Title: How to Cut In Paint | Hunker
Headings: How to Cut In Paint
How to Cut In Paint
Why You Should Always Cut In
Choosing the Right Brush for Cutting In Paint
Should You Tape Before Cutting In?
How to Cut In Paint
Step 1: Load the Brush
Step 2: Start at the Fine Edge
Step 3: Make a Second Pass

Content: How to Cut In Paint | Hunker
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How to Cut In Paint
By Philip Schmidt Updated February 5, 2019
Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. "Cutting in" is the painter's term for the careful step of painting along the edges of walls, ceilings, floors and trimwork, before moving on to the less detailed labor of painting the "field," or main area, which is usually done with a roller. Cutting in effectively and efficiently is one thing that separates professional painters from amateurs, but anyone can do it pretty well with a little practice. It also helps enormously to have the right brush. Beginner painters usually assume that you have to use painter's tape to get a clean edge when cutting in. This is always an option, but once you get the hang of cutting in, you might find that it's faster—and often cleaner—to skip the tape and simply freehand with the brush. Advertisement
Cutting in is normally done before painting the field with a roller. Image Credit: Tim Allen/iStock/GettyImages
Why You Should Always Cut In
Cutting in is an important part of the painting process for several reasons. One of the primary benefits is psychological.