Regarding GW foundation paints, I think you’re tackling this the wrong way… Whatever tone each one of them is, the difference between them and the “main” range or the washes isn’t saturation. Some may be saturated, some may be desaturated. Some may be brighter, some may be darker. I don’t think they all have a “normal” equivalent…

The difference is the type of pigment used, and the paint’s coverage. It’s another type fo paint, that’s all.

Depending on the highlight you need for reds, you can highlight with a lot of things… I’ve had good results with ivory, because it’s a very light yellow, and it is warm enough to avoid pink somewhat.

That said, sometimes, you do want pink…

My advice : go back to the start ! In my first “colro thoery” video, I advise you to observe real things… This is exactly why.

You’re asking me how to highlight red… I ask you : what is it you want to paint ? You’re not painting red, you’re painting a red cloth, of a certain hue. Try and find one, in nature or in a photograph, and see what color it truly is… See what color are the shadows and the highlights.

For all I know, the highlights could be pink, purple, blue, green, yellow, or puce…

There is no “one way” to paint one color, or one thing.

You are right in saying that orientation and position or light affects brightness manipulation… You always have to be aware of where your light comes from. Pushed to the extreme, this leads you to chiaroscuro effects, and very directed light (whether the source is on the miniature or just outside), or mere zenithal lighting.

By toying with the hue and the brightness of the highlights, you can have a light source any color you want, any size you want, and any direction you want lighting your miniature.

As for the way light behaves on things, let true light be your guide (this sounds like religion… it isn’t !) and go out : observe how sunlight plays on things. When in doubt, look at a photograph. I know of a miniature painter who used to do LARP, and photographed himself and friends in costume with different lighting (usually outdoors) to get a better idea of the lighting for his minis… A less extreme solution consists in finding photos online. There’s plenty of that !

I don’t usually work my schemes on paper, just in my head… I find a cool color, or color association, when I look at the miniature, and light follows naturally. I do like to determine the “true” color of a garment and have that as a base color, but it’s only valid for minis that are painted to be “daylight”… And it’s sometimes barely recognizeable under highlights and shadows.

A good way to vizualize light sources is to hold your miniature (preferably primed, because it’s more “legible”) close to a real light source… And check where the shadows are really cast ! Turn your mini this way and that, until you find the right lighting. Don’t hesitate to hold it to several different light sources, if you want… But for “simple” lights, with no effects, a lightbulb or the sun are enough.

I hope this explains things further…

BoW Romain