Is There a Way to Make Satin Paint Into Semigloss?

Direct Conversion

• Different sheens of the same type and brand of paint are chemically very similar. The sheen of the paint is determined by the ratio of pigment to other solids in the paint. Paints with a larger ratio of pigment have a lower sheen. In theory, adding more non-pigment solids to the paint could turn satin paint into semigloss. However, this is not a practical option. Each brand of paint uses different materials and ratios. You would need to know the ratio of pigment to other solids for the satin paint and the semigloss paint for any given manufacturer and brand of paint. In addition, you would need access to the materials used for that particular paint. If you had access to this information and materials, it would be simpler to use them to directly make a new batch of semigloss paint than to convert satin paint into semigloss.

Mixing Different Sheens

• Although it is impractical to directly convert satin paint into semigloss, you can adjust the sheen of a satin paint by mixing it with other sheens of the same paint. You need to use the exact same brand and color of paint to ensure you are only adjusting the ratio of pigment, and not introducing new materials or pigments. Gloss paint has a higher ratio of pigment to other solids than semigloss does. If you mix satin and gloss paint together in the right proportions, you would eventually create paint with the same pigment ratio as a semigloss paint. The exact amount of satin paint and gloss paint you need to do this varies substantially between manufacturer and paint brand, so you can only find the right mixture through trial and error.

Semigloss Clear Coat

• The most practical option for doing the conversion is to use a semigloss clear coat over the top of the satin paint. The satin paint is normally used as is, with no mixing or attempt to change it. Once the satin paint is dry, the semigloss clear coat is applied on top. The clear coat gives the satin paint the same sheen as a semigloss, but the color of the satin paint is still preserved. The clear coat does not require you to estimate amounts, or to use trial and error to achieve the desired results, since the clear coat has the correct sheen already.

Practicality

• Overall, converting satin paint into semigloss paint is not practical and should be avoided. It is entirely possible to turn satin paint into semigloss, but the time, expense and difficulty of doing so far exceeds the potential benefit. You either need extensive knowledge of the paint composition or an extended amount of trial and error to change between paint sheens. Using a semigloss clear coat over satin paint is a much easier option, one that does not require any paint mixing. However, the cost of using a semigloss clear coat and satin paint is going to significantly exceed the cost of just using a semigloss paint.