Paint by Numbers Accessories and Tools

Replacement Brushes

When to Replace

A brush is finished when the tip splays and cannot be reshaped. This usually happens after a brush has been left standing in water.

Which to Buy

A set of three widths covers backgrounds, general work and edges. A spare fine brush is the single most useful accessory, because it is the brush that wears first.

Trays and Sorting

Compartments

Keep the colours in use separate from the rest. A tray with compartments or a compartment box reduces the time spent opening pots, which matters on kits with thirty or more colours.

Lids

Lids matter more than trays. A pot left open for an hour forms a skin that has to be removed rather than stirred in.

Light Pads and Lamps

Task Lamps

The most useful upgrade. A neutral white bulb at 4000 to 5000 K shows both the numbers and the true paint colour.

Light Pads and Magnifiers

A light pad helps on thin printed canvases and dark designs. A magnifier with a built-in lamp is genuinely useful on 60x80 cm kits and unnecessary on a 20x30 cm mini.

Frames and Hanging

Standard Sizes

30x40, 40x50 and 50x60 cm fit standard frames. Measure the canvas, not the printed area.

Alternatives

Floating frames show the canvas edge and suit abstract designs. A framer can also stretch the canvas over bars, which removes the margin.

Where to Go Next

For the Kits Themselves

Standard kits are covered in regular kits, and short projects in mini kits.

For Frames on a Finished Piece

Frame sizes follow the canvas, and the sizing notes in the scenery collection explain which formats are standard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are the brushes suitable for children?

Yes, though younger children do better with the wider sizes.

Do light pads work with all kits?

They help most on thin printed canvases and dark designs.

Can I buy a frame separately?

Yes, and the size must match the canvas rather than the printed area.

Do I need a light pad?

No. A task lamp is the more useful purchase for most painters.

Which accessory makes the biggest difference?

A neutral white task lamp, followed by a spare fine brush.