Paint pigment usually begins as a very colorful powder. Then the medium of binder is added.

And then, the volatile vehicle. When you apply the paint, the volatile vehicle evaporates, leaving a film of pigment and binder. Watercolor dries very quickly (depending on the humidity) because the volatile vehicle is water. Oil paint dries very slowly because the volatile vehicle is usually some form of mineral spirits. Okay: acrylic paint has various pigments, and then acrylic paint has a binder of a polymer acrylic. The vehicle is water. When the water dries, the binder and the pigment coalesce into a molecular bond. This bond makes acrylic paint very durable. In fact, there are some glues that use the acrylic binder. Poster paint: pigment (can be the same as acrylic, but usually is not. The intensity and purity of the pigment is usually better in acrylics), Then the poster paint uses some form of gum or resin as the binder (which holds the pigment in place when the vehicle dries). Then the vehicle, which is usually water. So, with a good acrylic paint you can get a more intense coloration and a really durable paint film. With poster paint, you get less intense colors, and end up with a paint film that can be dissolved with water. If you do a little experiment you will see that acrylic paint is a far more durable film. Do this: paint a swatch of a color with acrylic paint. Then do the same thing on the same paper with tempera. Let these dry for a day. Then take a damp rag and rub over the paint. The poster paint will come up, but not the acrylic.

Expert: Ben Mahmoud