What are the differences between OIL, LATEX, ALKYD and ACRYLIC paint?
This is just a question of which base and reducer it uses. Originally oil paint was made with linseed oil as a base. You reduce it with mineral spirits. (Paint thinners, turpentine, etc.) Latex paint uses a resin from the rubber tree called “latex” as the base. The advantage is latex paint can be reduced with water and doesnt have as strong of an odor as oil paint. ALKYD – technically means a synthetic (man-made) resin. Alkyd is OIL PAINT using a man made oil. That’s all it is. ALKYD = OIL PAINT. ACRYLIC uses synthetic latex. ACRYLIC = LATEX PAINT.
