Ikvar Posted December 21, 2014 Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 Greetings everyone! After I have tried everything with my Vallejo matt varnish, I have now given up. No matter what I do there are always spots that are a bit shiny... and I really hate shiny spots on my miniatures >> Do anyone know another varnish that is 100% matt, and if it can be used with an airbrush it would be even better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
480 Posted December 21, 2014 Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 Army painter 'anti shine matt varnish' works well for me. It comes in a spray can so not ideally what you are looking for, that being said, it's good. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madaxeman Posted December 21, 2014 Report Share Posted December 21, 2014 Testors Dullcote usually gets the most votes when this topic comes up on other miniature gaming forums. It's my varnish of choice, spray can ahead of paint-on but I'm not sure if there is an airbrush version. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zarathustrian Posted December 22, 2014 Report Share Posted December 22, 2014 I use vallejo matt all the time. Never any real problems with it other than sometimes getting small white dots( than can be cleaned off) appear once dry, And thats only with brush. Have you tried thinning a bit and using air brush? That has always worked perfectly for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpiralngCadavr Posted December 22, 2014 Report Share Posted December 22, 2014 Dullcote is expensive and comes in stupid little tiny cans, but it's by far the best I've used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassylady Posted December 22, 2014 Report Share Posted December 22, 2014 I've not had much problem with Vallejo Matte and it's the one I've used for a couple years. Had one mislabeled once (had to be gloss) that well messed me up, but no worries once I've gotten Matte. Satin will do what you've described, however. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dhampir Posted December 23, 2014 Report Share Posted December 23, 2014 Badger (Minitaire) also has an airbrush ready matt varnish. I own some but havent used it yet... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rwwin Posted December 25, 2014 Report Share Posted December 25, 2014 Army painter 'anti shine matt varnish' works well for me. It comes in a spray can so not ideally what you are looking for, that being said, it's good. A second vote for Army painter matte varnish. I like Dullcote better but Army Painter is a little more cost effective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Math Mathonwy Posted December 26, 2014 Report Share Posted December 26, 2014 For a really matte finish, try varnishing the mini first using whatever and then putting a thin layer of Vallejo Glaze Medium on top. Just make sure to use a thin layer (way thinner than what you'd varnish with) and the result is extremely matte. Naturally won't protect the mini any, though, so be sure to put varnish underneath. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ikvar Posted December 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 26, 2014 Glaze Medium? Really? When I use to much Glaze Medium in the paint, it normally starts to shine? And many thanks for all the great advice! :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Math Mathonwy Posted December 27, 2014 Report Share Posted December 27, 2014 Glaze Medium? Really?When I use to much Glaze Medium in the paint, it normally starts to shine?Yeah, I was really surprised by the effect as well. I discovered it when I accidentally mixed up the pots ( ) but have been using it since when I need something to be really matte.But don't just take my word for it - try it out. And tell us if it worked or if I have a freak bottle. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ikvar Posted December 28, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 28, 2014 To my VERY big surprise, it was actually a major success with using the glaze to matt my figure... but not just was it a success to make it more matt, it also had another unexpected and very awesome side effect. I have painted multiple layers of Vallejo matt varnish on my Lilith figure to get it matt, and sadly I found out that this had desaturated the colours quite a bit, and for someone like me who heavily relies on the bright colours to make my comic book style of painting, this made me very sad. However for some very odd reason, using the glaze actually made the colours more saturated again, and after two layers the colours are more or less back to how it was in the beginning. I will try to paint on Vallejo glossy varnish on a figure I am making tonight(glossy gives better protection then matt), and tomorrow when it is dry, I will try to simply put on the glaze medium instead of several layers of matt varnish that will just ruin my colours. If this actually works, I am not kidding when I say that this will revolutionize the way we use varnish, as I know a couple of Golden Demon painters that are having the same problems as I am, and this little trick will make our lives A LOT easier ^^ 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Math Mathonwy Posted December 28, 2014 Report Share Posted December 28, 2014 Very happy to hear that! I've been telling about this quite a bit (since I found it both surprising and useful) but I feel that no one good enough has bothered trying it writing it off as some random hack having delusions so hopefully it will get wider recognition now if the spokesperson ends up being someone of your caliber and talent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RagingRodian Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 Out of curiosity how well does the dried glaze medium hold up to handling? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpectreEliteGaming Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 I vote for Vallejo matte varnish. Just the slightest shine so its not totally dead - this stuff is perfect. I've never used matte medium because I just put 1-2 coats of matte over 1-2 coats of gloss varnish. This is important: I find that if I cut gloss varnish it is fine and doesn't matter - BUT if I cut satin (for metals) or matte (especially!) I will still leave a somewhat shiny effect. Do not cut matte varnish when applying otherwise, applying with an airbrush works well too, Cutting with brush doesn't work for me - anyone else find this? Also, yeah - that glaze medium trick is great too - same deal with gloss varnish to "delete" the frosted look of too much matte varnish. Then you just coninue on as normal. Basically, you can get the re-saturated look wih gloss varnish+protection then just try again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ikvar Posted December 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 That is really nice of you to say Math, though I highly doubt anyone would listen more to me then you @Raging the glaze medium offers zero protection. @Spectre Matt varnish simply does not work for me, it ruins the colours after a few layers, and there is still some shine to it afterwards. - And what do you mean by cutting? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic_bull Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 I think he means "thinning down". Thanks for the tip with the glaze medium. Yes, strangely I had problems when using satin and matt varnishes from Vallejo last time. Usually I used to brush on 3 layers of gloss varnish and then a layer of satin or matt. Last time I airbrushed it and had that desaturated\frozen effect. No matter what pressure and distance I used. However I was thinning down it a bit with an airbrush thinner and I actually thought that it was a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Requirement Posted December 29, 2014 Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 It might also be best to not do more than one layer of matte varnish. I have found more than a single, fairly thin layer tends to get glossy. Best technique I have used thus far is the layer or two of gloss followed by a layer of matte. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ikvar Posted December 29, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 29, 2014 It might also be best to not do more than one layer of matte varnish. I have found more than a single, fairly thin layer tends to get glossy. Best technique I have used thus far is the layer or two of gloss followed by a layer of matte. That is my experience as well, but when one layer of matt varnish does not make it completely matt, the whole idea kinda goes out of the window Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpectreEliteGaming Posted December 30, 2014 Report Share Posted December 30, 2014 If you brush on a layer of matte varnish without cutting (yeah, thinning with water) you will get a good matte finish with only a slight shine. I like the desaturated look though to be honest - so long as its not frosty - it helps me mute and give consistency to my models - but then I don't paint like you so you may still not like the result. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RagingRodian Posted January 4, 2015 Report Share Posted January 4, 2015 I found original recipe Dullcoat to be far and away the best, sadly it has been replaced by the current version of Dullcote. Still pretty good though. I have tried both Army Painted and Vallejo brush on matt varnishes a few times, each time well mixed with water but each time ending up with a frosted finish. Sure, I could fix them with a quick layer of brush on glass but then I had to matt them again. I may try that glaze medium trick next time, my only concern would be if normal handling would immediately rub it off and leave shiny spots on the model Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clawz Posted January 5, 2015 Report Share Posted January 5, 2015 Ikvar: is there an update on using it? (The second time round) - I have been having a useless time attempting to use spray, and if I can get some of that to work as you say, then indeed it's off to the races! (Not that I don't trust Math, mind you...) Also, Math: any glaze first and then the medium: so the medium itself doesn't necessarily protect the paint, just matte-coat it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ikvar Posted January 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2015 Sorry for the wait, but I have been a bit busy It seems to work quite well, though I am still experimenting a bit. After two layers of glaze on a model that was fully varnished with gloss varnish, it got completely matt. I dont know if the glaze will be easy to rub off though, so I am thinking of maybe trying to put the glaze medium together with a matt varnish? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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