Tinted Primer vs. Paint

Tinted Primer

• Primer is the foundation coating used before paint. Using primer helps to cover trouble spots and allows the paint to go on evenly and cleanly. Primer also helps the paint to stick and stay on the wall by reducing the possibility of chipping. Primer is usually white or black, so when you see tinted primer, it means a small amount of color has been added. Gray, black or darker shades of tinted primer are beneficial for dark, vibrant-colored paint -- such as red, purple and green -- because you will not need to apply as many coats as you would otherwise.

Paint

• Paint is the colored liquid to solid coating that you add to your ceiling, walls or other household features. Paint can brighten, darken or add illusions to a room. Applied with brushes, rollers or a spray gun, paint adds character to a room and helps to match colors and pull everything together. Many paint companies make paints that produce a low odor, are stain resistant or repel microbes.

All-in-One Products

• Many companies have created cans of primer mixed into the paint. The all-in-one paint and primer was created to save time, as priming and painting separately can take several applications, and days to dry. The all-in-one product goes on thicker and needs fewer coats. With this product, the tinted primer mixed into the paint has been specially chosen for the paint color -- it is made for the wall to accept the most brilliant color possible.

How to Use

• Clean and dry the walls first to remove any dirt. Apply the tinted primer with a paintbrush or roller, as you would paint. Create an even coat of primer to cover the entire wall. Let the wall dry; once dry, you can see if you have missed any spots and reapply the primer if needed. Paint the wall by using a paintbrush, roller or another method. Again, apply an even coat and do not apply the paint too thinly. Once the water evaporates, you will be able to see if the color is true enough or if you have missed any spots. Even with primer, a second coat may be needed for certain paint colors.