Matte vs. Gloss — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 19, 2023
Matte refers to a non-reflective, flat finish often used in paint, photography, and printing. Gloss, on the other hand, denotes a shiny, reflective finish. While matte minimizes light reflection, gloss enhances it to produce vibrant, high-contrast effects
Difference Between Matte and Gloss
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Matte is a term often used to describe finishes that lack any shine or luster. Gloss, conversely, refers to finishes that are highly shiny and reflective. Matte surfaces are designed to absorb light, whereas gloss surfaces reflect light, creating a shiny appearance.
In terms of usage, matte finishes are often preferred for elegant, understated results or where glare is a concern. Gloss finishes are typically used to highlight colors and produce vibrant effects. Both types of finish can be found in a range of products from paints to photographs to printed materials.
When considering the grammatical usage of the terms, "matte" and "gloss" can both function as nouns and adjectives. For example, you can have a "matte painting" or a "gloss finish." Both terms are singular and can be made plural—“mattes” and “glosses”—although plural forms are less commonly used.
Matte finishes are frequently employed in interior design, particularly on walls, to create a soft and non-reflective surface. Gloss finishes, however, are often utilized on surfaces like kitchen cabinets or automotive exteriors where a shiny appearance is desired. The choice between matte and gloss depends on the visual and practical requirements of the project.
Comparison Chart
Reflectiveness
Non-reflective
Reflective
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Common Use
Wall paint
Car paint
Grammatical Use
Noun, adjective
Noun, adjective
Visual Effect
Soft, muted
Bright, vibrant
Texture
Smooth, flat
Smooth, shiny
Compare with Definitions
Matte
A non-reflective finish.
The matte painting absorbed the gallery lighting.
Gloss
A shiny, reflective finish.
The gloss paint made the car look brand new.
Matte
A flat visual effect.
The matte texture gives a sophisticated look.
Gloss
A smooth, shiny texture.
The gloss surface was easy to clean.
Matte
Absorbs light rather than reflecting it.
The matte screen reduces glare.
Gloss
Shine or lustre on a smooth surface
Hair with a healthy gloss
Matte
Variant of mat2.
Gloss
A superficially attractive appearance or impression
Beneath the gloss of success was a tragic private life
Matte
An opaque border or pattern placed between a source of light and a photosensitive surface to prevent exposure of specified portions of the surface.
Gloss
A translation or explanation of a word or phrase.
Matte
A map specifying how two electronic images of the same size and shape are to be cropped for combination into a single image.
Gloss
Apply a glossy substance to
Her glossed copper lips
The pebble-dash of the walls was glossed stickily white
Matte
A kind of paint that dries to a dull finish.
Gloss
Try to conceal or disguise (something unfavourable) by treating it briefly or representing it misleadingly
The social costs of this growth are glossed over
Matte
A mixture of a metal with its sulfides, produced by smelting the sulfide ores of copper, lead, or nickel.
Gloss
Provide an explanation, interpretation, or paraphrase for (a text, word, etc.)
The Japanese word often glossed as ‘sincerity’ really means something different
Matte
Having a dull finish.
Gloss
A surface shininess or luster.
Matte
A decorative border around a picture used to inset and center the contents of a frame.
The image is a perfect square of 8 cm (with white matte border the total dimensions are 14 cm tall by 11 cm wide).
Gloss
A kind of paint that dries to a shiny finish.
Matte
(cinema) A background, often painted or created with computers
Matte painting is a tool that filmmakers can use to create a scene that is impossible to achieve with conventional cinematographic means.
Gloss
A cosmetic that adds shine or luster, such as lip gloss.
Matte
(pyrometallurgy) The molten metal sulfide phases typically formed during smelting of copper, nickel, and other base metals.
Gloss
A superficially or deceptively attractive appearance or good reputation
The firm lost some of its gloss when its investments performed poorly.
Matte
(American spelling) Dull; not reflective of light.
Flat or matte paint allows a deep color expression on the walls while also hiding flaws that may be inherent on the painted surface.
A matte lipstick
Gloss
A brief explanatory note or translation of a difficult or technical expression usually inserted in the margin or between lines of a text or manuscript.
Matte
A partly reduced copper sulphide, obtained by alternately roasting and melting copper ore in separating the metal from associated iron ores, and called coarse metal, fine metal, etc., according to the grade of fineness. On the exterior it is dark brown or black, but on a fresh surface is yellow or bronzy in color.
Gloss
A collection of such notes; a glossary.
Matte
A dead or dull finish, as in gilding where the gold leaf is not burnished, or in painting where the surface is purposely deprived of gloss.
Gloss
An extensive commentary, often accompanying a text or publication.
Matte
Having a dull, lusterless surface finish; opposed to glossy or polished; as, a matte photograph; a proof coin with matte figures on a polished field.
Gloss
A purposefully misleading interpretation or explanation.
Matte
A mixture of sulfides that forms when sulfide metal ores are smelted
Gloss
To give a bright sheen or luster to.
Matte
The property of having little or no contrast; lacking highlights or gloss
Gloss
To apply a gloss to
Glossed her lips.
Matte
Change texture so as to become matted and felt-like;
The fabric felted up after several washes
Gloss
To provide (an expression or a text) with a gloss or glosses.
Matte
Not reflecting light; not glossy;
Flat wall paint
A photograph with a matte finish
Gloss
To give a false interpretation to.
Matte
Often used in elegant, understated designs.
The matte finish on the walls created a calming atmosphere.
Gloss
A surface shine or luster.
Matte
Common in interior design.
The designer chose a matte finish for the living room.
Gloss
(figuratively) A superficially or deceptively attractive appearance.
Gloss
(countable) A brief explanatory note or translation of a foreign, archaic, technical, difficult, complex, or uncommon expression, inserted after the original, in the margin of a document, or between lines of a text.
Gloss
(countable) A glossary; a collection of such notes.
Gloss
An expression requiring such explanatory treatment.
Gloss
(countable) An extensive commentary on some text.
Gloss
An interpretation by a court of specific point within a statute or case law.
Gloss
(transitive) To give a gloss or sheen to.
Gloss
(transitive) To make (something) attractive by deception
Gloss
(intransitive) To become shiny.
Gloss
(transitive) To add a gloss to (a text).
Gloss
Brightness or luster of a body proceeding from a smooth surface; polish; as, the gloss of silk; cloth is calendered to give it a gloss.
It is no part . . . to set on the face of this cause any fairer gloss than the naked truth doth afford.
Gloss
A specious appearance; superficial quality or show.
To me more dear, congenial to my heart,One native charm than all the gloss of art.
Gloss
A foreign, archaic, technical, or other uncommon word requiring explanation.
Gloss
An interpretation, consisting of one or more words, interlinear or marginal; an explanatory note or comment; a running commentary.
All this, without a gloss or comment,He would unriddle in a moment.
Explaining the text in short glosses.
Gloss
A false or specious explanation.
Gloss
To give a superficial luster or gloss to; to make smooth and shining; as, to gloss cloth.
The glossed and gleamy wave.
Gloss
To render clear and evident by comments; to illustrate; to explain; to annotate.
Gloss
To give a specious appearance to; to render specious and plausible; to palliate by specious explanation.
You have the art to gloss the foulest cause.
Gloss
To make comments; to comment; to explain.
Gloss
To make sly remarks, or insinuations.
Gloss
An explanation or definition of an obscure word in a text
Gloss
An alphabetical list of technical terms in some specialized field of knowledge; usually published as an appendix to a text on that field
Gloss
The property of being smooth and shiny
Gloss
An outward or token appearance or form that is deliberately misleading;
He hoped his claims would have a semblance of authenticity
He tried to give his falsehood the gloss of moral sanction
The situation soon took on a different color
Gloss
Give a shine or gloss to, usually by rubbing
Gloss
Provide interlinear explanations for words or phrases;
He annotated on what his teacher had written
Gloss
Provide an interlinear translation of a word or phrase
Gloss
Gloss or excuse;
Color a lie
Gloss
Enhances light reflection.
The gloss finish highlighted the photo's colors.
Gloss
Often used for vibrant, high-contrast effects.
The gloss lipstick was incredibly vivid.
Gloss
Common in automotive and beauty industries.
He applied a gloss coating to protect the paint.
Common Curiosities
Is Gloss more vibrant?
Gloss finishes often produce more vibrant, high-contrast colors.
Is Matte better for reducing glare?
Yes, matte finishes are effective at reducing glare.
What is Matte?
Matte is a non-reflective, flat finish.
How do Matte and Gloss differ?
Matte absorbs light, whereas gloss reflects it.
Where is Matte commonly used?
Matte is commonly used in interior design and photography.
What is Gloss?
Gloss is a shiny, reflective finish.
Where is Gloss commonly used?
Gloss is often used in automotive finishes and cosmetics.
Can Gloss be used as an adjective?
Yes, "gloss" can also function as both a noun and an adjective.
Is Gloss more durable?
Gloss finishes are often more durable and easier to clean.
Is Matte easier to clean?
Matte surfaces can show dirt and are generally harder to clean than gloss.
Can Matte be used as an adjective?
Yes, "matte" can function as both a noun and an adjective.
Can you mix Matte and Gloss?
It’s possible but usually not recommended unless you’re going for a specific effect.
Do Matte and Gloss have plural forms?
Yes, they can be pluralized as "mattes" and "glosses," although these forms are rare.
What industries commonly use Matte?
The printing, photography, and interior design industries often use matte finishes.
What industries commonly use Gloss?
The automotive, cosmetics, and printing industries often opt for gloss finishes.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
