When I first got involved in the hobby, I would figure out what army I would paint and then unit by unit sit down and paint. Never being a quantity painter (and some would say quality an well) I always had lots of time to devote to this aspect of miniature gaming. However, this changed about one year ago and when I got back from Historicon I draw up a written plan in which I would be able to got all the painting I needed completed for the next year. This idea (the written plan) in probably more important now since my wife and I will be having an addition to the family in April.

But what has this got to do with computers? Good question.

Have you ever got stuck after having completed a unit only to come back to your painting a month or two later? Have you ever bought a figure (or terrain piece/building) and been in a quandary on to how to paint it? Have you ever badly botched a great looking figure? Do you wonder how some wargamers use a color which should not work but it does?

Well friends, I have a sure-fire way to fix this and it in with your computer.

This summer I bought a number of different buildings for my soldiers. I have yet to paint one but now was the time. frankly, I was sure I would have to mass up one or two before I was able to pick a nice mix of colors. Instead of putting paint to building, I turned on my computer and opened up a painting program. Any of the multitude of painting programs will work. I used Deluxe Paint II but also have tried the Paintbrush Program in Windows. By drawing a rudimentary building, wall or soldier and then filling in colors you can got a good idea how it will turn out.

Do not be daunted when a mention drawing. My drawings are not anywhere near the equal of the figures. The colors will probably also have to be redefined to get the different hues that one would like. it is more time consuming but a building can be done in loss than an hour and afterwards I am finding I am a bit more focused in where I am going in my painting.

On a point of note, many of the colors will not be able to be duplicated as painting programs use textures of multiple colors to create their colors. For example you might have a base of brown that has a starred pattern of red in it to got a reddish brown.

This may work if you take into account the overall color of reddish brown but it will not be exact (it will not look exactly like the picture on the screen) . All of the painting programs I have seen use light as their basis to create their colors (using primary colors).

Between the plan I made for this year and the use of the painting program, I have gotten more painting completed this year (from August to Dec) than in the last two years put together.