LATEX: Spreads easily; cleans up with soap and water. All interior applications may be diluted with water for broken color effects. Inexpensive brands may lack durability. Fine arts paints, water-based; intensely pigmented. Good for broken color effects when small amounts of a color are needed. Intense colors mean these paints need to be diluted for lighter tints. ACRYLIC: Same as latex; higher quality solids. All interior applications, same as Latex. Best quality are 100% acrylic. Not a paint; these are pigments used for adding color. Good for adjusting to a specific custom color. Pigments are quite intense; should be added to paint drop by drop. OIL-BASED PAINT: Spreads evenly; durable finish; longer drying time than water-based products. All interior applications; dilute with its solvent (usuallly mineral spirits) for broken color application. Must be cleaned with mineral spirits or other solvents; produces fumes; requires excellent ventialtion during application and drying. Available as powder; mix with other paints. Add the sheen of various metals to a paint medium. Handle carefully; wear a mask and gloves. GLAZES: Clear or translucent coating for broken color effects; may be oil or water-based; should be applied over opaque base. Can be easily manipulated for many special effects. Relatively short drying time requires quick application; working this paint with a partner is helpful. Clear product applied over a base coat, then overpainted with a second opaque layer; this product makes the second layer crack to an antiqued, alligatored finish. Good for creating an aged, distressed appearance on woodwork, furniture, and walls. Best for use with decorative trim, paneling, doors or cabinet surfaces; more difficult to get great results on large expanses of wall. MILK PAINTS: Vintage recipe for paint that provides eco-friendly finish; available as a powder to be mixed with water. Provides a smooth, dead-flat finish; good for walls and furniture in colonial or other vintage rooms. Somewhat soft finish needs to be protected with clear polyurethane or wax; surfaces other than raw wood should be primed. Usually acrylics; mixed with a textured medium-small acrylic beads or sand-to produce a visibly textured finish. Produces a look that imitates suede or other textured material. Difficult to remove; application usually requires more paint than ordinary opaque coatings. ECOFRIENDLY PAINTS: Few or no VOC's; many brands also formulated without harmful chemicals. Among the brands are products for most interior applications. Because many pigments contain VOC's, some brands only available in lighter colors. Creates a smooth surface to which new layers of paint can adhere. Needed when changing colors, especially dark to light, to prevent bleed-through; provides surface integrity for any paint job. Match primers and paints from same manufacturer; ask for advice when painting special surfaces: glass, metal, plastic, etc...These may require special primers. Painting your House Inside and Out