Should I base before or after painting the miniature?

Paint the miniature first, then base it, then do a final sealing varnish over everything. Some hobbyists base before painting the miniature so they can paint both at once, which is faster but harder to keep the two areas clean. The most reliable approach: prime and paint the miniature, varnish it, apply the basing, paint and drybrush the base, varnish again over everything.

Do printed bases from an STL count as basing, or do I still need to do something to them?

Printed bases still need to be painted. A grey resin base looks as unfinished as an unpainted miniature. Prime the printed base like the rest of the model, then paint it using the same drybrush technique you'd use on texture paste. The advantage of printed bases is that the geometry is already there -- you're just painting it rather than building the texture yourself.

What's the difference between texture paste and sand for basing?

Texture paste (like Citadel Astrogranite or Agrellan Earth) is a premixed product that goes on with a brush and produces a consistent result. Sand requires PVA glue as a binder and more steps (apply PVA, dip in sand, prime), but is significantly cheaper for larger batches. Texture paste is more convenient; sand is more economical. The results look similar after painting.

My static grass is falling off after a few weeks. What am I doing wrong?

Either the PVA wasn't dry before you handled it, or not enough PVA was used, or the varnish coat sealed too much of the PVA bond before it fully cured. Apply PVA generously, press the grass in with a finger, and let it dry overnight before touching. Then varnish. If you're still losing grass after varnishing, spot-apply a thin coat of PVA over the grass tufts once the varnish is dry to lock them down permanently.

Can I use the model's base as part of the printing support structure?

Yes -- many STL files are set up this way, especially files designed for resin printing. The model prints on the base, and the base is the support raft. You remove it from the build plate and it's structurally complete. You still need to paint it. Check the STL file documentation; it will note whether the base is integrated or whether you need to glue the model to a separate base.

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How to Base 3D Printed Miniatures: Texture, Paint, and Finishing

The base is the last thing people look at and the first thing that tells them your model is finished. Here's how to base 3D printed miniatures using texture paste, sand, static grass, and printed custom bases.

This guide contains affiliate links — I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

The base is easy to underestimate. The miniature gets all the attention — the layering, the highlights, the fiddly detail work — and by the time you get to the base you’re ready to be done with it. So it gets a quick dab of brown and some static grass and you move on.

The thing is, the base is what grounds the model in a world. A painted miniature on an unpainted grey base looks like a prototype. That same miniature on a coherent base — even a simple one, stone or dirt — looks finished. It’s also the easiest part of the process to get right, because the texture does most of the work for you.

This guide covers basing from texture application through scenic elements, with specific notes on where 3D printed bases differ from traditional slotted bases.

The Base Options

There are three broad approaches to basing resin miniatures. Each has a use case.

Texture paste on the stock base. Most resin miniatures come with an integrated base — the flat disc the model stands on. Apply texture paste directly to this, paint it, and done. Fastest, most consistent. Good for armies and batch painting.

Sand and ballast on the stock base. Apply PVA, dip in fine sand or model ballast, prime, paint. Takes more steps than texture paste but costs less per model. Good for anyone doing large volumes.

Printed custom base. You print a thematic base (cobblestone, dungeon tile, forest floor, snow field) separately and either print the model on it or glue the model to it. Most work upfront, most control over the result. Good for hero models and character pieces.

All three end at the same place: a painted, textured base with some scenic detail. The steps below apply to all three; I’ll call out where the process varies.

What You Need

For texture paste basing:

Citadel Astrogranite or Agrellan Earth — stone and cracked earth, respectively
An old stiff brush for spreading
A sculpting tool or toothpick for detail work around the model’s feet

For sand basing:

PVA glue (white craft glue — standard)
Fine sand, model railway ballast, or decorative sand (craft stores)
A brush for applying the glue
Flat black or grey spray primer

For scenic finishing on either:

Army Painter Battleground static grass or similar
Foliage tufts (Gamers Grass tufts are reliable)
Small rocks or bark flakes for accent
PVA for gluing scenic elements

Applying the Texture

Texture paste

Scoop a small amount of texture paste onto an old palette or tile. Use a stiff brush to apply it to the base, working it into an even layer and pushing it up close to (but not under) the model’s feet. Keep the paste off the model itself.

Add variation. Smooth, flat texture paste looks less realistic than texture paste with some pushed areas and some dragged areas. Press the brush into it while wet to create pitting. Drag it to create directional grain. Leave small peaks and voids — it reads more like real ground.

Let it dry completely. Texture paste takes longer than paint — at least an hour, more for thick applications. Dry paste is solid and doesn’t depress when you press it; wet paste still gives slightly. Don’t rush it.

Sand and ballast

Apply PVA across the entire base surface, leaving the area under the model’s feet but extending to the edge. The coat should be thorough — thin spots mean bald patches after dipping.

Lower the base into your sand or ballast container and press down to coat completely. Lift out, tap gently to remove loose material, and set it upside-down for a moment to let excess fall away. Set the model right-side-up and let it dry overnight.

Once dry, the sand layer needs priming. Hit it with a quick coat of flat black or grey spray. This seals the sand particles and gives them something to hold paint.

Painting the Base

The painting sequence for a base is just a condensed version of the miniature painting process: dark basecoat, wash (optional), drybrush.

Basecoat

Apply a flat, dark version of your ground color straight over the texture. Brown-black for dirt and soil. Dark grey for stone. Very dark tan for desert. This coat is about coverage — getting dark color into every recess of the texture.

Work the brush into the texture rather than over it. You want paint in the low areas, not just on top.

Drybrush (pass one)

Load a flat brush with a mid-tone lighter than your basecoat — medium brown over dark brown, mid grey over dark grey. Remove most of the paint and drag it across the texture. The raised grit and texture peaks should pick up paint and begin to read as highlights.

Drybrush (pass two)

Mix your mid-tone with white, or use a dedicated light highlight color. Even drier brush, even lighter touch. This second pass picks out only the highest points of the texture and gives the base a lit, three-dimensional look.

For stone specifically: a very final pass with near-white on the absolute peaks creates a cold, worn look that reads strongly as worked stone.

Scenic Elements

Scenic elements are optional but they’re what make a good base look great.

Static grass is the most common. Apply a small patch of PVA, press a pinch of static grass into it, and let it dry. Use two or three patches per base, not a uniform covering — irregular placement looks more natural. Grass goes on after drybrushing is done; the drybrush would flatten and ruin it.

Tufts (pre-made grass, flower, or brush clumps) are even easier. Peel the backing, apply a drop of PVA to the base, press the tuft in. Done. Higher cost per element than loose grass but faster and more consistent.

Small rocks — literal small stones or resin pour offcuts — add scale and ground the model in a physical environment. Glue them with PVA. One or two small rocks on a 25mm base is usually enough.

Leaf litter — scatter material from model railway suppliers, or broken up lichen pieces — adds an organic quality that texture paste alone doesn’t provide.

Keep it simple. A busy base competes with the miniature for attention. Pick one or two elements and use them selectively.

Printed Custom Bases

If you’re printing your own bases, the best STL sites guide has dedicated base collections worth looking at. Printing custom bases has one significant workflow difference from the paste and sand methods above: there’s no texture application step. The geometry is built into the print.

The printing-specific considerations:

Fit the model to the base before priming. Dry-fit the model foot positions on the base to check they’re stable. Some custom base designs have raised terrain elements that can interfere with stance. Better to know before the glue is set.

Prime as part of the model. If you’re gluing the model to a custom base before priming, prime everything together. If you’re priming model and base separately and gluing after, make sure the areas where they join have some paint coverage so the glue has a textured surface to grip.

Layer lines on bases. A flat printed base at 0.1mm layer height will show layer lines on the flat surfaces. For flat ground reads like stone flooring, this can actually work — horizontal lines read as flagstone grout. For surfaces that should be naturalistic, print at finer settings or use paste to add texture on top.

Final Sealing

Once the base is dry and all scenic elements are secure, varnish over everything in the same pass you use to seal the miniature. This locks the basing materials, seals the static grass, and gives the whole piece uniform protection.

For the full painting and varnishing workflow, including the sealing step that comes after basing, see how to paint 3D printed resin miniatures and the varnishing guide.