About PaintMedium
A practical starting point for artists who want to understand which art medium works best on a particular surface.
What is PaintMedium?
PaintMedium is a free art medium and surface compatibility checker created to help beginner and developing artists make more informed material choices. Instead of guessing whether a medium will behave well on paper, canvas, wood, fabric, plastic, glass, stone, or another surface, you can select the surface and medium and receive a practical compatibility result.
The goal is simple: reduce wasted supplies, explain the important trade-offs, and give artists a useful starting point before they buy materials or begin a project.
How PaintMedium evaluates compatibility
The checker considers practical factors that affect how a medium behaves on a surface. These include adhesion, surface suitability, preparation requirements, absorbency or tooth, and the ability of the surface to accept additional layers.
The resulting scores are editorial estimates rather than laboratory measurements. They are intended to help artists compare common combinations and decide which materials are worth testing for a particular project.
What the results mean
Compatibility is the overall practical assessment of the selected medium and surface. Adhesion Grip describes how confidently the medium can hold to a suitably prepared surface. Layer Capacity describes how much additional material the surface can generally accommodate before its texture or capacity becomes a limiting factor.
These measures should not be interpreted as guarantees. Different brands, formulations, primers, paper weights, surface textures, application techniques, humidity, and drying conditions can produce different results.
Our editorial approach
PaintMedium is designed as an educational reference for beginner and developing artists. The site focuses on practical material behaviour, clear explanations, and useful starting points rather than presenting compatibility scores as scientific certification.
When a combination is uncertain or depends strongly on preparation, the safest approach is to test the actual products together on a small area before committing to a finished artwork.
How the checker helps
- Explains why a medium and surface are a strong, workable, or poor combination.
- Highlights practical advantages and limitations.
- Provides simple preparation and handling tips where appropriate.
- Helps beginners compare common drawing and painting materials.