What are the differences between the various Matte Mediums?
GOLDEN makes three Matte Mediums; Fluid Matte Medium, designed for extending the Fluid Acrylics; regular Matte Medium, designed for mixing with Heavy Body Paints; and Super Loaded Matte Medium, which is used to quickly lower the sheen of a paint. It's important to note while all three will lower the gloss of paint or other gel medium, only Super Loaded Matte Medium will create a matte blend. This is due to the "overload" of matting solids. It is also important to realize adding matte mediums to paints can lower color intensity, and in thick or multiple applications can develop a "cloudy" or "foggy" appearance that will not clear up. For this reason, each artist should experiment with these products to determine if this is an issue in their work. These products can also be used as 'clear" gessos when you want to incorporate the canvas into the artwork.

Can you tell me more about your Super Loaded Matte Medium? There is little on your Web site. The Web site states it can be used as a ground, while the label states " do not use alone." This seems a bit contradictory.
The Super Loaded Matte Medium information sheet is available upon request. It's actually for all of the Matte Mediums, but the key information is there.

In regards to the seemingly contradictory information, here is the scoop: When using alone, over paints, the excessive amount of matting agent will most likely cause a cloudy effect lightening and dulling the underlying colors, and unlike varnish it's non- removable. It forms a great film, so use as a gesso is fine, although the Matte Medium does the same thing and works much better as a "clear" gesso.

The Super Loaded Matte Medium's best uses are:

• to make glossy acrylic paints, gels and mediums sheen matte
• to lower matte products' sheen even farther. Best extending medium for our new Matte Fluids.
• to use the lowest sheen medium for glazing. It does what most people think our Matte Medium is supposed to do. For people who hate even the tiniest bit of reflectance, this is their product of choice. They are so engrossed on having the most matte finish possible, other issues like a lightened color are unimportant.