Age of Sigmar · scheme ideas

Age of Sigmar paint scheme ideas, seen on your model first

Stormcast gold-and-celestial-blue, Nighthaunt's ghost-light, Sylvaneth bark and leaf — pick a direction, then see it rendered on the actual miniature you're about to paint, not a stock photo of someone else's army.

No subscription. One credit renders one scheme, guide and PDF.

3technique tiers, Beginner to Expert
1free credit for new painters
$0.60per credit at the Atelier tier
Sample render · Nighthaunt tier Expert
Base clothDeep slate1 of 6
Ghost-light glowPale spectral blue2 of 6
Bone trimWarm off-white3 of 6
Shadow washMuted violet4 of 6

Every render includes the paint list, a step order, and a printable PDF for the bench.

An Age of Sigmar paint scheme is the color plan a painter picks for a faction before basecoating begins — Stormcast Eternals in celestial gold and blue, Nighthaunt in pale spectral tones, Sylvaneth in bark and living green. PaintMini renders a direction on your own uploaded model in one of 3 technique tiers, so you see the result before committing paint.

Pick a direction that matches the faction's fantasy

Age of Sigmar factions lean fantasy, not sci-fi, and the strongest schemes lean into that rather than fighting it. A few well-known starting points:

  • Stormcast Eternals — celestial warriors of Sigmar. The classic scheme is gold armor over deep celestial blue, with lightning-motif accents. Stormhosts vary the accent color, but gold-and-blue reads as "Stormcast" at a glance.
  • Nighthaunt — ghostly undead spirits. Pale, cold blues and purples against bone-white detailing, often finished with a bright edge highlight or a soft glow to sell the "haunting" feel. This is where object source lighting earns its keep — a spectral glow reads as intentional, not just pale paint.
  • Sylvaneth — living tree-spirits. Bark browns, leaf greens, and natural woodgrain-inspired texture rather than flat armor plates.
  • Orruk Warclans — green skin against scavenged, mismatched color patches; consistency matters less here than character.
  • Ossiarch Bonereapers — pale bone constructs with metallic accents, closer in feel to Nighthaunt's restraint than Stormcast's brightness.

Test on one model before committing a battalion

A scheme that looks right in your head doesn't always look right on the actual sculpt — a Stormcast's flat armor plates catch light differently than a Nighthaunt's flowing robes. Upload a photo of one primed model, pick your faction's direction, and see the render before you buy paint for twenty more.

Three tiers, from tabletop-ready to display-case

Beginner

3-5 colors

Flat base coats and a single all-over wash. Fast, and enough to look finished on the table.

Intermediate

6-9 colors

Layering and edge highlights build real depth — the step most Stormcast armor benefits from.

Expert

10-15 colors

NMM, OSL, wet blending and freehand — where a Nighthaunt glow or a Sylvaneth bark texture lives.

Rendered scheme vs. guessing from a box

 Box art / forum photosPaintMini render
Shown onSomeone else's miniatureYour own uploaded sculpt
Paint listYou guess or reverse-engineer itNamed colors, ready to buy or match to your collection
Step orderNot includedA step-by-step guide plus a printable PDF
Cost to try a directionPaint you may not use again1 credit ($0.60-$1.00 depending on pack)

Credit pricing: Starter $5 for 5 credits, Studio $15 for 20 credits, Atelier $30 for 50 credits. New painters get 1 free credit.

Worth knowing before you start

What it costs

One credit renders one scheme, its guide, and a PDF. No subscription — packs start at $5 and the first credit is free.

What it won't do

PaintMini generates a scheme and a guide from your photo. It doesn't paint the model for you, and it isn't a substitute for a photo of your own primed miniature — a stock image won't work.

Who this is wrong for

If you want a fully custom freehand design from a human commission painter, this isn't that. PaintMini renders a scheme onto your sculpt from a photo — it's a planning tool, not a painting service.

How it works

  1. Upload a primed model

    A clear photo of the miniature, primed and ready — grey, black or white primer all work.

  2. Pick your paints

    Filter to a saved collection of what you already own, by brand, or let PaintMini suggest a palette.

  3. Choose a tier

    Beginner for speed, Intermediate for edge highlights and layering, Expert for NMM, OSL and freehand.

  4. Get the render, guide and PDF

    A painted preview on your actual model, a paint list, and a step-by-step guide you can print.

Questions painters ask

Does PaintMini know official Age of Sigmar faction colors?

You pick the direction and paints — PaintMini renders the scheme on your model rather than assigning one automatically. Use the faction color notes above as a starting point, then adjust in the paint picker.

How do I get the Nighthaunt "glow" look?

Choose the Expert tier and lean on object source lighting — see the OSL guide for the technique itself. A render at Expert tier will apply it to your model.

How much does one render cost?

One credit, regardless of tier. Packs run from $5 (5 credits) to $30 (50 credits), and new painters get 1 free credit with no card required.

Do I need to buy new paint for the suggested scheme?

No. Save your existing paints to a collection and filter every scheme suggestion to just what you own.

Does this only work for Age of Sigmar?

No — PaintMini works on any primed miniature, including Warhammer 40k and other tabletop and board games.

Can I share a finished scheme with my gaming group?

Yes. Every finished design gets a public share link that opens without signing in.

See your Age of Sigmar model painted first

Upload one primed miniature, pick a faction direction, and get a render before you open a paint pot.

No subscription. New painters get 1 free credit, no card required.