Processes for making a transparent substrate having a glare reducing diffuser surface coating on its outer surface are disclosed to provide a faceplate such as for attachment to a screen for a cathode ray tube or other display device. Preferably, the coating has a thickness of less than about 3 microns and/or a gloss less than about 80 gloss units. The method includes spraying a precursor solution onto the substrate to form a preliminary coating, at least partially densifying that preliminary coating, spraying another coating of precursor solution onto the preliminary coating, and firing the coating to form a diffuser surface coating. Alternately, a precursor solution of an inorganic metal oxide dissolved in an organic solvent is sprayed on the substrate and fired at a temperature within the range of from about 250° C. to about 600° C. to form the diffuser surface coating.