How to Paint Resin Prints Without Primer
The short answer: Yes, you can paint resin prints without primer if you use a paint made to grip a smooth printed surface. Clean and fully cure the print, then brush InstantEffect, our water based acrylic, straight onto the resin. It gives color and shade in one coat, and the 10 color box set supports three methods: SlapChop, Contrast and Airbrush.
Why most guides tell you to prime first
A cured resin print has a smooth, non porous surface. Many hobby paints are made to sit on top of a primer layer, so on bare resin they can bead up, pool unevenly or rub off at the edges. Primer also hides the slightly translucent look some resins have, which makes detail easier to see while you paint.
We make the resin your minis are printed in, so we built InstantEffect to work with that surface instead of fighting it. It goes on direct to surface, flows into recesses and bites in. That means you can skip the primer step on resin prints, FDM models, minis and terrain, and get a painted model on the table tonight.
Step 1: Prep the print
- Clean it. Clean off uncured resin with high purity IPA or Rhino Resin Cleaner. Any leftover liquid resin will keep paint from settling evenly. Our guide on how to clean resin prints covers the full process.
- Dry it completely. Let the part dry before curing.
- Cure it fully. A tacky surface is a bad base for paint. HERO HD is fully cured with heat at 215 to 275°F for a minimum of one hour, with UV optional. See the HERO HD curing guide. RPG and Standard HD use a 10 minute light cure.
- Remove support marks. Clip and clean up any support nubs so the paint has a smooth surface to flow across.
Step 2: Pick your method
The InstantEffect box set gives you three ways to paint, all from one box.
| Method | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| SlapChop | Dry brush DryBrush White over the bare print first, then apply InstantEffect colors on top | Bright highlights and high detail features with very little effort |
| Contrast | Brush InstantEffect directly onto the print and let it pool into recesses. Blend in DryBrush White for opaque pastels and flesh tones | Fast tabletop armies and one coat color and shade |
| Airbrush | Spray InstantEffect undiluted for quick coverage without clogging | Large models, terrain and smooth coverage over big areas |
Method 1: SlapChop
SlapChop is the classic speed painting trick, and it works on bare resin with InstantEffect. Load a dry brush with DryBrush White, wipe most of it off, and drag it lightly over the raised details of the model. Then brush your InstantEffect colors over the top. The white on the high points shows through as a highlight, and the color settles darker in the recesses. You get depth that looks like several layers of work in two simple steps.
Method 2: Contrast
This is the fastest way to finish a squad. Shake the bottle well and brush a generous coat directly onto the clean model. Let the paint pool into the recesses, because that is where the shading happens. Thicker areas give more depth, and thinner layers keep fine detail crisp. Do not thin InstantEffect with water. Use it as it comes for best results.
Want more traditional opaque colors? Mix DryBrush White into any InstantEffect color. Bog Oak blended with white makes flesh tones easily, and the Pure Red, Pure Yellow and Cyan Rift colors are made for blending your own custom shades.
Method 3: Airbrush
InstantEffect goes into an airbrush undiluted, with no thinning, and sprays without clogging. This is a great way to cover terrain pieces and large models quickly. Do not put DryBrush White in an airbrush. When you airbrush, work in a well ventilated area, ideally with a spray booth, and wear a respirator or mask rated for paint mist. Clean your airbrush with water before the paint dries.
The InstantEffect colors
The box set includes all 10 colors, and each one is also sold as a 30 ml single for $9.95 in the InstantEffect collection.
- Void Black: bottomless, dramatic shadow
- Oxblood: deep, moody crimson
- Jade Sapphire: rich blue green, somewhere between gem and sea
- Troll Hide: sharp yellow shade green
- Ultra Violet: bold blue shade purple
- Bog Oak: warm, earthy brown for leather, wood and wilds
- Pure Red, Pure Yellow and Cyan Rift: bold primaries for blending custom colors
- DryBrush White: for dry brushing, and for mixing with any color to make opaque tones
Which resin paints best without primer?
Any of our tabletop resins will take InstantEffect once it is clean and cured. HERO HD is made for excellent surface detail and paint adhesion, and its Merchant Grey is a deep, dark blue shade grey that makes detail pop. RPG Medium Grey gives an ideal medium grey base for painting. Standard HD Flat Grey has a flat, non glossy finish. A grey print shows shading well under one coat paints, so it is a natural fit for the Contrast method. Read our tabletop resin comparison to pick one.
Paint safety
InstantEffect paints are water based acrylics made for hobby and miniature painting. Adults should supervise children using them. Avoid contact with your eyes, wash with soap and water after handling, and keep caps closed tight at room temperature, away from heat and freezing.
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FAQ
Can you paint resin prints without primer?
Yes. Clean and fully cure the print, then use a paint designed to go direct to surface, like InstantEffect. It flows into the details and grips the smooth printed surface.
Do I need to sand resin before painting?
Clean up support marks so the surface is smooth. InstantEffect is formulated to go on direct to surface, so start with a clean, fully cured model and brush it straight on.
Can I thin InstantEffect with water?
No. Use it as it comes for best results, including in an airbrush.
What are the three InstantEffect painting methods?
SlapChop, where you dry brush DryBrush White first and then apply color. Contrast, where you brush color directly onto the print. Airbrush, where you spray InstantEffect undiluted.
How much does InstantEffect cost?
Single 30 ml bottles are $9.95. The box set includes all 10 colors.
The 3DRS Team