A method of making an article from polyvinyl chloride compound that has a predetermined amount of gloss is disclosed. Samples of the resin are prepared that have different molecular weight distributions. Articles are made from the samples and the gloss of the articles is measured. The relationship between the molecular weight distributions of the samples and the gloss of the articles made therefrom is determined. From that relationship, an article is made from a resin selected such that its molecular weight distribution corresponds to the predetermined amount of gloss.