Painting Stage

[stagemonkey1000]

The theater company I work at is looking at painting the stage black for the next production. I was wondering whether we should make it glossy or matte? Which works better/ looks better? The show requires a lot of movement.

[gareth]

Matte base coat, but perhaps with a bit of PVA glaze on top to give it a little bit of a sheen.

[andy_s]

I think matt black looks best when fresh, but deteriorates quite quickly when heavily used. Satin (semi matt) keeps its looks for longer and is more hard-wearing. (or PVA glaze as Gareth suggests. the good thing about PVA is you can adjust the amount of sheen yourself - with experience you get to know the right dilution. Basically - the greater proportion of water to PVA, the less glossy the finish will be.)

[mcnallca]

Dulux Weather Shield is my suggestion, Matt Black with a nice soft sheen, water based but also largely water proof when dry and extremely hard wearing, also vastly more saturated than trade matt black which is largely grey.

[Ken Coker]

This sounds ridiculous, but Rosco do a Supersat black.

It would sound equally ridiculous if I told you it took light well.....but it does!

 

Expensive, but worth a try. Whatever you use, prepare the surface well.

 

KC

[Bryson]

And the best trick ever is to add 1 part in 20 (or even less) white paint. So you paint the stage very dark grey rather than black - makes dusty footprints much less obvious...

[Nick S]

I mix in the PVA with the paint, rather than adding a top coat - 1 in 4, or 1 in 5 usually - to help reduce scuffs and increase durability. This was passed on to me by somebody who swears by it...