Tabletop Standard vs. Display Level Painting [Criteria]

This article is a descriptive overview of the differences between tabletop quality and display level miniature painting standards.

What do the terms “tabletop standard”, “display level”, or collector quality” mean in regards to miniature painting?

This seems to be a recurring question in the miniature painting community. And, it is an especially relevant topic for commissioned painters or clients who might encounter different project prices that depend on painting quality level.

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart

Helen Keller

Read on to see 1) the general descriptions of each miniature painting standard, as well as 2) some thoughts on how time is a key factor in determining “standard”

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What Does the Industry Say?

There are already standards to define tabletop paint quality. Games Workshop (GW) (e.g., Warhammer, Age of Sigmar, 40k) and Privateer Press (e.g., Warmachine and Hordes) have regulations for what they consider fully-painted tabletop ready models (i.e., tournament ready).

Games Workshop has published a set of model painting standards.

In general, however, even GW doesn’t clearly define a “painting standard”, and acknowledges this issue is subjective and personal.

This is perhaps the most ambiguous as fully painted can vary from one person to another. Some people never consider their army fully painted as they could see room for a 4th highlight, some free-hand heraldry or some battle damage. Others consider an army fully painted so long as it has ‘3 colours’. Fully painted can thus be a question of perspective, and a tick-list of minimum standards doesn’t apply. That being said, we fully believe that deep down everyone knows what a fully painted model is, regardless of skill or time spent.

Model Requirements for events at Warhammer World (Games Workshop)

Notably, the requirements for a minimum painting standard does include instructions for bases.

All miniatures in your collection must be fully based. Fully based means a finished base of the model. Plain bases should be fully
painted and include some kind of texture – sand, grass, slate etc. Sculpted bases should be fully painted. Games Workshop’s Texture paints make it easier than ever to base your models as it is paint and texture all in one.

Model Requirements for events at Warhammer World (Games Workshop)

Warhammer 40k Victory Points for Painted Armies

In a game of Warhammer 40k, determining the winner may use victory points (or VPs) as a scoring metric. In the new 9th edition rule set for 40k games, rules state that: “If every model in a player’s army was painted to a Battle Ready standard, that player is awarded a bonus of 10 victory points”.

This is a significant factor for determining the winner. No matter your preferred stance on this rule, it does show how much Games Workshop is advocating the hobby side of their game. They want your models to look good on the tabletop!

What is a “Battle Ready” painted miniature? For many, this is simply your tabletop standard painting.

Tabletop Standard Painting

As far as I can tell, the most common definition of tabletop standard from community discussions is as follows:

Tabletop Standard Painting

1. Each major element on a model is defined by appropriate color, e.g., flesh/skin versus armor/cloth
2. A wash or ink adds dark value, whereas a dry brush or simple highlight technique adds a bright value (these are methods to increase contrast)
3. Bases are finished with paint or flocking material, e.g., sand/grass
4. No primer or bare metal/plastic shows anywhere on the model
5. The model is clearly identified and looks “good” alone or in a group of similar models from 3 feet away (i.e., playing distance)

Overall, a tabletop standard miniature paint job includes painting and basing elements that clarify and demonstrate the purpose of the model on the table.

When you lift the model from the tabletop, the quality of the paint job no longer holds significance and its appearance may no longer “impress” you.

RELATED: MENOTH WARJACK QUICK AND DIRTY PAINT JOB

High Tabletop or Display Level Painting

Any miniature paint job above a minimum “tabletop standard” is a high-quality tabletop or display level painting. Because we are moving away from the requirements of looking good in tabletop gaming environment, we can’t define the standard as firmly.

Here’s what I found to be the points that most in the community might agree upon as criteria for each standard:

High Tabletop Standard

1. Appropriate color, e.g., flesh/skin versus armor/cloth, defines each major element on a model
2. Added free hand details, wet-slide decals, or other texture elements
3. Contrast is well-done, not necessarily smooth, but closer to realistic lighting appears on elements of the miniature, e.g., color blending
4. Bases are finished with paint or flocking material, e.g., sand/grass
5. The model looks good in isolation, and stands up to closer scrutiny when held between 1-3 feet away

Display Level or Collector Quality Standard

The sky is the limit. But, at a minimum, you should see the following on a miniature painted to standards described as “display” or “collector level”:

1. Color, light, and texture define each element of the miniature
2. Details, e.g., belt buckles, facial features, hair texture, are visible with close inspection
3. Light and environmental context provide more information for the viewer. In other words, the artist has envisioned intrinsic or extrinsic environmental elements and successfully added these details to the painting (e.g., context from within the model’s sculpt, or from the external contextual-environment a viewer might perceive through the miniature’s paint job)
4. Narrative elements stand out, such as through the use of a custom base or other elements that add to the context of the miniature (e.g., does the model tell a story?)
5. The painted miniature is photogenic, i.e., stands up to the scrutiny of high-resolution photography. Photography tends to reveal even the smallest painting errors and flaws

Final Word

Paint job quality is subjective at first glance. But, with a closer look, it is possible to discern what is “Tabletop Standard” from a “Display Standard” paint job.

Obviously, time and skill are the two major factors for how quality emerges from a miniature paint job. At the end of the day, a set standard for understanding the difference between low and high standards of miniature art is useful, but not always helpful.

You decide!

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What do you think about miniature painting standards? Do you agree with the criteria described in this article?

Comment below!

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