DIAMOND Technique (Brush)

Quantities of paint necessary:
Base Coat
	Red Currant		4 litres
	Suede Dune untinted		1 litre
	Mascarade Glaze		1 litre
For the Patina
	St-Émilion		1 litre

This diamond-shaped faux finish will add subtle elegance, sophistication and originality to any room and will allow you to create a noble style simply by overlapping different shapes and textures. In addition, since this technique demands that the suede finish be applied under the top coat, it does not require that the DUNES Suede finish be tinted and therefore, allows the use of an infinite range of colours.

St-Émilion A230-42

Red Currant A227-42

Step 1 — Preparation

• If necessary, use TSP to remove grease from surface for better paint adhesion.
  
  
• Patch all holes and remove all peeling paint.
  
  
• For new surfaces that have never been previously painted, prime with Prime Time Duo Primer sealer/Undercoater 1140-05.

Step 2 — Base colour

• Using a roller, apply two coats of velvet finish latex paint #A227-42 "Red Currant".
  
  
• Allow to dry 6 to 8 hours.
  
  
• Be sure to test colours, techniques and texture on a practice board first to obtain the desired effect.

Step 3 — Masking

• Using a level and a pencil, mark horizontal 60 cm wide bands and vertical 35 cm wide bands so that you obtain rectangles.
  
  

• Then, mark diagonal lines from one corner to the other to obtain diamonds inside the previously marked rectangles.
  
  

• Apply narrow "fresh paint" masking tape on the outside borders of the diamonds you wish to paint and, with an X-Acto knife, cut the excess tape on the overlapping corners, using the border of the tape underneath as a guide.
  
  
• Be sure to press tape down firmly to prevent paint from running under the edges.
  
  
• Once the outside borders of the diamonds are taped off, you have a series of diamonds to work on (with outside taping) in every other row.
  
  
• Work vertically or horizontally to help you establish which diamonds to paint.

Step 4 — Texture

• Using a 60 mm brush, apply untinted DUNES Suede paint (neutral base) on each diamond you wish to paint, with light, random overlapping strokes. To obtain more depth, we recommend you apply two coats of Suede finish in this manner.
  
  
• Remove tape as soon as you finish applying Suede on a row of diamonds.
  
  
• Allow to dry 6 to 8 hours.

Step 5 — Finishing

• Mix enough glaze for the entire project. In a plastic container, blend 3 parts MASCARADE glaze to 1 part velvet finish latex paint, colour #A230-42 "St-Émilion".
  
  

• Pour into a pan. Dip a rag in water and wring it out well, so that it is just barely damp.
  
  
• Scrunch your cloth and dip it into the glaze. Blot off any excess onto pan.
  
  

• Dab the entire wall surface with a light blotting motion.
• Allow to dry.
  
  
• Using base colour #A227-42 "Red Currant", prepare a second glaze by mixing 3 parts glaze to 1 part paint.
  
  
• When the first coat is completely dry, repeat the above application method. Apply this second coat of glaze on the entire wall surface, again, in a random pattern.
  
  
• This last step not only hides small imperfections from the preceding glaze application (if there are any), but it creates a more subtle and elegant look.
  
  
• Allow to dry 6 to 8 hours.