Matt Varnish Army Painter technical paint card (#E8E8E4)

Matt Varnish is a technical from Army Painter, commonly used for armour plates, cloth, and trim work.

Quick Equivalents

• Closest equivalent: Flat Varnish (AK Interactive) – ΔE 2.8
• Vallejo equivalent: Matt Varnish (70.520) (Vallejo Model Color) – ΔE 5.2
• Army Painter equivalent: no close Army Painter equivalent

How to Use Matt Varnish

This paint is typically used for:

• basecoating neutral grey armour and weapons
• layering and highlighting on large flat surfaces

Apply it over a suitable primer and build layers gradually. Coverage sits around reliable, so two thin coats usually give a more stable finish than one heavy pass, especially over a dark primer.

Paint Behavior and Tips

Consider the following when working with this paint:

• Coverage: reliable — affects how many coats are needed over primer
• Dilution: controlled thinning — keeping the right ratio maintains flow and prevents brushmarks
• Interaction with washes and highlights: always run a highlight pass to verify the tone does not shift after drying

A good equivalent should remain stable after shading and highlighting. Test this alternative on the same primer and in the same recipe before switching a whole unit.

Miniature Painting Tips

For best results with Matt Varnish on Warhammer and other miniature projects:

• Use the same primer across the project to keep tonal consistency
• Test on a spare part before applying to a full unit
• Compare after shading and highlights, not just the base coat

Even small differences can become visible on a finished miniature. This match may behave differently on textured surfaces like cloth, fur, and metal trim once the full recipe is applied.

Conclusion

Choosing the right Matt Varnish equivalent or substitute keeps your scheme consistent from the test model to the full army. Use this comparison to weigh the closest Vallejo, Army Painter, and other cross-brand options before repainting a whole squad.