The Dry Palette: Explained

Wet palettes have become a staple of miniature painting and rightly so. They’re brilliant for extending working time, maintaining consistency, and keeping blends fluid. But what happens when water is the problem? Whether you’re dry brushing, layering, highlighting or working with mediums, there are moments when moisture undermines precision. That’s where the dry palette excels – offering control, versatility and a level of finesse that wet palettes and kitchen roll cannot match.

In this article, we explore the science behind paint behaviour, the role of textured dry palettes in advanced techniques and why Anarky Creations’ dry palettes have become essential tools for miniature painters who demand more from their materials.

Understanding Paint Behaviour: Wet vs Dry Surfaces

Acrylic paint is a delicate suspension of pigment in a polymer binder. Additives, whether water or medium, shift its chemistry. A little water extends flow. Too much, and the structure collapses. An engineering mindset helps here: acrylic paint is a precision fluid. Like fuel in a spacecraft, the binder to pigment ratio must be carefully balanced. Over thin the mix, and performance breaks down, pigments separate, coverage weakens, control disappears.

Wet palettes, through capillary action, feed moisture from below. Extremely useful for some contexts, but not for techniques requiring paint control. Dry palettes offer stability. No creeping water, no unpredictable flow. Just a consistent, responsive surface. Like a well regulated system, with every variable under your command. This distinction becomes critical when working with:

• Heavy paints & metallics that rely on intact structure.
• Specialty mediums where water skews ratios.
• Dry brushing which demands control, precision and minimal moisture.

Why Use a Texture Dry Palette?

At first glance this might seem simple – perhaps old fashioned. But in miniature painting, where precision is everything, simplicity can be the ultimate sophistication. This isn’t just about having a dry surface. It’s about intentionality, control and a tailored environment for high-performance paintwork. When you use a wet palette, you’re working in a system that prioritises hydration – beautiful for basecoats or large blends. But what if you want your paint to behave a very specific way? This is where the dry palette shines:

• Full control over moisture content & how your paint behaves.
• Without underlying wicking, what you mix is what you get.
• Paint ratio stays stable and controlled.
• Textures provide friction for paint prep & even brush loading.
• Texture zones to separate different mixes.

Dry palettes aren’t just functional, they’re strategic. At Anarky Creations, we pioneered the use of 3D-textured dry palette inserts that fit directly into The Army Painter’s Wet Palette lid. Our design didn’t just enter the conversation – it reshaped it. With high-resolution prints, thoughtfully engineered surfaces and options for both standard and moisture controlled use, we’ve set the standard others now follow. This isn’t just a tool. It’s a rethink of how painters manage precision. Evolved, elevated and original.

Better than paper towel – which can microdeposit fibres on your brushes, soak moisture unevenly, wick pigment and waste paint. Just use them for spills.

A Complement to Your Wet Palette

Dry palettes aren’t replacement wet palettes, they’re strategic additions to your workflow. Modular systems are gaining traction among pro-level painters, with many now crafting airtight environments to control humidity and maintain paint consistency. A purpose-built dry palette integrates seamlessly into these high performance setups, offering precision and efficiency where it matters most.

• WET palette: For basecoats long sessions and wet blending.
• DRY palette: For dry brushing and advanced medium use.

Quick-start guide:

1. Dispense a small amount of paint.
2. Add medium if needed — or use as-is for dry brushing.
3. Mix to desired consistency.
4. Test on your glove, dry palette texture, or test mini.
5. Paint with confidence.

Why Dry Brushing Demands a Dry Palette

Dry brushing delivers bold, beautiful results — when executed well. But moisture is its natural enemy. Using a dry palette for dry brushing offers superior control, efficiency, and consistency compared to a kitchen towel. Unlike absorbent paper, a dry palette:

• Prevents paint from drying too quickly.
• Maintains the right consistency, ensuring better pigment retention.
• Minimizes waste by allowing paint to remain usable longer.
• Provides a stable surface for blending before application.

A dry palette counters these issues elegantly. It provides the surface tension you need to thin the paint just enough, while maintaining the load and spring in your brush. Before committing to your model, you can refine technique, consistency and flow. The result? Cleaner transitions. Sharper edges. Less frustration.

Smoother finish – Completely dehydrated paint is more likely to streak or blob. A textured dry palette helps maintain the right balance.

Our Dry Palette Range: Designed for Precision

Anarky Creations was the first to design a 3D-printed dry palette insert that fits directly into The Army Painter wet palette lid. Others have followed, but we remain the ORIGINAL.

Our core range of six includes:

The Original Dry Brush Palette – Modern
The Original Dry Brush Palette – Fantasy
Ultimate Dry Brush Palette – Modern (integrated dampening sponge)
Ultimate Dry Brush Palette – Fantasy (integrated dampening sponge)
The Original XL Dry Brush Palette – Modern (fits Wargamers Edition)
The Original XL Dry Brush Palette – Fantasy (fits Wargamers Edition)

When you order a customisable Anarky Creations Dry Palette you order with confidence. Choose from either a grey or black primer and custom tray colour. Each customised palette is 3D printed to order using high quality PLA filament and quality controlled before shipping. Each of the six designs incorporate a carefully considered, unique collection of textures, designed to suit both aesthetic and dimensions of that palette.

Community Feedback

Don’t just take our word for it – see what our customers say.

We often hear from our customers and love listening to product feedback. In fact both the XL and Ultimate were developed directly from customer wish lists. Customers asked for a dry palette to fit The Army Painter Wargamers Edition so we designed and developed our XL palette. Customers asked for a deeper tray for chunky brushes so we designed and developed our Ultimate palette, and with that extra head height available, added in a dampening sponge. We believe in a collaborative design and development process. If you would like to join our team of testers, sign up for the newsletter to receive notifications, news and discounts.

Final Thoughts

A dry palette won’t transform your painting alone, you will still need to practice. But it will unlock a higher level of control and it is control is what separates casual techniques from refined artistry.

Ready to refine your technique? Shop the original dry palette here