The Army Painter Anti Shine Matt Varnish Spray for Miniature Painting, 400ml Review (2026)

Who needs a spray matt varnish

This varnish is built for a painter who has just finished dipping or washing miniatures with The Army Painter's Quickshade line and is left with an unwanted gloss sheen that needs knocking back to a flat matte finish before the models look table-ready. According to the manufacturer, the formula is specifically tailored to remove that shine while preserving the metallic look of Plate Mail and other Warpaints metallic colors, a detail that separates it from a generic matte varnish that can dull metallics along with everything else. A painter using only matte paints without any gloss wash step in their process has less need for this specific product, since there is no shine to remove in the first place.

What the 400ml can actually delivers

The manufacturer describes this as an acrylic-based, non-toxic matte varnish that dries quickly once applied, packaged in a 400ml aerosol can, which is a substantial amount of product for sealing large numbers of models across an army rather than a handful of display pieces. Spray application covers a whole unit or squad in a fraction of the time brush-on varnish would take, which matters for anyone finishing a large batch of miniatures rather than one centerpiece model at a time. Despite the matte overall effect, The Army Painter states the formula retains the shine on Plate Mail and metallic colors specifically, so armor and weapons keep their reflective look after the matte coat goes on.

Spraying conditions that make or break the finish

The manufacturer's own instructions call for letting Quickshade cure a minimum of 48 hours before applying this varnish, and for applying it in a thin coat rather than a heavy one to avoid pooling or uneven coverage. Spraying in humid or cold conditions is specifically warned against, since moisture in the air during application is a common cause of the whitish frosting effect that ruins an otherwise good matte coat on miniatures. Because the can is described as an extremely flammable aerosol containing acetone, it needs a ventilated space, ideally outdoors or in a garage, both for safety and because indoor overspray settles on nearby surfaces.

How it compares with other varnish options

Against rivals in the site's varnish guide, this Anti Shine Matt spray ranks well ahead of The Army Painter's own Satin Varnish spray and its smaller 18ml dropper bottle matte varnish, both scoring lower in this comparison, and well ahead of general hobby lacquers like Testors Dullcote. The dropper bottle version of Anti Shine Matt suits brush application for touch-ups or small batches, while this spray format is the better choice specifically for sealing whole units quickly. Compared with lacquer-based sealers like Dullcote, this acrylic spray is generally considered gentler on plastic models, though both share the same humidity and ventilation concerns during application.

Verdict and when spray is not the right call

Buy this varnish if you regularly use Quickshade or gloss washes and need to seal whole units or large batches of models quickly with a genuine matte finish that still lets metallics shine. It earns strong marks for fit because the spray format and metallic-preserving formula solve a specific, common problem in the dip-and-shade painting workflow. Choose the smaller dropper bottle version instead if you only need to touch up a few models or want more control over exactly where the varnish goes, and always spray outdoors or in a well ventilated space regardless of which format you choose.

Frequently asked questions