(pronounced FEH-ther-ing)

This multipurpose word has a few meanings in the design industry. First off, you can probably imagine that it means covering an object — a lampshade, a pillow, etc. — with decorative feathers. However, when it comes to paint application, it refers to delicately blending the edges of a painted area by carefully lifting the brush at the end of the stroke, which causes the edge to seem indefinite. Lastly, and similar in concept to the prior definition, it also describes sanding the outer edges of a dried applied material in order to taper and smooth it so that it appears to blend into the underlying material.