Short answer: Block in the glow with a dark base, add a midtone halo around the light source, then build a gradient of three brighter tones toward the centre and finish with pinpoint white highlights. Add reflected glow on nearby surfaces — that final step is what makes plasma effects look real instead of painted-on.
Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
What You Need
- Primer (black or very dark grey — glow needs a dark canvas)
- Base colour for the glow core (e.g. deep blue or violet)
- 2–3 lighter shades of the same hue (up to near-white for the hottest point)
- A dark contrast colour for the surrounding areas
- Fine detail brush (#0 or #1)
- Optional: glaze medium for smooth transitions
Step 1: Choose the Light Source
Decide before painting where the light comes from: a plasma coil, a weapon barrel, glowing eyes, or a portal. One clear source beats three confused ones. Mark the spot with a dot of the brightest colour — this is your anchor for the entire gradient.
Step 2: Block In the Glow
Paint the whole glow area in your darkest tone of the effect colour. Around it, sketch the midtone halo — the zone that will catch the light. Keep edges rough at this stage; you’ll clean them up with the gradient.
Step 3: Build the Gradient
Work from the outside in: darkest at the edges, brighter toward the source. Thin paint, multiple passes. The transition zone between two shades should be soft — drybrush or glaze the boundary if you see a hard step.
Step 4: Add Reflected Light
This is the step most beginners skip — and the one that sells the effect. Take your midtone and add a few thin streaks on surfaces near the source: adjacent panels, the weapon housing, the ground below. If a surface would catch that light in reality, it needs a hint of it.
Step 5: Final Highlights
Tiny, sharp dots of near-white at the very core. Small is critical — a big white blob kills the illusion in one brushstroke.
Common Mistakes
- Too bright too early — you can always add brightness, but you can’t remove it
- Skipping reflected light — the number-one reason glow looks flat
- Warm and cool mixed — pick one hue family per effect (green glow = green reflections)
- Giant cores — plasma coils are thin; keep the hottest point small
The Warpstorm Twist
Give your models the Warpstorm signature: paint the glow in storm-green/turquoise or violet portal-light, then use the same hue for the reflected light on armour panels. A squad painted with a shared glow colour reads as one coherent force from across the table — and matches the Warpstorm aesthetic perfectly.
Recommended Paints and Tools
| Item | Why | Level |
|---|---|---|
| Starter acrylic set (blues/violets/greens) | Covers every glow hue you need | Beginner |
| Glaze medium | Smooths gradients without re-thinning | Intermediate |
| Kolinsky detail brush #0 | Sharp pinpoint highlights | All |
| Wet palette | Keeps thin glow mixes workable for hours | All |
(Affiliate links — buy through them to support more guides.)
FAQ
Is OSL (object source lighting) the same as painting glow?
OSL is the broader technique — painted glow is its simplest form. True OSL adds reflected light on all surrounding surfaces; this guide includes that in Step 4.
Which colours work best for beginner plasma effects?
Green and teal are the most forgiving — they’re bright, contrast strongly with dark bases, and a slightly uneven blend still looks intentional.
Can I paint glow effects over a light primer?
It works but fights you: glow relies on dark surroundings for contrast. Prime dark, or paint a dark zone around the glow first.
How do I make multiple glowing units look consistent?
Mix one batch of each shade on a wet palette and paint all units in one session. Consistency between squads is what makes an army glow look deliberate.
Continue on the Workbench
- 👉 Easy Weathering Techniques for Miniatures — the perfect partner to glow effects
- 👉 Object Source Lighting: Simple OSL Guide — the advanced version of this technique
- 👉 Best Hobby Tools for Miniature Painting — brushes and lamps that make this easier
- 👉 What Is the Warpstorm? — the lore behind the storm-green glow
Paint one test model before the squad. Ten minutes on a single miniature saves three hours of repainting. Get the glow palette → (affiliate links)
Leave a Reply