The terms GLOSS and SHEEN are often used interchangeably to describe the look of a Paint Finish, specifically the range of how glossy a paint finish appears. From a Technical specification perspective, GLOSS and SHEEN are actually two separate measurements used to describe the look of a Paint’s Finish. From a Paint Specification perspective, the various levels used to describe GLOSS and SHEEN are important characteristics of the performance and appearance of a Paint Finish.

Many commercial applications specify the Paint’s Finish, by way of Master Painter Institute’s (MPI) category. The MPI category not only describes the function and performance of coatings, but, the GLOSS level is a critical component of many of the MPI categories.

Names Given to Describe the Look of Finishes are NOT Technical

Paints have been around long before generally accepted industry performance standards and systems. Paint manufacturers, over time and based on their company’s location around the world, have described their finishes differently, creating a historical precedence in naming the Glossiness of their finishes.

One company may describe a Paint Finish by calling it Eggshell, while another may describe it as Satin. Similarly, Pearl may be the Finish name used by one company, while another chooses to call the Finish Low Gloss or even something different. It is important to note that the descriptive name of a particular SHEEN level is unique from manufacturer to manufacturer and is not governed or specified by any performance standard around the globe.

Industry Gloss Specifications

In order to provide Coatings Specifiers with a common language to describe Paint Finishes, MPI includes GLOSS and SHEEN measurements as part of the criteria for many of its MPI category specifications. MPI specifies 7 GLOSS levels, each of which are described below, along with their GLOSS measurement range (as seen at a 85º viewing angle) and SHEEN measurement range (as seen at a 60º viewing angle).

In order to be competitive in the marketplace, Rodda Paint Co. formulates many of its products to meet the MPI specifications. For many key categories, MPI specifies a GLOSS level. As Paints & Finishes pass the rigorous testing to be qualified under the MPI specifications, Rodda Paint can be even tighter on its GLOSS ranges, as we may want to have various products listed under one MPI category, but with nuances between the products. For example, a Gloss Level 5 is defined as 35-70 units at 60°. The expected look of a GL5/SemiGloss Paint Finish is 50, but, one may get better performance at 35 units instead and yet a moderate GLOSS reading of 65 is still considered GL5.

It is very important to note how we, at Rodda Paint Co. describe our Paint Finishes:

INTERIOR GLOSS RECOMMENDATIONS

EXTERIOR GLOSS RECOMMENDATIONS