Ionic Smart Colors is an acrylic range from MIG Jimenez built with one aim: to stop miniature painting being a fight with the paint. The shades carry dense pigment, dry matt and use a self-hydrating formula that keeps them workable on the palette far longer than ordinary acrylics. They work equally well under a brush and through an airbrush.

What the range contains

• Individual shades – 180 colours in 20 ml jars, from white to metallics, filterable by colour family.
• Sets – from six-shade Essential ladders through signature selections by well-known painters to themed sets for Malifaux and Malediction.
• Thinners and cleaners – a thinner, a thinner with retarder and a cleaner for brushes and airbrushes.

What makes Ionic different

The jar holds 20 ml, generous for a hobby paint – most of the competition offers 12 to 17 ml. Inside there is a steel agitator ball, and the lid opens one-handed. The formula is self-hydrating, so the paint stays workable on a wet palette considerably longer.

Where to start

If you are new to the range, the Basic Set makes the most sense – twelve shades covering the whole colour wheel. If you already own the paints and are missing one specific shade, you will find it among the individual jars.

Frequently asked questions

Can Ionic paints be mixed with other brands?
Yes. They are ordinary water-based acrylics, so they mix and layer with other acrylic ranges without trouble.

Are they suitable for airbrushing?
Yes, they are built for it. Thin them with water or an Ionic thinner, usually at around 1 : 1.