Neutral Grey is a mid grey with a barely perceptible blue shift – as close to a true neutral grey as the range gets. It is a reference colour: for mixing, for muting saturated tones and for anything technical where grey should simply be grey.
| Range | Smart Colors |
| Colour family | Grey |
| Type | water-based acrylic paint |
| Finish | matt |
| Packaging | 20 ml jar with one-handed lid and steel agitator ball |
| Manufacturer code | IONIC-0169 |
| EAN | 8432074901693 |
| Manufacturer | Ionic Smart Colors (MIG Jimenez) |
| Country of origin | Spain |
Build shadows with Steel Shadow and Dark Grey, transitions and highlights with Armour Grey and Warm Grey.
Why mix grey into colours instead of black?
Black both darkens and kills a colour; grey only takes saturation away and leaves the hue. If you want to mute rather than darken, grey is the right choice.
Is it fully neutral?
Almost. It carries a very slight blue shift that can read cold next to flesh tones – use Warm Grey there instead.
How do I thin this paint?
With water or an Ionic thinner. The formula is self-hydrating, so it stays workable on the palette far longer than ordinary acrylics – a drop is enough for brush work, and roughly 1 : 1 for airbrush.
Is the finish really matt?
Yes, it dries matt with no shiny patches. If the figure is going on the gaming table, seal it with a matt varnish at the end.
The full range is in the Ionic Smart Colors category.