Paintballs

Paintballs are small, round, gelatin capsules filled with dye and solvent that are used in the game of paintball. When fired from a paintball gun, the shell of the paintball breaks upon impact, marking the target with paint.

Here are some things to know about paintballs:

  • Composition: Paintballs are made of a gelatin shell and a fill that contains dye and solvent. The shell is usually made of gelatin, while the fill is typically made of water-soluble dyes in polyethylene glycol. Some cheaper paintballs are made with an oil base, which can be harder to wash out of clothing.
  • Quality: Higher-quality paintballs are almost perfectly spherical and have a very thin shell that breaks easily upon impact. They also have a thick, brightly colored fill that is difficult to hide or wipe off.
  • Biodegradability: Almost all paintballs in use today are biodegradable.
  • Cleaning: Paintball spray and splatter can be easily cleaned from clothing and equipment with a rag and warm water.