The Differences in Acrylic Craft Paints
- Artist acrylics are premium grade with a high level of pigmentation. Pigmentation is the characteristic which gives the paint its brightness. Value paints are artist acrylics with less pigmentation for a lower price. Acrylic paints with extended drying time and high viscosity are also available. Student grade acrylics are similar to the artist acrylics, but they use lower concentrations of pigmentation and the color selection range is smaller. Student grade acrylics are sold for a lower price so students can afford to make a variety of crafts.
- Scholastic grade acrylics are designed to be economical, and are often available in large amounts for a less expensive price. Scholastic acrylics are made with less expensive pigmentation, and often use dyes as well as pigments. This may mean that the lightfastness will tend to be poor. The term lightfastness refers to the resistance to fading upon exposure to light. Student grade acrylics are usually nontoxic, and they are safe for finger painting and a wide range of other student crafts.
- Fluid acrylics can be used like watercolors or they can be used with a spray gun. Fluid acrylics have a low viscosity (or thickness) but they contain a high concentration of pigment for moderate coverage. Acrylic craft paints can be used on a variety of objects besides paper or canvas. Different types include body paint, as well as glaze paint, which is often tinted with silver, gold or bronze. Glaze paint can be mixed with other paints to create a translucent metallic glow, or the glaze paint can be used to polish a finished product. Glaze paints are compatible with all water soluble paints. Glitter paint is another paint often used on fabrics as decoration.
- Acrylic glossies are paints designed to stick on non porous surfaces such as glass, ceramics, metal, tiles and china. Glow in the dark acrylic paint is also available. Prism acrylics are good for use on wood, Styrofoam, fabric and plaster. This is a thick paint which provides excellent coverage. Acrylic gouache paint is a mix between fluid and craft acrylic. It provides excellent coverage, it adheres to many surfaces like the glass, wood and metal, and it is water resistant when dry. Iridescent acrylics are paints which have powdered mica or powdered bronze in the paint to give the paint a metallic appearance.