"Forget about the VOC's, whatever amount in ANY water based paint is not going to harm anything." Nothing could be further from the truth. Depending on the state you live in, a latex paint can have a VOC level of 150 grams per liter (gpl) before tinting. Colorant can add up to another 100 gpl for a deep color. In a gallon of paint (about 3.9 liters) that equates to up to 1 kilogram or 2.2 pounds of VOC emissions that are released. In a typical room that uses two gallons, that's over 4 pounds of liquid that will turn into VOC emissions. On the other hand, a paint like Natura that remains 0 in any color releases virtually nothing. Bottom line, latex does not equate to low emissions.

Hunzi, I've spec'd and painted with Aura and ICI mixed FS a lot. Rarely do I spec or use anything but those two. I like ICI's LifeMaster in eggshell. It, IMO, has a comparable *hand* to Aura Matte. ICI's Velvet Sheen and LifeMaster are similar to SW's Super Paint in that just about anyone can paint with them and end up successful -- they are very DIY friendly. Can't say that about Aura. It takes a certain knack and many DIYers (and painters) have to rethink and then adjust how they brush and roll the paint. There are several threads about that on here already. When it comes to color, there is nothing like full spectrum. Nothing. FS is an age old topic around here. Full spectrum mixed in Aura paint would indeed be it-on-a-stick and then some. Don't see that happening any time soon. :-D Affinity is the name of the color palette designed to go with the Aura paint. There are 22 colorants. Having had a handful of *regular* colors mixed in Aura I can say that 22 colorants does give the mixer person a better shot at getting a good match, but 22 colorants in the wrong hands can be about 20 colorants too many. As we all know from the years and years of full spectrum color discussions, it's as much about how all those colorants are balanced and mixed together as it is about the actual number used. Once you gets passed the basic spectral seven, one has to question what is necessary -- if ya need more representation in a color than the basic seven, maybe it's time to revisit color mixing philosophy and/or skills... or, maybe not. IMO, more is not always better. Which leads me to my critique of Affinity colors. They are rich, they are complex, they are pretty, they can have an edge of deadness and a feel of limited dimension. They are not full spectrum color. Having *regular* color mixed via Affinity processes can leave you with a can of paint that looks *puddled* with colorant, overworked, overdone. Totally depends on the color. Restraint with all that color power at one's fingertips is paramount. Doubtful that there are too many other people on the planet who would share that opinion with me. A lot of people really want Aura to be it-on-a-stick, all that and a bag o'chips in its own right. I think it's great stuff, lots of positives, but it does not hold all the allure and wonder of color to be had in the universe. Just like every other brand, it has pluses and minuses. At the end of the day, having to make the decision between Aura paint and full spectrum color is a pretty darn great place to be!

Thanks Paintguy: That helps a lot (especially the 15 Seconds part). I was working quickly but not that quickly .... and ... I went lightly down the entire 8 Ft length as a last stroke which I am estimating was at about the 2 minute mark (I am sure now the paint was setting up -- probably my BIG mistake - silly me, I was thinking that .... if my brush strokes show ... at least they should be straight)! ---- Thanks Carlos: I am using SW Proclassic Interior Acrylic Latex Enamel (always) but first time trying Gloss vs. Semi-Gloss on trim. I am priming and 1st coat before cutting, nailing and installing (to limit ladder work for my old hip). After I assemble my whole frame including a corner molding, then I caulk and -- I do a final coat. I have done 5 doors and 3 windows this way with success (using Semi-Gloss) see photo below. Thanks to both of you -- I'm using the extender next, working faster, NOT going over my boards a final time .... and will try the roller with a brush-out on an experiment baseboard. If I get a good technique w/extender, I will try the brush only with another sample board too. Photo of my application (different room w/contrasting colors) My inspiration Photo (white on white) -- my GOAL !!

Old thread, but I've been searching PPG paint colors with very little success. Everything is about SW and BM, but our builder uses PPG. Thanks for sharing your final colors, it looks great. I am considering Agreeable gray too, but feel it is too dark. Whiskers it doesn't look dark in your home at all so I might have to get a sample of that one. I was looking at Silent Smoke with Delicate White cabinets too.