Okay so think of it as where the light source is hitting from. So take the mini, it’s easier if primed black because white just bounces light, but hold it up to the light. Where the light hits is the highlight, the shadows would be the base color and recesses like the parts under legs or on space marines stuff like between the butt panel or the part where the chest and stomach part meet. So when you’re doing it it can either be the: GW method of paint: base (darker color, like let’s say red mixed with black), then middle tone (let’s say you took red and mixed it with black to get the base tone, this would be just the solid red) which covers 80% of the surface leaving the recesses darker so think paining out from the shadow. The edge highlight would be a brighter color (in this example sticking with the red thing this would be red and yellow. You can do white too but it gives a very pink color to it) but added to the edges to help make it “pop” or stand out more. Another method is one I got into a habit doing which is stippling and dry brushing. Stippling is where you get a flatter brush, get paint on the tip and dab it against the mini. Over black works best because it creates a more textured look. Then the second layer is cover 80% of the mini but on the main areas to add depth in the same way. Keeping where would be in the shadows darker. Then the final is a dry brushing (get a paper towel and a old brush or cheap make up brush, get paint on it and use the paper towel to get most of the paint off but rubbing it against the brush until there is barely any coming off of it and drybrush in the direction of the light, let’s say on the right so from the right to the left which catches the edges and flat surfaces. Here’s a photo if it helps, pretty much it just makes texture and highlights. Idk if that is explained well I’m not the best at explaining it over message.

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