Dry vs. Wet Palette
Get the Best Out of Your Ultracryl Paints
In miniature and model painting, choosing the right palette is one of the most important fundamentals. Since ourUltracryl colorsfrom Alchroma have a special formulation, we have put together an overview for you here, indicating when which palette is the best choice for your project.
At a glance: Dry vs. Wet Palette
| Property | Dry Palette | Wet Palette |
| Consistency of the paint | Remains in its original state (perfectly flowable). | Can become slightly diluted due to moisture. |
| Processing time | Must be processed quickly, otherwise it can dry out. | Paint stays fresh for days. |
| Ultracryl suitability | Optimal recommended– ready to use directly without dilution. | Well suited– provided important application rules are followed. |
| Best use scenario | Perfect when the colors can be used up directly. For example, when painting individual figures. | Perfect when mixtures are needed 'later' again, or longer painting sessions are planned. |
| Cleaning / Setup | Extremely quick & uncomplicated. | Requires preparation (sponge, paper, water). |
Important note on using the wet palette
If you want to use a wet palette for our Ultracryl colors, please be sure to follow this golden rule:
The palette should only be DAMP and never WET!
Since we do not use thickeners in the production of Ultracryl, the colors are already pleasantly fluid right out of the bottle. A palette that is too wet causes the paint to uncontrollably draw water from below. The result: the paint becomes diluted, bleeds on the paper, and loses its optimal coverage.
Gently squeeze the sponge of your wet palette so that it is only damp. This way, Ultracryl stays fresh for days without losing quality!
Never use the sponge of your wet palette completely wet or even floating for Ultracryl colors.
Why the dry palette is our favorite for Ultracryl
Our Ultracryl colors were developed with a clear goal:Unpack and get started right away.
For almost all of our colors we completely forgo thickeners. The result? The colors already have perfect flow properties straight from the bottle. You don't have to painstakingly dilute them with water or medium.
The advantages of the dry palette with Ultracryl:
No dilution:On a dry palette, the paint retains exactly the viscosity and pigment density that we have perfectly adjusted for you.
Precise dosing:Our paint bottles are equipped with particularly fine nozzles. You can dose even the tiniest droplets with pinpoint accuracy. This way, hardly any paint dries out on the dry palette because you only take as much as you will use in the next few minutes.
When the wet palette is the right choice
Despite the optimal properties of the dry palette, the wet palette is also suitable for ultracrylic paints– especially if you are planning longer painting sessions.The advantages of the wet palette (when used correctly):
The advantages of the wet palette (when used correctly):
Long sessions & mixtures:If you are planning complex color gradients (blending) or mixing your own shades, they will remain ready for use on the (slightly damp) wet palette for hours or even days. You waste no paint during painting breaks.
Conclusion:You have the choice! Thanks to our fine dosing nozzles, you will notice how economical and straightforward using a simple dry palette is. If you do choose the wet palette, just remember:Less water is more!