candies are generally solvent based and you defo need a mask, water based like wicked and createx, com art, spectra, you should still wear a mask but they are not nearly as harmful.....some paint solely trans, some paint solely opaques, they both do the same thing, add colour to a blank piece of paper, but they do it in different ways.....opaques block out what is below it, where as trans sure the colour below therefore creating another colour, therefore trans you can change colour on your substrate and opaques you have to change colour by mixing on the cup.......paint is a huge subject, so I recommend having a play with what you have, maybe paint a couple of colour wheels and then get back to us with any questions you may have from your findings.....all the best for now and I hope this is of some help