A glossy surface reflects light directly back at a narrow angle, which is what creates a visible bright patch or glare when overhead lighting or a window sits at the wrong angle relative to a viewer. A matte or satin finish scatters that same light more evenly across the surface instead of reflecting it in one concentrated spot, which is why lower-gloss finishes generally read as glare-free from more seats in a room.

Glare on any writing surface is as much about the position of lights and windows relative to the board as it is about the finish itself. A board positioned directly opposite a large window, or under a row of downlights aimed straight at the surface, is more likely to show glare regardless of finish, though a matte surface will generally show less of it than a glossy one in the same position.

Glass whiteboards are glossy by nature and don’t have a matte alternative in the way ceramic steel does, since the glass surface itself is what’s reflective. A matte-finish ceramic steel board will typically show less glare than a glass board in the same lighting conditions, which is one of the more concrete, room-specific advantages of choosing ceramic steel over glass for a space with challenging lighting.

Where a room has known lighting challenges, such as floor-to-ceiling glazing or strong downlighting directly above the intended board position, it’s worth requesting a physical sample of the intended finish and viewing it under the actual room lighting before finalising the specification, rather than assuming a matte finish resolves every glare concern automatically.

To request a sample finish for your specific lighting conditions, our ceramic steel whiteboard.