Gloss, Satin or Matt Varnish? Choosing a Finish for Warhammer 40,000 Miniatures

October 10, 2026

Varnish isn't only protection: the sheen you choose changes how the whole model reads. A glossy finish can make a carefully blended cloak look like plastic, while a dead-flat matt can make polished armour look dull. The best results often use more than one finish on the same miniature.

The short answer: use matt for a realistic, photo-friendly finish on most surfaces, satin for armour, vehicles and anything meant to look polished, and gloss only as a tough base coat or as a spot effect on gems, lenses, eyes, blood, slime and water.

The three finishes compared

Finish	Look	Toughness	Effect on colour	Best used on
Gloss	High shine, wet look	Hardest	Deepens and saturates	Base protective coat, gems, lenses, eyes, liquids
Satin	Soft sheen	Good	Very little change	Power armour, vehicles, leather, metal
Matt	Flat, no shine	Softer	Can lighten darks slightly	Cloth, skin, fur, bases, photography

Which varnish finish is best for a gaming army?

For most armies, a gloss coat for protection followed by a matt or satin top coat is the practical choice. Matt hides fingerprints and table glare, while satin keeps armour looking freshly polished. Pick one and use it across the army so every unit looks consistent.

When should I use matt varnish?

Use matt when you want the paint to look exactly as it did on the palette, with blends and highlights clearly visible. It suits cloth, skin, fur, bone and earthy bases, and it's the easiest finish to photograph because it doesn't throw reflections back at the camera.

When should I use satin varnish?

Satin works well on armour, vehicles and leather, where a slight sheen adds realism without looking wet. It's also a safe middle ground if you're unsure, because it changes colours very little and doesn't flatten metallics as much as matt.

When should I use gloss varnish?

Gloss is ideal as a hard base layer and as a finishing touch on anything that should look wet or glassy: gems, lenses, eyes, fresh blood, slime, oil and water effects. Apply it with a fine brush after your final matt or satin coat so the shine stays exactly where you want it. Our guide to painting lenses and gems shows where a gloss dot makes the biggest difference.

Can I mix finishes on one miniature?

Yes, and it's one of the easiest ways to make a model look more realistic. Spray the whole model matt or satin, then brush gloss onto gems, lenses and liquids, or brush satin onto armour plates on an otherwise matt model. The contrast in texture helps materials read clearly.

Does matt varnish dull metallic paint?

It does reduce the shine of metallics, sometimes noticeably. Many painters varnish the whole model matt, then carefully brush a thin satin or gloss coat back onto metal areas. See our guide to painting metallics for how to keep metal looking bright.

Will gloss varnish ruin my blending?

It can make subtle blends harder to see, because reflections break up smooth transitions. That's why gloss usually sits underneath a matt or satin coat on painted surfaces. Glow effects in particular look best under matt; see painting glow effects.

Why does my matt varnish look shiny?

Matt varnish that hasn't been shaken or stirred properly leaves the flattening agent at the bottom, so it dries with a sheen. Shake cans for a full minute and stir brush-on matt varnish thoroughly. If it dries frosted instead, see how to fix frosted varnish.

Independent resource published by Blubbercove Ltd. This page is not affiliated with, sponsored by, endorsed by, authorised by or licensed by Games Workshop Limited.

Warhammer 40,000® is a registered trademark of Games Workshop Limited. All related logos, names and images are either ® or ™ of Games Workshop Limited.