Graffiti paint: what is the name and use of spray cans, rating of the best brands

Interior decoration using patterns and themes borrowed from street art is a rather bold way to transform the surrounding space of a residential or office space.

You definitely can’t call this situation ordinary. The scope for creativity is unlimited.

There are plenty of inspiring ideas. They can be copied, interpreted in your own way, combined with each other, supplemented with your own fantasies.

Spray paints for graffiti are easy to use. The main thing here is not to make a mistake with the theme and color.

What is spray paint

Aerosol paints are substances that are ready to be sprayed. This is an ideal option for creating graffiti drawings, as they lie evenly on the surface and help to embody different ideas.

Composition and release form

Such dyes are produced in special cylinders. However, they differ in composition. Such substances contain the following ingredients:

acrylic base;
oil ingredients;
epoxy resin;
water solution;
pigments.

Aerosol substances have many specific characteristics, which include the following:

high degree of wear resistance;
resistance to negative factors - water, fumes, chemicals, elevated temperatures;
safe composition;
resistance to abrasive materials.

Scope of application

These paints are easy to use. They can be used for decorative processing of various objects. These materials allow you to create different types of graffiti. They can also be applied to furniture and household appliances, and used for painting metal and plastic parts of cars and glass.

The material is characterized by uniform spraying, which makes it easy to paint different objects.

Using the dye, it is possible to create beautiful stencil designs, decorate various objects, and paint surfaces of any type.

Graffiti as part of street art or vandalism

Graffiti has many directions. Some writers use spray paint to decorate dull gray walls and fences. They create original projects, real masterpieces. Such drawings can be seen in cities around the world. They are part of modern culture.

High-quality graffiti paint applies smoothly to various surfaces, dries quickly and retains its color for a long time. Hooligans take advantage of this quality. Adrenaline junkies claim that their inscriptions on walls, carriages, and facades of public buildings, created at night while running, are real graffiti art.

Quickly apply paint before no one notices and run away. To do this, they choose cans with a strong supply of nitro paint and a high pigment content. All over the world they are fighting against illegal wall painting. Such actions are classified as vandalism and hooliganism.

Pros and cons of paints and varnishes in cans

The advantages of using aerosol dyes include the following:

No need for preparatory work. To apply the dye, simply shake the can.
Possibility of painting areas with complex configurations. The material is also suitable for application to areas that include small protrusions or depressions.
No need to use additional tools. These include brushes or rollers. There is also no need to use special containers.
Excellent performance characteristics. Aerosol paints are not inferior in properties to other types of materials. Adhesion and elasticity parameters meet all requirements. In addition, the material is characterized by resistance to abrasion, ultraviolet radiation and moisture.
Short drying period of the dye.
Convenient storage and transportation of cylinders.
Sealing of packaging. Thanks to this, it is possible to protect the paint from drying out and avoid the appearance of an unpleasant odor.
Variety of shades.
Possibility of updating surfaces made of steel or cast iron.

Main types

There are several types of aerosol products:

standard for metal surfaces;
double, consisting of a coloring material and a primer;
triple, containing a rust converter;
for decoration;
heat resistant.

Diagram of a can of aerosol paint
Each of these types has its own characteristics. Paints designed for working with metal surfaces easily and accurately paint even the most inaccessible places in a thin layer, while providing reliable protection from adverse factors.

Spray paint intended for decoration can be used to create spectacular graffiti indoors.

To work with external surfaces, it is recommended to use aerosol paints with a heat-resistant effect - their most important characteristic feature is a long service life under conditions of any temperature changes and atmospheric conditions. Graffiti created with this paint will retain its beautiful appearance for a very long time.

Types of aerosol paints

All types of graffiti dyes are divided into 3 broad categories:

acrylic;
alkyd;
nitro enamels.

Acrylic materials are perfect for decorating external surfaces or interiors. Such dyes are very popular, but have a high cost. The advantages of this type of paint include the following:

short drying period;
high degree of adhesion;
variety of shades;
ease of application;
comparative durability of coloring, no risk of fading;
low toxicity.

Alkyd paints have the same advantages as acrylic paints. However, they are characterized by a certain toxicity. This is due to the resin content in the composition. Therefore, when working with such materials, you need to use a respirator and other protective equipment.

Alkyd dyes are characterized by less durability compared to acrylic dyes. In addition, they have a lower degree of adhesion because they include oily substances.

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Zakharova Irina Yurievna

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Nitro enamels contain cellulose nitrate. They are highly toxic, which is why they are less popular.

The advantage of this type of dye is the short drying period. In addition, with proper application of enamel, it is possible to achieve stability of the coating. Another advantage of the material is its low cost.

Cities are decorated with graffiti or 60 liters of paint per wall

In 2022, Moscow municipal authorities, together with cultural workers, found a way to combat ugly graffiti made in a hurry at night. You can't overcome it - lead it. They selected several walls on public buildings and announced a competition for the best sketch. The winners received equipment in the form of cranes, and they made their dream come true.

As a result, several teams came out of hiding and began to truly decorate the city. The first painting, located on the wall of a tram depot, took 60 liters of paint. The work took 5 days. Everyone loved the new look of the wall.

Several transformer booths were painted. Writers admitted that working on large paintings during the day is much more interesting. Now, with the help of spray paint, graffiti began to decorate the city.

What you need to know when choosing graffiti paint

When choosing a dye in the form of an aerosol, you should consider the following rules:

The volume of paint must be calculated in advance. It is important to take into account the spray consumption rate indicated on the packaging. This must be done taking into account double or triple application of the substance.
The required color should be selected from the catalog.
It is recommended to select the type of enamel taking into account the material of the surface to be painted. Acrylic compounds are suitable for glass, wood and plastic. For metal, it is worth using a zinc composition that contains aluminum. Ceramics or enameled surfaces are coated with an aerosol based on epoxy resin, pigments and fillers.

Street artist

Then you will have to get acquainted with the principles of choosing paints. Without paint, graffiti art has no meaning. Modern artists generally have no idea how heavenly the conditions have been created for them. Their masterpieces appear here and there. But before, the ability to paint on walls was not wasted, and all because the paints were expensive, because each artist made them himself. And he will think ten times whether it is worth painting the walls of the neighboring entrance?

But this was in those distant times, and today the stores have everything a street artist needs. Of course, the main criterion in choosing is, of course, price. As a rule, street artists are young people who do not yet have their own source of income or it is small. They prefer to use inexpensive paints. But mostly, of course, they either have poor application characteristics, or quickly fade or even disappear before our eyes. This effect may lead to disappointment, but not to the graffiti artist.

After gaining some experience, real masters still recommend not saving on consumables. After all, the drawing will be truly high-quality if you use high-quality material. And the pleasure from this process is much greater. Today, you can see less and less cans of car paint in the hands of artists on the street. Alas, this era has come to an end. More and more manufacturers are producing cylinders specifically for graffiti.

Specifics of use

To correctly apply the dye and obtain the desired results, it is important to follow the following rules:

Clean the surface from dirt or rust. To do this you should use acetone.
Apply primer to a cleaned and sanded surface.
Before using the dye, the can must be shaken for 5-10 seconds.
To achieve uniform application, the container must be kept at a distance of 30-40 centimeters from the surface.
It is recommended to apply the substance in 2-3 layers. This must be done at intervals of 5 minutes. After 15-20 minutes, all layers will dry.

Aerosol paints cannot be used outdoors in winter, as they will not adhere to the coating. In addition, when using aerosols, it is important to exercise extreme caution and use a mask and gloves.

First used car aerosols

Graffiti on the wall indoors

At first, car aerosol cans were used to create drawings. The drawings were faded and short-lived.

Metal coating paint applied without a primer quickly lost its appearance and peeled off.
It was sprayed unevenly.
The choice of colors was limited to the palette of cars produced. This is about 10 tones and white and black.
The inscriptions were a clumsy imitation of foreign graffiti.

The names of musical groups and the names of idols were drawn up hastily and were often not complete. The authors were chased away by the police. Graffiti defaced cities. The wipers washed them off with ordinary solvent.

Graffiti technique

Graffiti involves the use of different techniques that allow you to create special dyes:

Wildstyle - represents a complex writing of letters and emblems. In this case, many additional elements are used.
Daim style, 3D - is a three-dimensional drawing style that appeared in the nineties of the last century. It implies the absence of a contour. In this case, the main emphasis is on chiaroscuro.
Bubble letter is considered the most elementary style of graffiti, which involves the application of soft and voluminous letters.
Filling is a fill that is obtained by sketching with special markers for graffiti and filling in the letters with paint.
Holkar - in this case, damaged carriages are painted over or cars are upgraded.

Properly selected devices allow you to experiment with different styles - New school or Old school. Professional artists advise beginners to start with type compositions.

The Old School style involves working with the shape of letters, while the new school experiments more with colors. To get an impeccable result, it is important to use modern and high-quality paints.

Graffiti in the interior and water-based paints

Painted wall in the bedroom

In the streets, the way of decorating walls with graffiti-style drawings has come to the interior. Special water-based paints have been created for indoor use. They take longer to dry and require surface preparation. But they do not have an unpleasant odor and apply evenly. Their base is acrylic and latex. There are paints for application on:

plastered walls;
tile;
tree;
glass, metal;
wallpaper for painting.

An experienced writer decorates a room with a pattern in 5–6 hours. He uses a sketch drawn on paper. The drawing turns out to be unique, since the artist does not copy it, but creates a similar one. There is an element of improvisation in the process. The specific room, lighting, its size and mood are taken into account.

For ceilings, brush painting is mainly used. Spray paint cans are also used.

Paintings created on one of the walls of the room using mixed media are widely used. The background and shades are created using spray cans. Small elements are drawn with a brush or markers. Stencils are also used. The result is a unique design. The room takes on a mood. Waterproof dyes are used to spray images onto tiles in the bathroom and kitchen.

Using stencils, you can create a small pattern with your own hands on the wall of the hallway and dining room. It is enough to mark the surface into squares with thin lines using a pencil. Draw the main contour lines with a marker. Then spray the borders of the design elements with a thin stream. Fill large areas with paint. Make shades.

Rating of the best brands of aerosol paints

Today, many companies produce graffiti dyes. The most popular manufacturers are located in the USA, Germany, Greece, and China. Products from Italian, Australian, and Russian companies are in great demand.

The most common paints include the following:

MONTANA - this German brand is considered one of the largest in Europe. The manufacturer produces a wide range of high-quality paint and varnish products, which are located in different price segments.
Montana Colors - this famous company is located in Spain. Its products are characterized by strict quality control, which is carried out at all stages. This company offers a wide range of aerosol dyes that have ideal characteristics. The company's products include more than 200 shades, which help create exciting compositions.
Standart - this Russian company offers Trane paint, which has many advantages. The brand's products are affordable. It is characterized by a high degree of density and quick drying. Thanks to this, the dyes of this company are in great demand among writers.
AVT Paints – This Australian company offers very high quality Ironlak paints. They are characterized by affordable prices and rich colors. That is why the brand’s products are in great demand among graffiti artists around the world.

Markers

Most writers prefer to mark their work with an individual signature - a tag. It is most convenient to leave it with a special marker or squeezer, which allows you to write with beautiful smudges.

Markers produced by companies specializing in graffiti products write on almost any surface and at any time of the year. They differ in the width of the tip, as well as the type of ink with which they are filled. Markers from the brands ON THE RUN, GROG, Molotow are very popular.