Editing Paint thinner (section)

==Uses==
Principally, paints are either a [[colloidal suspension]] of solid [[pigment]] particles or are an [[emulsion]] of dense viscous [[dye]] gel or paste with a [[filler (materials)|filler]] all dispersed through a lighter free-flowing liquid medium — the solvent. This solvent also controls flow and application properties, and in some cases can affect the stability of the paint while in liquid state. Its main function is to act as the carrier to ensure an even spread of the non-volatile components. After a long period in storage, the dense paint pigment and filler settles out over time and it can lose some of its solvent due to evaporation, becoming so thick and viscous that it does not flow properly when used. By the addition of more solvent, it can be diluted or re-dissolved to restore the paint to an appropriate consistency for use. The diluent acts to reduce the [[viscosity]] and so making a more free-flowing liquid, so in this context, "thinning" is the act of dilution.

These solvents can also be used as paint-brush cleaners to remove or to clean items that have become caked in dried-on paint. With improvements in paint manufacturing have led to the reduction of use of organic solvents in preference for water, means that paint clean-up can be done with water and common [[surfactants]] and [[detergents]].