Our HV’ART Advanced Lacquer Paint System is a water-borne lacquer paint system that supports decorative artists worldwide and is the evolution of world class lacquer. The result is a refined and resilient finish that respects craft and environment in equal measure.
With international shipping and results that stay consistent across regions, it is a truly worldwide product system. Whether you work in London, New York, Dubai, Singapore, Paris, Sydney or anywhere in between, the Advanced Lacquer Paint System provides a complete toolkit from first prime to final seal. It supports professional spray shops and small studios, and it is equally at home on high end residential projects, retail environments and joinery or furniture projects.
What is the HV’ART Advanced Lacquer Paint System
The Advanced Lacquer Paint System is a layered, water-borne finishing method that replaces traditional oil heavy processes, and results in production schedules remaining efficient and reduced on-site disruption.
Eco friendly workflow- water-borne, minimal solvents, low odour, suitable for studios and occupied spaces.
Hard wearing finish– the Crystal Lacquer creates a hard, crystal quality surface with a soft, silky-smooth feel for furniture and joinery.
True colour control– mix any colour to match global brand palettes and standards.
Non-yellowing– stable colour integrity that holds over time, even in bright light or sunlit space.
Fast turnaround– quick drying layers support tight programmes.
Versatile application– spray or brush, depending on project scale and access.
Key improvements
The original lacquer paint system has been used successfully for many years, but the new Advanced Lacquer Paint system takes everything we have learned on-site and builds on it. Every product has been reviewed, refined and rebalanced so that it behaves better in real projects.
The key improvements compared with the original lacquer paint system include:
Stronger adhesion
The Advanced primers, lacquer paints and crystal lacquers have improved adhesion, so they bond more securely to correctly prepared substrates and support complex build ups, including fibreglass crack suppressant systems.Greater opacity
Pigmented products now have higher opacity. This gives better hiding power, cleaner coverage and often fewer coats to reach a rich, even colour.Improved clarity and colour stability
Crystal lacquers and glazes are noticeably clearer. This reduces unwanted warmth or milkiness, keeps colours closer to the designer’s intent and allows decorative work to read more crisply.Easier tinting and colour control
The Advanced bases have been tuned so that they accept colour in a more predictable way. This makes it simpler to mix, match and repeat colours across different elements, whether you are working on walls, ceilings or joinery.Better flow, levelling and glide
One of the biggest on site improvements is how the second coat behaves over the first. Where the original formula could sometimes feel as if it was dragging, the Advanced Lacquer Paint system allows subsequent coats to glide more smoothly, level out more evenly and dry to a flatter, more refined surface with less sanding.Refined glazes
The new generation of Advanced glazes has been taken as far as possible in terms of clarity, open time and pattern hold. They stay workable for longer, soften more easily and sit cleanly under the chosen crystal lacquer.Clearer, more versatile crystal lacquers
Advanced crystal lacquers such as Stone 02 and Ceramic 90 are now totally clear and can be thinned for finer finishing. They have improved flow and, in the case of higher sheens, a more even, glassy build that feels luxurious without looking heavy.
Together these changes mean that the Advanced Lacquer Paint system is not just a new label. It is a genuine technical upgrade on the original lacquer paint system, created to give designers, decorators and clients a more controllable, more consistent and more beautiful result.
Our powder-down lacquer system
One of the pivotal developments in the HV’ART Advanced Lacquer Paint System™ was creating materials that would powder down correctly when sanded.
This may sound technical, but it is extremely important.
Many waterborne lacquers form a tough film. If that film creates an edge, ridge or application mark, it can be very difficult to remove. In some systems, the edge will not truly sand out. It may remain visible or require filling, which can create further complications.
For high-level decorative lacquer work, this is a major problem.
We needed a system that would work with us rather than fight us. We wanted materials that could be sanded, refined and brought to a beautiful, glass-like surface between coats.
The development of a powder-down system changed everything for us. When correctly used, the HV’ART system allows the surface to be sanded and refined between layers, helping remove minor application marks, improve clarity and prepare the surface for the next coat.
This gives the artisan greater control. It allows the finish to be corrected and refined through skill and understanding.
In many ways, this was one of the real breakthroughs in creating our waterborne lacquer system. It was not simply about making a modern lacquer. It was about creating a system of materials that skilled artisans could use properly, repeatedly and with confidence.
A System Designed By Specialist Decorators, for Specialist Finishes
For us, a lacquer paint system is not just a collection of products. It is a way of working that lets a team communicate clearly and build finishes that are reliable, repeatable and beautiful. In decorating, the foundation is every bit as important as the top coat, so each component in the system has been designed to interlock and do its job without surprises.
Working within a system keeps you focused. Instead of being blinded by shelves of unrelated products, you have a clear route from A to B to C: primer, undercoat or basecoat, colour body, decorative layers where needed and then lacquer top coats to set sheen and protection. There are still thoughtful decisions for the craftsperson to make, such as choosing the right sheen for the look you want, or the right primer for a particular substrate, but those choices sit within a framework that has already been tested to work as a whole.
When we trained, the classic decorating approach was simple: primer, undercoat, top coat. Sometimes a lacquered finish instead of a conventional top coat, but always a clear sequence. Our Advanced Lacquer Paint System keeps that traditional logic, updated for contemporary materials and standards. It is a complete system, not a pick-and-mix.
Many competitors focus on selling individual products and leave you to invent your own “system” around them. That might mean mixing brands and chemistries and hoping the layers are compatible. From our point of view, that is asking for trouble. This system has been created by specialist decorators to succeed in real workshops and on demanding sites, precisely because we use it ourselves to achieve the finishes we are known for.
We do not think of ourselves as paint sellers. We are decorative artists who needed a dependable lacquer paint system, built it around the way we work and then made it available to others along with the knowledge behind it. It is a professional system rather than a DIY kit, designed to support serious decorative work rather than quick weekend jobs.
There has been a big shift since the oil-based paints we started with in the 1980s. Environmental responsibilities, lower VOC requirements and concerns about what is being taken from the earth to make coatings have all changed the landscape. We were early adopters of water-based systems in the mid-1990s, and this Lacquer Paint System is an evolution of that journey: as close as possible to the feel and performance of traditional craft finishes, while being water-borne, more environmentally responsible and fit for today’s interiors.
Every component you need in one Lacquer Paint System
Primers and Undercoats
Adhesion promoting primers and smooth, easy-sanding undercoats that build a reliable base on dense timbers, MDF and composites.
Lacquer Paint
Tinted lacquer paint for furniture and joinery, mixed to any colour. This forms the colour body within the Lacquer Paint System and levels cleanly for a refined surface.
For fine furniture, choose the ‘Furnitura’ Lacquer Paint for Furniture System, and for cabinetry choose the ‘Architura’ Lacquer Paint for Joinery, Woodwork and Trim System. Decorative artists can build effects with the Decorative Lacquer Paint System before sealing.
Lacquer Glaze
Four different setting lacquer glazes for control of decorative effects on the Decorative Canvas colour (basecoat, ground colour). Creating colour movement, patterns, soft ageing, stone, marble and wood effects, and subtle tonal shifts.
Crystal Lacquer
Protective topcoats that set touch, sheen and durability. Choose from ‘Mineral 00’ to ‘Ceramic 90’ for exact control.
Additives
Performance helpers that combine with paints and lacquers for elevated toughness and application control in demanding environments.
Accessories
Recommended application essentials that ensure repeatable results in workshops and on international sites.
The importance of sheen in lacquer and decorative designs
One of the most overlooked elements in lacquer and decorative design is sheen.
Many people think of lacquer as simply meaning high gloss, but this is far too limited. Sheen is one of the most important creative decisions within a lacquered decorative finish.
It affects how the eye interprets the surface, how light moves across it and whether the illusion feels convincing.
This is one of the reasons we created the HV’ART Crystal Lacquer range with such a wide spectrum of sheens. We believe our HV’ART Crystal Lacquer Mineral 00™ is one of the mattest waterborne lacquers available, while HV’ART Crystal Lacquer Ceramic 90™ gives our ultimate wet-look gloss.
Between these two extremes, the HV’ART Crystal Lacquer range allows us to choose the correct sheen for the decorative intention of the surface, rather than forcing every finish into one standard gloss level.
A high-gloss lacquer, such as HV’ART Crystal Lacquer Ceramic 90™, can make a surface feel bold, dramatic and highly contemporary. It can create depth, clarity and a beautifully polished wet-look presence.
However, high gloss is not always the right answer.
At the other end of the scale, HV’ART Crystal Lacquer Mineral 00™ gives us an exceptionally deep matt lacquer finish. This can be invaluable where the intention is not shine, but atmosphere.
A deep matt lacquer can help a surface feel older, quieter, softer, drier or more naturally aged. It can support the feeling of old patina, time-worn furniture, dry decorative walling, aged painted panels, softly antiqued plaster, muted faux stone, understated faux bois and other specialist decorative finishes where too much reflection would disturb the illusion.
This is important because not every lacquered or protected surface should look new, glossy or contemporary. Sometimes the most beautiful choice is a lacquer that almost disappears, allowing the decorative work beneath to feel settled, aged and naturally part of the room.
Mid sheens are equally valuable. When used carefully, they can create a surface that feels settled, handled and naturally aged, rather than either newly painted or overly polished.
The right sheen can help create the feeling of:
- Old patina
- Time-worn furniture
- Dry decorative walling
- Aged painted panels
- Soft antiqued plaster
- Muted faux stone
- Understated faux bois
- Historic lacquer
- Museum-quality faux marble
- Refined wood graining
- Subtle decorative panels
- Deep matt decorative surfaces
- Wet-look gloss lacquer designs
- Highly polished modern lacquer
- Contemporary ceramic gloss
This is why sheen is not a finishing afterthought. It is part of the design language.
A decorative artist may paint a beautiful faux finish, but if the lacquer sheen is wrong, the illusion can fail. The surface may no longer work psychologically or subconsciously for the viewer.
For us, the sheen must support the material we are trying to suggest. Stone, marble, wood, lacquer, ceramic, plaster, furniture, joinery and aged decorative surfaces all require different optical decisions.
From ‘Mineral 00’ to ‘Ceramic 90’, our lacquer system gives us the extremes, and everything in between, to create the correct decorative or lacquer effect for each individual design.
Ten crystal lacquer sheens for ultimate control
The Advanced Lacquer Paint System offers a controlled ladder of Crystal Lacquers, with reflectivity levels ranging from deep flat to ultimate gloss. This spectrum allows global teams to keep one Lacquer Paint System across projects while tuning finish levels by room or region. Match sheen to lighting, photography needs and touch requirements.
Low sheen from ‘Mineral 00’ to ‘Honed 10’ suits calm architectural surfaces and reduces glare in bright environments.
‘Mineral 00’ – Deep Matte
‘Stone 02’ – Matte
‘Parchment 04’ – Semi Matte
‘Vellum 06’ – Veluxe Matte
‘Boiserie 08’ – Semi Eggshell
‘Honed 10’ – Eggshell
Mid sheen from ‘Lustre 20’ and ‘Quartz 40’ balances easy cleaning with a relaxed aesthetic.
‘Luster 20’ – Semi Satin
‘Quartz 40’ – Satin
High sheen from ‘Gilt 60’ to ‘Ceramic 90’ delivers crisp reflections for statement pieces and controlled lighting.
‘Gilt 60’ – Semi Gloss
‘Ceramic 90’ – Ultimate Gloss
Typical workflow with the Lacquer Paint System
A sequence that delivers depth, clarity and a dependable schedule for teams working across time zones.
Preparation– clean, key and dust the surface.
Prime– apply the selected primer from the Advanced Lacquer Paint System and allow to dry.
Undercoat– build an even foundation between coats.
Colour– apply tinted Lacquer Paint in thin, even layers.
Decorative– optional Lacquer Glazes work on the Decorative Canvas colour (basecoat, ground colour).
Seal– finish with a Crystal Lacquer to set to the required sheen.
A variety of uses for this Paint System
Wherever the project is located, the Advanced Lacquer Paint System gives the same repeatable quality and finish control.
Bespoke furniture and joinery for residences and hotels in Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia Pacific.
Kitchens and wardrobes where stable colour and specified sheen are essential under varied light conditions.
Retail, galleries and exhibitions that need fast, low odour finishing with premium results.
Specialist decoration including glazes, patinas, stone and wood effects produced on the Decorative Canvas.
Where to purchase the HV’ART Advanced Lacquer Paint System
You can buy the complete Advanced Lacquer Paint System online from HV’ART Online Store with international shipping. Build your specification from the product categories below.
HV’ART supplies the Advanced Lacquer Paint System through the ‘All Finishes’ Platform (part of the Symphony Coatings Group) to trade and retail customers worldwide. Orders are securely packed for transit. Customs duties and local taxes may apply depending on destination. If you need specification guidance before placing an order, contact the team with project details and location.
For our clients in the United State of America, you can purchase the HV’ART Advanced Paint & Lacquer System at Faux Brushes.
Durability, care and maintenance
HV’ART lacquer finishes are built from multiple layers of high-quality primers, Decorative Canvas™, glaze and lacquer. When properly applied over a sound substrate, they can offer a very good level of durability for a refined decorative finish.
However, it is important to understand what kind of finish this is.
A lacquered wall, panel or piece of joinery is a specialist decorative surface. It is not an industrial coating. It should be treated with care.
Paint and lacquer are also only as strong as the substrate beneath them. On walling, even a strong paint or lacquer system can still be dented if the plaster or surface beneath is impacted.
One way to understand this is to think of car paint. Car paint is extremely durable and exposed to weather, roads and daily use. Yet most people would still understand that throwing keys onto a car bonnet could scratch or damage the paint.
A Contemporary Japanning Lacquer™ finish should be thought of in the same way. It is durable within the expectations of a fine decorative finish, but it is still a jewellery-box surface. It is created for beauty, depth, atmosphere and refinement, not as a heavy-duty industrial finish.
The Advanced Lacquer Paint System is designed for real use. Wipe with a soft, slightly damp cloth. Avoid harsh solvents and abrasive pads. For heavy wear locations, select the appropriate Crystal Lacquer and Additives to maximise durability, then follow HV’ART guidance on cleaning cycles.
FAQs about HV’ART Advanced Lacquer Paint System
A Lacquer Paint System is a complete finishing method that includes primers, coloured lacquer paint, optional decorative glazes and a protective crystal lacquer. It delivers a hard, refined surface with controlled sheen.
The Advanced Lacquer Paint System is used by furniture makers, joinery workshops, decorative studios and interior contractors worldwide who need reliable, repeatable results.
Yes, when you select the correct products to suit the environment and usage.
Both are possible. Many workshops spray for efficiency and levelling. Skilled brush application works well on small items and on sites with limited access.
Yes, the Lacquer Paint System includes a Decorative Canvas and Lacquer Glaze option to create subtle ageing, mineral movement and stone effects.
At one end of the HV’ART Crystal Lacquer range is HV’ART Crystal Lacquer Mineral 00™, our deep matt lacquer.
At the other end is HV’ART Crystal Lacquer Ceramic 90™, our ultimate wet-look gloss lacquer.
Between these two extremes, the range allows us to choose the right sheen for each decorative finish, from old patina and antiqued surfaces through to highly polished contemporary lacquer designs.
Select from ten sheens, 'Mineral 00' (Deep Flat) through to 'Ceramic 90' (Ultimate Gloss). Lower sheens are calm and architectural. Higher sheens suit statement items and high reflection designs.
A powder-down lacquer system is designed to sand down cleanly between coats, helping the artisan refine the surface. This is important because some waterborne coatings form a film that can leave difficult edges or ridges. The HV’ART system was developed to allow sanding, refinement and a glass-like build between layers.
Sheen affects how the eye reads a decorative finish.
High-gloss lacquer can feel contemporary, polished and dramatic, while lower sheens can help a surface feel older, drier, softer or more naturally aged.
If the sheen is wrong, even a beautifully painted faux marble, faux stone, faux bois or decorative lacquer finish may not feel convincing.
HV’ART lacquer has a very good level of durability for a refined decorative finish when applied correctly over a sound substrate. However, it is not an industrial coating and should be treated as a fine decorative surface. Like car paint, it may be strong, but it can still scratch or dent if mistreated.
No. Lacquer, especially very high-gloss or very matt lacquer, is difficult to touch up invisibly. Local repairs may sometimes be possible, but they should not be relied upon. Depending on the damage, sheen and surface, a larger area may need to be refinished.
Yes. HV’ART lacquer finishes are created using a modern waterborne lacquer paint system.
We developed this approach to reduce reliance on traditional solvent-heavy systems while still creating depth, gloss and beauty.
Delivery timings vary by destination and service. Orders are packed for safe transit. Customs duties and local taxes may apply in your country.