3.29.2012

Why Isn't the Matte Spray... Matte?

This is a cry for help...

HELP!

  • Problem:  Shiny
  • Solution:  Matte Spray

So what isn't it working?




I keep a mini on the side board to paint on while paint is drying on whatever 'main' project I happen to be pursuing; in this case, the main project is finishing up the Grey Knights for the Little Tim That Could and the side project is this Rune Priest for the Client Pimp in Question.

Now, the Rune Priest was an experiment on a few levels, including a technique for speed painting and basing.  I was happy enough with the results there, but I decided to work on 'glowy hands.'

"Well Brent," says I to I, "why not matte the model but varnish the glowy bits?"

(You see what I put up with?)

Thing is, I matte sprayed this miniature two or three times and it's still just as shiny as the varnish I painted on his hands!

Is there something I'm missing?

(What he means is, more than usual?)

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's a meager offering, and no real solution, but I've had good experiences with Testors brand.

SAJ said...

How old is the matte spray? Age and storage conditions can mess up a can, I think.
I just sprayed some minis with a year old can of matte that had been stored in the garage for the winter. I sprayed when the can and room were warm, but there were still some problems with the results.

AoM said...

The first question is what matte sealer are you using?

I have never had Testors Dullcote leave anything other than a dead matte finish after 2 coats, with one coat usually being enough. Krylon 1311, on the other hand, always stops just short of matte, leaving as slight satin finish. I never have clouding or fogging issues with either of these as well.

My current sealing method for gaming models is 2 layers of Krylon 0500 Triple Thick Clear Glaze, then 2 layers of Dullcote. The glaze gives a wonderful gloss coating, and gloss finishes are tougher than matte finishes to give the model a candy shell. The Dullcote kills the shine completely, and brings the model back to a full matte finish. When it's dry, I'll paint on some brush-on gloss medium for jewels, lenses, and other bits that should shine.

This also helps you avoid wearing away the sealer and chipping paint. Instead of seeing metal where the matte has rubbed off and the paint went with it, you'll see a shiny spot on the model and hit it with Dullcote again instead of breaking out your paint.

Dullcote is also great for smoothing out your blends, and it tends to mute the brightest highlights you've done so you can see where you should take them up even further. 1311 leaves the finish close enough to matte that you can use that instead for this trick instead of the Dullcote. They are similar prices, but the Dullcote is a small can and the 1311 is a full size can. When you just need a quick spray to see what blends need to be smoother and/or what needs more highlighting, it's a cheaper alternative.

Anonymous said...

Testors Dullcote

urban said...

testors dullcoat as well

Anonymous said...

You have a 50 50 chance it seems matte finish some times it just doesn't do what its suppose to

Master Manipulator (every store needs one) said...

If it is old, or not mixed well the matte will come out glossy.

If it is a new can you could have got a can that was mislabled.

Michael said...

I've had great results with army painters anti shine mat varnish. It has been marketed on being very mat, as it's supposed to be used after using their dips, which are very shiny.

Smile Proud said...

How old is the flat spray? Age and storage space circumstances can damage a can, I think.I just applied some minis with a year old can of flat that had been saved in the spare room area for winter season. I applied when the can and room were heated, but there were still some issues with the outcomes.

Anonymous said...

So anything "matte" works by putting down a layer of pigments or translucencey with tiny facets that refract the light and not reflect it. Think of it like a layer of glass shards all facing this way and that. One coat of varnish gives the dullest finish.
The downside of this is that the MORE layers you put down, the less matte it becomes. If you keep laying it on, anything matte can actually become glossy because it just fills in the gaps that refract the light.
I would try one or two light think coats.
Testors Dullcoat is also the best.
Cheers!
M

(A new favorite!) Anon: I haven’t even bothered playing a game of 6th yet, cause I have read the rules, and actually understand how they interact with units. I know my armies no longer function how they should, and so I need to change them.

Strictly Average: 'cause 6-inches is all you get.

Stalking Jawaballs since 2009.

Jawaballs: "My butt just tightened up."

Brent, preferred 2-to-1 over Not Brent in a recent, scientific poll.

Brent: emptied the Kool Aid and DRINKING YOUR MILKSHAKE with an extra-long straw.

Unicorns don't exist.

Home of the Stormbuster, the Dyson Pattern Storm Raven.

I'm a comment whore and this whore is getting no play.

Not Brent hurts Brent's feelings.

I think, therefore I blog.

"You should stop writing for everyone else and worry about your crappy blog." - Anon.

Not Brent has been spotted lurking around with a green marker.

He's not like a bad guy from a cartoon, all devious but never quite evil, Not Brent is bad beans, man, bad beans.

Dethtron: "Again I feel obliged to remind you that trying to sound smart only works if you are."

MVB: "I am not one to join the unwashed masses of self-titled 40k experts out there distributing advice from their blogs about exactly how your list should be built..."

Shiner Bock on tap: that's how I choose hotels.

Strictly Average: The Home of Hugs and Gropings.

Don't feed the trolls!

MoD: "Welcome to Brent's head."

Competitive is Consistent.

Dethtron: "...you could use that extra time to figure out a way to get your panties unbunched and perform a sandectomy on your vagina."

Dethtron: “When calling someone an idiot, it's generally best to avoid making grammatical mistakes.”

Warboss Stalin: "You know, if it actually WAS funny, maybe I wouldn't mind."

Mike Brandt: "It's not a successful bachelor party if you don't misplace someone".

"The Master Manipulator (every store needs one): "...now, enough stroking."

Kirby: "I don't know about gropings. Seriously, Brent, keep it in the pants, please."

Loquacious: "No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't get Hugs & Gropings or Stalks Jawaballs into Brent's little tribute."

Captain Kellen: "I rate this article a Brent on the Faith Hill to Nancy Pelosi scale!"

Drathmere: "Come for the balls, stay for the Brent? Kind of disturbing, man."

Go no further, lest thee see something thine eyes would fain look past!

Isabelle: "So, thank you for supporting your local and not so local unicorns. A noble gesture like that can show some scared kids out there that they don't have to hide from everyone and it's ok to be who they really are."

There is nothing more interesting than We The People... in all our beautiful, ugly glory!

On Internet Advice: You see, I have an almost religious belief that's it's a huge, colossal waste of time.

...I think I'll call it the Gun Shy Pattern Stormbuster, because after the Internet destroyed my first humble effort, I find I'm a bit worried about the reaction to this one.

Lauby: "Is it left over from that time you thought that you could just complete step one 12 times to meet the mandates of that court order?"

Not Brent: "I guess we'll have to read on and find out. Signed, Not Brent. Especially today."

Cynthia Davis: "I think the scrolling text is from Glen Beck's new book."

Grimaldi: "Spamming certain units creates interesting possibilities but also fatal weaknesses."

Purgatus: "Math can inform decisions. It cannot make decisions."

Thoughts? Comments? Hugs and gropings?

You'd be that much quicker to figure out what I mean when I refer to a Unicorn if I covered it in a rainbow flag.

SinSynn: (To Brent) "Curse you and your insidious influence on the internets..."

Dave G (N++): "You know you're an internet celebrity when your following is more akin to tabloids."

I prefer the term Internet Personality (or IP) myself, seeing as how I coined it.

Lauby: "Your attempt to humanize him as failed. I feel nothing but scorn for his beard - it's like a warcrime or something."

BBF: "I've always thought you are a good player but I finally figured out that you are a great player. It's hard to see sometimes because your personality is engaging, sincere and quite charming - to me that is kind of a rare combination."

'Clearly cheating?' I didn't misspeak: you jumped to conclusions. If you'd like to apologize I'll be happy to send you an autographed picture of my ass.

Ass.

I thought I was doing alright before I realized I was losing.

Age and treachery beats youth and vigor every time.

Popular Posts