Matte screen (nano-texture): how to get rid of glare

Matte anti-glare (nano-texture, anti-glare screen) is a treatment of the glass or a coating on the screen that scatters reflected light: instead of a sharp reflection of lamps and windows you see a soft matte haze, and the picture is easier to see.

A matte coating removes glare

In plain words

Look at a glossy and a matte photo under a lamp. The glossy one has a bright patch of glare covering half the shot. The matte one has almost no glare, although the colours are a little softer. Nano-texture is a "matte photo" for a screen, but done so finely that sharpness barely suffers.

How it works

A microscopic texture is created on the glass surface - by etching or coating.
The tiny bumps scatter reflected light in different directions.
Instead of a bright glare spot, you get an even, light matte haze.
Light from the screen itself passes through the glass almost unchanged.
Good coatings reduce contrast and sharpness only minimally.

A micro-texture scatters reflected light

Where you'll see it

As an option on expensive laptops, monitors and tablets (for example, nano-texture on certain Apple models), on drawing tablets and in e-readers. There are also matte screen protectors for smartphones and tablets.

Does it matter when buying

If you work by a window, outdoors or under bright lights, a matte screen is noticeably more comfortable. For artists it also gives a "paper" feel under the stylus. Downsides: blacks look slightly greyer and colours a little less punchy than on glossy screens. At home with controlled lighting, glossy is often nicer.

Myths

Myth: A matte screen means a blurry picture. Reality: Modern coatings barely reduce sharpness.
Myth: A matte film is the same as nano-texture. Reality: Films are simpler and usually affect sharpness more than treating the glass itself.

FAQ

How do I clean nano-texture?

Only with the special microfibre cloth - ordinary wipes can leave marks.

Is a matte film good for drawing?

Yes, many artists use "paper-like" films on tablets.

Does a matte finish reduce brightness?

In sunlight it actually improves perceived brightness, because there is less glare.