Inhibition of paint-product skin formation on the interior surface of a paint vessel lid

A method to inhibit the formation of a paint-product skin on the interior surface of the lid of a closed upright vessel housing a paint composition wherein a portion of said composition is volatile, the method comprising:

• a. delivering said paint composition to an upright open vessel closeable at its top with a lid;
• b. delivering a sufficient quantity of a barrier material to the open vessel to provide a covering layer of the barrier material for the top of the paint composition, said barrier material being characterized as
• 1. less dense than the paint composition:
• 2. containing a volatile portion whose volatility is at least substantially equivalent to the volatility of the volatile portion of the paint composition;
• 3. sufficiently compatible with the paint composition to produce no detrimental effects therein and to become a mixed non-detrimental component thereof upon adequate mixing therewith;
• and
• 4. more viscous than the paint composition;
• and
• c. closing the open vessel at its top with a lid.