Nissan 370Z Forum - are flat and matte the same?

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brucelidat

05-12-2012 02:58 PM

are flat and matte the same?

I was wondering if flat and matte black are the same or not. Also what are the different levels of shine between flat or matte and gloss? Am thinking of painting my fang area and rear valance flat black and am wondering if it'll be really dull or if there will be some slight sheen to it. I am assuming there has to be some clear or protective coating that goes over the paint to protect it that would supply a bit of luster to it. Anyone with gunmetallic who has had this done with pics?

sz34	05-12-2012 03:05 PM

i think that they are pretty much the same, if you want to add a little shine, i would suggest going with a satin black. I think dannyGT has some pictures of his car with satin on it. but its a pg! :tup:

brucelidat

05-12-2012 03:08 PM

thanks, pg is close enough to gm. I thought about a satin, but then I realized it might not match with the black upper trim in the front.

brucelidat

05-12-2012 03:14 PM

he says his is a satin black. the satin looks pretty glossy.

sz34	05-12-2012 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DannyGT (Post 180314)

Well, its not glossy black...How it was explained to me is matte/satin are alot closer to each other than say 'flat'. Most people seem to just be doing a 'flat'

After awhile a 'flat' black would get chalkboard like and really dry looking. So we removing the bumper and sprayed the entire mouth (fangs, fins, license plate holder area) in a matte/satin black which has a low gloss to it. That picture has some reflections to it which really give it a big gloss finish but its not...take a look below.

http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/1931/img5444p.jpg

Whats cool about a satin black is that it tricks you because its almost like in certain lights a silver ( or PG ;) ) wants to pop from underneath it. Which happens to come off looking badass on my car.

sorry if im using this wrong but.. here you go!

sz34	05-12-2012 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brucelidat (Post 1717341)

he says his is a satin black. the satin looks pretty glossy.

haha yea it does, it looks pretty good though! imo

brucelidat

05-12-2012 03:25 PM

It makes that upper trim seem out of place though. I like flat, but his comments about the dry chalkboardy look concerns me.

sz34	05-12-2012 03:30 PM

I see, hmm another alternative i could think of, if you want to experiment is plastidip. its cheap and peels off if you dont like the look :tup:

brucelidat

05-12-2012 03:41 PM

I noticed that you have a black rear valance. What finish did you go with?

brucelidat

05-12-2012 05:05 PM

called the shop and got the official word on the difference. flat is just that, flat paint with nothing else. Matte is flat, but with a flat clearcoat applied over it which gives it a slight shine (and protection). Satin would be the next step up wit more gloss/shone.

sz34	05-12-2012 07:34 PM

haha just used plastidip! its a matte black finish its a little weird to clean tho

gsxr750

05-13-2012 04:56 PM

In terms of auto paint its gloss, satin, flat

example - Gloss Black = gloss
Jet Black or Dull Black retro on cars and bikes = satin black
Tan or Olive Drab Military finish or flat black = a pure flat finish or flat primmer

864Zbeast

05-13-2012 05:32 PM

My fangs and rear diffuser are painted satin black. It looks really good

brucelidat

05-13-2012 10:45 PM

Yours is looking really nice, beat. It's mot nearly as glossy as dannygt's. I will have to see the shop's samples to decide probably

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