Masking film
Masking films are an efficient alternative to tape, providing complete coverage of windows. Here's how to use masking films: Clean the window surface: As with the masking tape method, clean the window thoroughly. Measure and cut the film: Measure the window dimensions and cut the masking film accordingly.
Favored by professional painters, the cut-in method is pure freehand painting. No tape is used. Metal or plastic masking guards are not used, either. Using an angled sash brush and a special cut bucket (a small paint can without a lip), draw wide sweeps of paint close to but not touching the excluded area.
Paper Strips
Cut strips of paper, wet them, and apply them to the glass. Then, run a dry paintbrush over then to secure them. Another great thing about this is that you don't need to worry about the paper strips leaving hard-to-remove residue—it can quickly come off, and you're all set.
Cutting in is the process of painting edges or straight lines with a quality angled brush without tape. It is all done freehand. This is the method that most professional painters use. The case can be made that using painter's tape is extremely time consuming and can be a colossal waste of time.
You need to run a bead of masking tape around your window or door in a precise manor. You should strike a like between paintwork and the surface you mean to protect.
You want to glide the brush on its edge at a 45-degree angle in a slight arc motion, ensuring you are getting into the tight areas. The slower you spread the paint, the more concise the brush line will be. Make sure you cut in on every coat of paint that is applied.
The other main method for achieving a crisp line is “cutting in,” which uses an angled brush loaded with paint to carefully carve out a straight edge. This is the go-to for professional painters, because once you get it down, the process is much quicker than using tape.
Do you paint walls or trim first? From a professional point of view, with interior painting, it makes the most sense to paint your trim first, then ceilings, and then your walls. It's much easier and faster to tape off trim than to tape off your walls. And you definitely don't want the hassle of taping them both.
The reality: window taping offers zero protection benefits and can actually make your windows less safe. The window taping myth is decades-old. Back in the 1970s, hurricane safety brochures recommended the practice. Seeming like an easy last-minute safeguard, window taping became a go-to strategy during storm prep.
Painters tape is specifically designed for painting applications to provide clean lines and remove cleanly without residue, even after a longer period of time.
Alternately you can use a thin layer of silicone sealant between layers of fabric, to simulate a transfer tape.
If you don't want to spend any extra money or are in a pinch and need to use something that's already in your house, then a sheet of paper or thin card will do the trick. 'For the quickest and most economical alternative to masking tape when painting edges, use a sheet of paper or thin card,' confirms Pat.
As a rule of thumb, professional painters advise applying painter's tape. It helps to assure clean lines with no messy edges making your painting project look more professional.
Product Details
This general purpose masking tape is designed for masking and adhering to wood, metal and glass. The tape has a high tack rubber-based adhesive that provides a tight seal.
Acrylic enamel paint or enamel paint that's usable on glass as well as other shiny or slick surfaces. Acrylic glass paints. Acrylic paints that become paints for use on glass when a special medium is added.
An easy fix for this problem is to use a primer. Once you've chosen the glass item you want to paint, it's essential to make sure it's free of any dirt and oils (like fingerprints). You can clean the glass with a standard cleaning solution or rubbing alcohol.
You can buy glass paints that are specially designed to stick to the surface and go on in solid swipes of color. They're inexpensive to buy and easy to use. But if you don't want to stock up on glass paints just yet, you can choose from four other options: acrylic enamel, regular acrylic, tempera and poster paint.