Dark Leather (AK17048) is a warm, deep brown tone in the QUICK GEN range, created to produce realistic leather effects, earthy shadows and rich structural depth. The colour, based on the sample shown, leans toward a dark mahogany brown with subtle reddish undertones, making it particularly effective for straps, boots, pouches and equipment details on a wide variety of miniatures. Many painters value this kind of leather shade because it immediately adds a grounded, natural look to their figures.
Classified as a high coverage colour, Dark Leather delivers strong opacity in a single coat. The pigment settles smoothly into recesses and folds while maintaining a solid, even finish on raised areas. This allows painters to achieve contrast quickly without relying on advanced techniques. The matte finish helps sculpted textures stand out clearly, which is especially helpful for materials like aged leather, rough cloth or carved wooden elements.
Features & benefits
Technical details
Applications & examples
Dark Leather excels in any setting that requires believable material definition. On fantasy miniatures, its warm, rich tone brings life to belts, armour straps, boots and adventurer gear. In historical painting, it is an ideal choice for pouches, holsters, boots and other battlefield equipment. The tone also functions well as a base colour for darker wood, weathered structures and natural scenery elements. Because it provides strong shadows right away, it can serve as the foundation for more advanced leather layering techniques.
Included in the US Uniforms set
Dark Leather is part of the US Uniforms set (AK17505), a themed selection designed for painting WWII U.S. Army figures. Within this set, Dark Leather plays a key role in grounding the models visually: it defines holsters, boots and performance gear while harmonising with the olive uniform tones. The colour helps painters achieve fast, effective results with natural contrast that fits the historical palette. Its inclusion in the set highlights its reliability and versatility, especially for anyone painting armies or larger batches of troops.
Comparable tones
Across various paint lines, Dark Leather aligns with rich reddish dark browns often used to portray realistic leather surfaces. These colours are typically chosen for the warmth they contribute to a miniature and for the way they contrast against green, grey or light fabrics. Within the QUICK GEN system, Dark Leather works seamlessly as part of a brown triad, pairing well with mid and light leather tones to create smooth transitions with minimal effort.
Whether you are painting a squad of WWII soldiers, a fantasy ranger with weathered boots or terrain pieces with aged wooden textures, Dark Leather is a highly dependable colour. Its high coverage, expressive warmth and easy handling make it an ideal choice for both speedpainting and more advanced miniature painting workflows. Its place in the range ensures that every painter can rely on it to bring depth, realism and character to their creations.