Glossy or matte cake topper?

These two toppers of ours stood on the same window sill in direct sun, minutes apart. The glossy one shows white highlights on the suit and the gown. The matte one keeps an even color.

Glossy, on a sunny window sill.

Matte, on the same sill.

Most makers do not let you choose. The surface comes from what the topper is made of. In our scan of Etsy topper listings, few named a surface at all, and none sold glossy and matte as an option.

• Porcelain: glazed porcelain is glossy. Unglazed porcelain, called bisque, is matte and looks like carved marble.
• Clay figures: makers often coat them for a glossy finish.
• 3D prints: a plain print is often matte. A clear coat makes it glossy and the colors brighter. Some full-color prints are sealed for color and then finished matte.
• Flat toppers: mirrored acrylic is shiny and reflects the light.

One figure maker we found sells a semi-gloss finish, which sits between the two.

Our guide to what cake toppers are made of covers each material in more detail.

Closer in, the glossy topper shows bright spots on the dark suit and the gown folds. The matte topper keeps one soft color across the blazer and the faces.

Glossy, up close.

Matte, up close.

Some figure collectors call glossy figures toy-like and matte figures more real. Bisque porcelain dolls are matte, which gives them a look like real skin. From across a cake, though, a glossy print we tested reads as glazed porcelain.

It depends on the material. On a plain 3D print, gloss puts a highlight on every layer line, and matte hides them. Unglazed porcelain has no glaze to cover small flaws.

On one glossy print we tested, the clear coat pooled a little on the faces. You only see it up close.

A glossy surface reflects light, so it can glare. A flash shows the difference most. Think of the topper as a mirror: where the flash would bounce back into the lens, gloss shows a white spot.

A matte surface cuts the glare, so its color stays even in hard light. The photos in the sun above show the same thing.

• Pick matte if your photographer shoots with a flash, or if you want a soft, natural look.
• Pick glossy if you want deep color and a shine like glazed porcelain. Soft light keeps the shine from turning into white spots.

We print every topper in matte or glossy. You pick the finish when you design your topper.

Does glossy cost more than matte?

Most makers do not sell both, so there is rarely a price to compare. Right now, glossy and matte cost the same with us.

Which finish is easier to keep clean?

Glossy shows fingerprints and smudges. Matte hides them. Matte porcelain is the exception: it shows dust and smudges more easily.