How to paint Warhammer 40k Terrain Fast: 8-Step Contrast Method

So, you've just received your awesome new scenery from Voidborn Prints. You're buzzing with excitement to get it on the tabletop, but the thought of painting an entire board's worth of terrain can feel daunting. Weeks of work? Complicated techniques?

Forget all that.

Today, we're sharing a tried-and-tested "turbo" method designed to be fast, effective, and accessible to everyone. By primarily using the Citadel Contrast paint range, we'll achieve an immersive, high-contrast, and perfectly grimdark look without spending countless hours.

Ready your brushes, let's get started!

Your Painting "Shopping List"

The secret to speed is having the right tools on hand. For this tutorial, we've chosen paints that do most of the heavy lifting for you.

• Primer: Any Black Primer (I used Vallejo personally)
• Basecoat: Warhammer Wraithbone (spray is fastest, but brush-on works too)
• Contrast Paints:
  • Warhammer Black Templar (for dark metals)
  • Warhammer Wyldwood (for trim and ornaments)
  • Warhammer Basilicanum Grey (for battle damage)
  • Warhammer Skeleton Horde (for weathering the walls)
• Metallic Paints:
  • Vallejo Model Color Gunmetal (or Warhammer Leadbelcher)
  • Warhammer Balthasar Gold (or another bronze/copper shade)

Step 3 to 6: The Magic of Contrast Paints

This is where the model truly comes to life. Contrast paints are semi-translucent and are formulated to run into recesses, creating a basecoat and shade in a single application.

3. Metals in Black Templar: Generously apply Black Templar to all the metallic parts: grates, pipes, beams, and machinery. Don't worry about being perfectly neat.

4. Trim in Wyldwood: Use Wyldwood to paint the edges of walls, window frames, and any gothic-style ornamentation. This dark, rich brown will create a fantastic contrast against the light-colored walls.

5. Damage in Basilicanum Grey: To simulate bolter impacts or chipped concrete, apply Basilicanum Grey directly into the recesses of any damaged areas. The paint will naturally shade the impact crater.

6. Skeleton Horde Wash on Walls: Thin your Skeleton Horde with a bit of water or Contrast Medium (about a 1:1 ratio) and apply this wash over all the large, Wraithbone-colored wall surfaces. This will tint the stone with a dirty, parchment-like color while settling into the micro-cracks of your Voidborn Prints terrain, creating instant texture.

Step 7 & 8: Drybrushing to Make the Details "Pop"

Drybrushing is the final step to bring out all the raised details and give your terrain that final, eye-catching "pop."

7. Drybrush Metals with Gunmetal: Take an old brush, load it with Vallejo Gunmetal, and then wipe most of the paint off on a paper towel. Now, vigorously brush it back and forth over the areas you painted with Black Templar. The raised edges will catch the metallic paint, simulating worn and scraped metal.

8. Drybrush Trim with Balthasar Gold: Do the exact same thing over the Wyldwood-painted areas, but this time with Balthasar Gold. This will give the trim a rich, ancient bronze or copper feel.

And There You Have It! A Battle-Ready Masterpiece!

Of course, you can always add more details from here: rust streaks, weathering pigments, painting computer screens... but the core work is done. In just 8 simple steps, you've achieved a piece with deep shadows, rich colors, and sharp, highlighted details.

This method is perfect for painting a whole table. Once you get into the rhythm, you can batch-paint multiple pieces at once (do all the priming, then all the basecoats, etc.).

You'll spend less time painting your table, and more time playing on it. That's our philosophy at Voidborn Prints.

→ Feeling inspired? Find the next piece for your collection and try this technique yourself in our Ruins & Buildings Collection.

Don't forget to share your amazing work with us on social media using the hashtag #VoidbornPrints