Aerosol paint (spray paint) –
PaintPaint is any liquid, liquifiable, or mastic composition which after application to a substrate in a thin layer is converted to an opaque solid film.-History:...
in a sealed pressurized container that is released in a fine spray mist when depressing a
valveA valve is a device that regulates the flow of a fluid by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways. Valves are technically pipe fittings, but are usually discussed as a separate category....
button located on the top of the can. When applied correctly, aerosol paint leaves a smooth, evenly coated surface, unlike many
rolledA paint roller is a paint application tool used for painting large flat surfaces rapidly and efficiently.A paint roller typically consists of two parts: a "roller frame," and a "roller cover." The roller cover absorbs the paint and transfers it to the painted surface. The roller frame attaches to...
or brushed paints. Standard sized cans are portable, inexpensive and easy to store. Aerosol
primerA primer is a preparatory coating put on materials before painting. Priming ensures better adhesion of paint to the surface, increases paint durability, and provides additional protection for the material being painted....
can be applied directly to bare metal and many plastics.
In 1949, Edward Seymour added paint to existing
aerosol canAerosol spray is a type of dispensing system which creates an aerosol mist of liquid particles. This is used with a can or bottle that contains a liquid under pressure. When the container's valve is opened, the liquid is forced out of a small hole and emerges as an aerosol or mist...
technology at his wife Bonnie's suggestion.
Aerosol paint (spray paint) –
PaintPaint is any liquid, liquifiable, or mastic composition which after application to a substrate in a thin layer is converted to an opaque solid film.-History:...
in a sealed pressurized container that is released in a fine spray mist when depressing a
valveA valve is a device that regulates the flow of a fluid by opening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways. Valves are technically pipe fittings, but are usually discussed as a separate category....
button located on the top of the can. When applied correctly, aerosol paint leaves a smooth, evenly coated surface, unlike many
rolledA paint roller is a paint application tool used for painting large flat surfaces rapidly and efficiently.A paint roller typically consists of two parts: a "roller frame," and a "roller cover." The roller cover absorbs the paint and transfers it to the painted surface. The roller frame attaches to...
or brushed paints. Standard sized cans are portable, inexpensive and easy to store. Aerosol
primerA primer is a preparatory coating put on materials before painting. Priming ensures better adhesion of paint to the surface, increases paint durability, and provides additional protection for the material being painted....
can be applied directly to bare metal and many plastics.
History
In 1949, Edward Seymour added paint to existing
aerosol canAerosol spray is a type of dispensing system which creates an aerosol mist of liquid particles. This is used with a can or bottle that contains a liquid under pressure. When the container's valve is opened, the liquid is forced out of a small hole and emerges as an aerosol or mist...
technology at his wife Bonnie's suggestion. Initially designed to demonstrate his aluminum paint, the delivery system itself was instantly popular. Seymour of Sycamore, Inc. still produces aerosol spray paints to this day.
Most Aerosol paints also have a metal, glass or plastic ball called a pea inside of the can, which is used to stir (mix) the paint without touching it.
Commercial, Industrial and Consumer Uses
Most brands include a wide variety of paints, including primers, heat and traffic resistant enamels, gloss and matte finishes, metallic colors, and textured paints for home decor.
AcrylicAcrylic paint is fast-drying paint containing pigment suspended in an acrylic polymer emulsion. Acrylic paints can be diluted with water, but become water-resistant when dry...
-based craft primers can be used on plastics like
modelsModel building as a hobby involves the creation of models either from kits or from materials and components acquired by the builder.Categories of modelling include:*Scale model building*Live steam models*Matchstick models*Military models*Model aircraft...
or miniatures.
Aerosol paint is useful for quick, semi-permanent marking on construction and surveying sites. Inverted cans for street, utility or field marking can be used upside-down with an extension pole. APWA (American Public Works Association) has
standardized colorsUtility location is the process of identifying and labeling public utility mains which are underground. These mains may include lines for telephones, electricity distribution, natural gas, cable television, fiber optics, traffic lights, street lights, storm drains, water mains, and wastewater pipes...
for utility and excavation markings. Hiking trails can also be marked with aerosol paint
trail blazesTrail blazing, or trailblazing, is the practice of marking paths in outdoor recreational areas with blazes, markings that follow each other at certain — though not necessarily exactly defined — distances and mark the direction of the trail...
.
Major industrial and commercial brands include:
- Champion-Sprayon, Krylon, Rust-Oleum
Rust-oleum is a maker of protective paints and coatings for both home and industry. It was founded in 1921 by Robert Fergusson after he noticed that raw fish oil spilled on rusty metal decks, stopped corrosion from spreading.Rust-oleum remained a family owned company until 1994.Today, Rust-Oleum...
, Plasti-kote, Dupli-color, SOPPEC, and Spray Products
Graffiti & Street Art Uses
Speed, portability and permanence also make aerosol paint a common
graffitiGraffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
medium. In the 1970s, graffiti writers' signatures and murals became more elaborate and a unique style developed as a factor of the aerosol medium and the speed required for illicit work. Many now recognize graffiti and street art as a unique art form and specifically manufactured aerosol paints are made for the graffiti artist.
Graffiti artist paints tend to be more expensive, but have a wider selection of rich colors, are thicker and less likely to drip. They are produced in standard high pressure cans for fast, thick coverage and lower pressure cans for more control and flexibility. Most art brand paints have 2 or 3 mixing peas in a can. A wide array of actuators, or caps are available, from standard "skinny" caps to wider "fat" caps, as well as caps that control the softness or crispness of the spray.
CalligraphyCalligraphy is a type of visual art. It is often called the art of writing . A contemporary definition of calligraphic practice is "the art of giving form to signs in an expressive, harmonious and skillful manner"...
caps create fan spray instead of the standard round.
Major street art brands include:
- Belton Molotow - Germany
- Ironlak - Australia
- Montana Colors
- Montana Colors :Montana Colors is an aerosol paint company that manufactures specialty paints for graffiti artists.- History :In 1993, two writers who were opening a hip-hop store in Barcelona, Spain, contacted a paint company inquiring about prices of their paint...
or MTN - Spain
- Montana Cans – Germany (Motip Dupli manufacturer)
- Monster Colors
Monster Colors is a company based in the UK and retails / wholesales worldwide, which manufactures spray paint bought mostly by graffiti artists. The spray cans are the top of the range high quality and have state-of-the-art components which include special non-drip paint mixture and multiple caps....
- UK
- Sabotaz - Greece (Cosmos Lac manufacturer)
Stencils
When aerosol paint is used, care must be taken to cover or mask areas where paint is not wanted. A
stencilA stencil is a template used to draw or paint identical letters, numbers, symbols, shapes, or patterns every time it is used. Stencil technique in visual art is also referred to as pochoir....
can be used to protect a surface except the specific shape that is to be painted. Stencils can be purchased as movable letters, ordered as professionally cut
logoA logo is a graphical element that, together with its logotype form a trademark or commercial brand. Typically, a logo's design is for immediate recognition...
s, or hand-cut by artists.
Stencils can be used multiple times for recognition and consistency. Official stencils can be used to quickly and clearly label objects, vehicles or locations. Graffiti writers can use stencils to quickly mark in busy places or leave recognizable tags over a large area.
Stencil artists often use multiple colors, or create elaborate stencils that are works of art in themselves.
Illicit Use
GraffitiGraffiti is the name for images or lettering scratched, scrawled, painted or marked in any manner on property....
is considered a crime in most communities and is promptly removed from subway cars, monuments and public buildings. The UK and many US cities prohibit the sale of aerosol paint to minors as part of graffiti abatement programs. While major industrial and consumer aerosol paint companies like Krylon and Rust-Oleum actively participate in anti-graffiti programs, art-brand companies are often supportive of writers and graffiti culture, though most do not endorse illegal writing.
Like many household chemicals and
aerosolsAerosol spray is a type of dispensing system which creates an aerosol mist of liquid particles. This is used with a can or bottle that contains a liquid under pressure. When the container's valve is opened, the liquid is forced out of a small hole and emerges as an aerosol or mist...
, aerosol paint vapor and propellant can be misused as an
inhalantInhalants are a broad range of drugs in the forms of gases, aerosols, or solvents that are breathed in and absorbed through the lungs. While some inhalant drugs are used for medical purposes, as in the case of nitrous oxide , this article focuses on the non-medical use of inhalants, as recreational...
.
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