When describing the characteristics of any skin in CS:GO, we usually mention its float index, and for some coloring - also the pattern index, which determines how the texture is overlaid on the weapon model. But there is another parameter that is useful to know about, as it affects exactly how the appearance of the weapon changes as it wears. This is a type of finish.
In developing the skin system, Valve has tried to replicate how wear and tear can affect different types of finishes in real life. Indeed, it makes sense that, for example, painted surfaces and engraved metal change their appearance differently over time. To reflect this distinction, nine types of skin finishes have been created, which can be divided into three groups.
The first is the most numerous. These are skins that fall into categories such as «unique pattern», «solid paint», «spray paint», and various types of anodizing. They differ from each other in how exactly the paint is applied to the body. For example, with «solid paint» each of the weapon parts can be evenly painted in one of the four colors selected by the skinmaker, and with «aqua printing» they are printed with a four-color pattern. As the float increases, the paint on such skins starts to fade, and the standard coloring becomes visible in some areas.
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The second category includes skins with patina effect. Patina is a surface film that forms on copper as a result of its interaction with air. This is the kind of effect that is logical to see on weapons that mimic the actual texture of metal. As the float increases, no new scuffs appear on the case, but the color of the item gradually changes. The P250 Verdigris is a good example: as wear increases, it turns from orange to greenish.
Finally, the third type of finish is a combination of the previous two, as it combines their effects, which may appear differently on different parts of the weapon. Some elements may fade as the float increases, while others will fade paint. That's exactly how it works AUG Syd Mead.. High-wear variants simply have darker handle pads and noticeable scuffs on the barrel and case.
What type of finish a skin belongs to often affects how float affects its value. For skins with «patina» even variants with high wear can look interesting, while for variants with «unique pattern» at the same values the pattern becomes already difficult to distinguish.