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1. Start with a clean basecoat

Let the base color dry. A wash darkens recesses; it does not rescue an uneven or obscured basecoat.

2. Control the wash

Load the brush moderately and guide the wash into seams, folds, and panel lines. Wick away pools with a clean damp brush. For large flat panels, apply it only to the recesses to avoid blotches.

3. Drybrush raised texture

After the wash dries, put a little lighter paint on a broad brush, wipe off almost all of it, and sweep lightly across the raised detail. Build the effect in several gentle passes.

4. Choose the right surface

Drybrushing works well on stone, fur, chainmail, hair, and ground texture. Smooth faces, vehicle armor panels, and polished uniforms usually look cleaner with a deliberate painted highlight.