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Friday, June 19, 2009

Quick Tip: Gloss vs. Flat Sealer

A gloss sealer will give the model a smooth, glass like finish; a flat or matte sealer has a rougher texture. But Gloss and flat sealers do more than change the finish on a model.

For instance, decals are easier to apply, and will last longer, on a gloss surface.

Here's a quick breakdown of which surface is better for various techniques:

GlossFlat/Matte
Overall washesOil filters
DecalsPanel line washes
Protect acrylicsDrybrushing
Oil filter (dot method)
Pastels/Pigments

Knowing which sealer to apply for which technique will help you decide in which order to apply weathering techniques.

For instance you should always apply a gloss layer before and after applying decals. However putting gloss over pigments/pastels will likely make most of your effort disappear.

2 comments:

Uncle Puck said...

Good tip, MisterJ. I also like to add matte (usually a spray to cover the whole miniature) as a second coat to dull that shiny finish.

Of course, if you want gems, metals or glass monitors to shine, you can do the reverse, and paint a gloss over matte as well.

~ Pax ~

Unknown said...

A gloss spray for hardness, followed by a matte spray to reduce shine, also does a great job of protecting models that will spend a lot of time on gaming tables.