since they're so see-thru, the undercoats have to be light to make the colors pop, and not have a sharp contrast from black to white. I would however like to see black primer, grey zenithal, white drybrush on a speedpaint model!
An absolute banger of a video! Very well done, I liked a lot! I've been trying diferent techniques too for my Infinity the game minis, and the "slapchop" variants plus contrast helps a lot!
I find standard slapchop is really similar to regular contrast painting method but with slightly more exaggerated highlights compared to contrast over a wraithbone undercoat. I like using slapchop to give me a really quick paint job to the model then later on I can go back and use very bright edge highlights to bring the details out. That final bright highlight takes the model from a 6/10 to an 8/10 for very little work and can be done whenever I like the model is basically done after the contrast is applied.
My friends were doing this back in 97 when I first met them. Ya, know back in the drayage's. They were really into drybrushing and their drybrush painting looked as god or better than the vast majority of painted models. Not sloppy at all.
I have an enormous backlog of models to paint. I really think I need to knock out these models using this style. As always, thanks for all your hard work on your videos. They are so helpful, and motivating to paint. Happy Channel Birthday!
I discovered that by doing a very controlled layering, using careful application rather than drybrushing to gradually increase the brightness towards the most raised parts as well as using pastels or even bright colours like yellows and oranges or contrasting colours you can get some stunning results.
I'm using your style of underpainting (now officially called airchop 😉) for a few years now and i still love it for the absolute simlplification of volumes and battleready paintjobs.
I prime black, then dry brush grey. I put one coat of speed paint down. Then I spray white from above, varnish and throw more color over it. My fave. A time investment though. Not "Get em on the table" speed. Just my way of doing things.
Slapchop is very close to what I did for a lot of my models before I got my airbrush. A grisaille under painted value sketch is super useful. I often like coming in with a quick highlight of bright white with a regular brush where it needs the brightest highlights either before or after the dry brush.
I watched Goobertown Hobbies do the same style of video, but he also included a "brown slapchop" (brown zenethal and tan drybrushing) which seems like it would be great for organic minis (not armored). It gave it a bit of a sepia undertone.
Another great video! Saw something similar on another channel about using washes with slap chop and its a technique that will definitely be used more often.
Vince recently reviewed the Liquitex Acrylic Guache paints and said they are similar to Golden SoFlat or even Kimera. But the big benefit to them: they have Kadmium-free versions of their paints, so no toxic substances.
I think for me what I kind of dislike about the slapchop vids I've seen (lots of them), it's how obviously BLACK the shadows look. I want to play with different colored shadows, midtones, and highlights to see the effects... like the usual "pink under yellow" vibes, etc. Great video as always btw!
I came here after watching your first video. I am definitely after quick and dirty as painting stresses me out & I lack the time or skill. I have 6 of 9 kids at home, a wife, career, and ateast daily training at the gym kr home that are all more important than learning to paint & investing the time vs playing the game, however I want good looking/personalized models.
Great video! Very interesting demo. These are definitely styles I've experimented with but it's great to see them side by side. Especially as we in the north move into winter time and my airbrush becomes unusable out in the cold, cold, digit-freezing garage.
I used a similar technique on my _Atun dynasty,_ by basecoating silver, then drybrushing Mithril silver, then using a green glaze, nowadays I use _Warpstone Glow_ from Citadel. Gives a nice metallic green... 🤓
I would have liked to see one more option done with your normal style but using spray cans instead of airbrushing for speed and folks that don't have airbrushes.
Thank you for these tests, I had been wanting to test it out myself and also expected grey primer to work best. Now that I know it won't, that saves me some time and money.
Great vid as always, thank you! I’ve been using something similar to airchop but using Vallejo gloss white for the zenithal, making sure it goes on with good coverage and is glossy. I use mainly AP speed paint and it loves the slippery surface the gloss white leaves. Also a few drops of contrast medium mixed in on the pallet helps speed paint set fully and never reactivate.
This is a quality video. "Airchop" is the way to go in my opinion, but back to the point, showing similar models with similar colors is as close as you can get to a scientific comparison, and what is needed.
So I do something similar to your original underpainting tutorial however, I do not have an airbrush. I use spray primers from Citadel like Gray Seer and then a little White Scar which has a really nice warm tint from above in a quick front to back motion, then use a black wash on the darkest areas and a white dry brush. Not as smooth as an airbrush, but I really like the results that I have been getting with it. Airbrushes are great for sure, but I don't have the space in my apartment for a proper set up and ventilation without losing space for other things.
Thank you. I was really hoping someone would compare zenithal with slapchop and you did more than that. Will refer back to this next time I'm painting.
The, "slapchop" method seems to definitely have its' uses and I see it as a great way to set up a beginner with more clear guidelines to highlight and layer up while still having a tabletop-ready model.
Dana thank you for all of the experimentation that went into this! I love seeing other people's results for different tries. I never considered using a dark wash for the recesses. That's a really cool idea. I own an airbrush, but I've never had good luck with white primer. So doing a zenithal with black primer and white ink is my preferred way. I like the all white look, but white primer is the devil (IMO).
We used to do similar in the pre internet days of the eighties, spray black, dry brush white and then use watercolour paints or ink over the top. The result is very close! Good for doing lots of horses.
100% Its equal parts funny and infuriating that people think somebody came up with this in 2022. I've literally been painting this way for 30 years. Hey I just discovered this new action movie with Arnold Schwarzenegger. I bet nobody has ever seen it before, I'm going to call it COMMANDO!
I have seen this before. Time to try this
@@HeadCannonPrimeFinally some people who know the truth! The only thing new about the technique is that goofy name.
Finally, someone does a multi-example video on this subject! My personal approach is flat black spray primer, flat grey spray primer zenithal, Vallejo white dry brush. That works well for me and leaves a less 'dusty' texture.
Really love the video. Thanks for the really interesting experiments. Can't wait to try some out
Awesome Rob!! Ya it was a fun experiment, thanks for popularizing the method!!! #SLAPCHOP4EVER
@@DanaHowl Nice to see you each (and others) putting bricks into the same wall greater hobby wall instead of each trying to build your own pile of bricks.
Great video, Dana!
For me, the problem with regular slap chop in its mass appeal form is the monochrome starting point. Contrast over greys and blacks is desaturated and muddy. With proper grisaille you clearly define your volumes and textures first, which is a much more intensive process than the drybrushing in slapchop
I think the key to getting this method to really pop is going to be color, and using different colors for the first two steps.
With an orc, I'd personally either go with a dark blue or dark red (depending on whether I wanted to skew cool or warm) followed by a zenithal of an off-white cream color and then do the white drybrush and contrast. I think that would end up giving you a lot more color interest in your shadows and midtones because you wouldn't be going over black and grey.
And for folks without an airbrush, a color primer followed by a zenithal of wraithbone will do a really similar job.
As soon as army painter release their pink primer this month I'm going to grab a can and try slapchop+ my imperial fists without an airbrush.
I'd love to see this put into practice. Any recommendations?
I've been painting a bunch of Don't Look Back models and using the standard slopchop method and I really like how shadowed and desaturated they look. Feels thematic for horror minis!
Can we see them somewhere?
oh hey it's the ranty lady I like (who does the good rants i like)
I really am enjoying how many youtube minipainters are taking their own shots at Slapchop just really makes me happy to see this love of the art going on and everyone trying to expand that art. From what I have learned it really does seem that once again Airbrushes are amazing and worthwhile investments for not much more than a couple boxes of space marines, especially if you are trying to speed up your painting. I know the time I have saved with my airbrush just base coating has paid back the investment. And I think you and Ninjon are really on the right track here with a little more time spent highlighting after the initial slapchop not only doesn't take a lot of time but also really brings the model up that extra notch to make it more. Also that being sparing with the contrast paint seems to be the trick for bringing out the values you spent time building with the undercoat.
For this technic it makes 0 sense to buy an airbrush.
Spray cans from Vallejo will do the same without horrible noise and hundred of Euros spent
@@lordsnake1988 Honestly that's probably the most eye catching thing about this method: The amount of elitism that came out of the woodwork the moment everyone and their mother started using a method that gave satisfactory results without the need for specialized tools, or watching endless hours of painting tutorial videos.
There has been far too much digital ink spilled on the subject of 'Slapchop shmapchop! Watch me take it up a notch by unironically adding 30 minutes to the process! Make sure to tune in to my next response video where I explore how much better air brushing than lame old Scrubchop!', completely missing the point that this is a speed painting method useful for beginners.
This is more than a rehash of an already published technique, it's an exploration and comparison of alternatives. Great work!
I suffer from unwarranted overthinking and I more than often get stuck in HOW I am going to paint something rather than actually painting something.
Awesome video.
I will watch it several times.
Thank you!
Finally! A video that not only talks about slap chop, but also acknowledges the historical techniques that the slapchop is built on. I really like the underpainting and transparent paint method because I am horrible at placing highlights with a more traditional (classical?) layer and glaze approach, and this method really automates the placement of the highlights. I also struggle with mixing up highlights colors because I get analysis paralysis with trying to figure out how much of a jump in value I want to get to and how many layers I want to do it in. I do worry about the slapchop eventually just becoming a crutch though and not encouraging people to further develop their skills.
Ikr. "honest wargamer" invented nothing. Just slapped a bad name in it
@@AceTaxiaGaming If we are being fair, slapchop isn't a technique as much as it is a process or a workflow that combines a couple of techniques together to come up with a result. In that regards, yes, Rob invented slapchop. Taking old ideas and combining them in new ways is a form of innovation just as much as coming up with a new idea is.
@@AceTaxiaGaming bitter much?
@@nukem8128 slapchop just sounds dumb and cheap as a term though
@thattabletopguy what's the new part exactly?. I know a lot of people who have painted this way for decades.
Your Contrast & Speedpaint guide is a great resource for the miniatures community. Thank you for providing such a splendid service!
I want to piggyback off this comment and say thank you as well! The link that you provided that lists out the colors and uses is something that I'll be leveraging. Thanks so much for providing quality content. You rock!
I was also rooting for the grey undercoat, so I was shocked to see how "poorly" it preformed in comparison.
I think I'm going to try "Palechop", but with following Marco Frisoni's method of applying shade -not just to the deepest recesses but the undersides of the entire mini before drybrushing.
Dana! The moment I saw the 'slap chop method' I thought back to your own videos, where you demonstrated and explained this technique with more nuance and in a way that was helpful to me, even though I only brush paint. The concept didn't change. Your contrast paint videos have been really helpful for making some purchase decisions. Love your work. Ty.
I've found that painting the skin white on otherwise normally-underpainted models really helped when using caucasian flesh-colored Contrast/Speed paints. YMMV on darker flesh tones. Otherwise, it really felt like the skin came out too shadowed and hard to read. It also helped it contrast more with clothing/armor/equipment/hair.
Yeah! I'm using Army Painter Speedpaints and found zenithal does not work well. The shading is just too dark even when using a grey primer. Especially for the faces/skin.
I was really worried that Pale Sand would not be in this video. Thank you for not letting me down!
I am just starting painting miniatures or any painting for that matter in over 25 years. I have purchased an airbrush kit, brushes, primers and paints with no skill and tones of ambition. :) I am so glad people like you make videos like this. I am not so scared to start painting again. I feel like life has beaten the artistic side out of me over the years but I am determined to be a good artiest again.
So you know: I have ADHD and really struggle to follow along with tutorial videos or focus on a video I'm watching instead of doing something on the side.
But your videos have such a pleasant pace and such interesting visuals that I actually *watch* them and whenever my attention does drift, I promptly rewind and rewatch because I am deeply engaged and don't want to miss any of it!
The music is perfect in pace, mood and volume, your voice has just the right balance of energy - it's fun to follow along and I feel like I really absorb the knowledge!
Scandalous! I have been using the "white prime, black wash, white drybrush, Contrast paints" method since last year. Since Slapchop came along and made it trendy to give these things catchy names I've been calling it the "Zingbo method". 🤣 And now you come along and rename it! If only I'd told more than about a dozen people about it I might be Internet famous by now!
I actually really like how you standard/first attempt at slapchop looked, I love that darker dirtier look. To me muruading orcs, battle worn space Marines and alien monstrosities should be dark and dirty looking with washed out pale colors, war should be dirty. I can totally see scenarios where you'd want those brighter more vibrant colors too though, like you said it's all about what look you're going for. Awesome video, I'm just getting into this hobby and am super excited about it.
I'm all for painting all that grey plastic! More methods, more options! Thanks for the vid
My underpainting process (adapted from yours) is spray paint zenithal (using wraith bone instead of white), black oil wash to darken the shadows, then finish off with a white dry brush to pick out the edges.
I painted my Chaos Deamons in 2013 by priming them white and using GW glazes, a very quick way to paint them.
I’ve been out of the hobby for the last few years and your painting stuff is REALLY making me want to get back into painting ❤
I actually like the first one and slapchop plus ones the best. They give a unique stylised result which I think is really cool.
Ninjon suggested using golden high flow titan buff instead of white and I found i loved it more than regular slap chop. Helped with the sort of chalkiness you get with slap chopping sometimes.
Those Golden Highflow and SoFlat paints are really wonderful. I bought a bundle of each knowing at a minimum I’d get good utility out of the black and titan buff. Did not disappoint.
You dry brushed with golden high flow titan buff or used airbrush?
@@saintmatthew956 airbrush. Could try drybrushing it though.
@@saintmatthew956 maybe use the so flat rather than the high flow though
@@McWerpI mean.. using an airbrush kinda defeats the point of slapchop. At that point it's just zenithal
Fantastic comparison of variations on the method, Dana. thanks so much! I had tried doing the "Grey Chop" method on an Infinity model and found it a bit dark/flat when finished, and here you've identified Grey Chop as the least impressive variation, so after seeing your results with the "PaleChop" variation, I think that'll be what I try next. Thanks again!
Thanks for taking the time showcasing slap chop. You rock! As an entry level miniature painter who still hasn't gotten around to getting an airbrush, this was super informative.
Awesome, making a Nurgle-Blessed Ork army and I think ill try like this since I need to have a good way to properly crank out models in the midst of uni. Papa's blessing upon thee!
Dana out here doing the science we all need.
Thanks Dana!
Those without airbrushes can also get a similar base as your airchop style by grabbing a black, grey, and white aerosol primer and just doing a layered zenithal prime job, if anyone might be interested.
I've also been doing Slap Chop Kruleboys for Orktober. The use of Contrast-alikes has made the painting process so fast. And, honestly, it's probably some of my best work as a mini painter thus far.
Although I've been using a modified Slap Chop method I learned from a different TH-camr (whose name escapes me, unfortunately). It involves beginning with a bone-colored primer (Rustoleum "Fossil"), followed by a brown wash (Army Painter Strong Tone), then successive drybrush of bone (Army Painter Skeleton Bone), warm off-white (Army Painter Mummy Robes), and pure white (Army Painter Matt White).
The point of the beige-y prime was to skew the undercoat warm, so the orange and yellow SpeedPaints wouldn't come out sickly (as might happen with a black prime). I don't know if it's really done much to improve it over regular Slap Chop primes, but it's worked out well enough for my purposes.
On another note, it is indeed very important to spread your Contrast-style paints thin. Otherwise, the highlights don't show through, and it just looks like a dark, solid color.
I bought the Army Painter speed paint set after seeing your blog post on them(any product that will help me enjoy the hobby as a whole is ok in my book). Thank you for doing all the experiments and sharing with us because it only helps hopeless painters like myself.
I am painting the Dominion kruleboyz right now too!
I was trying to go with a modified slapchop by undercoating with a color that I wanted my shadows to be tinted with, then dry brushing highlights with the color of my light source. Then slapchop as normal.
So far the value difference between the colored undercoat and the dry brush hasn't been great enough to make it work as a one coat solution, but some layering to bring up the highlights really brings it home.
Good tip in re-glazing with your original transparent paints to blend the highlights! Definitely gonna try that
AIRCHOP FOR LIFE, BABY! Thanks for coining a new phrase becuase I’ve been using your meathod but for lack of a better word I’ve been using “slapchop” to discribe it
Dana always coming with that perfect blend of get-to-the-point pragmatic guidance encapsulated in a healthy membrane of charisma and engaging editing that makes you go "oh no" when you notice the videos about to end.
You put it into words perfectly!
You are doing the lords work... and I'm not even religious! Liked and subbed, I will be digging into more of your content for sure!
Recently I started my zenithals with terracota>yellow>pale sand/white instead of black>gray>white when doing my glazing. It added a layer of realism to my final glazing.
I haven't decided what color to paint my Kruleboyz clothes, and I really like how the purple looks. I may have to go with that!
These compare/contrast videos are such a great resource!
A long time fan from up north, I point folks to your videos all the time. Videos like this are why I keep watching and why I tell folks to give you a look. Keep it up. BZ
Thanks! Always happy to see a fellow Canadian watching the channel!!!
Hi Dana, congrats on being part of the army painter speedpaint team!
been using your "airchop" method for a couple years, and LOVE IT!!! Only difference is I use Vallejo Pale Sand instead of White when drybrushing, find it helps "iluminate" the colors.
This has been a great thing to stumble across for a guy with very little time to invest in to traditional painting methods. It's taken nearly a month to get 10 skitarii Rangers and 10 ork boys plus terrain finished when I only have an hour each night to put into painting them.
Have to say that the website with the paint comparison is FANTASTIC! I use it constantly. Thank you :)
The assembly and painting of minis gives me anxiety but the pay off for them being done is worth it lol I am so glad you reviewed a plane white base. I didn't hate they way it turned out and may use it in the future!
The absolute best compliment to an underpaint-focused speedpaint in my opinion, whether slapchop or with an airbrush, is an application of oil wash. All you need is a tube of black oil paint, one of brown oil paint, and some white spirits. Start with a very bright undercoat, put on your layer of transparents, and then slather organic surfaces with it, then wipe it down with q-tips, makeup sponges, or just some old rags. The directional highlight effect this produces has been the single largest step to making my speed paints look good. As a bonus, if you don't use the white spirits when wiping off the oil wash, the thin layer of oil that remains will protect speedpaints from reactivation somewhat.
I’ve been using this technique for years and it works for me because I really hate painting and it gets my minis on the table fast.
Thank you! I'm not a very accomplished painter, but ever since I heard about slap-chop I've been thinking "this is just zenithal and glazing, right?"
Good one!
I use the AB, but with white ink instead of gray to build up to the brightest highlight, with a final white drybrush. But not contrast paint. Just regular paint thinned down with a 1:1:1 mix of matte medium, flow improver and distilled water. I then mix in the coulour I want to get the consistency I like for the models. Takes maybe 1 oir 2 minutes longer, but provides for more flexibility in colour choice (besides it's good for the wallet).
The color comparison chart website is very helpful. Thank you so much! Looks like you put a lot of time into it.
That website is a fantastic idea. IIRC some of the nicer stores have displays like this to showcase each paint color. Easier (for me at least) to understand how the color would actual look.
Thanks Dana, I don't have an airbrush, so this is very helpful! 😀
Love the examination of the variations in technique Really helpful. I wonder about using that to create variations across your army while still having a consistent overall look.
Also love the little bit of art history context dropped in. I don't have an art education and love learning the origins or "real world art" instances of mini-painting techniques to broaden my sources for inspiration. Would like to see more of that but can understand why it would be a distraction from what this video was really about. Patreon bonus content maybe?
Wow, that contrast comparison site you've made is a brilliant resource
This is spot on what I was wondering when I saw SlapChop. How does it compare to Dana’s undercoating? I have an airbrush but haven’t broken it out yet. This gives me the confidence that it is indeed worth mastering for undercoating. Well done Dana! These comparison-type videos are fantastic.
I don’t think my investment in this hobby can justify an airbrush but all of these undercoating methods look inspiring. There are 10 plaguebearers waiting for me to pick up my brushes and speed paints. I'm not sure which I like the best. It really depends what you are going for, in terms of vibrancy vs. shadow. This also makes me consider the value of undercoating if you want to create some variation in skin tones across a group of models.
Well done using the sponsors product to share a practical example and a useful tool. Nice video
I just did a batch of Chaos Cultists using Slap Chop for the first time. I have been painting a couple years, but almost exclusively with contrast paints and speed paints. So my layering and edge highlighting game is not great even being generous. My takeaway from Slap Chop is that the dry brushing is super super important. To the point if you go “I think this is enough” then it isnt. Reason being is some of my cultists I am dang proud of for 20ish minutes. A couple I have gone “That spot looks really really good… but has an abrupt falloff…”. As a guy without an airbrush I look forward to experimenting more with it. Bc the good stuff looks good.
I have some classical training and I always appreciate your full explanations of things. I knew I'd learned "slap chop" years ago but I had completely forgotten the name: grissalle. Thank you for your great videos
I've been recently experimenting like this as well (but without an airbrush). Even still, it's really useful to see the examples side by side, especially since I have been using different models and different colours. I appreciate Dana taking the time to demonstrate a variety of techniques using similar models and similar colours. Maybe the biggest take away should be the common sense approach of: Try out different things, and then do whatever works best for you.
I've found a happy medium: Spray can Grey primer, spray can beige zenithal, then white drybrush the raised edges. This works best with speedpaints. Since they're so see-thru, the undercoats have to be light to make the colors pop, and not have a sharp contrast from black to white.
I would however like to see black primer, grey zenithal, white drybrush on a speedpaint model!
An absolute banger of a video! Very well done, I liked a lot! I've been trying diferent techniques too for my Infinity the game minis, and the "slapchop" variants plus contrast helps a lot!
I find standard slapchop is really similar to regular contrast painting method but with slightly more exaggerated highlights compared to contrast over a wraithbone undercoat. I like using slapchop to give me a really quick paint job to the model then later on I can go back and use very bright edge highlights to bring the details out. That final bright highlight takes the model from a 6/10 to an 8/10 for very little work and can be done whenever I like the model is basically done after the contrast is applied.
Happy birthday to your channel! Great job!
My friends were doing this back in 97 when I first met them. Ya, know back in the drayage's. They were really into drybrushing and their drybrush painting looked as god or better than the vast majority of painted models. Not sloppy at all.
I have an enormous backlog of models to paint. I really think I need to knock out these models using this style. As always, thanks for all your hard work on your videos. They are so helpful, and motivating to paint. Happy Channel Birthday!
I discovered that by doing a very controlled layering, using careful application rather than drybrushing to gradually increase the brightness towards the most raised parts as well as using pastels or even bright colours like yellows and oranges or contrasting colours you can get some stunning results.
Thank you for comparing all these. Really helped me pick a method for the look I’m after
I'm using your style of underpainting (now officially called airchop 😉) for a few years now and i still love it for the absolute simlplification of volumes and battleready paintjobs.
I primed a bunch white so I am going to try your white prime with dark highlights. Thanks for the video!
I prime black, then dry brush grey. I put one coat of speed paint down. Then I spray white from above, varnish and throw more color over it. My fave. A time investment though. Not "Get em on the table" speed. Just my way of doing things.
Slapchop is very close to what I did for a lot of my models before I got my airbrush. A grisaille under painted value sketch is super useful. I often like coming in with a quick highlight of bright white with a regular brush where it needs the brightest highlights either before or after the dry brush.
I watched Goobertown Hobbies do the same style of video, but he also included a "brown slapchop" (brown zenethal and tan drybrushing) which seems like it would be great for organic minis (not armored). It gave it a bit of a sepia undertone.
Great video, I am switching to your air chop method now except using spray cans. Really great video editing and pacing, 10/10!
I wish I had space for an Airbrush, I like how bright your version was.
I love the no hype analysis. Good work
You’re absolutely right, the best variant is #4 for the slap chop alternates. I reaaaally like the standard slapchop as I lean grimdark
Another great video! Saw something similar on another channel about using washes with slap chop and its a technique that will definitely be used more often.
I like the slapchop technique for things like orcs and monsters. Gives them a dark grungy look
I love your channel and I love your video. I saw your underpaiting video some years ago and change my way to see the hobby with the glazing
Vince recently reviewed the Liquitex Acrylic Guache paints and said they are similar to Golden SoFlat or even Kimera. But the big benefit to them: they have Kadmium-free versions of their paints, so no toxic substances.
Great review. Love the comparison of different styles. Congrats on becoming part of the Army Painter development team.
I think for me what I kind of dislike about the slapchop vids I've seen (lots of them), it's how obviously BLACK the shadows look.
I want to play with different colored shadows, midtones, and highlights to see the effects... like the usual "pink under yellow" vibes, etc.
Great video as always btw!
I came here after watching your first video. I am definitely after quick and dirty as painting stresses me out & I lack the time or skill. I have 6 of 9 kids at home, a wife, career, and ateast daily training at the gym kr home that are all more important than learning to paint & investing the time vs playing the game, however I want good looking/personalized models.
The contrast swatch you've created is gonna be a go-to for me going forward. Killer work!!!
This is my favourite all time video about this topic; it's soooo well made, thank you SO much!
Great video! Very interesting demo. These are definitely styles I've experimented with but it's great to see them side by side. Especially as we in the north move into winter time and my airbrush becomes unusable out in the cold, cold, digit-freezing garage.
I used a similar technique on my _Atun dynasty,_ by basecoating silver, then drybrushing Mithril silver, then using a green glaze, nowadays I use _Warpstone Glow_ from Citadel. Gives a nice metallic green... 🤓
I would have liked to see one more option done with your normal style but using spray cans instead of airbrushing for speed and folks that don't have airbrushes.
Thank you for these tests, I had been wanting to test it out myself and also expected grey primer to work best. Now that I know it won't, that saves me some time and money.
Great vid as always, thank you! I’ve been using something similar to airchop but using Vallejo gloss white for the zenithal, making sure it goes on with good coverage and is glossy. I use mainly AP speed paint and it loves the slippery surface the gloss white leaves. Also a few drops of contrast medium mixed in on the pallet helps speed paint set fully and never reactivate.
With contrast, speed paint and soon Vallejo's entry into the scene, it's an exciting time to be painting.
This is a quality video. "Airchop" is the way to go in my opinion, but back to the point, showing similar models with similar colors is as close as you can get to a scientific comparison, and what is needed.
So I do something similar to your original underpainting tutorial however, I do not have an airbrush. I use spray primers from Citadel like Gray Seer and then a little White Scar which has a really nice warm tint from above in a quick front to back motion, then use a black wash on the darkest areas and a white dry brush. Not as smooth as an airbrush, but I really like the results that I have been getting with it. Airbrushes are great for sure, but I don't have the space in my apartment for a proper set up and ventilation without losing space for other things.
Best elaboration on the slapchop method that I've seen. Thank your for those test! This will help me decide how I'll go for my Genestealer Cult army.
Thank you. I was really hoping someone would compare zenithal with slapchop and you did more than that. Will refer back to this next time I'm painting.
The, "slapchop" method seems to definitely have its' uses and I see it as a great way to set up a beginner with more clear guidelines to highlight and layer up while still having a tabletop-ready model.
Now I can paint all the models!!!!!! Definitely gonna use this on the gruntz.
Guauuuuu increíbles TODAS las miniaturas. Me encanta el experimento de ver cómo quedan.
Dana thank you for all of the experimentation that went into this! I love seeing other people's results for different tries. I never considered using a dark wash for the recesses. That's a really cool idea. I own an airbrush, but I've never had good luck with white primer. So doing a zenithal with black primer and white ink is my preferred way. I like the all white look, but white primer is the devil (IMO).
Dana continues to be an absolute hero of the people.