Glossary
Varnish
A clear protective topcoat, matte or gloss, applied over finished paintwork to seal and protect it from handling and dust.
Varnish is a clear coat, usually acrylic, applied as the last step after all painting and basing work is finished. It forms a thin protective film over the paint, guarding against chipping from handling, fading from light, and the dulling effect of dust and moisture over years of storage or gameplay.
Most varnishes come in matte, satin or gloss finishes, and the choice affects how the model reads visually as much as how well it is protected. Matte is the standard choice for most tabletop miniatures since it keeps colors looking natural, while gloss is often used selectively on eyes, wet-look effects, or metallics before a final overall matte coat seals everything.
Spraying in the right weather and thin, even coats matters far more with varnish than with primer, since problems here can ruin months of painting work. The most common issue is frosting, a cloudy white haze that appears when varnish is sprayed in humid conditions or too thick, and it is worth testing a new varnish on a spare model before committing to a full army.