- This topic has 8 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 7 years ago by
johankimigo.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Home › Forums › Painting in Tabletop Gaming › Thinning Vallejo matte varnish
I prefer to use a brush on matte varnish to protect my miniatures. I recently saw a tutorial where a painter thinned a brush on matte varnish with water. I was surprised as I believe I contaminated my Vallejo varnish one time with water (a dish that hadn’t been properly dried) and I think it caused the varnish to “fog”. Parts of the mini turned white in the creases. Does anyone out there thin their varnish? With water or with something else, like a flow improver. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
I’m the same with mine, even if I really don’t like slopping it on without thinning it. Would love to hear some success stories.
I used to use the Vallejo Matt varnish but never found it gave a particularly Matt finish.
I don’t see why it couldn’t be thinned a little but I think you need to make sure your water was very very clean
I thin my Vallejo paints and varnishes with both water and their thinner. I also spray it and brush it. The most important thing to do is let everything stabilise at the same temperature, or ghosting can happen. I try not to go any varnish spraying when it’s too cold as that seems to be when it happens most.
I haven’t had any ghosting with the Vallejo matte varnish when brushed on. I have had that with aerosol use of Testor’s Dullcote. I only use the Vallejo gloss regularly when I want to fill in small areas or over metals that I’m going to paint over and scratch battle damage.
In any case a little thinning shouldn’t be a problem. Just be sure not to drown your work in the stuff.
I thin my Vallejo varnishes with some of their airbrush thinner, but then I also apply it with an airbrush. However with their polyurethane matt varnish I always had problems fogging up, no matter what I did. Their acrylic varnishes work perfectly fine for me.
I thin Vallejo matte varnish (always with clean water) with no problems. Have had some disasters with aerosols though (GW brands) so won’t use them anymore
Although I have started to use Army Painter anti shine recently. I always applied Vallejo Matt after thinnuth it with clean water and never had any issues with it at all.
I’m the same with mine, even if I really don’t like slopping it on without thinning it. Would love to hear some success stories.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
Supported by (Turn Off)
5
2026 Warhammer Store Anniversary Miniatures Revealed
6
Classic Chaos Miniatures Return For Warhammer: The Old World
6
Tell The Tale Of A Barbarian Prince With New Reaper Releases
1
Don’t Miss Firelock Games’ New Year Sale For 25% Off!
5
Warhammer 40,000 500 Worlds Campaign Begins With Titus
13
Fight For Freedom With Team USA, Global Police By GameCraft
3
Add New Civilians To Cyberpunk Red: Combat Zone Skirmishes
1
1st Corps Release Classic Napoleonic Infantry In “Top Hat”
2
Design Update For Phil Yates’ Angels One Six WW2 Game
7
Saladin Revealed As Official Miniature For Salute 2026
2
The Empire Sails Into Dystopian Wars With New Starter Set
2
Unleash The Mind Monsters With Warp Miniatures On Patreon
1
Dark Age Basics Coming From Medbury Miniatures This Month
4
New Red Corsair Reveal & An Early 2026 Warhammer Preview!
3
Chaos Battleforce Boxes On The Way For Warhammer 40,000
11
Huron Blackheart Brings His Red Corsairs To Warhammer 40K Soon
1
Unleash The Weaver Courts’ Scathach Hunters On Conquest
2
Pre-Order Sultanate Reinforcements Soon For Armoured Clash
1
New Wave Of 35mm Bushido Releases See In The New Year
8
Victrix’s Medieval Crossbowmen & Archers Now On Pre-Order
5
Take Command With New Fidwog Set For This Quar’s War
10
Classic Drow & Mighty Fantasy Monsters From Crooked Dice
4
Maggotkin Of Nurgle Kick Off 2026 For Warhammer Age Of Sigmar
2
New Hollow Crown Trench Crusade Teasers For Plucky Brits
5
New Wild West Terrain Sets From Knuckleduster Miniatures
4
The British Fight Their Way Into Spectre Miniatures’ Modern Range
1
Grab More For The Crimean War With Warlord’s New Releases
14
North Star Preview Warriors Of Athena Miniatures For 2026
2
Delve Into Ace Sci-fi With New Void 2.0 Starter Set & More
8
Pulp, Monsters & Swashbuckling! New To Crooked Dice Soon
Technical Support
News, Rumours & General Discussion
Historical Tabletop Game Discussions
News, Rumours & General Discussion
News, Rumours & General Discussion
News, Rumours & General Discussion
Painting in Tabletop Gaming
Painting in Tabletop Gaming
News, Rumours & General Discussion
News, Rumours & General Discussion
Fantasy Tabletop Game Discussions
News, Rumours & General Discussion
Technical Support
Painting in Tabletop Gaming
Painting in Tabletop Gaming
Painting in Tabletop Gaming
News, Rumours & General Discussion
News, Rumours & General Discussion
Technical Support
Historical Tabletop Game Discussions
Copyright © 2026 Beasts of War Ltd.
All trademarks and images are copyright of their respective owners.