Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 16, 2026

Matte display

A matte display is an electronic display with a matte surface. Matte displays feature a light-scattering antireflection layer, which reduces reflectivity at the cost of decreased contrast and color intensity under dimly lit conditions. If the steep nanostructures are used – etched in the surface – a matte display can achieve an effect that is similar to continuous refraction index reduction.

Last revised
Jun 16, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
230 w
Citations
3
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Reflection of a fluorescent ceiling light, as seen in a glossy screen (left) and matte screen (right) source ↗

A matte display is an electronic display with a matte surface. Matte displays feature a light-scattering antireflection layer, which reduces reflectivity at the cost of decreased contrast and color intensity under dimly lit conditions.1 If the steep nanostructures are used – etched in the surface – a matte display can achieve an effect that is similar to continuous refraction index reduction.2

The image quality in displays with matte finish is not as sharp or bright as a glossy screen but is easier to color-match and calibrate with a printer.3

See also

See also

References

References

  1. Johnson, Joel. "LCD Monitors: Glossy vs. Matte" Archived 2007-11-18 at the Wayback Machine. Popular Mechanics. April 2007. Retrieved December 3, 2007.
  2. Hainich, Rolf; Bimber, Oliver (2016). Displays: Fundamentals and Applications. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. p. 239. ISBN 9781568814391.
  3. Glossy or Matte, Shiny or Flat. Mac Life. February 2008. p. 40.

Further references

  • CIE No38-1977: Radiometric and photometric characteristics of materials and their measurement
  • CIE No 44-1979: Absolute methods for reflection measurements
  • CIE No17.4-1987: International lighting vocabulary, 4th ed. (Joint publication IEC/CIE)
  • John C. Stover, Optical Scattering, Measurement and Analysis, SPIE Press, 1995
External links