Vallejo states that it possesses over 50 years of experience in acrylic colours and exports products to more than 60 countries.3

American beginnings (1965–1969)

Amadeo Vallejo founded the company in New Jersey, USA, in 1965. Rather than miniature painting, the original business focused on Film Color, a range of water-based acrylic colours developed specifically for the animation industry.4 This foundation proved significant, as animation required paints capable of delivering strong, consistent colour whilst remaining practical for production environments.

In 1969, operations moved to Spain, where Film Color production continued. The formulation gained sufficient recognition to be adopted by numerous major European animation studios.5

Entry into fine-art paints

In 1972, Amadeo Vallejo developed Acrylic Artist Color. The company describes this as the first acrylic paint for fine arts manufactured in Spain and one of the earliest such products in Europe.6 Liquid Watercolor products for graphic design and illustration were also introduced during this period. This era established that Vallejo’s expertise originated in professional artistic applications and acrylic formulation rather than solely in hobby paints.

Acrylic Studio

Following suggestions from professors at the Fine Arts University of Barcelona, Vallejo launched Acrylic Studio in 1981. The aim was to provide high-quality acrylic colours in larger containers at accessible prices. To achieve this, permanent artist pigments were selected whilst avoiding costlier options such as cadmiums and cobalts.7 The large-format packaging, available in 200 ml and 500 ml sizes, was unusual for artist paints at the time and marked an important milestone in the company’s expansion into the professional art market.8

Airbrush development

During the 1980s, water-based acrylics became increasingly relevant to airbrush artists, who had previously relied heavily on solvent-based paints. Collaborating with airbrush artists during testing and development, Vallejo introduced its first dedicated airbrush acrylic colours in 1986.9 This innovation eventually led to the Model Air family. The experience gained in formulating finely controlled acrylics later proved highly applicable to scale modelling and miniature painting.

Miniature and scale modelling

The most significant transition in Vallejo’s modern history occurred between the late 1980s and early 1990s. The company began collaborating with miniature painters who were already using colours originally formulated for animation. This partnership resulted in the launch of Model Color in 1991 as a dedicated range for modellers and miniature painters.10

At that time, water-based acrylics were less conventional for miniatures than solvent-based alternatives. However, Vallejo’s formulation offered distinct advantages, including ease of brush application, water cleanup, low solvent reliance, strong pigmentation, suitability for fine details, fast drying times and compatibility with miniature surfaces. Model Color became a signature product, establishing Vallejo as a major name in miniature painting.11

Expansion into hobby painting

From the 1990s onwards, Vallejo expanded well beyond a single miniature-paint range. The hobby portfolio grew to encompass historical, fantasy and science-fiction miniatures, wargaming, scale aircraft, armour, automobiles, figures, dioramas, terrain, weathering effects, metallic finishes, primers, washes, pigments, varnishes and scenery products.

The current catalogue organises these hobby products into specialised families including Model Color, Model Air, Game Color, Game Air, Mecha Color, Metal Color, Xpress Color, True Metallic Metal, Diorama FX, Pigment FX and Premium Color.12

Model Color

Model Color is widely regarded as Vallejo’s most iconic range. Designed primarily for brush painting figures and models, the current formulation comprises 220 references, including opaque colours, metallics, transparent shades and auxiliary products. Current-generation paints are packaged in 18 ml r-PET bottles.13 The range emphasises high opacity, smooth brush application, matte finish, self-levelling behaviour, preservation of fine detail and relatively rapid drying. Whilst usable for almost any miniature application, it is particularly associated with historical miniatures and scale-model painting.

Model Air

Model Air is Vallejo’s airbrush-oriented acrylic range, formulated to flow through an airbrush rather than being applied with a conventional brush. It is especially popular amongst aircraft, armour and vehicle modellers, as well as miniature painters and airbrush artists.

Game Color

Developed primarily for fantasy figures and wargaming miniatures, Game Color has been substantially reformulated in its current generation. Improvements focus on smoother application, increased fluidity, pigmentation, opacity, matte finish and handling resistance. A notable feature is the BSL (Base, Shadow, Light) approach, which groups compatible colours to simplify the selection of base, shadow and highlight tones for beginners.14

Xpress Color

Xpress Color addresses the demand for faster miniature-painting techniques. It is designed to produce midtones, highlights and shadows through a simple application that exploits the paint’s flow characteristics. The paint naturally accumulates in recesses whilst leaving thinner coverage on raised areas, creating contrast in a single coat. This makes it particularly useful for painting large armies, tabletop gaming, speed painting and for painters seeking a quick base-and-shade workflow.

Metal Color

Metal Color is a dedicated line for metallic finishes, particularly associated with airbrushing and scale modelling where realistic metal surfaces are required. Metallic products are also available within other ranges, including Game Color and True Metallic Metal.

Mecha Color

Oriented towards science-fiction and mecha models, Mecha Color provides a paint system suited to hard-surface subjects such as robot and mechanical kits.

Premium Color

Premium Color extends Vallejo’s acrylic technology to applications requiring greater durability. The broader Premium line is intended for vehicles, RC models, hobby projects, hard-wearing surfaces and airbrushing.

Vallejo offers a comprehensive ecosystem beyond coloured paints, including primers, varnishes, washes, inks, pigments, texture products, mediums, thinners, cleaners, weathering products, liquid metals, basing materials, scenery products, hobby tools and brushes. This breadth supports complete workflows, typically progressing from primer and basecoat through washes, highlights, glazes, weathering and varnish. Consequently, Vallejo functions as a complete miniature-painting system rather than merely a paint manufacturer.

Despite its prominence in miniature painting, Vallejo maintains a substantial fine-art division. The current catalogue includes Acrylic Artist Color, Acrylic Studio, Fluid Color, Liquid Watercolor, Gouaches, Textile Color, as well as various varnishes and mediums.15 This reflects the fact that the company’s expertise in professional art predates its miniature-painting business by decades.

Vallejo continues to emphasise in-house manufacturing, stating that controlling the production process is essential for maintaining quality. The company regards its accumulated knowledge of acrylic formulation as one of its most valuable assets.16 Production originally began in a 30 m² garage before expanding through warehouses and larger industrial facilities.17 The 2026 catalogue notes an investment in new facilities totalling more than 10,000 m², comprising dedicated warehouse, production, service and office areas.18

Vallejo has modernised its packaging to improve sustainability. Newer Game Color and Model Color products use transparent r-PET (recycled/recyclable PET) bottles. These are intended to reduce environmental impact whilst improving colour visibility.19 This approach combines the traditional dropper-bottle format with updated packaging materials.

Historically, Vallejo’s visual identity was linked to its distinctive bottles and a technical, hobby-oriented presentation. More recently, the brand has been repositioned around the concept of “Inspiring Experience”. Branding work undertaken between 2020 and 2022 aimed to highlight the company’s accumulated experience and its role in inspiring artists and modellers.20 This shift mirrors a broader trend in the hobby industry, where miniature painting is increasingly viewed as a form of artistic expression rather than solely a technical skill.

Vallejo’s influence in miniature painting stems largely from the breadth of its catalogue. Painters can theoretically remain within the Vallejo ecosystem for almost every stage of the process:

• Surface preparation: Primers
• Base painting: Model Color / Game Color
• Airbrushing: Model Air / Game Air
• Speed painting: Xpress Color
• Metallics: Metal Color / Game Color / True Metallic Metal
• Shading: Game Wash / Model Wash / Game Ink
• Weathering: Pigment FX / Weathering FX / Diorama FX
• Protection: Varnishes

This interconnectedness makes Vallejo a major competitor to other miniature-paint brands.

Vallejo operates at the intersection of three distinct industries:

• Fine art: Professional and amateur artists use its acrylic, watercolour, gouache and auxiliary products.
• Scale modelling: Modellers utilise its paints for aircraft, armour, vehicles, figures, dioramas and historical subjects.
• Miniature gaming: Wargamers and fantasy/science-fiction painters use Game Color, Xpress Color and related products.

This diversification allows technology originally developed for professional artists and animation to appear in products used for Warhammer miniatures, Second World War tank models, aircraft kits, fantasy figures and canvas paintings.

Several factors explain Vallejo’s market position:

1. Water-based acrylic technology: The brand built its identity around acrylics that are convenient to use and clean.
2. Broad colour selection: Highly specialised colours were developed for different subjects rather than a small number of general-purpose paints.
3. Dedicated hobby ranges: Lines such as Model Color, Model Air and Game Color are designed around specific techniques and communities.
4. Long history: Decades of experience in acrylic formulation date back to the 1960s animation industry.21
5. Complete ecosystem: The company supplies the mediums, primers, washes, pigments and varnishes necessary for a complete painting system.

Vallejo’s evolution explains its extensive and sometimes complex catalogue:

• 1965: Established in the USA producing animation paints.
• 1969: Relocated to Spain.
• 1972: Launched fine-art acrylics.
• 1981: Introduced Acrylic Studio.
• 1986: Released dedicated airbrush acrylics.
• 1991: Launched Model Color.
• 1990s–2000s: Expanded into scale modelling and miniatures.
• 2010s: Developed a large international hobby ecosystem.
• 2020s: Implemented new branding, formulations and sustainable packaging.
• 2026: Continued expansion of production and global product portfolio.

In the context of miniatures, “Vallejo” typically refers to specific product lines:22

• Model Color: Traditional brush painting
• Game Color: Fantasy and wargaming figures
• Model Air: Airbrushing scale models
• Game Air: Airbrushing gaming miniatures
• Xpress Color: Fast miniature painting
• Metal Color: Metallic effects
• Mecha Color: Mecha and hard-surface models
• Pigment FX / Weathering FX / Diorama FX: Environmental and weathering effects

These are listed in the official catalogue alongside a wider collection of hobby products.

Vallejo’s reputation rests on its combination of pigmentation, extensive colour selection, specialised formulations and product breadth. For beginners, it provides an entire painting ecosystem without requiring familiarity with numerous unrelated brands. Experienced painters benefit from specialised workflows, using distinct formulations for airbrushing, brush painting, metallics and weathering. The brand’s primary strength lies not in any single product, but in the depth and interconnectedness of its complete system.23

1. Introduction – Acrylicos Vallejo
2. Vallejo Acrylic Paints
3. CATALOGUE 2026models & miniatures
4. Nuestra Historia – Vallejo Colors
5. Hobby
6. Vallejo Downloads – Hobby and Fine Arts
7. Official Vallejo Store | Paints for miniatures and scale models – Vallejo Colors
8. Vallejo Model Color
9. Game Color Home – Vallejo
10. Game Color EN – Vallejo
11. Vallejo paints the future with the color of its experience
12. Hakkımızda – Vallejo Akrilik Boyalar
13. Hobi – Vallejo Akrilik Boyalar
14. Tienda oficial Vallejo | Pinturas para miniaturas y modelismo – Vallejo Colors
15. Game Color – Vallejo
16. Vallejo Game Color
17. Xpress Color archivos – Acrylicos Vallejo
18. Catalog – Page 108 of 110 – Acrylicos Vallejo
19. Acrylicos Vallejo
20. Vallejo Descargas – Modelismo y Bellas Artes
21. Vallejo Model Air Medium Yellow – Acrylic airbrush color
22. Vallejo Xpress Color – Blanco Momia
23. Vallejo Cases