a method and apparatus are disclosed for removing paint overspray suspended in air exhausted from a paint spray booth , in which the exhausted air is drawn through a conveyor - carried bed of small diameter beads or granules of plastic or other material allowing only a mild adherence of the paint to their surfaces upon drying . the paint overspray is removed from the air by being deposited on the surfaces of the beads as the air passes through the beads and paint is subsequently rapidly dried on the bead surfaces in a drying chamber . the paint carrying beads are then mechanically agitated to dislodge the dried paint to clean the beads for reuse , and the dislodged paint particles are separated from the cleaned beads for collection and disposal .