Overview
This guide explains the different types of spray paint caps used in graffiti and art, outlining their features, uses, and maintenance tips to help artists choose the right cap for their style and ensure optimal performance.
Types of Spray Paint Caps
- Spray paint caps are interchangeable plastic nozzles that control paint flow and spray pattern on aerosol cans.
- Artists use different caps to achieve various line widths and effects, similar to using different paintbrushes for art.
- Cap categories include super skinny, skinny, medium, fat, super fat, and special caps, each suited to distinct tasks and styles.
Super Skinny Caps
- Produce very fine lines (0.4–2cm), ideal for details, small projects, and portraits.
- Examples: Montana Level 1, MTN Super Skinny, Molotow Super Skinny.
Skinny Caps
- Versatile for fine to medium lines (0.5–3cm), optimal for outlines and detailed work.
- Widely included on low-pressure paints and recommended for beginners.
- Examples: Montana Level 2, MTN Skinny Pro, Banana Universal, Kobra Red Skinny, Molotow Standard Skinny, Loop Skinny.
Medium Caps
- Create thin to medium, softer or dusty lines (1–5cm); good for blends and fades.
- Useful for both outlines and soft shading.
- Examples: Montana Level 3, Lego Cap, German Outline, Kobra Grey Banana, Molotow Blue Dot Soft Cap.
Fat Caps
- Provide high paint output, producing wide lines and flares (2–12.5cm).
- Best for quick fill-ins and bold styles, but deplete cans quickly.
- Examples: NY Fat Cap, Montana Levels 4 & 5, Silver Fat Cap, Yellow Fat Cap, MTN Hardcore Fat Cap.
Super Fat Caps
- Designed for extremely wide lines (5–35cm), suited to fast coverage of large surfaces.
- More difficult to control, limited specialized use.
- Examples: Montana Level 6, Astro Fat Cap, Molotow Pink Dot, Super Booster Cap.
Special Caps
- Offer unique effects or functions unavailable with standard caps.
- Examples: Needle Cap (fine, dusty), Calligraphy Cap (directional lines), Stencil Cap (ultra-thin lines), Transfer Cap (moves paint between cans), Tube Cap (extended reach).
Choosing the Right Cap
- Select based on project scale and desired effect: skinny for small/detail work, medium/fat for background and large areas.
- Street artists and graffiti writers often mix cap types, but fat and super fat caps are preferred for quick, bold work.
- Experimentation is recommended to find the preferred cap style.
Cap Maintenance and Reuse
- Caps can be reused but may clog; prevent clogging by spraying cans upside down after use.
- Use acetone sprays or soak caps in acetone to clear blockages.
- Proper cleaning extends cap life and performance.