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Paint sheen
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Sheen is a measure of the reflected light (glossiness) from a paint finish. Glossy and flat (or matte) are typical extreme levels of glossiness of a finish. Gloss paint is shiny and reflects most light in the specular (mirror-like) direction, while on flat paints most of the light diffuses in a range of angles. The gloss level of paint can also affect its apparent colour.
Between those extremes, there are a number of intermediate gloss levels. Their common names, from the most dull to the most shiny, include matte, eggshell, satin, silk, semi-gloss and high gloss. These terms are not standardized, and not all manufacturers use all these terms.[1]
Terminology
[edit]Firwood, a UK paint manufacturer measures gloss as percentages of light reflected from an emitted source back into an apparatus from specified angles, ranging between 60° and 20° depending on the reflectivity. With very low gloss levels (such as matte finishes), a 60° angle is too great to measure light reflectance accurately, so a lower angle of 20° is usually used.[2]
The returned light into the apparatus allows the gloss to be classified as follows:
- Full gloss: 70–90%
- Semi-gloss: 41–69%
- Satin: 26–40%
- Sheen: 15–25%
- Eggshell: 10–15%
- Matte: <10%
Technology
[edit]The sheen[4] or gloss level of a paint is mainly determined by the ratio of resinous binder, which solidifies after drying, to solid pigment. More binder creates a smoother surface with regular reflection, while less binder exposes pigment grains, scattering light and producing a matte effect.[5] Gloss is also influenced by factors such as the refractive index of the pigment, and the viscosity and refractive index of the binder.[3]
An important indicator is pigment-volume concentration (PVC), defined as the ratio of pigment volume and total paint volume:[3][6]
PVC affects both physical and optical properties of a paint. Matte paints have less binder, which makes them more susceptible to mechanical damages (however, they are less visible than on glossy surfaces). More binder provides a smoother and more solid surface. However, at a certain PVC, called critical PVC (CPVC), the paint is already saturated with binder and the surface becomes solid and glossy, without protruding particles; adding more binder (lowering PVC) will not affect the sheen. CPVC generally depends on the binder-pigment system used, and generally falls in the 35–65% range.[3]
As a gloss finish reveals surface imperfections such as sanding marks, surfaces must be prepared more carefully for it. Gloss paints are generally more resistant to damage, staining, and easier to clean than flat paints.[7] Flat paint may become glossier through burnishing or grease, while glossy paint may lose its sheen if abraded. Unlike gloss paint, flat paint can often be touched up locally without repainting the entire surface.
Gloss level can be characterized by the angular distribution of light scattered from a surface, measured with a glossmeter, but there are various ways of measuring this, and different industries have different standards.
Applications
[edit]In traditional household interiors, walls are usually painted in flat or eggshell gloss, wooden trim (including doors and window sash) in high gloss, and ceilings almost invariably in flat. Similarly, exterior trim is usually painted with a gloss paint, while the body of the house is painted in a lower gloss.[original research?][citation needed]
Gloss paint is commonplace in the automotive industry for car bodies.
References
[edit]- ^ Dennis J. Hall; Nina M. Giglio (2011). Graphic Standards Field Guide to Residential Construction. John Wiley & Sons. p. 410. ISBN 978-0-470-90626-2.
- ^ "A Guide to Measuring Levels of Gloss in Paint | Firwood".
- ^ a b c d Eric F. Hansen; Sue Walston; Mitchell Hearns Bishop, eds. (1994). Matte paint: Its history and technology, analysis, properties, and treatment, with special emphasis on ethnographic objects. Getty Conservation Institute. ISBN 0-89236-262-6. Retrieved 2015-03-11.
- ^ "Considering Sheen". Sherwin-Williams/SHEEN magazine. Retrieved 2015-03-11.
- ^ Ostrow, Judy (2001). Painting Rooms. Quarry Books. ISBN 978-1-61059-446-2.
- ^ Tiarks, F.; Frechen, T.; Kirsch, S. (2003-12-01). "Formulation effects on the distribution of pigment particles in paints". Progress in Organic Coatings. Sosna 2002. 48 (2): 140–152. ISSN 0300-9440.
- ^ Koleske, Paint and Coating Testing Manual, p. 615, ISBN 0-8031-2060-5
External links
[edit]Paint sheen
View on GrokipediaFundamentals
Definition and Principles
Paint sheen refers to the glossiness or luster of a paint finish, characterized by the degree to which it exhibits specular (mirror-like) reflection as opposed to diffuse reflection.[4] This optical property determines how light interacts with the painted surface, with higher sheen levels producing a more pronounced reflective quality that enhances visual appeal and durability in applications.[5] The underlying optical principles of paint sheen stem from the behavior of light upon encountering a surface. Specular reflection occurs on smooth paint surfaces, where incident light rays are reflected at an angle equal to the angle of incidence, preserving the image like a mirror.[6] In contrast, diffuse reflection happens on rougher surfaces, scattering light rays in multiple directions due to microscopic irregularities, which diminishes the luster and creates a matte appearance.[7] These principles are governed by the surface's microstructure, where smoothness promotes coherent reflection and roughness induces scattering.[8] Human perception of gloss in paint is tied to the Rayleigh roughness criterion, which posits that a surface appears glossy if its irregularities are smaller than , where is the wavelength of light and is the angle of incidence.[9] This threshold ensures minimal scattering, allowing specular reflection to dominate. Key factors influencing sheen include surface texture, which directly modulates reflection type; the refractive index of paint binders, where higher values can enhance interfacial reflection for greater luster; and pigment particle size, as finer particles reduce internal scattering and promote smoother films.[10][11] The study of gloss perception originated in the early 20th century, with Leonard R. Ingersoll's 1914 work introducing quantitative assessment through the glarimeter, an instrument that measured contrast gloss via polarized light reflection to evaluate visual luster on surfaces like paper.[12] This foundational effort laid the groundwork for understanding sheen as an optical phenomenon beyond mere smoothness.[13]Terminology and Classification
In the paint industry, sheens are classified into a standardized hierarchy based on their level of light reflectance, typically spanning 5 to 7 categories from non-reflective to highly reflective finishes. This system allows for consistent communication among manufacturers, specifiers, and applicators, with levels determined by the degree of surface luster rather than color or composition.[1] The primary categories, ordered from lowest to highest reflectance, are as follows:| Sheen Level | Common Terms | Typical GU Range at 85° (low-medium sheens) or 60° (high sheens) |
|---|---|---|
| Flat/Matte | Flat, matte | 0-10 GU [3] |
| Eggshell | Eggshell, low luster | 10-25 GU [3] |
| Satin/Low Sheen | Satin, pearl, velvet | 20-35 GU [3] |
| Semi-Gloss | Semi-gloss, medium luster | 35-70 GU [3] |
| Gloss/High Gloss | Gloss, high gloss | 70+ GU [3] |