Ever happened that you were in a tug of war between glossy and matte finish while choosing acrylic paint, you chose gloss and now you regret it?
Well, you can still go back to matte because in this article we are going to explain how to make glossy acrylic paint matte, some basic comparisons between the two finishes, and more.
But to give you an overview, I will say that you can use a deglosser to remove the gloss first, then apply matte varnish retouches to make a glossy paint look matte. Or you can use just some fine-grit sandpapers to do the job.
And in this article we are going to discuss those methods in detail, so keep reading.
Also Read: Using Oil Based Paint over Water Based Primer
Acrylic Glossy Finish Vs Matte Finish
It can be very confusing when choosing between a glossy and a matte finish. But this depends on your preference. However, several factors will give you some clear ideas to make a better decision.
Glossy Finish:
The word gloss is kind of self-explanatory; it’s shiny. Glossy finishes are reflective and it gives a nice look to interior walls. As it reflects light, it adds vibrance to the result object. Another benefit of the reflection of light is that it makes a room appear larger than its actual size.
However, you may easily notice imperfections and scratches on glossy walls. But the good thing is that you can clean the surface easily.
Matte Finish:
Matte finish is a kind of a finish that has a muted appearance. Instead of reflecting light, the surface painted with matte paint diffuses light. And this diffusion of light brings some benefits like it adds richness. Matte paint also adds a nice texture to the surface.
Another benefit of using matte paint is that you will not easily notice imperfections, marks, and scratches on a matte painted surface. However, this paint has some drawbacks as well; your room will look a little bit smaller.
Why Do You Need Acrylic Matte Finish?
Several benefits of acrylic matte finish will make you choose it over any other paint type. If you are not a fan of glossy paints, matte paints can be a really smart choice for your automobiles or walls. Here are some reasons that will give ideas why do you need an acrylic matte finish:
- Hides Scratch: Matte paint defuses light and it helps conceal scratch marks and imperfections. This can be a great reason to choose a matte finish for a surface that is exposed to regular use.
- Rich Look: Matte finish gives a rich and premium touch to automobiles.
- Textures: If you like textures, matte paint will help you achieve textures on the surface.
Can You Make Acrylic Paint Matte?
If we are talking about acrylic painting, yes you can make acrylic paint matte and there is an easy way of doing it.
To give your acrylic painting a matte look, you need to take a combination consisting of matte medium: 75% and acrylic paint: 25% respectively. This combination will help lower the gloss of your painting and give a nice matte look to your artwork.
How to Make Glossy Acrylic Paint Matte?
Generally speaking, you can turn glossy paint into matte in different ways. Let’s take a look and you will be able to choose which one suit you best.
Sanding:
This is one of the easiest ways of making a glossy painted surface look like a matte finish. You can simply hand sand a surface using fine-grit sandpaper. You may use sandpaper with 300-grit or even finer grit for this.
You need to be very careful while sanding because you don’t want to mess up the whole paint. Though you may try both wet and dry sanding, wet sanding is recommended because it will give an even finish.
Using Deglosser:
If you have already painted a surface with glossy paint, applying matte paint over it may not be a good idea. However, you can use a deglosser to cut down the glossy effect of the surface and then apply a nice matte topcoat to make it complete. Here is how to do it:
- Step 1: Applying the Deglosser
Generally, you will find the deglosser in liquid form. So, to use it properly, take a little amount of the deglosser liquid and saturate a clean towel with it. Now, start rubbing the towel on the targeted area using a smooth, circular motion.
You can take multiple clean towels to apply the liquid and use a towel only once so that dirt or paint residue on the dirty towel doesn’t ruin your previously cleaned area. But if you can manage to reuse a towel that would be more efficient.
If you see the gloss remaining on the surface, you can apply the deglosser using a brush to remove them. Make sure you apply the deglosser evenly.
- Step 2: Drying the Coat:
After the deglosser application is complete, allow the coat to rest for about half an hour. After it is completely dried, you can move on to the next steps.
- Step 3: Applying the Varnish
Take the matte varnish spray can. Shake well before applying. Now spray the varnish maintaining an even coat everywhere. If you need to add a second coat, wait for at least 10 minutes to let the previous coat dry. After the final coat is done, let it rest for 3 hours or more before you start using the surface.
You can use these easy techniques to turn glossy paint into a matte finish. However, if you are dealing with acrylic paints, don’t rush to apply the techniques on a large surface.
First, apply any of the methods to a small area where people will not notice easily and see how it reacts with the paint. If everything seems fine, you can go ahead and apply the techniques to larger areas.
Tips to Consider while Making Acrylic Paint Matte
As making acrylic paint matte requires some methods, you should take some precautions. Especially, when you are making a glossy paint matte you need to sand and sometimes even use a deglosser, so you should take special care of the surface. So, here are some tips to consider while making acrylic paint matte:
- If you are sanding the surface, make sure you use fine-grit sandpaper and sand lightly. Rough sanding may damage the paint.
- Test a little amount of deglosser on a small area first and check how it reacts with your paint.
- While working with deglosser, do not take too much liquid and do not rub the painted surface roughly.
- For acrylic artwork, try taking the exact amount of matte medium and acrylic paint which is 75% and 25% respectively.
Final Thoughts
There is nothing wrong with regretting after choosing a finish and wanting to change a glossy finish to a matte finish! If you are going through the same situation, no worries! Follow our guide, apply the methods and turn your glossy finish into a matte finish like a piece of cake.
