b'Hold the brush with your firstHow to cut in around the edges of the skirting two fingers and thumb, not tooCutting in is the technique thatboards. Essentially, cutting in tight or too loose. Dip one-thirdis used for painting around thecreates a border.to one-half the length of theedges of your project. This often Aim for long, smooth, even bristles into your paint container,means the tight areas of a room,strokes, making sure that you cut removing excess paint bysuch as the edges of walls, thein on every coat of paint that you tapping the brush on the side ofceiling line, corners, aroundapply to ensure an even finish. Dip one-third towindow and door frames, skirting one-half of the length ofthe container. Avoid dipping theboards and architraves. Cutting When youre happy with the the bristles in your paintentire length of the bristles in thecut-in line, apply a neater finish by container, then removein should be used in these areas excess paint by tappingpaint as this will push paint intobefore you move to a roller forfeathering or thinning the edge. the brush on the side ofthe ferrule of the paintbrush,the rest of the job. Practice makesWithout reloading the brush, drag the paint container.the tips of the bristles lightly over Paint colour is Resenewhich can cause it to clog up.perfect when it comes to cutting the outside edge to spread the Double Stack. Plus, youll likely end up within, but these steps will help you paint in a thin layer and get rid paint drips making it harder toget the best finish.of any ridges or excess build-up. get a smooth finish.Invest in the best-qualityThis feathering step ensures that How to use aColorShop or reseller and try Paint with the tip of yourbrushes you can afford. Not onlythe cut-in line wont show up as a do premium paintbrushes makestripe after rolling the walls.paintbrush a few out. Ask for help if you paintbrush, not the sides. the job easier for you, but they need it, because there are someHold the paintbrush at about aproduce a much higher quality Using a paintbrush might lookimportant things to consider when45-degree angle to the surfacefinish. An oval brush will holdTop tip: If youre nervous easy, but DIYers know there are youre choosing paintbrushes.and work mostly with your wristplenty of paint and will createabout cutting in, you cana few tips and tricks that makeThink about your strength andrather than your arms anda smooth finish with minimaluse masking tape to protect all the difference when it comesexperience, the type of brush youshoulders. For the best results, brushstrokes, while an angledthe adjacent wall or frame. to getting a professional finish. need, the size of the project, thetry and get a good flowingbrush has a longer handle That way if your paintbrush It takes time to becomesurfaces youre painting and themotion with long brushstrokes. and is slimmer, so can be moregoes a bit wide or in less ofgood, accurate and fast with atype of paint or stain youre using.A smaller brush is better forcomfortable if you have a straight line than youd paintbrush. Have patience withA smaller brush is recommendedmore detailed areas and finersmaller hands.like, you wont damage the yourself if youre just starting out.for those who have smaller handscutting inpainting areas where You only need a small amountpainted surface. Make sure Work on your quality first, thenor who are new to painting asrollers cant reach, such as whereof paint for the cutting-in process,you remove the tape before on speed. This will save you fromlarger brushes can be heavy. walls meet the ceiling or floor.around half a litre, so use a the paint fully dries.learning bad habits and havingWhen youre ready to startWhen cutting in, use the brush Resene paint pot and paint to redo sloppy work. painting, and while your brush on its vertical edge. When youreout of that rather than dipping your brush into The most popular brush sizesis still clean, work the bristles painting larger areas, use yourthe larger container.Learn moreare 50-63mm. Its a good idea back and forth across brush horizontally. If yourStart with a damp to pop into your local Reseneyour fingers to removebrushstrokes become stiff,brush and dip it into any dust, dirt or loosesticky or non-flowing,the pot. Tap the brush More tips on the side of the bristles. If youre usingyou may need to thinpaint pot to remove waterborne paints,the paint. Use theany excess paint.you can lightlythinner recommended moisten a naturalon your paint Start cutting in from the bristle brush with watercontainer or Resene top of your wall and work your first to help you applyHot Weather Additive way down the edges of doors, around door frames, window the paint more evenly. for most waterborne paints. frames, light switches and finally, Watch a how-to video, visit www.masterstrokebyresene.com/use-paintbrushWatch a how-to video, visit www.masterstrokebyresene.com/cutting-in4 masterstrokebyresene.com'