The Army Painter: Colour Primer Base: Anti Shine Matt Varnish

The Last Step That Protects Every Hour You've Invested

A finished miniature is a fragile thing. Hours of careful brushwork, layering, and detailing can be scratched, scuffed, or worn down by a single game night of handling. Anti Shine Matt Varnish from The Army Painter is the protective coat that stands between your paint job and the table — sealing everything in a clean, flat matte finish that keeps your models looking their best through games, transport, and display.

Flat, Natural, and Protective

Matte varnish is the default finishing choice for most miniature painters, and for good reason. A flat finish reads as natural — it eliminates the distracting sheen that can make shadows and highlights look artificial under gaming light. This spray primer format means fast, even coverage across an entire squad or warband in a single pass, with no streaking or brush marks. The result is a durable protective layer that locks in washes, blends, and glazes without altering the colours beneath. Apply at the end of your painting process, once all layers — including any gloss varnish used under decals or washes — are fully dry.

A Word on Application

Aerosol matte varnishes perform best in warm, dry conditions. Applying in high humidity or cold temperatures can cause frosting — a cloudy, chalky effect on the surface. Spray in a well-ventilated area, hold the can at a consistent distance, and work in thin, sweeping passes. Test on a spare model or sprue if you're working in uncertain conditions.

Works Across Any Miniature or Game System

Anti Shine Matt Varnish is a universal hobby supply — it works equally well over Citadel, Vallejo, Scale75, or any other miniature paint brand. Use it to seal Warhammer squads, Warmachine warjacks, Dungeons and Dragons figures, historical models, or any tabletop miniature you want to protect. If you paint it, this varnish can protect it.

Who It's For

New painters finishing their first models will find aerosol varnish one of the fastest ways to get a batch of miniatures game-ready. Experienced painters rely on it as a final sealing step before basing tufts and scenic scatter are added — or as the last coat on a competition piece to protect a display-quality finish. It's a genuine staple of any hobby shelf.