Protecting matte furniture: Matte or Clear?
In short
On matte surfaces Matte is the right choice: it takes away gloss and reflections and keeps the look matte. Clear and Premium Clear are glossy and visibly stand out on matte surfaces. Fingerprints are less noticeable on Matte, but they do not disappear entirely.
Matte fronts and panels need a matte film, otherwise you see it. When Matte is the right choice, what it does and what it does not.
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Why glossy film stands out on matte surfaces
Clear and Premium Clear are crystal clear and glossy. On smooth, glossy or lacquered surfaces you hardly notice them, because they merely continue the existing gloss. On a matte front, however, a visible difference in gloss appears: the surface looks as if it had been varnished.
You see the difference especially with light coming from the side, for instance through a window or a lamp: the matte surface scatters the light, the glossy film reflects it. The darker the surface, the more clearly the gloss stands out.
That is not a malfunction but optics. Anyone who wants to protect a matte front or panel and keep the matte look therefore chooses Matte.
What Matte does
Matte is matte-transparent. It takes gloss and reflections out of the surface without changing the colour. On a matte kitchen front, a matte bathroom unit or a matte desk the calm look is preserved and the surface is protected.
On a glossy surface, however, it visibly changes the look: high-gloss lacquer becomes a matte surface. That is intended if that is exactly what you want, and the wrong choice if the gloss is to stay. That is what Clear, Premium Clear or High Gloss are for.
Matte has no self-healing surface. Fine scratches stay visible there, even if the matte surface shows them less than a glossy one.
Fingerprints: fewer, not none
A frequent reason for Matte is fingerprints. On the matte surface they are less noticeable than on high gloss. They do not disappear entirely, and we do not promise that: you wipe them off with a dry cloth without smearing.
You can care for Matte like any film: without abrasive cleaners, with a soft cloth. The care notes are in the guide.
If it is mainly fingerprints on a glossy front that bother you, Matte is an option, but it changes the look of the front in the process. It is best to try it beforehand.
Which matte surfaces are suitable?
Matte is also a good choice if you want to keep a room calm: on desks where the monitor reflects, it takes reflections out of the surface. That is a matter of optics, not an indication of better durability.
Whether a matte surface is suitable is decided not by the gloss but by the surface. Matt-lacquered fronts, matte melamine and smooth coated furniture panels are suitable because they are smooth and closed. So are matte glass and metal surfaces.
Oiled and waxed woods are not, even if they look matte. That applies to every film. Lightly textured surfaces you check beforehand on a test area or with a sample.
If you are unsure, send us a photo of the surface. We will tell you whether Matte fits or whether you had better take a different film.
Especially with very dark, matte fronts a test with the sample set is worthwhile: you place a piece of Matte on an inconspicuous spot and look at it in the light that is usual in your room. That way you decide with your own eyes whether you like the finish.
Frequently asked questions
Can I put Clear on a matte front?
Technically yes, but it stands out visually: the gloss of the film is visible on a matte surface. Anyone who wants to keep the matte look chooses Matte.
Does Matte make a glossy surface matte?
Yes, it visibly changes the look. That is intended if you want it. If the gloss is to stay, take Clear, Premium Clear or High Gloss.
Do fingerprints disappear on Matte?
They are less noticeable than on high gloss but do not disappear entirely. You wipe them off with a dry cloth.
Is Matte self-healing?
No. Fine scratches stay visible on Matte. Premium Clear and High Gloss are self-healing for fine scratches.