Color-wise this is a muted, mid-tone grey leaning neutral. Shade down into Satin Varnish, the nearest darker paint in the Two Thin Coats line. Matte Varnish is a bit distinctive: no other brand carries a strong same-finish match, though The Army Painter Brush-On Primer comes nearest at 85 percent. Any substitute is a mixing base rather than a drop-in, so tune it on the model.
Matte Varnish equivalents and near misses
Fair warning: nothing matches Two Thin Coats Matte Varnish cleanly. The options below are the least bad, and every one of them drifts.
Closest The Army Painter equivalent: The Army Painter Brush-On Primer, close, with a hint of drift side by side (delta E 3.0).
Best Vallejo option: Vallejo Medium Sea Grey, workable at tabletop distance, not up close (delta E 4.9).
From Citadel: Citadel Astrogranite, a usable stand-in rather than a twin (delta E 6.9).
Monument Pro Acryl's closest color: Monument Pro Acryl Taupe, only a loose relative (delta E 8.3).
Check it on a spare model first, because The Army Painter Brush-On Primer sits slightly darker than the original and the difference grows over large flat panels.
How to read the score
90+Close
80sUsable
<70Mix
The Army Painter
Vallejo
Citadel
Monument Pro Acryl
Tamiya
Green Stuff World
AK Interactive
Scale75
Humbrol
P3 Paints
Revell
About this color
Color profile
Highlight and shade ladder
Match difficulty
Found in 0 other brands with a same-finish match.
Where painters use it
Frequently asked
What is the closest equivalent to Two Thin Coats Matte Varnish?
The closest same-finish match is The Army Painter Brush-On Primer at 85% color similarity.
What color is Matte Varnish?
Matte Varnish is a mid-tone muted grey with a neutral cast (hex #888888).
What do I highlight and shade Matte Varnish with?
Shade Matte Varnish with Satin Varnish in the same Two Thin Coats range. For highlights, mix in a lighter tone or move to a brighter paint in the lane.