Flat Varnish
Real Colors
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As a Technical paint, this product delivers a special effect — texture, crackle, gloss, or medium — rather than a standard colour coat. Neutral grey colours bridge the gap between black and white, used for stone, armour, and gradual highlights.
The closest Matt Varnish equivalent is Flat Varnish (AK Interactive) (ΔE 2.8).
For Vallejo, the closest match to Matt Varnish is Matt Varnish (70.520) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 5.2).
No close Army Painter equivalent found for Matt Varnish.
These 5 substitutes are ranked by Delta-E accuracy. Each entry includes a behaviour comment.
Ranked by Delta-E CIEDE2000 · All brands · Interactive
The closest cross-brand equivalent to Matt Varnish in the current local catalogue is Flat Varnish from AK Interactive (Delta-E 2.75).
Matches are computed from the local paint catalogue with Delta-E CIEDE2000. Lower values mean a closer visual match on the miniature.
Finish, opacity, flow, and bottle format are not captured by Delta-E alone. Test the substitute if the recipe relies on a specific behaviour.
Before adopting a substitute, check these points specific to this technical paint:
Matt Varnish is a technical paint with specific texture, crackle, or medium properties that standard paints cannot replicate by colour alone.
The closest Vallejo option is Matt Varnish (70.520) (Delta E 5.25).
Yes, Matt Varnish is currently part of the Army Painter range. Check local stock or equivalent alternatives if the pot is hard to source.
Check Delta-E, finish type, coverage, opacity, and behaviour over your chosen primer. Run a full test with one shade and one highlight pass before applying the substitute to an entire unit.
As a Technical paint, this product delivers a special effect — texture, crackle, gloss, or medium — rather than a standard colour coat. Neutral grey colours bridge the gap between black and white, used for stone, armour, and gradual highlights.
The closest Matt Varnish equivalent is Flat Varnish (AK Interactive) (ΔE 2.8).
For Vallejo, the closest match to Matt Varnish is Matt Varnish (70.520) (Vallejo Model Color) (ΔE 5.2).
No close Army Painter equivalent found for Matt Varnish.
As a Technical paint, this product delivers a special effect — texture, crackle, gloss, or medium — rather than a standard colour coat. Neutral grey colours bridge the gap between black and white, used for stone, armour, and gradual highlights.
The closest Matt Varnish equivalent is Flat Varnish (AK Interactive) with Delta E 2.8. For Vallejo, the closest match to Matt Varnish is Matt Varnish (70.520) (Vallejo Model Color) with Delta E 5.2. No close Army Painter equivalent found for Matt Varnish.
The closest Vallejo match is Matt Varnish (70.520) (Vallejo Model Color) with Delta E 5.2.
No Army Painter equivalent within an acceptable colour distance was found for Matt Varnish.
As a technical paint, Matt Varnish creates specific surface effects beyond simple colour. The colour sits in the neutral grey range.
Matt Varnish relies on a specific base texture to crack or react.
The drying speed of Matt Varnish determines the crack pattern.
Once Matt Varnish is dry, painting over it requires care.
The finish of Matt Varnish may require a varnish seal.
A technical paint substitute only becomes trustworthy once it survives the same base, drying, and sealing sequence as the original recipe.
Looking at the surrounding palette matters because a near match can still push the finished model warmer, colder, or flatter than expected.
That combination of colour distance, finish, and recipe context is what makes a technical paint substitute reliable on an actual miniature.
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