About ResourceCentral

ResourceCentral is an independent, non-commercial miniature painting reference and colorimetric research project built for tabletop hobbyists, scale modelers, and wargamers.

Our Mission

Miniature painting tutorials, box art, and YouTube guides are almost universally written around a single paint brand — historically Games Workshop's Citadel line. However, most painters own an eclectic mix of Citadel, Vallejo Model & Game Color, The Army Painter (Warpaints & Fanatic), Two Thin Coats, and Monument Hobbies Pro Acryl.

Before ResourceCentral, finding a reliable alternative meant scouring decades-old PDF charts, low-resolution forum graphics, or subjective forum opinions that often paired wildly mismatched hues. Our goal is to provide precise, scientifically grounded, and transparently tested paint conversions so hobbyists can paint any miniature with the supplies they already have on their bench.

The Science: How We Calculate Paint Conversions

Unlike traditional conversion charts that rely on subjective visual eyeballing, ResourceCentral converts every paint into standardized perceptual color spaces:

The CIEDE2000 (ΔE) Standard

We utilize the CIEDE2000 color difference formula (ΔE₀₀), published by the International Commission on Illumination (CIE). Unlike basic Euclidean RGB or CIE76 formulas, CIEDE2000 compensates for non-linear human visual sensitivity across different hues, chroma saturation levels, and lightness:

  • ΔE < 2.0 (Exact / Near-Flawless Match): The color difference is virtually imperceptible to the naked eye when applied to a miniature.
  • ΔE 2.0 – 5.0 (Very Good Match): Minor variation that disappears once shaded with a wash, layered, or drybrushed.
  • ΔE 5.0 – 10.0 (Close Alternative): Usable substitute sharing the same tonal family, with slight shifts in saturation or warmth.
  • ΔE > 10.0 (Approximate): Notable tone or hue variation; recommended only as a tonal placeholder.

Physical Swatches vs. Digital Colorimetry

While digital swatches provide a rigorous mathematical baseline, miniature acrylic paints exhibit complex physical properties that digital hex values cannot fully capture:

  • Finish (Matte vs. Satin vs. Gloss): Vallejo Model Color and Pro Acryl cure to an ultra-matte, non-reflective finish, whereas Citadel standard layers dry to a soft satin sheen.
  • Opacity & Pigment Density: Heavy-body base paints (such as Citadel Base or Vallejo Extra Opaque) utilize concentrated single-pigment loads for high coverage over dark primers, while layer paints are intentionally formulated with higher transparency for smooth transitions.
  • Surface Tension & Flow: Washes and contrast-style paints rely on surfactants and flow improvers to settle into recesses, behaving differently than standard acrylics.

We routinely review, calibrate, and physically test cross-brand pairings against painted test swatches on both white and black primed miniatures.

Editorial Independence & Standards

ResourceCentral is 100% editorially independent. We are not owned, funded, sponsored, or endorsed by Games Workshop, Vallejo, The Army Painter, Monument Hobbies, or Trans Atlantis Games. All trademarks, paint names, and faction titles remain the property of their respective owners and are used strictly for identification and educational reference under fair use doctrine.

Our ratings and conversion ranks are computed strictly through objective colorimetric calculations and physical tests without commercial bias.

Privacy & Client-Side Architecture

We respect your privacy and your device. All core tools — including the Paint Converter and the Paint Stash Tracker — run entirely in your local browser. Your paint inventory and preferences are saved locally on your device via standard browser storage. We never collect personal data or require account registrations.

Feedback & Community Corrections

Miniature painting formulas occasionally receive silent recipe updates from manufacturers. If you notice a swatch difference or want a new paint range added, please reach out via our Contact Page. Community feedback directly refines our dataset for painters worldwide.