Inks vs Washes

With the washes being released long ago and all this talk about how great and wonderful washes are I'm beginning to feel like I should catch up. Right now I do all my washes with Citadel Black and/or Brown ink and I'm considering buying Devlan Mud wash. But first I wanted to know if Devlan Mud is really that much better? Are there any considerable differences between Devlan Mud and Brown Ink? or any other type of wash? What are the pros and cons of each type? a.k.a. I wanna know if it's worth buying Dev.Mud if you already got brown ink?
With so many great painters around I'm confident someone can offer me a decent comparison here

First off, Devlan Mud is a little more greyish-purple brown, and not as sharp as brown ink. I like it, but the absolutely best wash for lighter brown surfaces is Gryphonne Sepia, which I couldn't do without

The washes feel 'softer' to me. They seem to have less pigment and are more transparent, so you need less water to thin them. They also settle a bit more evenly with better overall coverage, whereas the inks just settled into cracks sometimes.

Agree with Milliardo. I've used both, and enjoy working with the washes much more because they don't always require thinning. I just wish there were more colors available. IMO, Devlan Mud is amazing all around. Sepia is a great when you need a redder, lighter shade.

I think the washes and inks have completely different application. The devlan mud is GREAT, I use it on almost all my models but it could never replace the chestnut ink och brown ink. In my opinion the washes are great addition but shouldn't have replaced the inks.

The badab black is great for making metal looking older and colder and not so shiny.

Give the washes a try. They are designed to go into the nooks and crevices, much more subtle. They are set up to not smother the color underneath. Also, they are eaiser to thin than the inks. The inks are great, but they are saturated colors that should be used to enhance other colors. They really aren't designed for the shading like a wash. I used to use the inks religiously, but now use the washes much more. I still use brown inks, like the Reaper Wood Stain Ink on wooden items

Chup

Thanks for the replies! I guess I'll buy some wash and see the result myself

Bratzor wrote:

I think the washes and inks have completely different application. The devlan mud is GREAT, I use it on almost all my models

I agree with this! Ink and Citadel Washes are very, very different products. I still have a couple of half-full inks but I'd choose Citadel Washes 100% over old inks.

Devlan Mud (or "Magic Mud" as it's called round here) has transformed so many people's painting.

Sometimes I think using washes is almost cheating because it's so easy to get a great result . It's almost as if you don't need any training or skill or any difficult techniques just keep the colours where they should be and then cover the model in wash and after a few minutes you got nice shading and it looks a little dirty, which I like and think is fitting for warhammer and Mordheim.

Almost cheating. But not quite!

I do compare the new washes with dipping, in my opinion it is dipping LIGHT

I always used inks earlier, I loved the inks but now I use the washes much more... GW has a Wash set that is really cheap so go buy them all, they are not expensive...

Trulsa wrote:

I do compare the new washes with dipping, in my opinion it is dipping LIGHT

I always used inks earlier, I loved the inks but now I use the washes much more... GW has a Wash set that is really cheap so go buy them all, they are not expensive...

$25 for the set at my local GW. One of the very few purchases I've made there where I felt I got my money's worth...

Trulsa wrote:

GW has a Wash set that is really cheap so go buy them all, they are not expensive...

hehe, I remember I ACCIDENTALLY bought that pack. I saw it over the clerk counter and just assumed it was a paint-set. When I got home and discovered this I was at first scared (wha... what will I do now), then angry (tupid GW who does not print in large enough digits for an old man like me), then I simply gave up (alright, i'll give it a shot).

Turns out, that mistake was one my best