Term: Alkyd

An alkyd resin is a polyester modified by the addition of fatty acids and other components. The term alkyd is used in art to refer to paints and mediums that include alkyds. If you use Galkyd or Liquin mediums then you are already painting with alkyds.

Alkyd modified paints dry faster than oils and tend to be more transparent as well. Alkyd paints often dry to the touch in 12-24 hours and can be varnished in 30 days. In addition, most alkyd colors dry at the same rate and have a uniform finish when dry.

Alkyd paints are fully compatible with oil paints and are ideal for those who glaze, paint wet-on-wet, or travel when painting. Alkyds offer direct painters the advantage of drying just enough during a painting session to become tacky, so additional layers of paint can be applied more easily in the same session.