An emulsion paint consists of liquid particles dispersed in liquid. Emulsion paints are water-based paints that are made up of a pigment (coloring material), binder (a film-forming substance), and water. In an emulsion paint, the pigment and binder are finely dispersed in water and held together by an emulsifier (a substance that keeps the particles from separating). When the paint is applied to a surface, the water evaporates, leaving behind a film of pigment and binder that adheres to the surface. The use of water as a solvent makes emulsion paints more environmentally friendly than solvent-based paints, which use harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs).