In the world of painting, it is crucial to have the right tools and equipment for the best results. If you’re a DIY artist or an experienced painter, you must have had to use spray cans or an airbrush for your projects.
But between airbrush vs spray paint, which is better in terms of quality and durability?
Generally, spray paints contain large particulates and are better suited for applications where large areas have to be colored.
On the other hand, airbrushes are extremely handy when you must paint intricate details and require the best possible finish. Continue reading to find out how they weigh against each other!
Brief Description of Airbrush & Spray Paint
A lot of people think that airbrushes are expensive. Although a spray can cost just a fraction of the initial price of an airbrush, using an airbrush is actually cheaper in the long run. This is because the cost of spray cans starts adding up very quickly, in comparison to using an airbrush.
Airbrush
An airbrush is an air-operated atomizer that atomizes and sprays multiple types of substances such as paint, ink, and foundation. It was originally used for painting cars as airbrushes can spray particularly uniform and brilliant colors. The airflow of an airbrush is generated from a compressor.
But why is it popular among artists?
That is because airbrushes offer impressive versatility with different types of nozzles and varying sizes. This allows you to paint tiny details or stunning color gradients across large areas. Moreover, there’s an airbrush kit for every artist as they have great variations in terms of price.
Spray Paint
Also known as aerosol paint, spray paint is a liquid paint that comes in a pressurized and sealed container, which can be dispensed by pressing down the valve button on top. It can paint surfaces much faster and more evenly, in relation to traditional paint.
Moreover, spray paint can be an effective way to touch-up jobs or to apply a fresh coat of paint for DIY projects, etc.
There are several types of spray paint finishes, ranging from matte to high-gloss metallic finishes. You can also get several different types of spray paints, depending on the type of project you’re working on.
Related: Is Spray Paint Waterproof?
Key Differences Between Airbrush & Spray Paint
Since both tools are intended for different types of applications, they cannot be used as a replacement for each other. This is because they have differences in various aspects. Some of the key differences between airbrush and spray paint are –
- Spray paint can offer more even and uniform coloring than airbrushes.
- Airbrushes allow for detailing works and can also create glow points. While spray paints are better suited for larger applications.
- Spray paints are highly inefficient as they don’t offer sufficient control, due to which a lot of paint is wasted. On the other hand, airbrushes can be fine-tuned and are usually more efficient.
- Airbrushes allow you to fine-tune the paint delivery, which is needed for adding effects such as color modulation, post-shading, panel fading, weathering paint layers, etc.
- Spray paint cans suffer from cooldown effects as they are powered by aerosol propellants. When used for extended periods, the spray can’s pressure fluctuates, which affects its spraying performance
- Although airbrushes are expensive, it is much cheaper than spray paint cans in the long run. The cost of spray paint cans will only keep adding up, while the same airbrush can be used with multiple colors for various applications
- Spray paint cans are non-refillable, making them obsolete once they’re empty.
Which One Do You Need – Spray Paint or Airbrush?
With all of that being said, we can address the question we started with; which one is better between airbrush and spray paint? As both tools are better suited for different applications, it is safe to say that they cannot be used as a replacement for each other.
In simple words, if you’re looking to paint areas that require a smooth, uniform distribution of color, you will benefit from using spray paint.
On the other hand, if you’ll be painting intricate details and hard-to-reach corners, you will benefit from the controls offered by an airbrush.
Spray paint can offer far less control than an airbrush, which could often lead to accidental over-spraying and losing details. On the bright side, it doesn’t have a learning curve as opposed to airbrushes, which require a lot of fiddling for the best results.
Which type of paint is more cost-effective for touch-up jobs on cars?
Considering the estimated cost for car paint touchup is important when doing touch-up jobs on cars. Opting for touch-up paint kits that match the car’s original paint color can be a cost-effective choice. These kits typically include everything needed for the touch-up job, saving both time and money compared to professional paint services.
Final Thoughts
If you’ll be doing weather or detailing tasks, having an airbrush should benefit you most as you can fine-tune various factors. On the other hand, for coloring large surface areas, spray paints are simpler to use and don’t require much expertise. So, how can you choose the better tool between Airbrush vs Spray Paint?
As both tools are intended for different types of tasks, it boils down to your requirements and what you’re comfortable with. With that being said, we hope to have addressed all your queries here. Best of luck!