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OrangeHow to Make Glossy Paint Flat?
Have glossy paint but need to make it flat? We know how to do it!
Glossy paint looks lovely on almost any surface, but sometimes we may need it to be flat. However, we can’t always just go to the nearest store and buy a can of flat paint. What shall we do if we only have a glossy one but we need it to be flat badly?
In this case, the only way out is deglossing your paint. Fortunately, even though it may sound complicated, it is not like that. You can relatively easily turn your glossy paint flat on your own, and we are going to explain how it can be done.
How to Make Glossy Paint Look Flat?
There are several ways you can use to turn your glossy paint into a flat one. One of them implies adding more pigment into the paint that needs to be transformed. However, such a method will require quite a lot of pigment. Besides, if you do this, it will influence the color and the quality of paint. So not everyone may find such an approach useful.
This is why, if adding extra pigment is not an option for you for any of these reasons, feel free to try out a couple of alternative variants.
- topcoat your paint with flat varnish
- degloss the finish
And now let us explain in detail how each of these procedures can be done. So the first alternative method we mentioned is to topcoat your glossy paint with flat varnish. To do this, you need to apply your glossy paint as usual, as it is. If necessary, feel free to paint more than one coat of it. And then, apply a top coat of flat varnish.
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As for the deglossing alternative, it can be done in several different ways. But each of them must be performed only after the paint is dry!
- Wash your paint with a strong mixture of trisodium phosphate and water
- Work on your glossy painted surface with a 220-grit sandpaper.
If you decide to opt for the first method, you will need to mix a solution of one cup TSP per gallon of water in a bucket. Then wash your glossy surface with it using a sponge, and remember to put on protective gloves and goggles. End the process with clear water rinsing.
Sandpaper, on the other hand, is way simpler. You just need to scuff your painted surface lightly by hand, no machines are needed! Afterward, simply wipe away the sanding dust with a damp rag.
These are the most common ways of turning glossy paint flat easily with no additional instruments.
Credits: wragg, via Canva.com
Extra Ways Of Deglossing Your Paint’s Sheen
Using sandpaper or adding more pigment are the simplest ways you can opt for to turn your glossy paint into a flat one. However, we know a few more methods that can be successfully used in case these two can not be helpful for any reason.
- Spray if from farther distance
- Use fillers and pigment extenders
In the first case, if you are using a spraying can or a spray gun to apply the finishing product, you can simply hold it farther from the surface that is being painted. Like this, you will get at least satin (if not matte) finish!
Why does it happen? Well, if you apply the paint like this, it will partially dry even before reaching the surface with either little or no flow at all. This is how an uneven finish is produced.
As for the fillers and extenders, this method is the best for the ready-made paint products. You can opt for such matting agents as talc, baryte, silica, and others. Simply mix one of these powders with the clear medium (take any you like), and then mix the resulting substance into your paint. Like this, it will be simpler for you to control the process and the level of flatness.
Credits: efetova, via Canva.com
How to Make Glossy Spray Paint Look Flat
If you used gloss spray paint on a surface and now you want it to be flat instead, you might be wondering how you can do this effectively and without damaging the surface.
Well, the simplest way in this case is to apply your spray paint from a farther distance when you are painting your surface. Simply hold the spray gun far enough from the surface that is being painted, and you can end up with a matte (or at least satin) sort of finish!
How to Make Glossy Latex Paint Flat
If you need to make your gloss latex paint look flat on a surface you applied it to, you may find it to be rather challenging. Most gloss paints contain quite a significant amount of varnishes which makes it difficult to render them completely glossy.
However, you can try to work with a 300-grit sandpaper (or finer) on such a painted surface. It will require some manual work but the effect will be very close to what you need.
Credits: poweveroffever, via Canva.com
How to Make Semi Gloss Paint Look Flat?
All right, it is all clear with gloss paints. But is it possible to dull the paint that is semi-gloss? In fact, it is! And you will be surprised, but the methods are basically all the same as those used for making the gloss paint duller!
The most useful and well-working approach is to use fine sandpaper. You just need to find a piece of 300-grit sandpaper or finer, and work with it on your painted surface lightly and slowly. Move up and down and side to side to be sure you will not miss any corner! Keep on working like this until you see that the shine is gone and a dull luster you need appeared.
Credits: abramovaa, via Canva.com
What Makes Paint Flat Or Glossy?
If you have ever wondered why certain paints are glossy while others are flat, here you can find the answer. See, these two types of paint differ in their concentration of pigment relative to binder. What are those pigments and binders, you may ask?
Well, pigment is the component in paint that gives it the color. At the same time, the binder is the sort of glue that holds this paint together and helps it hold to the surface you apply it to. Pigments tend to absorb light whilst binders, on the contrary, are more into reflecting it.
This is why, as you could already guess, the simplest and the most obvious way of making glossy paint flat is to add more pigment.
As for the sheen the paint has, it is measured by the amount of light this paint is able to reflect. It is determined by the pigment volume concentration (PVC) or, in other words, the ratio of pigment to other paint components. Respectfully, the higher the PVC rate the flatter the paint, and vice versa.
Flat paints usually have a PVC rate equal to 40 percent whilst glossy paints have it equal to fifteen percent. This is the reason why, if you need to turn glossy paint into flat, you will have to add enough pigment which is usually a quart of pigment per one gallon of gloss paint.
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How to Make a Flat Paint Glossy?
It is not always that we need to make glossy paint flat. Sometimes, we may need it to be quite the opposite! But will the methods we use for deglossing paints be suitable for making it shiny? Let’s figure this out.
If you have a can of flat paint which needs to be turned into a glossy one, there is one effective method you can use to make it happen:
- take glazing compound or varnish
- pour an amount of it equal to nearly ten percent of the volume of flat paint you have into a bucket
- add your paint that needs to be changed
- and stir
Always remember to test the result since you might need to add more binder in case the sheen is not glossy enough!
So today you have learned how to make gloss paint less shiny. We shared a bunch of easy to do and useful methods of turning a glossy wall or another surface into a less sheeny-shiny object. Also, you are now aware of what tools to use to make gloss paint flat without damaging the wall and without messing with the paint layer.
With all that in mind, be sure that you will be able to easily make any surface painted with gloss paint less shiny. And even if you applied semi-gloss paint onto it, feel free to make use of any method we provided you with today to make it look more dull if you need that.
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Frequently Asked Questions
⭐ What makes paint shiny?
It is determined by the ratio of resins, binders, and adhesive.
⭐ Can you dull semi gloss paint?
Yes, it can be dulled.
⭐ Is it possible to make diy matte paint?
Yes, you can do it by adding matting components into your current paint.
25 thoughts on “How to Make Glossy Paint Flat?”
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I recently painted my old wooden table with acrylic paint, but now I realize that I don’t like its matte finish. Does anyone know how to make matte acrylic paint glossy?
I know how to do it with artistic acrylics only. In this case, you typically have to use a polycrylic varnish to mix it with your paint. But I’m not sure whether this method will work with interior paint.
Does anyone know how to make glossy paint matte using DIY methods?
Is it possible to degloss paint with white vinegar?
Yes, vinegar can be used for deglossing paint. But you must ensure it dries completely before you start applying paint. Otherwise, your paint might nor adhere to the surface properly.
Hi! Could you please recommend some cheap yet effective paint flattening agents?
Hi! I know that Norglass Flattening Agent is pretty good, and also, the PPG brand has flattening products. It’s just that I don’t know whether their products can only be used with the paints of the same brand or with any paint brand.
How to dull a glossy finish without sanding? I’d prefer any quick-to-use method like specific flattening products since I don’t feel like messing with DIY recipes, please. Thanks!
Hey there. There’s only one method I know and I personally tried. It is also the easiest way to turn a glossy paint into a matte one, as for me. All you have to do is to cover glossy paint with acrylic varnish. Then simply let the paint dry completely. After drying, the color of the painted surface will even out and acquire a matte surface. But this method is only suitable for already painted surfaces. I don’t know what to do if you need to reduce the glossy sheen if your paint is still in a can.
I recently learned that it’s possible to use baking soda to flatten paint. Does anyone know what amount of baking soda exactly I need to flatten latex paint?
Hello. To flatten latex paint, you need to mix one part baking soda with two parts your latex paint. After your paint is mixed, add in 3 tbsp of cold water. Mix the solution until all ingredients create a thin texture without grains. Now you can paint.
Hi! Did anyone here use cornstarch to flatten paint? If you did, please share how it worked! I’ve recently learned abou this method of flattening paint and I wonder how effective it is. Thanks!
Hi! I used cornstarch once. The method I used was the following: I added three tablespoons of cornstarch to 4 oz of cold water mix and stirred it until dissolved. I then poured my paint into a container and added the cornstarch mixture. The trick is to stir your paint thoroughly until cornstarch is evenly distributed! Also, note this method will thin your paint slightly.
How to make glossy acrylic paint matte on canvas?
You can try to apply matte varnish as an option. In addition, you will protect the painting from dust and other pollutants, as well as from fading.
I have painted my garden table with gloss paint, but now I don’t like how it looks so I wonder how to make paint matte DIY? Is it possible?
The only method I know is to mix some plaster into your paint and then reapply this paint-and-plaster mixture on the wall. Maybe, there are other alternative solutions, but I know only this one.
How to make gloss paint satin? I bought a can of gloss paint, but after I applied a part of it, I realized that I want the same color only satin. And the store where I bought this paint doesn’t have this color in a satin variant. So I was wondering if it’s possible to transform it myself somehow?
Well, technically, you can make a semi gloss paint satin, but I know it is not recommended to do so. As for the gloss paint…I don’t even know whether it can be done, to be honest.
How to Degloss paint with vinegar? I heard that this is a very effective method, but I could not find any detailed description of how to do it. Did any of you try it?
I tried it once or twice. It really works! Although I did it quite a long time ago for the last time, I’m pretty sure I remember the process. You need to heat the undiluted white vinegar first, then spread it on the paint while the vinegar is still hot (I did it with a sponge for the first time and with the paint brush for the second time). Then wait until your paint softens, and remove it.
Does matte finish need any polishing? I just painted my car matte black so now I’m in huge doubt about whether to polish it or not.
No, matte paint needs no polishing. This kind of paint makes the surface already kind of imperfect. Besides, if you polish it, you will ruin the clear coat.
I needed satin paint for my renovation project, but accidentally I bought a can of flat one. It’s too late to return it to the store so I’m wondering how to make flat paint satin? Is it possible?
Try to mix it with more semi-gloss sheen. Maybe, it will help. You don’t need it to be gloss so mixing some flat paint with a bit of semi-gloss might be the key answer.