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Monday, November 30, 2015

Flattening Paste for Enamel Paint

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Photo courtesy of Ron Jelinek

Learn how to change the gloss level of lettering enamel as well as how to create a weathered or antique appearance when sign painting.


By Jim Hingst @hingst_jim

Lettering enamels have a high gloss finish. Old school painters are said to have added talc to deaden the gloss of enamel paint. A better solution is to use 1 Shot/Chromatic Flattening Paste. Adding this paste is a great way to achieve an antique or weathered appearance, as well as modifying the finish. 

By mixing the paste into paint at various ratios, painters can change glossy paint to various sheens. A quart of the additive costs about $30. Do not add more than 50% of the flattener. Also be aware that as you increase the concentration of the paste, the paint will become less and less opaque.

Photo courtesy of Ron Jelinek

To achieve the finish that you desire, you need to do a little experimentation. In adding the flattening agent, begin adding a small amount, such as a ratio of one part paste to three parts paint. Be sure to mix the paint thoroughly and follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding mixing ratios. Paint the mixture on a sample of your substrate. After the paint dries, examine the finish under the lighting conditions similar to those that the paint will be seen.

If the finish needs to be duller, add more flattening paste to the paint mixture until you achieve the desired results. For a dead flat finish, mix equal amounts of the paste with the paint. 

Photo courtesy of Ron Jelinek

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About Jim Hingst: After fourteen years as Business Development Manager at RTape, Jim Hingst retired. He was involved in many facets of the company’s business, including marketing, sales, product development and technical service.

Hingst began his career 42 years ago in the graphic arts field creating and producing advertising and promotional materials for a large test equipment manufacturer.  Working for offset printers, large format screen printers, vinyl film manufacturers, and application tape companies, his experience included estimating, production planning, purchasing and production art, as well as sales and marketing. In his capacity as a salesman, Hingst was recognized with numerous sales achievement awards.

Drawing on his experience in production and as graphics installation subcontractor, Hingst provided the industry with practical advice, publishing more than 150 articles for  publications, such as  Signs Canada, SignCraft,  Signs of the Times, Screen Printing, Sign and Digital Graphics and  Sign Builder Illustrated. He also posted more than 325 stories on his blog (hingstssignpost.blogspot.com). In 2007 Hingst’s book, Vinyl Sign Techniques, was published.  Vinyl Sign Techniques is available at sign supply distributors and at Amazon. 



© 2016 Jim Hingst

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