Can you paint styrofoam? With what?

[timothy]

Can styrofoam be painted? With what kind of paint?
Can it be painted so that it is shiny or metallic looking?

[yoyita_yoyita]

1.- Latex
2.- Yes
3.- Use 2 or 3 layers of Latex, then two layers of primer then Oil paint.
You can mix some mica with the paint, apply metallic paint on top and a varnish or resin as a sealer.

[sparklez]

yes the best kind of paint is acrylic paint because it wont dissolve the Styrofoam. spray paint will i know i had to do a project and that dissolved but acrylic wont.

[Conservative1st]

I painted styrofoam back in 6th grade (like 9 years ago) for a project, built a sweet castle out of white styrofoam, painted gray...

i tried spray paint at first which completely disintegrated/melted(?) the styrofoam that i was testing it on... so after that I had to handpaint it which took forever, but didnt harm it at all. So yes it's possible.

[Donna in Rome]

I think it can be. But you have to use water-based paints like acrylics.
Solvent-based spray paints may chemically interact and melt/dissolve the foam:
http://reviews.ebay.com/How-to-Paint-Styrofoam-or-builders-foam-craft-projects_W0QQugidZ10000000000069259

There are metallic colored acrylic paints, but I don't think you'll be able to get it that shiny. Maybe you could finish off with a coat of gloss medium or acrylic varnish.