Last updated September 28, 2026. By Andrew M. Tan.
Testors Dullcote is one of my favorite matte varnishes for protecting painted miniatures. I’ve used it for years on my own collection and on commissioned models. The lacquer spray dries to a flat finish that knocks down reflections, evens out the final surface, and makes my paint jobs easier to photograph.
In this article, I’ll show you how Dullcote behaves in my work, how I apply it, and what I check before spraying a finished model.
In a Hurry? Here are the Top 3 Best Matte Varnishes for Miniatures
- Testors Dullcote “Spray” Lacquer (Most Popular)
- Tamiya Clear Flat Spray (Reliable, Legacy)
- AK Interactive Ultra Matte Varnish (Brush-on or Airbrush Application, only)
Key Takeaways
- Testors Dullcote is a lacquer top coat applied through an aerosol spray can.
- As a matte varnish, Testors Dullcote creates an even, non-reflective clear coat surface that improves surface contrast, enhances color vibrancy, and protects the painted surface underneath.
- Make sure to shake the Testors Dullcote spray can well before use for best results.
- I get the most reliable finish in a dry, room-temperature workspace.
- Spray Testors Dullcote outdoors or in a well-ventilated area, and avoid breathing the vapor or spray.
Testors Dullcote Varnish
Pros
- Reliable Matte Finish: Matte surface appearance, reducing glare for a non-reflective finish
- Ease of Application: Comes in a spray can for quick, even coverage, making it beginner-friendly
- Fast Drying Time: Dries to the touch within 5-10 minutes and fully cures in 24 hours
- Durability: Forms a protective layer against handling, scratches, and minor abrasion.
- Compatibility: Works across many of my acrylic paint jobs and fully cured oil-painted miniatures.
Cons
- Aerosol spray only: Requires safety precautions
- Requires optimal environmental conditions: Won’t work when it’s too cold or hot, or in humid weather
- Price: Slightly higher cost compared to some other varnishes on the market
Read on below for review of Testors Dullcote and a guide for how best to use it in your miniature painting projects.
Why I Highly Recommend a Matte Varnish for Painting Miniatures
Every miniature paint job looks better when the surface is sealed with an even layer of varnish. Of course, there’s more to a clear coat than simply protecting your painted models. Here are three main reasons why I consider a matte varnish an essential step in any miniature painting process
1. Protects Underlying Paint Layers
Painting a model takes a lot of work. A clear coat with a matte varnish creates an invisible “shield” over your painted miniature, protecting it from exposure and direct contact with the air.
If you’re using your miniatures in a tabletop game, e.g., Warhammer 40k or DnD, a durable varnish will also improve the durability of your paint job. I always clear coat my models. A single layer of Testors Dullcote does wonders; two layers is even better.
2. Smooths Out Paint Brush Strokes
A matte varnish does something quite magical when it comes to improving the appearance of acrylic hobby paints. When you spray a varnish over a painted model, the clear coat tends to fill in uneven bumps and textures in your paint layer.
A thin, even matte coat reduces small surface irregularities and softens distracting reflections, which can make brushwork look smoother in photographs.
3. Creates an Even, Non-Reflective Surface
Why would you want a non-reflective surface on your painted miniature? A matte finish makes your painted miniature appear more professional. A miniature that has some glossy parts and some matte surfaces will look unfinished and sloppy.
1-2 coats of a matte varnish will even out the reflective-ness of your painted models, creating a visibly clean appearance. As above, imperfections in the painted surface, e.g., brushstrokes, as well as color blended areas that may have some flaws will diminish with a matte sealer.
4. Improves Miniature Photography
A matte finish on a miniature makes photography much easier. With a highly reflective surface, i.e., gloss, ambient lighting will create hotspots or areas of specular highlights that throw off a camera’s settings. Reflective surfaces tend to confuse autofocus systems, create areas of over-saturation in an image, e.g., distorting contrast, and all sorts of mayhem when it comes to color accuracy.
There’s a reason that TV anchors wear cosmetic powder prior to going on air. Make up powder reduces the glossy sheen of their skin. Without a matte powdering, bright studio lights would create unseemly reflections on their faces during filming.
In general, a matte varnish helps minimize all these issues, making a painted miniature appear more uniform in a photography setting. You can see how a matte varnish helped me photograph my miniatures in the gallery.
5. Enhances Color
The application of a matte varnish over painted miniatures can greatly enhance the overall look and color of the piece. A matte varnish helps to protect the paint from discoloring or fading due to dust and moisture in the air. Furthermore, especially with Testors Dullcote, a matte sealer has a unique ability to bring out the vibrancy of colors, making any muted colors appear a tad brighter and more vibrant. More about this below.
Testors Dullcote Review for Painted Miniatures
Testors Dullcote Varnish has long been a staple in the toolkit of miniature painting enthusiasts and professionals alike. I’ve used it for years and found it to be reliable when I use it in suitable conditions. The following is my experience and review of Testors Dullcote.
Ease of Application
One of Dullcote’s key strengths lies in its ease of application. The product is available in a spray can, ensuring an even coat without the need for specialized tools or brushes, which can be particularly beneficial for those new to the miniature painting scene.
For best results, spray Testors Dullcote from 6-12″ away from your painted miniature. Spray in spurts, creating a fine mist so that you create a light application. Make sure to avoid pooling of the varnish, which can lead to clouding or foggy effects. Thin layered applications will achieve a uniformly matte finish without obscuring the finer details of your miniature.
Quick Drying Time and Consistency
Dullcote dries relatively quickly, usually within 5 to 10 minutes to the touch and fully cures within 24 hours. This is particularly beneficial for painters who want to keep working quickly. As a commissioned miniature painter, I have often had tight timelines.
A trick to speed up the process is to use a hair dryer set to the lowest heat setting. Using the heated, dry air over the miniature before spraying with Testors Dullcote will improve the overall finish and make for a more reliable experience with the varnish. The consistency of the varnish is also noteworthy; it generally leaves no brush strokes or pooling, provided it is applied correctly.
Durability and Protection
Testors Dullcote forms a protective layer against handling, scratches, and minor abrasion. In my hands, I’ve used it for painted models that I took to gaming conventions. Although the models traveled in foam miniature carrying cases, there were times when things jostled around quite a bit.
This was an informal field test. The hardened lacquer top coat helped protect my miniatures throughout their travels. For peace of mind, I tend to re-spray Dullcote over my more prized painted models.
For painted miniatures kept in display cases, Dullcote helps protect the paint surface from dust and handling. I still keep painted miniatures out of direct sunlight because Testors does not advertise Dullcote as a UV-protective coating.
Compatibility Across Painted Material Surfaces
Dullcote works across many of my acrylic paint jobs. I also use it over fully cured oil-painted miniatures. I patch-test unfamiliar paint and decals before coating the entire model.
AK Interactive Ultra Matte gives me more control with a brush. Testors Dullcote is faster to spray.
Spray Testors Dullcote outdoors or in a well-ventilated area, and avoid breathing the vapor or spray.
Produces a Reliable Matte Finish
If used properly, Testors Dullcote always produces a matte finish that looks the same model-to-model. To ensure consistency in the matte varnish appearance, shake the can well (at least a full minute) before and during spraying. Spray from a distance (as mentioned above) in short spurts to avoid pooling.
READ MORE: WHEN TO USE GLOSS OR MATTE VARNISH IN MINIATURE PAINTING
I get the most reliable finish in a dry, room-temperature workspace. Check the current can label, shake thoroughly, and test the spray on a spare surface before coating a finished model. Spray in suitable conditions to avoid a foggy finish. This can be repaired if it happens.
Price and Value
Prices vary by retailer, and I usually buy three or four cans at a time when the exact Dullcote spray is available. Its consistent performance and durability make it worth the price for my work.
Testors Dullcote Review Summary
Testors Dullcote is one of the best matte varnishes you can use to protect your painted miniatures. The varnish will improve your finished painted appearance, and ensure that your painted models will look as good as it did when you complete them. Miniatures that I painted years ago still look as vibrant and clear as they did when they left my hobby painting table. Even those models that saw wargame tabletop time are still display quality (with a few touch ups for nicks earned during conference travel).
Testors Dullcote dries quickly with its volatile solvent. The final appearance is a smooth, matte look. Its performance has justified the cost in my projects, and I still consider it for any miniature that needs a durable matte finish.
Other Recommended Matte Varnishes for Painting Miniatures (Overview)
Tamiya Clear Flat Spray
Tamiya describes TS-80 Flat Clear as a synthetic lacquer. Let the underlying paint cure fully before spraying; Tamiya recommends up to one week and warns that clear coat can harm some decals. Apply light coats and test first.
AK Interactive Ultra Matte Varnish
AK says its 60 ml Ultra Matte Varnish can be brushed or airbrushed, is water-soluble, and dries completely in 12 hours. The manufacturer recommends AK-712 Acrylic Thinner when thinning is needed.
AK formulates this varnish primarily for acrylics. Patch-test it over other paint systems before coating the finished model.
Conclusion
Testors Dullcote is one of the best matte varnishes you can use on your painted models. I’ve used this varnish for years in my own miniature collection, as well as for clients in commissioned projects.
I reach for Testors Dullcote when I want a reliable matte finish on painted miniatures. It applies quickly, dries fast, and has protected models from my own collection and commissioned projects.
Tamiya Clear Flat Spray and AK Interactive Ultra Matte Varnish give you other application and finish options. Testors Dullcote remains my favorite spray for this job.
Use light coats, let the paint cure, and test the spray on something disposable before aiming at a finished model. That little test has saved me plenty of worry at the end of a project.
For me, the last coat is where a finished paint job becomes ready for the tabletop, the camera, and the hands that will carry it there.
Did you find this article helpful? What is your experience with matte varnishes? I’d love to know what you think! Leave a comment below.
Until next time, happy painting! 🎨
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By Andrew M. Tan
Andrew is a commissioned miniature painter with more than 20 years of hands-on experience painting tabletop miniatures, photographing models, and testing hobby tools in real-world use. Read his full bio.
One of the reasons I’ve used brush-on acrylic varnish is that it’s pretty easy to tell that I’ve covered the whole model because I just used a brush. How do you make sure you’ve got good coverage when using a spray varnish? Since it’s transparent, it’s hard to tell. Most of my minis won’t be roughly handled, but if spray-on is really better, I’d like to learn to use that.
I’ve also used brush-ons because you can use them when it’s cold/windy/humid/whatever outside and not good for spray-on. If my minis won’t typically be handled very roughly, am I making too big a deal out of it and should just use brush-on and be done with it? Thanks!
Both work fine. Spray on varnishes are typically more durable 🙂
Have you used any of these with Citadel Contrast or Army Painter Speedpaints 2.0? I think I was seeing reactivation with both when I used Testors spray enamel. I might have sprayed it too thick, though. Anyway, curious to see if you’ve experienced anything similar. It was about 70 degrees and about 40% humidity, so pretty good conditions, I think. Thanks!
Odd. I have not had issues with speed paints (AP or Citadel) with testors Dullcote spray varnishes. … 70F is warm but 40% is perfect. What happened with your experience?
I admittedly probably sprayed on too much, but some ship masts painted Snakebite Leather ended up slightly faded looking and kind of “smudgy” like it had reactivated slightly. Or maybe I’m imagining things, especially if nobody else has encountered the same issue.
Hmm interesting. Maybe some bit of artifact? This may help? https://tangibleday.com/how-to-fix-foggy-varnish-on-miniatures/