When you paint your house or do a canvas painting, you often depend on color swatches to determine what specific colors to use.
But how true to the swatch do paint colors look once dried? After waiting a whole day for your newly painted walls or artwork to dry, will the color match the swatch? And does paint dry darker or lighter?
Most paints usually dry darker. Some paint types and finishes like acrylic, gouache, latex, oil, emulsion, and gloss tend to try darker. While chalk paint, watercolor, and matte paint finishes appear to dry lighter. Paint type, surface, surroundings, and lighting can affect how dried paint looks.
In this article, I will go over common paint types including oil-based paint, acrylic, gouache, watercolor, chalk, and other paints, as well as finishes.
I also would like to talk through some reasons why dried paint may seem like it is lighter or darker. I will attach some swatches I made as well as my real experience with color shifting.
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Does paint dry darker or lighter? 13 Examples
The general rule is that paint or finish will most likely not change after drying.
But sometimes paints like acrylic, gouache, latex, emulsion, poster, and oil paint may dry darker, while watercolor, chalk and exterior paint may seem lighter once dry.
Paint finishes with less gloss will seem lighter, while glossier finishes will appear to be darker once dry.
| PAINTS | |
| Type of paint | Dries darker or lighter |
| Acrylic paint | Darker |
| Watercolor | |
| Gouache | |
| Latex paint | Darker |
| Chalk paint | Lighter |
| Emulsion paint | Darker |
| Oil paint | Darker |
| Exterior paint | Lighter |
| Interior paint | Lighter/darker |
| FINISHES | |
| Flat paint | Lighter |
| Gloss paint | Darker |
| Semi-gloss paints | Darker |
| Matte paint | Lighter |
| Satin paint | Darker |
| Eggshell paint | Lighter |
Read also: Do You Paint Acrylic Light to Dark or Dark to Light?
Why paint dries darker?
- It’s the type of paint – most paints dry darker.
- The drying process. Water or solvent evaporate and pigments bond even better, tighter and darker.
- You chose glossier sheen.
Why paint dries lighter?
- You didn’t mix it well
- Paint can appear to dry lighter if you have cool or LED light in the room
- If you staining wood or porous surface, colors will lighten
- Sometimes high humidity lightens the colors
- Flat and matte sheen may seem lighter than gloss.
What Influence Paint Color as It Dries?
Paint does not really change color when it dries. But paint can appear darker or lighter depending on numerous factors. These factors include:
- Surroundings
- UV rays
- Surface
- Lighting
- Paint’s Finish
- Type of paint
Surroundings
The color of your surrounding affects the darkness or lightness of dried paint.
For example, a freshly painted wall in light colors, surrounded by dark walls, can look slightly darker than your paint swatch. Similarly, color tones in artworks can change depending on the surrounding (i.e., where is the painting mounted?)
The furniture that fills the room can also change the appearance of a wall color because the light that bounces off them reflects on the wall.
Our eyes will then pay games with us which has a scientific name – Metamerism.
UV Rays
UV rays affect the lightness or darkness of a painted surface.
Darker paints tend to be more pigmented and sensitive to UV exposure, so they easily fade. This results in colors appearing lighter. In contrast, lighter colors are less receptive to UV exposure and may appear the same color or darker after curing.
Tip: 5 Pro Steps to Protect Acrylic Paintings on Canvas
Surface
The surface you paint on also affects the lightness or darkness of dried paint. This is more apparent if you’re repainting a dark wall. So, it is important to prime your surface to ensure that the paint color stays true to its swatch.
Also, a clean working surface is better because dirt and dust may affect the dried paint tone.
Read also: 11 Amazing Painting Surfaces for Acrylics: What Do You Use Acrylic Paint on?
Lighting
How much light hits your painted wall or artwork? What kind of light do you use—incandescent, fluorescent, or natural light?
These lighting types and the placement of the light source in the room affects how dark or light paint may appear. This happens because different light sources cast different tones.
For example, fluorescent light has a bluish tone, making colors appear colder and, thus, lighter. South-facing natural light exposure, on the other hand, makes light colors appear brighter and a little bit darker.
Finish
A matte finish is not reflective, so dried paint may appear lighter. While glossy paint finishes bounce off light, making dried paint appear darker.
Paint type
The type of paint you use affects whether it dries lighter or darker. Most paints have glossy finishes and dry darker, including acrylic, oil, and latex paints.
Some paint types have matte finishes and, therefore may appear lighter once dried. These include chalk paint, exterior paint, and some varieties of interior paint.
Does acrylic paint dry darker or lighter?
Generally, acrylics may appear darker once dry. But in my experience colors are true to the swatch.
This change happens because the acrylic binders are opaque and milky when wet, making the colors lighter. But as it dries, water evaporates, and the binder clears up, resulting in a darker color appearance.
The subtlety of this change in appearance depends on the grade of the acrylics used. With artist and professional-grade acrylics, there is not much difference between wet paint and dry paint. And the darkening is more apparent in cheaper acrylic brands.
However, acrylic paint can also dry lighter depending on the finish. For example, acrylic paints with a matte finish may appear lighter because it has less reflexibility. In particular, users reported that the Golden Heavy Body Acrylics dries matte and lighter.
Gloss finishes have high reflexibility, so colors will appear darker.
Read also: 5 Proven Ways How to Make Acrylic Paint Dry Faster
Does Liquitex Basics acrylic paint dry darker or lighter?
I haven’t noticed a big color shift when Liquitex Basics paint dries:
Does Winsor & Newton acrylic paint dry darker or lighter?
When used in thick layers, Winsor and Newton acrylic paints dry without changes, but if diluted with water Winsor& Newton acrylics will dry darker.
Does Amsterdam acrylic paint dry darker or lighter?
Transparent Amsterdam acrylic paint or watered-down Amsterdam acrylics tend to dry darker. When applied directly from tubes, I see no color shifting.
Does paint darken over time?
Paint doesn’t become darker with time, quite the opposite, under UV rays the colors will fade over time and become duller.
To stop this you need to seal your freshly painted area with a clear protective coat or refresh paint coat regularly.
Does Watercolor paint dry darker or lighter?
Unlike acrylic paint, watercolor is used with a lot of water and watercolor tends to dry lighter, sometimes duller.
They dry not as vibrant as gouache or acrylic.
Watercolor appears darker when wet and pale when dry.
Does Gouache paint dry darker or lighter?
Gouache used in thick layers dries without any color changes or darker.
Gouache used with water like watercolor, will dry with darker edges.
Does latex paint dry darker or lighter?
Latex paint usually dries darker.
This water-based medium with synthetic polymers like acrylic paint is commonly used in interior paintings because it is cheaper and easier to apply on larger surfaces.
And the darkness of the dried paint can also be affected by certain factors like the environment and lighting.
Related: Acrylic vs Latex Paint: Which is Better and What is The Difference?
Does chalk paint dry darker or lighter?
Chalk paint dries lighter on painted furniture.
Home DIYers mostly use this medium to give an aged or distressed look to furniture. It has a super matte, chalky appearance, drying lighter.
Because it dries lighter, adding an additional coat to your furniture is best to make the color pop more and ensure that all the surface is covered. You can also try to put wax on your surface to further lighten or darken the color.
Read also: 15 Tested Chalk Paint Brushes & Best Brush for Chalk Paint
Does emulsion paint dry darker or lighter?
Generally, emulsion paint dries darker.
However, some paint brands offer emulsion paints with a matte finish, so dried paint may appear lighter.
Emulsion paint is generally used for painting interior and exterior walls because it is durable and water-resistant. It is also stain-resistant, so it is easy to clean.
Also, it is not prone to getting darker if used indoors but may fade over time if used outdoors.
Does silk paint dry lighter or darker?
Silk paint, a type of emulsion paint, dries darker as is slightly glossy, compared to matte paints, so light bounces off it.
This paint finish is commonly used in interior and exterior trims. It is also easy to clean and not prone to dust buildup, so the color tone does not change much over time.
Does oil paint dry darker or lighter?
Oil paint does not change in tone while it dries. But over time, oil paint becomes darker and may even appear yellowish.
This change in tone in oil paint takes longer (several years based on historical oil paintings) compared to acrylic paint.
Besides time, factors that may affect the change include dust accumulation, shrinking, and pigments in colors. In addition, some colors (e.g., red and yellow) are prone to fading, especially when exposed to too much light.
Does exterior paint dry lighter or darker?
Generally, Exterior paint will dry and appear lighter over time because it is constantly exposed to natural light.
And the color tone will change throughout the day, depending on the shadows from the surrounding landscape and light position.
Exterior paint is prone to fading because of weathering and UV exposure, so the color may get even lighter over time.
Glossier exterior paint dry darker because of the sheen.
Does interior house paint dry darker or lighter?
Interior paints may dry darker or lighter, depending on several factors like finish, surroundings, and lighting in the area where the paint job is done.
How dark or light a dried interior house paint will depend on the grade of paints used.
More expensive and higher-grade paints tend to dry closer or with a very subtle difference with a swatch. While cheaper types tend to dry lighter and may need multiple coats to achieve full wall coverage.
Will colors match the swatches?
The paint on the wall can not match the swatch because the swatch might have faded or you mixed a slightly different ratio.
The colors on the wall will dry darker than on the swatch if you have glossier sheen or warm light in the room.
Does the paint dry darker or lighter depending on the finish?
Paint may dry darker or lighter depending on the finish. Most of the time, matte finishes appear lighter because there is less light reflecting on the surface. Whereas glossy finishes may seem darker because it is more reflective.
Read on to know more about what types of finishes appear darker or lighter once dried.
Does flat paint dry darker or lighter?
Flat paint dries lighter. This paint finish is matte, so it does not reflect much light but it absorbs light, giving it a lighter appearance when dried.
Flat paint is also more pigmented, so it is great for covering a large surface and may not require multiple coats of paint. It is also less expensive than gloss paint. However, it is less durable, so it is best applied in less-traffic rooms like dining rooms.
Does gloss paint dry darker or lighter?
Gloss paint dries darker compared with flat or matte finishes. Gloss paints have a higher sheen, so they reflect light more than any other finishes, making colors appear darker than it is.
Gloss paint is more durable than matte or flat paints, so it is less prone to fading over time. It is also easy to clean as this paint does not absorb moisture or dirt, so colors will not get darker too.
However, this paint finish is hard to touch up once applied and does not cover imperfections on the surfaces that it covers.
At the same time, metallic gloss seems to stay the same, but the sheen levels of the metallic gloss change overtime especially if exposed to sun or frequent cleaning and scrubbing.
Does semi-gloss paint dry lighter or darker?
Like gloss paint, semi-gloss paints dry darker because less light is absorbed, resulting in a darker color tone. The main difference between gloss and semi-gloss is the amount of sheen—the amount of light reflected from it.
Otherwise, semi-gloss shares the properties of gloss paints.
Read also: Satin vs Semi Gloss Paint: Everything You Need to Know
Does matte paint dry darker or lighter?
Matte paint dries lighter because it is less reflexive. Because this finish absorbs more light, colors may appear dull and lighter, but they are still closer to the swatch.
This paint finish also gives off a smooth look with almost no sheen, making it a great option for ceilings and bedrooms. However, it holds dirt, so the paint can get darker over time due to dust accumulation.
Read also: Satin vs Matte: Which Paint Makes for a Good Finish?
Does satin paint dry darker or lighter?
Initially, satin appears lighter as it starts to dry, but once satin paint is fully cured, it will appear darker.
This paint finish also appears silky and slightly glossy. It is easier to clean, so cured paint color has less probability of getting darker or lighter over time.
Does eggshell paint dry darker or lighter?
Eggshell paint dries lighter because it has a more matte finish. While it has a lighter appearance than gloss finishes, it is darker than flat finishes. It also has a bit of sheen but less than semi-gloss paint finishes.
However, eggshell has a very subtle difference between wet and dry paint compared to flat paint finishes. So, the paint often stays close to the swatch color you choose.
This paint finish is best used in interiors, especially in high-traffic areas like the kitchen, because it is easy to clean and durable.
What about specific colors?
Colors’ undertones also influence how dark or light-dried paint can be. This is because some colors have more opaque pigments while some have more translucent pigments.
How does this affect lightness or darkness? The opaquer pigment, the darker color, the less light passes through, so colors will appear duller or lighter once dried. Whether a paint color is matte or glossy also affects how it looks when dry.
In acrylics, like other paint types, the paint brands also play a role in opacity and finishes. More expensive, higher-grade materials are more often opaquer and truer it is to a color swatch.
For your reference, here are the primary colors and some common colors and whether they dry darker or lighter.
| Color | Dries darker or lighter? |
| Red | Darker |
| Blue | Darker |
| Yellow | Lighter or no change |
| Grey | Darker |
| White paint (Titanium white) | Lighter |
| Other dark colors | Lighter or darker (depending on the finish) |
Some colors have a darker shade and lighter shade, for ex., Ultramarine violet and Ultramarine violet LT (light), which already gives you an idea of how the finish will look like. I always do a paint sample for new paint I got from the paint store or online to make sure I am not up to a surprise.
Does the paint get darker with a second coat?
No. Multiple coats do not affect the appearance of color once dried. However, second coat may deepen and even the color.
Contrary to popular belief, multiple coats of the same paint color will not make the output darker.
It will only appear darker because multiple coats ensure that the whole wall or surface area of a canvas is fully covered and no white surface is visible.
While the color will not get darker, it can get deeper with multiple coats. This is especially true for light colors like yellow and white.
As a rule of thumb, always check the manufacturer’s recommendations for multiple coats to ensure you get the exact shade you want.
How to get the color you wanted?
Paint can appear darker or lighter than the swatch when dried because of multiple factors like lighting and surface.
But you can ensure that your actual wall color is almost the same as you wanted. Here are some tips to ensure dried paint stays true to the swatch.
- Always stir the paint in big cans and make sure it is mixed properly.
- Mix your paint well to ensure that the medium and binder are well incorporated.
- For acrylics, pick a paint color several shades lighter than your intended color to ensure that it dries to your desired tone.
- Use higher-quality paint.
- Always prime your surface before applying paint.
- Always test your painting on the wall and wait for it to dry for at least 24 hours.
- Keep a dried swatch for your acrylics and oils, so you always know how specific colors dry.
While some paint types claim that walls do not need prep before application, it is always best to clean your walls thoroughly before painting. Dust, dirt, and other imperfections also affect the color tones of dried paint.
FAQ section
Will the paint color change after it dries?
High quality paints do not change paint color once dry as they have high concentration of premium pigments. The regular paint color may darken after it dries.
This process is called “color shift”.
As the solventor water in the paint evaporates, the final appearance of the cured paint may appear lighter or darker, depending on the:
- Paint finish
- Surrounding
- Lighting
- Surface
How long until the paint dries to true color?
Most paints dry within one to two hours, and larger areas like walls or ceilings may take to dry up to eight hours, to 24 hours.
During this time, it may feel dry to the touch. But it is not yet the true paint color, as this will only appear after at least a day to up to two weeks of curing. By then, you may now see what the color is vis-à-vis its surroundings.
Does the paint appear lighter or darker on a wall?
Yes and no. Paint on walls may appear lighter or darker, depending on where the natural light comes from or the type of light used in the room. The surrounding colors and pieces of furniture also affect the color tone of the paint on the walls.
The type of paint used also affects the color tone once dried. Certain paints and finishes because they are glossy make them dry darker than the swatch. Such types include latex and gloss finishes.
While chalk paint and matte finishes absorb light, making dried paint appear lighter even on a wall.
Does Dulux paint dry lighter or darker?
Low to mid-range Dulux paints dry lighter. But higher-range Dulux paints have little to no difference between the swatch and dried paint.
However, some users report that Dulux paint quality may also differ, depending on the country of origin. For example, the European Dulux paint is said to be better compared to Dulux products produced in other countries.
Does Behr paint dry lighter or darker?
Low to mid-range Behr paints dry lighter. While high range Behr paints have less tendency to change color tones once dried.
However, Behr paints need multiple coats to achieve full wall coverage compared to high-end paint brands like Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams.
To Sum Up
Paint does not dry darker or lighter. But it may appear lighter or darker, depending on the type of paint used, finishes, surroundings, lighting, and surfaces.
And there are several ways to ensure that your swatch matches the color on your canvas or wall that we went through in the article.
Masha Eretnova, born in 1991, is a Buenos Aires-based certified teacher, artist, and member of the Professional Artist Association with 20+ years of personal painting journey.
She started painting and drawing very early and is now an international abstract artist and educator passionate about acrylic painting, gouache, and crafts.
Her works are part of international exhibitions and contests, including ArtlyMix (Brazil), Al-Tiba 9 (Spain), Exhibizone (Canada), Italy, and many more.
Besides her artistic pursuits, Masha holds a post-grad diploma in Teaching Film Photography and 2 music school diplomas: piano and opera singing.