Aged Finish: brown glaze applied over paint made to look old

Burnish: Process of rubbing steel trowels over plaster to develop shine

Color Wash: blended paint and glaze to create the most subtle effect

Crackle Finish: Cracks in finish to look old and worn.  Works well on wood trim

Damask Patterns: All over stencil designs that have the look of wallpaper but with the beauty of faded paint and glaze

Distressed finish: similar to aging but usually more beat up and rustic

Eggshell: A paint finish that has slightly more sheen than flat paint

Embossing: Plaster that is raised in a distinct pattern

Encausto:  Wax that has been tinted and rubbed onto walls or murals

Faux bois: Wood grain effect painted to look like real wood.Oak, Burl & Mahogany most common. Best for molding, trim and doors

Faux Silk: Wall finish with fabric appearance with slugs and pulls

Fresco: Painting on Wet plaster for look of Ancient Pompeii

Frottage: Glaze transparent finish that is done in large scale pattern with distinct lines

Gilding:  Real gold or silver leaf or powder applied with additive. Most realistic for metal effects

Glaze: An additive to paints or universal tints with  transparency. Used also to slow drying time of mixture 

Grisaille: French for gray color tones giving the illusion of dimension

Leather Finish: look of real leather or suede

Linen Finish: Appearance of  linen fabric applied with stiff bristle brushes in vertical and horizontal pattern

Marbling:   Effect of marble with realistic veins and cracks. Most often done on columns and some walls.

Marmarino:  Type of plaster usually smooth in texture

Metallics: Paints with pearlescent or metal like shimmer. Can be sheer or opaque (more solid) 

Metallic Plaster: Plasters with Mica powders mixed in to create shimmer and luster in plaster

Old World: Aged finish to look like it was created long ago

Sheen: The level of  shine in paint or varnish.  Flat , eggshell ,matte,  low lustre,semi- gloss or high gloss.

Stippling: Soft brush pouncing effect very subtle in appearance without pattern

Strie: Sometimes called Dragging. Tinted glaze is dragged down vertically over painted wall. Appearance of fine lines.

Topcoat:  The  clear protective sealer or varnish applied over a faux finish. Provides added durability to some plasters and glazed on woodwork

Trome l’oeil: French for “fool the eye” mural painting to create realistic images

Venetian plaster: Smooth burnished finish with glass like finish. Can be synthetic

Watermarks: Marks are created usually in droplets with water and denatured alcohol

Wax: often applied for added sheen or used to create dimension