Varnishing a creation
Learn how to varnish a creation to achieve a matte, shiny, or satin effect, and ensure long-term resistance. On a bag, a shoe, fabric, or leather.
Why varnish paint?
Varnishing your creation is an essential step. It protects your painting and allows you to achieve a distinct final finish.
To protect
Varnishing customization is an essential step, whether for protecting the paint or modifying the final finish for a matte or glossy effect.
It creates a protective barrier against scratches, UV-related yellowing, and general wear while ensuring your colors remain bright and vibrant over time.
To change the final rendering
Applying varnish enhances the visual appeal of your work, giving you the flexibility to customize the final appearance.
A glossy effect adds shine and enhances color vibrancy. A satin effect creates soft reflections, offering a balanced appearance, while a matte effect provides a natural look and reduces shiny reflections.
You can also combine all 3 types of varnish on different areas of the same piece to achieve a more intricate and polished effect.
What varnishes should I use?
Choosing the right varnish can be challenging, so here’s a guide to help you decide.
Glossy varnish
You can use the glossy varnish as an airbrush to strengthen the adhesion of the paint: in fact, the glossy varnish will allow you to create a sealing layer before painting. This technique is very practical on reversed leather, suede, nubuck, etc.
When applied as a finishing layer, glossy varnish provides shiny reflections.
For example, you can apply it to the eyes of a character to create a realistic reflection.
Matte or satin varnish
Matte varnish cancels out reflections on your creation, unlike gloss.
If you combine matte varnish with gloss, you can create a satin effect. A satin effect is halfway between gloss and matte.
You need 30% matte varnish and 70% gloss varnish to achieve this effect. You can adjust the ratios depending on how shiny or matte you want the final result to be.
How to apply varnish?
With a brush
Allow the paint to dry for 24 hours after finishing your creation to prevent smudging.
Simply take your varnish and put a few drops in your palette. Take a clean brush, soak it slightly, then apply the varnish delicately, without insisting on the bristles.
Let it rest for 1 hour, before enjoying the custom.
Airbrushing
With an airbrush, it is possible to varnish your creation once the paint is dry (10-15min).
If using glossy varnish, dilute it with 5-10% water to maintain fluidity without compromising resistance. The matte varnish goes directly into the gun.
Then take your airbrush and put your varnish in the tank. Spray the varnish on your creation in thin layers.
The number of layers varies according to your needs, the more layers you apply, the more shiny or matte the effect will be.
Once the varnish is completely dry, your creation is ready to enjoy—protected and visually enhanced!
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