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Basically I'm wondering if there is a difference between the words matt and flat when it comes to putting a clear coat onto your models once you have finished painting them? What are some name brands people use?

I see the term, "matt varnish" used frequently. But all I see at my local home Depot is, but "flat clear enamel". So what's the difference between the two if there is one?

You can use google
Matt is a finish shine. It means that the varnish does not provide more shine to the model by applying it. Paints normally come with matt, gloss or satin finish.
Enamel is a type of paint, and it is oil based rather than water/acrylic based. It normally dries to a glossy finish.

Lol. I know i can use Google but I'm lazy! Thanks for the info!

Bacms wrote:You can use google
Matt is a finish shine. It means that the varnish does not provide more shine to the model by applying it. Paints normally come with matt, gloss or satin finish.
Enamel is a type of paint, and it is oil based rather than water/acrylic based. It normally dries to a glossy finish.

You're close, but your information is rather inaccurate.

First off, I'm going to nitpick, but the term is spelled "matte." That aside, you're correct that it is a term that denotes the type of finish a paint has, but from there, you stray way off course.

When it comes to painting, you have several different types of paints, which can on the most basic level be split into two categories based upon the solvent medium the pigmentation is suspended in. These two categories are water-based and oil-based. Acrylics and watercolors are two examples of water-based paints. Artist oils and enamels are two examples of oil-based paints (artist oils are usually suspended in a mineral oil or something like linseed oil, wheras enamels are usually a petroleum-based solvent).

You can further refine each type of paint based upon its pigment, the saturation of said pigment, the glossiness of the finish, the opacity of the paint, and the thickness of the paint. Most high-end acrylics (like Golden), will have these values printed on the side of the tube/bottle.

Now, here's the thing, most enamels that are available in the hardware store are indeed between satin to glossy, but that's merely because of the fact that most folks aren't painting typical everyday projects in flat or matte colors. There are many a flat enamel paints available, especially in the modelling world. So, simply saying that an enamel normally dries to a glossy finish is completely false. The finish is based upon whatever pigment is used, not the solvent.

To answer the OP's question, matte and flat paints are pretty much the same thing. If something is labeled matte, it means that there is very little glossiness to the finish, and the same goes for flat. Of course you have to check the label, as most acrylic varnishes (at least the ones I've seen, like Liquitex) will have the level of the matte finish labeled on the bottle. If you're planning on using Testors Dullcote, it produces a very nice flat finish that pretty much will only come off by using some sort of mineral spirits/turpentine. I personally use Testors Dullcote to finish my aircraft models, as I almost exclusively use enamel paints on those. For my 40k miniatures, I've yet to use a varnish, but I'd go with either the Dullcote or Liquitex Matte Varnish.

spectreoneone wrote:

Bacms wrote:You can use google
Matt is a finish shine. It means that the varnish does not provide more shine to the model by applying it. Paints normally come with matt, gloss or satin finish.
Enamel is a type of paint, and it is oil based rather than water/acrylic based. It normally dries to a glossy finish.

You're close, but your information is rather inaccurate.

First off, I'm going to nitpick, but the term is spelled "matte." That aside, you're correct that it is a term that denotes the type of finish a paint has, but from there, you stray way off course.

Thank you very much for the clarification it is just that my first language is not English. Regarding my inaccuracy the OP post mention "flat clear enamel" from home depot and like what you have pointed out "most enamels that are available in the hardware store are indeed between satin to glossy" so yes pretty much what I have said with "normally" and not all enamel paints. And although mate and flat are pretty much the same thins, matte varnish and enamel paint are not the same.