The Secrets of Pro Painters

To Tape or Not to Tape

The pros were split on this tip. Masking tape can be problematic -- paint can bleed behind the tape, or remove the paint it's stuck to. Learning how to cut in with a brush takes practice, but if you can do it, you'll leave most tapers in the dust. (Cutting in is painting just the surface you want, not the surface adjacent to it -- for example, where a wall meets the ceiling.)

On the other hand, if you can't cut in, you can't beat tape. The pros all recommend painter's (blue) tape because it's easier to remove than masking tape.