About Acrylic Paints
Student grade vs Professional grade
What is the Difference between student grade and professional grade acrylic paints.
Student grade and professional (artist) grade acrylics differ mainly in pigment load, fillers, consistency, and long‑term quality. These differences affect how your colors look, mix, and last on the canvas.
Key differences
--Pigment concentration
Professional paints have a much higher concentration of finely ground pigment, which gives stronger color, better coverage, and more intensity.
Student paints contain less pigment and more binder/fillers, so colors are weaker and can look more “milky” or dull when mixed.
--Fillers and binders
Professional paints often avoid cheap fillers, extenders, and extra opacifiers, relying mostly on pigment plus quality acrylic binder.
Student paints may include more fillers and “hue” mixtures (substitutes for expensive pigments), which can reduce color strength and clarity.
--Color range and labeling
Professional lines usually offer a wider range of single‑pigment colors, clear lightfastness ratings, and detailed pigment information on the tube.
Student lines have a more limited palette and often use mixed pigments instead of pure, single‑pigment colors.
--Handling and consistency
Professional acrylics tend to feel smoother, more responsive, and easier to blend and glaze because of the higher pigment and refined grind.
Student acrylics can feel more plastic, streaky, or uneven, and may require more layers to achieve solid coverage.
--Color shift and lightfastness
Professional paints usually have better lightfastness and more predictable color shift (less change from wet to dry), which is important for archival work.
Student paints often darken more as they dry and may fade sooner over time, especially in cheaper ranges.
--Price and best use
Professional grade is more expensive per tube but more economical in use because you need less paint to get strong color and coverage.
Student grade is cheaper and good for practice, underpaintings, and large studies, but less ideal when you want vibrant, archival final pieces.
