Can You Use Different Paints in a Paint by Numbers Kit?

If you’ve ever opened a paint by numbers kit and thought, “I wonder if I could switch these paints out,” you’re not alone. Whether you're a curious beginner or a seasoned hobbyist looking to experiment, the question is a common one: Can you use different paints in a paint by numbers kit? And more importantly, should you?

The short answer is yes, you can. But the better question is whether doing so will help or hurt the final result. Depending on the type of paint, your goals, and the surface of your canvas, switching up your materials can either enhance the experience, or make things a little more complicated.

What Kind of Paint Comes With Paint by Numbers Kits?

Most modern kits, especially custom paint by numbers sets like ours, come with pre-mixed acrylic paints. Acrylic is ideal because it dries quickly, covers printed numbers well, and holds its color over time. It also works perfectly with cotton canvas, which is the standard material used in high-quality kits.

But why is acrylic paint preferred? It's beginner-friendly. It can be thinned with water, layered easily, and cleaned up without harsh solvents. For 99% of users, acrylic is the most practical choice.

What If I Want to Try a Different Medium?

You can absolutely experiment. But different paints come with different challenges:

• Oil paints are rich and vibrant, but they take days to dry and require ventilation and solvents like turpentine for cleanup. They also don’t sit as cleanly over printed numbers and can smudge easily on standard canvas.

• Watercolors offer a translucent, soft effect, but they’re not suitable for canvas and won’t cover the printed outlines properly. They work better on watercolor paper and are extremely unforgiving if you make mistakes.

• Gouache paint is similar to watercolor but more opaque. It’s smoother than acrylic but not ideal for canvas, it adheres better to paper.

• Fabric paint or markers might be tempting for craft-style experiments, but they lack the detail and depth needed for most custom or traditional kits.
  
  

So yes, you can substitute different types of paint, but unless you’re going for a very specific effect and know exactly what you're doing, acrylic remains your best bet.

Why Stick With Acrylic for Custom Paint by Numbers?

When you're painting something personal, like a custom kit based on your dog’s photo or a picture from your last vacation, you don’t want to take risks with the outcome. The paint you use should bring out the details and colors in the reference image, not muddy them.

Acrylic ensures strong color accuracy, quick dry times, and crisp details. It’s also the easiest to work with when blending, layering, or fixing small mistakes, important when you're working on something meaningful. Read more about advanced blending techniques.

We specifically design our custom paint by numbers kits with professional-grade acrylics that match the printed outlines and canvas surface perfectly. That’s not just a convenience, it’s part of what makes the whole painting process enjoyable from the first brushstroke to the final touch.

Experiment, But Know Your Canvas

Paint by numbers is meant to be fun, relaxing, and rewarding. If you're curious about switching paints, go for it, but start with a test area or an older canvas. That way, you can get a feel for how your chosen medium behaves before applying it to something special.

And when you're working on a custom kit, something made from a photo you care about, it’s usually best to stick with what’s tried and true. The right tools make all the difference, and acrylic paint is one of the biggest reasons paint by numbers remains such a satisfying and approachable art form.