How does one ‘stipple’? And in layman’s terms what is it?

[Axineton]

Sooo I have a book from GW called Warriors of the laughing god painting guide. It’s the Harlequin painting guide basically. And there’s a bit where they use the word stipple, now I have no idea what that means or what it’s meant to do so could someone explain it in plain layman’s terms? 
 

[K0rtmer]

Apply paint by (more or less gently) dabbing it onto the surface, using a stiff brush or a sponge. 

[Axineton]

Is that it? Haha I feel like such a fool cheers mate! 

[Marshal Vespasian]

Use a bad brush for it. Dont ruin something new.

Its cool for leather and rough cloth because it adds texture to the model

[apologist]

Yeah, as said above, it's basically painting tiny little dots onto the surface. Like most techniques, there's lots of different ways to approach it. You can be very controlled, using a fine-tipped brush to literally place tiny dots, or quite loosely, using an old brush to apply slightly larger 'patches' to create texture more quickly. 

 

In all cases, try to dab the brush straight down onto the figure – i.e. the brush and handle should be perpendicular to the surface, not at an angle. 

 

If you're using a larger brush, rotate it in your fingers as you go to avoid creating a repeated pattern. 

 

If you're trying to create texture (to suggest fur, for example), using dryer paint – as you would for a drybrush effect – in multiple layers can build it up nicely.

 

For a smooth effect, use the paint slightly more dilute; but not too much, or the little dots will run into one another.

[Fajita Fan]

I was actually just stippling some AT terrain the other day and sat back down.  I just use packing sponge and tear it up into shapes, I also use cheap paint or my GW paint that's starting to dry out.  

 

This is just old GW foam from when they had metal blister packs, I also blot the paint off but not as much if you were drybrushing.

 

This is 3d printed terrain that I just stippled yellow on by smashing the sponge on it, when set on the tabletop your vision won't see the dots and dabs. 

 

 

 

 

For a smooth effect, use the paint slightly more dilute; but not too much, or the little dots will run into one another.

This x10, you'll end up with a wash.  Depending on what you're doing sorta just want the stipples on the very top like you're drybrushing but instead of "streaks" you're getting "dabs" that look like chipped paint or mud splatters.

Edited April 22, 2020 by Fajita Fan

[Firedrake Cordova]

Obligatory YouTube video showing sponge usage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MbQMwnjqik

 

And with brush: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yxhW7hEkXU

[Bung]

Look out for the Master at stippling / drybrush technic Bohun (he has a Patreon account for more stuff)

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DFJglQq3ZQ&t=9s

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5FLxzOJCdI&t=4s

[Ultionis Lupus]

Darren Latham has a great tutorial on this. Check it out before it gets taken down.

 

https://youtu.be/ZQ7eiBgLxbg0

Edited April 30, 2020 by Ultionis Lupus

[Quantum]

In regards to applying the stipling technique, I wouldn't bother buying the Citadel Stipling brush. I did buy it when I started to stiple my model (making dot camo), but the brush did not give the desired results. The hairs of the brush were too close together to make clusters of small dots, just creating one big blob instead. Instead I now use an old brush that I cut to the right size.

[Axineton]

I never even knew they made a stippling brush but I won’t be buying it anyway. I’ve read the tips here and going to have a go soon.