Painting Complexity of 3D Models
Painting complexity is one of the main factors that determines how much time the work will take and what price you can set for a model or for a paint job.
Main reasons for high complexity
1. Color complexity
The hardest colors to paint are white and yellow.
- White has very low coverage. To get an even, clean white, you need to apply 5–7 thin coats. One thick coat goes on blotchy.
- Yellow sits poorly on grey primer. Before it you almost always need a pink or white undercoat.
Because of these colors, a model can take 2–3 times more time than a model in red, blue, or green tones.
Simple rule:
If the canonical paint scheme has a lot of white and/or yellow — the model's complexity rises sharply.
2. Geometric complexity
- A large number of small details (straps, buttons, rivets, fingers, weapons).
- Deep folds and hard-to-reach places.
- Thin and fragile elements (swords, antennas, hair) that are easy to damage.
3. Texture and artistic complexity
- Many different materials on one model (metal, leather, fabric, fur, etc.).
- Freehand painting — patterns, symbols, tattoos.
- Advanced techniques (for example, NMM — non-metallic metal with acrylic paints).
- Very fine detail (eyes, tiny buckles, textures).
Painting difficulty levels
| Level | Name | Characteristics | Painting time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Easy | Easy | Simple form, few details, ordinary colors (without a lot of white/yellow) | Low |
| Medium | Medium | Standard character, 3–5 colors, moderate detail, shadows and eyes | Medium |
| Hard | Hard | Lots of small details + white/yellow + complex gradients | High |
| Legendary | Ultra-hard | Diorama, NMM, freehand, complex textures, large base | Very high |
What complexity assessment is for
- Model authors — to set the right price on STL files.
- Buyers — to understand why one model costs more than another.
- Painters — to realistically assess their skills and time before starting.
Recommendations for beginners
- Start with Easy and Medium models.
- Avoid models with a lot of white and yellow at the start.
- Move to Hard only after you've solidly mastered the basics.
- Leave Legendary for later — it requires serious experience.
Category: For 3D model authors → Pricing and sales