Mirror Shine Science

[Mok]

I've been thinking about how a mirror shine works in terms of science and wrote something over here: Mirror Shine Guide

Notably, the visual difference between unshined and mirror shined leather under the microscope provides context to how much you need to fill the pores before starting the shine. See pictures below:

You can see the massive difference in the geometry.

I also pondered the prism/glass physics behind the reflective result of a mirror shine. I think there's some refraction/reflection properties and colour absorption. So there's two things that contribute to the shine: the wax that creates the glass like layer above the leather, and the layer below that - which is usually the leather itself / the leather dyed / leather with pigmented wax in the pores. The colour and material of the underlying layer will also affect the shine by either interfering with the reflection or not.

I'm aware there are some discussion points on this forum about it but they seem to be buried under a mountain of posts over the last decade. However, this is my take on how to do the mirror shine, and how it scientifically works. I would appreciate any constructive feedback, discussion, debate, critique, etc.

 

[thehkshoeshiner]

L

I've been thinking about how a mirror shine works in terms of science and wrote something over here: Mirror Shine Guide

Notably, the visual difference between unshined and mirror shined leather under the microscope provides context to how much you need to fill the pores before starting the shine. See pictures below:
View attachment 1331850 View attachment 1331852

You can see the massive difference in the geometry.

I also pondered the prism/glass physics behind the reflective result of a mirror shine. I think there's some refraction/reflection properties and colour absorption. So there's two things that contribute to the shine: the wax that creates the glass like layer above the leather, and the layer below that - which is usually the leather itself / the leather dyed / leather with pigmented wax in the pores. The colour and material of the underlying layer will also affect the shine by either interfering with the reflection or not.

I'm aware there are some discussion points on this forum about it but they seem to be buried under a mountain of posts over the last decade. However, this is my take on how to do the mirror shine, and how it scientifically works. I would appreciate any constructive feedback, discussion, debate, critique, etc.

Love this! From what I understand, mirror shine based on those 2 factors, the extent of which the leather pores are filled up smoothly; and the color of the mirror shine.

The more smooth the pores are filled, the more able lights can be reflected with minimum distortion, meaning refraction, specular reflection or diffuse reflection.

As to the science behind why black mirror shined shoes reflect images better, I heard different ideas, but I am researching further in more science channel than shoeshine channels.