•  Work on a sample area first as the end result depends not only on the colour chosen, but the mix ratio and the style of technique. Remember that first efforts can be hidden by repainting with the basecoat and then restarting the effect as your expertise develops. •  Keep notes of your recipes when creating intermixes or dilutions, as reproducing an exact colour match at a later date may be difficult. •  Mask off wall sockets, skirting boards and doors to allow the effect to be carried right to the edge. •  When mixing your Resene Paint Effects Medium, add the colour in small increments until you are satisfied with your sample. This will allow you to control the colour you create. If it is too subtle, you can increase the amount of colour accordingly. •  Allow drying time between coats of Resene Paint Effects Medium. •  Adding up to 10% of Resene Hot Weather Additive will slow the drying of Resene Paint Effects Medium and give you more time to work with the paint. This is particularly useful when working on a large area. •  Add up to 5% clean water to thin and improve the flow of the paint effects medium. •  Clean up your equipment in water. •  Coverage varies greatly and depends on the technique used and the substrate. On smooth surfaces, one litre of Resene Paint Effects Medium may cover up to 30 to 40 square metres per coat. •  Always work from one edge of the surface to the other. Make large areas more manageable by breaking them into smaller strips. Keep a wet edge as you work across. •  To check on your progress, regularly stand well back from the painted area and check that the effect looks even. •  If you need to take a break, stop at a natural break in the area you are working on, such as in a corner. Put your brush, rag, roller and/or application tool into a plastic bag or wrap with cling film to keep the paint moist. •  You can combine multiple effects finishes to get your look. E.g. Combine limewashing with distressing to get a timeless weathered finish. •  Wear protective gloves if ragrolling or sponging. •  In all cases, read the appropriate can labels and data sheets before you start. •  And most importantly, be patient! There is a paint effect finish to suit all tastes so take your time experimenting with different options. Creating paint effects can be tiring, so be realistic when starting your project. It may be better to start off with one small project or feature area first rather than tackling an entire room. tips and tricks to get you started Resene Half White Pointer There are a number of specialty Resene products to help you create useful and beautiful surfaces. •  Metallic paints from the Resene Special Effects and Metallics range from classics like pewter and gold, through to brightly coloured hues. •  Resene Colorwood Whitewash and Resene Colorwood Greywash for an easy-to-achieve and durable washed effect. •  Resene Paint Effects Medium is a tintable acrylic medium that allows you to easily create unique paint effects, while still enjoying the benefits of lower odour and easy clean up in water. It dries more slowly than standard paint so you have longer to work on the effect. •  Resene Resitex or Resene Sandtex are also good basecoats for paint effects as the texture adds an extra dimension to the effect. • Resene FX Crackle gives an aged crackle effect. •  Resene FX Pearl Shimmer gives a soft shimmery sparkle to any paint colour. •  Resene Blackboard Paint for a chalkboard finish. •  Resene Magnetic Magic and Resene Write-on Wall Paint to create noticeboards and play areas. This is just a taste of the options available. There are many others for you to try! the right products Clockwise from top left: Antiqued jars, see page 16. A watercolour effect wall, see page 6. A storage crate pattern using masking tape, see page 25. A stencilled table top, see page 19. Right: Resene Gravel ragrolled over a Resene Stonewall base. Resene Half Spanish White over a base of Resene Sandtex (a textured finish) and Resene Tea. Applying Resene Lusty and Resene Fire for a colourwash effect. Resene Half Spanish White Resene Tea Resene Gravel Resene Stonewall Resene Lusty Resene Fire Resene Quarter Rice Cake | 3 2 |