Citadel Layer paints are the highlight range in the Citadel system. They are thinner, lighter-toned colors meant to be applied over a Base coat to build up gradual highlights toward a model's raised edges. The full swatch-by-swatch color list, which is sortable and shown with approximate digital references, lives on the Citadel Layer range page. This guide covers what the range is for and how to use it, because a color list on its own doesn't tell you how the paints actually behave.
What Layer paints are for
Layer paints exist to build highlights, not to serve as a first coat. They are formulated thinner than Base paints specifically so they can be applied in successive thin coats. Each coat should cover a slightly smaller area toward the highest points of a model, building a gradient from the base tone to a bright highlight. If you apply them full strength straight from the pot as a first coat, most Layer colors will likely look patchy and uneven, because that isn't the job they were built for.
How Layer differs from Base
The distinction trips up a lot of new painters because both ranges produce opaque, flat-finish colors and sit next to each other on the shelf. Base paints are formulated for maximum single-coat opacity, meant to be your first color over primer. Layer paints are thinner by design, meant to be built up gradually rather than covering fully in one pass. A useful rule to follow: if you are laying down the first color on bare or primed plastic, reach for Base. If you are adding a lighter tone on top of a Base coat that is already dry, reach for Layer.
Names worth knowing
Examples in the covered Layer records include Ushabti Bone, Ulthuan Grey, Fenrisian Grey, and Administratum Grey. Their catalog colors can serve as highlight or mid-tone candidates depending on the scheme and application; this list does not measure popularity or prescribe a use.
One color that gets searched alongside the Layer range but does not actually belong to it is Corax White. It is a Base paint, not a Layer color, even though it is frequently used as the top highlight in a grey or bone color scheme. It is worth knowing that distinction, since buying it expecting Layer-range thin coverage will be the wrong expectation for how it is formulated.
How to use the full color list
The Citadel Layer range page shows the covered Layer records as approximate digital swatches rendered from stored hex values, sorted alphabetically, with links to calculated cross-brand candidates. A Citadel Colour Essentials Set(affiliate link) is one purchasing option for a selection of Citadel colors; you should confirm its current contents with the seller. That page is the reference; this guide is the context for what to do once you have picked a color off it. If you are converting from another brand and already know a Vallejo or Army Painter color you like, the Citadel to Vallejo conversion chart and Army Painter to Citadel chart will point you toward the closest Layer or Base equivalent depending on finish.
FAQ
How many Citadel Layer paints are there?
The curated Layer range page lists the Citadel Layer records currently covered by this site. It is not a guarantee of the manufacturer's complete current retail catalog.
What is the difference between Citadel Layer and Contrast paints?
Layer paints are opaque highlight colors applied thin and built up gradually over a Base coat. Contrast paints combine a base color and a shading effect in one coat over a light prime. They solve different problems and are not interchangeable steps in a paint job.
Is Ushabti Bone a Base or a Layer paint?
Ushabti Bone is a Layer paint, commonly used as a highlight over darker bone or brown base tones on armor and robes.
Is Corax White a Layer paint?
No, Corax White is a Base paint. It is often used as a top highlight in grey and bone color schemes, which is why it gets searched alongside Layer colors, but it is formulated and sold as part of the Base range.
Can I use Layer paints as a first coat over primer?
You can, but most Layer colors will need two or three coats to reach full opacity since they are formulated thin. A Base coat first, with Layer colors reserved for highlights, will get you a cleaner result with fewer coats overall.