Paints vary depending on their use, but all types include three basic ingredients: a binder, a pigment and a solvent. The pigment will usually start off as a lump of rock, so it is first ground into a fine powder. It is then mixed with a binder, which coats the pigment, and a solvent, which thins the paint and makes it easier to apply.
Various additives may also be included in the mixture, depending on what the paint will be used for. For instance, paint for outdoor use contains silicones to make it more weather-resistant, and fine granules can be added to floor paint to make it less slippery.
