How to Fix Paint by Numbers Mistakes – Tips & Tricks

Everyone makes mistakes when painting by numbers — wrong color in the wrong section, paint outside the lines, streaky coverage, or a section that dried unevenly. The good news: acrylic paint is very forgiving. Almost every mistake can be fixed.

Here's how to correct the most common paint by numbers errors.

Mistake 1: Painted the Wrong Color in a Section

How it happens: Picked up the wrong pot, misread a number, or grabbed a similar shade by mistake.

How to fix it:

If the paint is still wet: Blot the wet paint with a damp cloth or paper towel. Don't rub — dab and lift. Remove as much as possible, let dry briefly, then repaint with the correct color.

If the paint is dry: Simply paint over it with the correct color. Acrylic paint covers well. Apply two thin coats of the correct color — first coat may look slightly off, second coat will cover completely.

If the wrong color is very dark and the correct color is light: Apply a thin coat of white first, let dry, then apply the correct color. This prevents the dark color from bleeding through.

Mistake 2: Paint Went Outside the Lines

How it happens: Brush loaded too heavily, hand slipped, or working too fast near a border.

How to fix it:

If both sections are still unpainted: Simply paint the adjacent section correctly — it will cover the overflow. This is the easiest fix and happens automatically as you work.

If the adjacent section is already painted: Let everything dry completely. Then carefully repaint the adjacent section's border with a very small (size 0 or 1) brush, using the correct color. Work slowly along the outline.

For very clean edges: Use the tip of a small brush loaded with just a little paint. "Cutting in" along a line is a technique used in house painting — it works the same way here.

Mistake 3: Streaky or Uneven Coverage

How it happens: Paint applied too thin, dried too fast in one area, or not enough coats applied.

How to fix it:

Let the first coat dry fully (10–15 minutes for most acrylic paints). Then apply a second coat in a slightly different direction — if you brushed left-to-right for the first coat, brush top-to-bottom for the second. The cross-directional strokes even out the coverage.

If still streaky after two coats: The paint may be too watery. Add a very small amount of paint to the pot to increase pigment concentration, or switch to a fresh section of the pot (sometimes the top of the pot is more diluted than the bottom after sitting).

Mistake 4: Numbers Still Showing Through After Painting

How it happens: Paint is too transparent, applied too thin, or the printed numbers are very dark.

How to fix it:

Apply a second coat — let the first dry completely first. Most kit paints cover in two coats. If still showing after two coats:

1. Apply a thin coat of white over the entire section
2. Let dry completely (15–20 minutes)
3. Apply the correct color on top

The white base coat blocks the printed numbers and makes any color opaque.

Mistake 5: Two Colors Blended at the Border

How it happens: Painted two adjacent sections before the first one dried.

How to fix it:

Let everything dry completely (at least 20–30 minutes). The blended area will have a muddy mixed color at the border. Once dry, use the correct color for each section and carefully repaint the border area with a fine brush, working inward from each side.

Prevention: Work in a jump-around pattern — fill one section, then move to a non-adjacent section while the first dries. Never fill two touching sections back to back.

Mistake 6: Section Dried with Brush Marks Visible

How it happens: Paint applied too thickly or brushed over while partially dry.

How to fix it:

Once fully dry, lightly sand the surface with very fine sandpaper (400 grit) in a gentle circular motion. Wipe away dust with a barely-damp cloth. Then apply a fresh, thin coat of the correct color. Let dry fully.

Alternative: If the brush marks are subtle, a second thin coat applied with a foam brush (instead of bristle brush) often smooths them out without sanding.

Mistake 7: A Section Was Skipped Entirely

How it happens: Especially common in complex canvases with many tiny sections — easy to miss some.

How to fix it:

Hold the canvas at an angle to a light source. Unpainted areas (bare canvas) will catch the light differently than painted areas. Mark skipped sections lightly with a pencil before sealing.

Fill them in as normal. If the canvas has already been sealed and you notice afterward — carefully apply paint over the varnish. Let dry, then touch up the varnish over that spot.

Mistake 8: Canvas Warped or Buckled

How it happens: Too much water in the paint, or a canvas that wasn't pre-stretched properly.

How to fix it:

For pre-stretched canvas on a frame: The frame usually holds the shape. Warping is less common. Dampen the back of the canvas lightly with water, press flat, and let dry face-up.

For a rolled canvas: Mist the back lightly with water. Press between two heavy flat objects (like books) with the painted side up. Leave for 24 hours.

Preventing Mistakes in Digital Paint by Numbers

If you're painting digitally using TryPaintByNumbers.com, mistakes are effortless to fix:

• Undo (Cmd/Ctrl + Z) reverses any stroke instantly
• Bucket fill fills an entire section perfectly with no risk of going outside lines
• Zoom in to see tiny sections clearly before painting
• Save progress automatically — you can always revert to a previous state

Digital painting removes nearly all of these error scenarios, which makes it a great way to practice before moving to a physical canvas.

General Repair Advice

Act fast on wet mistakes — wet acrylic paint is very easy to remove. Dried paint requires repainting over.

Two thin coats beat one thick coat — for any correction, thin coats dry faster, cover more evenly, and are less likely to crack.

Let everything dry between steps — the most common second mistake is painting over something that isn't fully dry yet, creating a new problem.

Don't stress small errors — from a viewing distance of 3–4 feet, most border mistakes, minor streaks, and small color errors are completely invisible. Paint by numbers is meant to be enjoyed, not judged under a magnifying glass.