I always went with matte finishes for my miniatures. Recently, I started leaving figures with a gloss finish and then when I have a large number complete, give them a matte finish.
But recently I am kind of struck by the gloss finish. The gloss finish seems to really bring out the detail of the model. But then, I like the more dull finish of the matte as well.
So what do you use? Matte or gloss finish?
Though I maintain anyone can paint their figures however they want, personally I've never understood the gloss varnish look. Its the reflection of light at random (ok its not random as such, but it looks it) that spoils the look of the figure. Like many others I do gloss varnish my figures, and then matt varnish to kill the gloss. When I painted professionally, nobody asked for gloss.
I know or little men are burdened with all sorts of abstractions, but where they can look more real we generally chose reality; and real men aren't laminated. The exception is the old school toy solider look, but the objective there is to make them look like toy soldiers not real men.
I hope I don't sound like I am preaching, I don't intend to, its just not a look I like for my own figures.
Matt- I once spent 2 years painting a British 15mm Crimea army - only to gloss it at the end, within weeks the varnish turned yellow thus all the white went to a 'dirty' cream colour -( OH F###!!!!!)- my immaculate painting ruined!
After this experience I wont even look at gloss (bloody stuff)
(note to self- must re-white 15mm Crimea Brits)
Happy days :D
i always gloss and then matt over - my strong personal preference is for a matt finish for the same reason as Clib. I still havent settled on a matt varnish i truly like - i tend to alternate between Testors Dullcote and W&N matt acrylic varnish. Testors gives a better matt finish but i am always a bit scared of the horror stories that can happen with Testors if the atmosphere/temperature is wrong. And its pricey too!
I do quite like the Peter Gilder shiny style to look at but i wouldnt do this for my own figures
At 40mm, glossy toy soldiers are quite neat. AT 10mm, I prefer matt as well.
I remember in early 80's nearly all figures were gloss varnished, not sure when change happened but gloss seems so odd now.
Which matt warnish do you use ?
Army Painter matt spray or Testor's Dullcote spray
OK. I use Testors also.
Recently I also bought Army Painter Spray, .... and I can't find word in English to describe my dissapointement. >:(