Why Does Airbrush Paint Cost More Than Craft Paint? Unpacking the Differences

You might have noticed that airbrush paints are generally more expensive than craft paints. Why is this the case? Let's explore the reasons behind this price difference.

Airbrush paints might cost more per ounce, but you use far less, especially if you're working on detailed, gradient-heavy, or layered projects. The overall cost per finished piece can actually be equal or lower when using proper airbrush techniques.

1. Pigment Quality and Fineness:

• Airbrush Paints:
  • Pigments are ground to a very fine and consistent particle size. This allows them to flow smoothly through an airbrush, preventing clogs and creating an even spray.
  • Higher-quality pigments are used, leading to richer colors and resistance to fading.
• Craft Paints:
  • Craft paints have coarser pigments, and they exhibit an inconsistent pigment grind. This can clog airbrushes and result in a less refined and uneven finish.
  • The pigment quality is lower, and the pigment load is much less affecting color vibrancy and longevity. To get great coverage you use more paint then you do with an airbrush paint

2. Specialized Formulations:

• Airbrush Paints:
  • These paints are designed specifically for airbrush use. They include additives that improve flow, adhesion, blending and drying.
    
• Craft Paints:
  • Craft paints are made for brush application and often need significant thinning to work in an airbrush, affecting adhesion and the need for more layers that can lead to lose of details, mil build leaving ridges on taped edges. 
  • Craft paints lack the specialized carriers needed for airbrushing.

3. Manufacturing and Quality Control:

• Airbrush Paints:
  • The process of making fine-pigmented, airbrush-ready paints involves strict quality control.
  • Manufacturers test to ensure consistent quality.
• Craft Paints:
  • Craft paints are usually mass-produced with less strict quality control.

Enhanced Pigment Load and Efficiency:

• Airbrush Paints:
  • Airbrush paints have a higher concentration of pigment, providing better coverage, more vibrancy, durability with less paint.
  • Higher quality pigments have greater tinting strength, so less is needed.
• Craft Paints:
  • Craft paints usually have less pigment, requiring more coats for good coverage.

Additional Factors: Carriers, Self-Leveling, Blending, and Adhesion:

• Airbrush Paints:
  • Airbrush paints are formulated with specific carriers that promote smooth flow and atomization.
  • They exhibit excellent self-leveling properties, resulting in a smooth, even finish.
  • Airbrush paints are designed to blend well, enabling smooth transitions and gradients.
  • Airbrush paints are designed to adhere to a large number of surfaces
• Craft Paints:
  • Craft paints typically lack these specialized carriers, which can lead to uneven spraying and clogging, drying in the airbrush
  • They may also lack self-leveling properties, resulting in uneven textures.
  • Blending craft paint within an airbrush application is difficult due to the paints basic formulation.
  • Craft paints often lack the adhesion properties that airbrush paints contain, and may peel or chip more easily.

In summary:

The higher price of airbrush paint is due to its better ingredients, precise manufacturing, specialized formulation, higher pigment load, carriers, self leveling, blending, and adhesion properties.

While craft paints may appear cheaper just looking at the price, in fact airbrush paint in the end is actually the more cost effective buy. You use less airbrush paint and you must take into consideration the draw backs of using a general craft paint.