How to use the the HV’ART Advanced Lacquer Paint System™

Created by artisans, for artisans.

Our aim was to create a professional waterborne lacquer system specifically for decorative artists, skilled decorators and specialist finishers: a user-friendly system designed to work with the artisan, rather than against them. Each material works as part of a complete system, from preparation and base coating through to glazing and the final protective lacquer.

The materials are designed to be user-friendly for skilled artisans, decorators and specialist finishers who understand preparation, sanding, layering and careful application. When used with patience and judgement, they allow the artisan to build depth, control sheen, refine surfaces and create beautiful decorative finishes.

However, user-friendly does not mean skill-free.

The finest materials will always reward the person who knows how to use them. In the same way that the best ingredients do not automatically make someone a great chef, the best materials do not automatically create a beautiful design or finish.

The result depends on understanding:

• Site conditions 
• Preparation
• Drying times
• Sanding behaviour
• Application control
• Glaze movement and paternation
• Sheen selection
• Lacquer build
• Polishing and refinement

It is a specialist system designed for those who understand that decorative finishes requires control, patience and discipline. Therefore, this blog has been created for the artisan who wants to understand the process and the application, and thus unlock the opportunity of controlling the quality materials needed to work at a higher level. 

The HV’ART Advanced Lacquer Paint System: Four Key Steps

Step One: Choose the Correct Sealers and Primers

Once the substrate has been identified and assessed, select the appropriate HV’ART sealers and primers. These products prepare, stabilise and refine the surface, creating the correct foundation for the coatings that follow.

Step Two: Apply the Decorative Canvas or Finishing Paint

HV’ART Decorative Canvas™ provides the ideal coloured base coat and working surface for decorative glaze finishes.

Where a decorative glaze is not required, this stage may instead become the finishing-coat stage. For furniture painting, use the appropriate HV’ART Advanced Furnitura paint; for architectural joinery, use the appropriate HV’ART Advanced Architectura paint.

Step Three: Create the Decorative Finish with HV’ART Lacquer Glaze™

Select the appropriate HV’ART Lacquer Glaze™ according to the decorative finish you wish to create. The glaze is a translucent medium that is tinted with colour and applied over the HV’ART Decorative Canvas™ base coat, allowing the underlying colour to remain visible and helping the artisan build layers of movement, depth and nuance.

We generally recommend tinting the glaze with Mixol Universal Tinting Concentrates. When used in the correct proportions, these pigments provide colour without significantly altering the working or drying characteristics of the glaze.

The tinted glaze may be used to produce patination, glaze washes, strié, marble, wood and stone effects, lacquer designs and many other specialist decorative finishes. The chosen glaze, colour strength, consistency and application technique determine the movement, depth and individual character of the finished surface.

Step Four: Choose the Appropriate HV’ART Crystal Lacquer™

Select the appropriate HV’ART Crystal Lacquer™ according to the required level of protection, durability and sheen.

The choice of sheen is a fundamental part of the design, helping to establish whether the completed finish feels traditional, softly aged, understated, contemporary or highly polished. The correct Crystal Lacquer protects the decorative work beneath while enhancing its colour, depth and character.

What HV’ART products do I need for decorative finishes and lacquer designs?

We are often asked which HV’ART paints and lacquers are needed to create a decorative finish and lacquer design.

It all starts with the substrate. A decorative finish is not created by one product alone, and the correct system will depend on both the surface and its condition. The HV’ART preparation system can be specified for a wide range of suitable substrates, including plaster, fibrous plaster, timber, MDF, joinery, furniture, metal, glass, plastic and previously painted or already coated surfaces, whether new, bare, factory-primed or existing.

Each surface must first be assessed so that the correct sealer, primer and preparation method can be selected. Hard, smooth or difficult-to-adhere-to substrates may require the appropriate HV’ART primer with the HV’ART ADV Adhesion Crosslinker added to provide enhanced adhesion before the decorative layers are applied.

The first question should always be: What is the surface beneath?

Before choosing the decorative colour, glaze or final lacquer sheen, the substrate must be properly assessed, prepared and primed.

Step One: Priming

Bare plaster, new plaster, Fibrous plaster 

For bare plaster, new plaster and fibrous plaster, we would normally begin by sealing and stabilising the surface as required, including by using the HV’ART Shellac SealCoat™.

Where a higher-value lacquered wall, ceiling or flat decorative area is being created, we would usually advocate the use of the flexible HV850 FibreScreed™ crack suppressant fibreglass in mineral screed system.

Before applying the mineral screed, we use a quartz primer to create a fine mechanical key. This helps the mineral screed stay in position while the crack suppressant fibreglass is embedded and flushed into the surface.

The HV850 FibreScreed™ system then helps create our SabiBase: a reinforced, stable, sandable and highly refined preparation layer beneath the HV’ART Advanced Lacquer Paint System™. We cover this in more detail in our dedicated guide on the HV850 FibreScreed™ System.

This is particularly valuable because a decorative finish involves multiple coats, repeated sanding and a very high level of surface refinement. Any cracking, instability or movement from the substrate beneath can spoil the finished lacquer design.

New woodwork, joinery, furniture

For new woodwork joinery, furniture and high-quality woodwork, we would always advocate factory or workshop priming before the item arrives on site. Good quality furniture and joinery should arrive to site already spray-primed, smooth, sound and ready for the next stages of the finish.

For the HV’ART Advanced Lacquer Paint System™, we recommend using HV’ART Gesso Style Factory Primer™ in the relevant colourway for the intended finished design. This is important because the colour should begin working with the finish as early as possible in the system.

For example, if the final decorative finish is intended to be in a deep green, we would generally specify the GSF in that deep green direction, even if lighter greens, glazes or broken colour layers are later used to build movement and atmosphere in this finish.

This helps the whole system work together.

It is particularly useful on edges, mouldings, corners and detailed joinery, where sanding and handling between coats may reveal underlying layers. When the foundation colour is sympathetic to the final finish, the system works with the artisan rather than fighting against them.

The same principle applies to filler. Wherever possible, filler should be tinted towards the colour of the finished lacquer design. This helps with opacity, reduces visual interruption and gives greater forgiveness during sanding and refinement between layers.

The aim is not simply to cover the surface. The aim is to build a coherent colour system from the substrate upwards.

Previously Painted, Already Coated and Difficult-to-Adhere-to Surfaces

Previously painted or already coated surfaces must first be assessed to establish the condition, compatibility and adhesion of the existing finish. Any loose, unstable or poorly adhered coating should be removed, and the remaining surface thoroughly cleaned, degreased and prepared before priming.

The correct HV’ART primer should then be selected according to the substrate and the coating already present. This may include painted timber, MDF, joinery, furniture, metal, glass, plastic or other smooth and non-porous surfaces.

For hard, smooth or difficult-to-adhere-to substrates, the appropriate HV’ART primer may be crosslinked using the HV’ART ADV Adhesion Crosslinker. This provides enhanced adhesion and creates the correct foundation for the base coat, decorative glaze and lacquer layers that follow.

As with every part of the system, adhesion should be tested on a small sample area before proceeding with the full surface.

Step Two: Base Coating (or finish coats)

Once the surface has been correctly sealed and primed, the next stage in the HV’ART Advanced Lacquer Paint System is the application of HV’ART Decorative Canvas™ base coat, often referred to as DC.

Decorative Canvas is the refined base coat for our decorative glaze finishes. It creates the smooth, consistent surface and controlled “slip” needed to move, manipulate and soften glaze during application. This working time and movement are essential when producing specialist decorative finishes such as patinas, faux finishes, strié, glaze washes and other layered decorative effects.

Our HV’ART Lacquer Glazes™ have been specifically formulated to work in harmony with the Decorative Canvas basecoat. Used together, they allow the artisan to move the glaze evenly across the surface, creating subtle tonal variation and developing depth without the glaze grabbing, dragging or drying unpredictably. 

If woodwork, joinery, or furniture finishing at this point use the appropriate HV’ART Advanced Furnitura paint; for architectural joinery, use the appropriate HV’ART Advanced Architectura paint in your chosen colour.

Choosing the Correct Base Colour

The Decorative Canvas base coat should normally be tinted to a colour that supports the intended final finish.

As with traditional decorative painting, the underlying colour plays an important role in the finished appearance. The base coat should not be treated simply as something to cover over; it forms part of the overall colour structure of the finish.

For example, a warm red or brown base may be selected beneath a rich red or orange colour base coat, while a muted ochre, stone or neutral tone may be used beneath aged, glazed or mineral-inspired effects. The correct base colour helps to create depth, warmth and visual consistency, particularly where the glaze is deliberately translucent.

A well-chosen Decorative Canvas base coat colour can:

• support the final colour of the decorative finish
• increase the apparent depth and richness of the glaze
• prevent the finish from appearing flat or disconnected
• create greater consistency across large areas
• provide a refined, even surface on which the glaze can be worked

Creating the Ultimate Surface for Decorative Glazing

Decorative Canvas base coat should be applied evenly and allowed to dry fully before glazing begins. The surface is then carefully refined in accordance with the required specification.

The objective is to produce a smooth, uniform “canvas” with no visible roller texture, brush or application marks, uneven absorption or surface contamination. Any irregularity in the base coat may affect how the decorative glaze moves and settles.

The quality of a decorative finish is therefore determined long before the final lacquer is applied. Correct preparation, priming and base coating provide the foundation upon which the depth, movement and character of the finished surface are created.

HV’ART Decorative Canvas™ base coat is not simply a coloured undercoat. It is the essential working surface that connects the preparation system to the decorative glaze, helping both materials and artisan’s technique perform as intended.

Step Three: Lacquer Glazing

The third stage of the HV’ART Advanced Lacquer Paint System is where the decorative character of the finish is created.

The tinted HV’ART Lacquer Glaze™ is applied over the correctly prepared HV’ART Decorative Canvas™ base coat or a tested compatible finishing coat and then manipulated by the artisan to create the required colour, movement, texture and visual depth.

Unlike an ordinary paint coat, a decorative glaze is designed to remain workable for long enough to be moved, softened, removed, blended and layered. This allows the artisan to control how much of the underlying base colour remains visible and how the decorative colour is distributed across the surface.

The result may be extremely subtle or highly expressive, depending on the intended finish.

Choosing the Appropriate Decorative Glaze

The correct glaze should be selected according to the type of finish being created, the size and position of the surface, the desired working time and the application technique being used.

HV’ART Lacquer Glazes™ are formulated to work in harmony with HV’ART Decorative Canvas™, providing the controlled slip needed for specialist decorative work. This allows the tinted glaze to move across the surface without grabbing too quickly, dragging unevenly or producing unwanted dry edges.

The tinted translucent glaze may be used to create:

• softly aged or patinated finishes
• translucent colour washes
• subtle tonal variation
• Contemporary Japanning
• faux marble and stone
• decorative wood and faux-bois finishes
• antique, worn or time-softened effects
• layered metallic, pearlescent or mineral-inspired finishes

The decorative result is determined not only by the colour of the glaze, but also by how it is applied, manipulated and removed.

Building Colour, Movement and Depth

Traditional decorative finishes are usually created through a relationship between the base colour and the translucent glaze placed over it.

The underlying Decorative Canvas establishes the principal colour structure. The glaze then introduces movement, contrast and depth.

Because the glaze is translucent, the base remains visible through the decorative layer. This creates a visual richness that cannot normally be achieved with a single opaque coat of paint.

The artisan may apply the glaze by brush or roller before manipulating it with specialist decorative tools to achieve the required effect. These may include softening brushes, stippling brushes, dragging brushes, floggers, combs, cloths, sponges and specialist graining tools.

The glaze may then be softened, stippled, dragged, washed, mottled, feathered, combed or partially removed to create the required movement, texture and pattern.

In faux-marble, stone and wood finishes, several glaze colours may be layered to reproduce the complexity and variation found in natural materials. In a glaze wash or patinated finish, the treatment may be much quieter, creating only a gentle change in tone and movement.

Selecting the Correct Glaze Consistency

Different decorative techniques require different levels of body, movement, pattern retention and working time.

HV’ART Lacquer Glazes™ are available in four formulations, allowing the artisan to select the appropriate combination of working time, consistency and pattern retention for the finish being created.

HV’ART Open Time Pattern Hold Lacquer Glaze™

HV’ART Open Time Pattern Hold Lacquer Glaze™ provides the longest working time with greater pattern retention. It is designed for larger areas and for decorative finishes where the movement and pattern need to remain clearly defined.

It is particularly suited to strié, dragging, wood graining and other patterned glaze effects that require sufficient time to work across a larger surface.

HV’ART Open Time Lacquer Glaze™

HV’ART Open Time Lacquer Glaze™ has a thinner consistency while retaining an extended working time.

It is particularly suited to larger areas, broad translucent washes, subtle shifts of colour and softly layered effects where the underlying base colour is intended to remain clearly visible.

HV’ART Studio Set Pattern Hold Lacquer Glaze™

HV’ART Studio Set Pattern Hold Lacquer Glaze™ has a quicker setting time and is designed for smaller areas, sample boards and decorative stages that need to progress more quickly.

It is useful for techniques such as flogging, small-scale strié, the early stages of marble or wood-grain finishes, and layered decorative work where the next glaze needs to be applied sooner.

HV’ART Studio Set Lacquer Glaze™

HV’ART Studio Set Lacquer Glaze™ is the thinner, faster-setting studio glaze.

It is ideal for quick colour washes, fine colour adjustments and translucent layers built in succession, particularly in marble, stone, wood and other detailed decorative finishes.

The correct glaze should therefore be selected according to the scale and position of the surface, the required working and setting time, the level of pattern retention and the decorative technique being used.

The scale of the surface must also be considered. Large walls, ceilings and joinery sections require sufficient working time to maintain a continuous wet edge and avoid visible joins. Smaller areas or highly detailed finishes may benefit from a quicker-setting or more controlled glaze.

Environmental conditions can also affect the behaviour of the material. Temperature, airflow, humidity and the absorbency of the underlying surface may all influence working time. This is why correct preparation and the use of a compatible base coat are so important.

Preparing the Glaze for Lacquering

Once the desired decorative effect has been achieved, the glaze must be allowed to dry and cure sufficiently before the protective Crystal Lacquer is applied.

The surface should be carefully inspected before lacquering. Any unwanted marks, joins, inconsistencies or areas requiring adjustment should be corrected at the glaze stage, as the subsequent lacquer will protect and enhance everything beneath it.

The glaze creates the artistic finish. The Crystal Lacquer applied in Step Four then seals, protects and presents that finish with the chosen level of sheen.

HV’ART Lacquer Glaze™ is the creative stage of the system: the point at which colour, technique and craftsmanship combine to transform a prepared surface into a distinctive decorative finish.

Step Four: Lacquering

The fourth stage of the HV’ART Advanced Lacquer Paint System is the application of the appropriate HV’ART Crystal Lacquer™.

The lacquer should be selected according to the appearance of the intended finish, the level of use the surface will receive and the degree of protection required. A decorative wall finish, a piece of furniture, a bathroom surface and a frequently handled item of joinery may each require a different lacquer specification.

HV’ART Crystal Lacquers™ protect the decorative work beneath while enhancing its colour, depth and character. The correct lacquer helps to create a durable and cleanable surface without compromising the movement, variation and craftsmanship of the decorative finish.

Choosing the Correct Sheen

Sheen is not simply a technical choice. It is an essential part of the visual design of the finish.

The way light reflects from a surface can dramatically alter how its colour, texture and decorative movement are perceived. A lower sheen absorbs more light and can create a softer, quieter or more aged appearance. A higher sheen reflects more light, increasing contrast, depth and visual impact.

The HV’ART Crystal Lacquer™ range is available in ten sheen levels. Their names are intended to help describe the visual character of the dried finish, although each lacquer may be used creatively across many different decorative applications.

HV’ART ADV Crystal Lacquer™ 00 Mineral — Deep Matt

Our deepest matt finish, designed to create a very mineral, aged or almost uncoated appearance. It is particularly suited to finishes intended to feel chalky, natural, time-worn or quietly understated.

Because extremely matt finishes can reveal application marking more readily, 00 Mineral is best used where the surface, technique and method of application are carefully controlled.

HV’ART ADV Crystal Lacquer™ 02 Stone — Matt

A natural matt finish with a gentle degree of light reflection, inspired by the appearance of real stone such as limestone.

02 Stone is generally our preferred matt lacquer for larger flat walls, ceilings and broad glazed surfaces, as it creates a soft matt appearance while offering greater application forgiveness than an ultra-deep matt finish.

HV’ART ADV Crystal Lacquer™ 04 Parchment — Semi-Matt

A soft semi-matt finish with just enough lustre to give a surface gentle warmth and life.

It is well suited to parchment-inspired finishes, softly aged decorative work and surfaces where a quiet, refined glow is preferred to a completely matt appearance.

HV’ART ADV Crystal Lacquer™ 06 Vellum — Veluxe Matt

A refined matt finish with a soft, velvety light response.

06 Vellum gives decorative surfaces a little more depth and light movement while retaining an understated and elegant appearance, making it particularly suitable for vellum-inspired, softly polished and subtly layered finishes.

HV’ART ADV Crystal Lacquer™ 08 Boiserie — Semi-Eggshell

A classic low eggshell finish developed to complement refined timber and decorative wood effects.

08 Boiserie is particularly suited to faux bois, grained timber, painted joinery and traditional decorative finishes where a restrained but sophisticated sheen is required.

HV’ART ADV Crystal Lacquer™ 10 Honed — Eggshell

A softly reflective eggshell finish inspired by honed stone and marble.

10 Honed adds gentle depth and light movement without appearing glossy. It is suitable for honed marble effects, stone finishes, decorative timber and many other surfaces requiring a refined, quietly polished appearance.

HV’ART ADV Crystal Lacquer™ 20 Lustre — Semi-Satin

A softly lustrous finish that begins to introduce more noticeable light reflection.

20 Lustre is particularly suited to marble, wood, decorative panels and specialist finishes where greater richness and depth are required without moving into a full satin sheen.

HV’ART ADV Crystal Lacquer™ 40 Quartz — Satin

A clear satin finish with stronger light reflection and greater visual depth.

40 Quartz is well suited to contemporary stone and marble effects, decorative joinery and surfaces where a more polished, luxurious appearance is desired.

HV’ART ADV Crystal Lacquer™ 60 Gilt — Semi-Gloss

A rich semi-gloss finish designed to enhance metallic, gilded and highly decorative surfaces.

60 Gilt intensifies colour, metallic movement and reflected light, making it particularly effective over gold, bronze, metallic finishes and decorative work requiring greater brilliance.

HV’ART ADV Crystal Lacquer™ 90 Ceramic — Ultimate Gloss

Our highest-gloss lacquer, developed to create an intense wet-look finish with maximum depth, clarity and light reflection.

90 Ceramic is used for our signature Contemporary Japanning Lacquer™ finishes and for surfaces intended to resemble polished ceramic or highly refined lacquer. Depending on the project, the cured lacquer may subsequently be honed and polished to further refine the final surface.

The same decorative finish can appear entirely different depending on the Crystal Lacquer selected. A traditional or antique-inspired finish may be most convincing in Mineral, Stone, Parchment or Vellum, while a bold contemporary finish may benefit from Quartz, Gilt or Ceramic.

The surrounding architecture, lighting and intended atmosphere should always be considered when selecting the final sheen.

Adding Depth, Clarity and Protection

One of the great advantages of working with a controlled lacquer system is that it allows decorative finishes to be enhanced beneath a beautiful clear surface.

Lacquer can be used to add depth, clarity and protection to:

• faux marbles
• faux wood
• painted stone effects
• decorative panels
• specialist glaze works
• hand-painted socket plates
• painted furniture details
• architectural features
• restoration work

A carefully lacquered surface can create a museum-quality appearance, particularly when used over finely painted marble or wood graining. It can also help unify a decorative scheme by giving different painted elements a shared depth and sheen.

It is equally valuable in sympathetic restoration, where the appropriate glaze density and lacquer sheen can help new work sit quietly alongside the original surface. The system is quick-drying, non-yellowing and very low odour, allowing thin, durable layers to be built with a high degree of control.

This is one of the reasons we developed the HV’ART Advanced Lacquer Paint System™. It gives the artisan greater creative control across a wide range of decorative finishes.

Balancing Appearance and Durability

The required sheen should always be considered alongside the practical demands placed upon the surface.

Frequently touched joinery, furniture, doors and surfaces exposed to moisture or regular cleaning may require a more robust lacquer specification. More decorative or lightly used surfaces may allow the choice to be led primarily by appearance.

It is therefore important to consider:

• the visual character of the finish
• the amount of natural and artificial light
• the level of handling and daily use
• the required restistance to cleaning, moisture and wear
• whether the intended appearance is traditional, contemporary or highly polished

The objective is to select a Crystal Lacquer that provides the necessary protection while presenting the decorative finish exactly as intended.

The final lacquer does far more than protect the surface. Its sheen controls how the finish responds to light and plays a defining role in the colour, depth, age and overall character of the completed work.

A Typical HV’ART Shopping List

A typical HV’ART shopping list will always begin with the substrate and the decorative finish being created. The products required will vary according to whether the surface is plaster, timber, joinery, furniture, metal, glass, plastic, previously painted or already coated.

A typical system may include:

1. Sealer and Primer

Where porous areas, bare plaster, MDF edges, fillers or other absorbent surfaces require sealing, use:

• HV’ART Shellac SealCoat™

Then select the appropriate primer:

• HV’ART Gesso Style Factory Primer™, for factory or workshop spray-priming
• HV’ART Gesso Style Primer/Undercoat™, for hand-applied priming and undercoating

The primer should normally be tinted towards the intended finished colour.

For hard, smooth or difficult-to-adhere-to surfaces, the appropriate HV’ART primer may be used with HV’ART ADV Adhesion Crosslinker to provide enhanced adhesion.

2. Base Coat or Finishing Paint

For decorative glaze and lacquer finishes, use:

• HV’ART Decorative Canvas™, creating the coloured base coat and working surface for the glaze

Where no decorative glaze is required, this may instead become the finishing-paint stage:

• HV’ART Advanced Furnitura Paint, for furniture
• HV’ART Advanced Architectura Paint, for architectural joinery

3. Decorative Glaze

Choose one of the four HV’ART Lacquer Glazes™ according to the scale of the surface, required working time, consistency and pattern retention:

• HV’ART Open Time Pattern Hold Lacquer Glaze™
• HV’ART Open Time Lacquer Glaze™
• HV’ART Studio Set Pattern Hold Lacquer Glaze™
• HV’ART Studio Set Lacquer Glaze™

The glaze will also require a suitable colourant. We generally recommend:

• Mixol Universal Tinting Concentrates

4. Protective Crystal Lacquer

Choose the appropriate HV’ART Crystal Lacquer™ according to the desired sheen, appearance and level of protection.

The range includes ten sheen levels, from 00 Mineral Deep Matt through to 90 Ceramic Ultimate Gloss.

The chosen lacquer should reflect both the visual character of the finish and the practical demands placed upon the surface.

Where increased durability, chemical resistance or enhanced performance is required, the appropriate HV’ART ADV crosslinker or hardener may also be specified.

5. Honing and Polishing

Where the finished lacquer is to be refined, honed or polished, the system may also include:

• HV’ART Lacquer Honing Compound™
• HV’ART Lacquer Polishing Wax™

6. Application Tools and Accessories

The correct tools form an essential part of the system and may include:

• suitable rollers
• laying-off and gliding brushes
• softening, stippling and dragging brushes
• floggers, combs and specialist graining tools
• cloths and sponges
• sanding and surface-refinement materials
• polishing accessories

The final shopping list will depend on the substrate, surface condition, decorative design, application method and intended level of protection. Sample boards are always recommended before committing to the main surface, allowing the complete system—from primer and base colour through to glaze, lacquer and final sheen—to be tested together.

How much HV’ART paint or lacquer will I need?

We are also often asked how much paint or lacquer is required.

This depends on the substrate, application method, porosity, design, number of coats, level of sanding, glaze depth, chosen sheen and the skill of the person using the materials. For this reason, we cannot calculate exact quantities for every project.

However, as a broad guide based on our site experience:

• HV’ART Gesso Style Primer™: approximately 12 to 15 square metres per litre, per coat. We would usually advocate two coats.
• HV’ART Decorative Canvas™: approximately 18 to 20 square metres per litre, per coat. We would usually advocate two coats.
• HV’ART Lacquer Glaze™: approximately 25 to 30 square metres per litre, per coat. The number of coats depends on the depth and movement required.
• HV’ART Crystal Lacquer™: approximately 25 to 30 square metres per litre, per coat.

These figures are approximate and should be treated as guidance only.

A deeper broken colour finish may require more glaze work. A higher lacquer build may require more Crystal Lacquer. More sanding between coats may also affect usage. The artisan using the system must make allowance for the project, the surface and the intended finish.

Roll, tip and glide: the importance of application tools

HV’ART products can be sprayed where appropriate, and spray application can be useful in certain settings, particularly for factory-prepared joinery or specific project requirements. However, for most of our finishes including our signature Contemporary Japanning Lacquer™ finishes, we generally favour hand application.

We often use a method known as roll and tip. The material is applied by roller and then very gently laid off using a specialist soft brush. In our own lacquer language, we often think of this and refer to this as gliding. The brush glides across the surface after rolling evenly, helping to calm, refine and settle the material.

We often use a method known as roll and tip, which in our own lacquer language we refer to as gliding. The material is applied evenly by roller and then very gently laid off with a specialist soft brush, allowing the brush to glide across the surface and help calm, refine and settle the coating.

This relatively modern method is particularly suited to contemporary, quicker-drying waterborne materials and relies on using the correct specialist brushes. We explore the technique in more detail in our dedicated guide to rolling, tipping and gliding.

The brushes, rollers and accessories we use are chosen to help the artisan succeed, and we have highlighted them under Accessories in our online store. They allow the material to be applied, laid down and refined with the greatest possible control.

FAQs about Using the HV’ART Advanced Lacquer Paint System