Glossary (© Raphaël)

Glossary

Bevelled

Flat paintbrush with slanted edge, in other words with two different fibre lengths.

Bundle or tuft

All of the hairs or fibres required for the manufacture of a series of brushes.

Capillarity

The capillarity depends on the intrinsic structure of each hair or each fibre. It is the colour absorption capacity. The more the bristle or hair is tapered and the more its "belly" is accentuated, the better its capillary retention and the more regular the distribution of colour.

Cat's tongue

Pointed, oblong shape similar to the pointed tongue of a cat. This term is used in all countries for this type of paintbrush. This shape of brush, derived from the "filbert" shape, is ideal for working on the point, the edge or laid flat.

Diameter of a brush

Measured on the ferrule, just where the hair or bristles start.

Domed

Paintbrush manufactured with a curved shape. When wet it "forms a point".

Edge

Refers to flat paintbrushes seen in profile.

Ferrule

Cylindrical or conical metal or plastic part used to grip the fibres.

Fiber length

Apparent length of the hairs, bristles, or fibres from the tip to the ferrule.

Filbert

Brush manufactured in such a way that it is shaped as if it has already been used, thus avoiding it having to be "broken in".

Flag

The most tapered and the lightest end of a hair, bristle, or fibre ("on flag": paintbrush assembled on its flag).

Head to foot

Flag at the bottom of the bundle or tuft and the root at the top. Due to its conical shape, a single hair can separate the point of a round paintbrush into two.

Long flat

Brush in which the fibre length is around double the width.

Pincelière

Pincelière (the French term for a fine brush brushmaker or craftsperson). This craft industry, normally carried out by women due to the need for sensitivity and precision of the fingers, requires up to 6 years of training before being able to fully master the manufacture of a sable paintbrush.

Pointed

End of a round paintbrush.

Responsiveness or liveness

Physical capacity of a hair or fibre to recover its initial shape more or less quickly. It is also sometimes known as "shape memory".

Rigger or Liner

Round paintbrush with a long or extra long fibre length. For fine lines, decorative painting and marine painting.

Root

The thickest and heaviest end of a hair ("on root": brush assembled on the root).

Short flat

Square brush, trim length nearly identical to the width.

Square

With a square edge (as opposed to pointed) on round or flat brush).

Tuft

All of the hairs, bristles or fibres assembled in the paintbrush before its insertion in the ferrule or the feather.

Width

Measured on the ferrule, just where the hair or bristles start.