Specify Paint Access to what you need to know about paint system
choices, paint system surface preparation, approved paint products,
painting specifications for both new construction (architectural
painting) and maintenance painting.
DECORATIVE (PAINT) FINISH
Application of paints or glazes to adorn, decorate or embellish a surface as compared to a plain solid color, stain or varnish finish and as opposed to performing a protective function. This general group of decorative paint finishes includes a widening number of 'subgroups' many of which overlap and many of which have more than one name by which they are referred to. These include:
- Faux (false) Finishes - In French 'false' finish. These seek to imitate products found in nature like wood, marble, granite, stone, etc. These include wood graining, marbling, gilding, etc.
- Representative Finishes - These seek to imitate products otherwise made like leather, parchment, frescoe, venetian plaster (itself a faux plaster), etc.
- Special Effect Finishes - Broken color effects (as opposed to imitation effects), like ragging on, ragging off, sponging on, sponging off, strie', splattering, stippling, etc.
- Graphic Finishes - Detailed effects like stenciling and graphics that are "in accordance with mathematical rules".
- Pictorial Finishes - Decorative effects like murals, scenics, portraits, etc.
- Trompe d'oeil - In French, "Trick Of The Eye" - That which
creates such a strong illusion that it is difficult to ascertain
whether it is real or a representation. Usually, but not always,
three-dimensional giving the impression of depth and perspective.
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