Lacquer is a type of hard and glossy, resinous material used as a surface coating for materials such as wood or metal. It is most often made from resin extracted from trees and waxes and has been in use since antiquity. Lacquers generate an extremely shiny and high gloss finish to a surface that is otherwise difficult to obtain via varnishes or any other finishing substances. Lacquer is highly durable yet may scratch over time due to excessive contact. And unlike paint, which is thicker and can absorb moisture in wood causing it to soften over time, lacquer is much more flexible and can adapt to the expanding and contracting of wood surfaces. Since lacquer is thinner than all the other finishes, it is almost always applied using a sprayer instead of brush.