There is no way to truly find out what animals really perceive. However, scientists can examine the cones inside their eyes and figure out what colours an animal sees. Isn’t that fascinating? Have you wondered what colours do fish see? One of the techniques used to determine the colour vision of fish is microspectrophotometry. This interesting process assesses the visual pigments and photo-sensitivity of cells to know how and what colours a fish sees.

Some snakes use thermal sensing to see in infrared. They have special, evolved pits that are situated between their eyes and nostrils that are able to sense minute temperature changes. This means that it can be pitch black out, but a snake will know if a warm body approaches them. Their infrared vision is extremely accurate that helps them detect prey at distances of up to one meter and can also detect temperature changes as precise as 0.002 degrees centigrade. Now, isn’t that awesome?

Ever wondered how birds get their colours? It can be said that the concept of colours in different birds is a fairly complex calculation. There are mainly two factors that are responsible for the distinct shades among birds. They are keratin and pigments. Pigments are colour makers, found in both plants and animals. They absorb certain shades of colours and reflect the others. It is the reflected colours that the human eye captures. These two factors are processed in multiple ways in different birds that give them the final coat of colour. Interesting information, isn’t it? We bet you didn’t know this!

It is often observed that while painting baseboard, painters slip masking tape under the baseboard. However, it is a time-consuming process and doesn’t create a seep-proof seal between the baseboard and the carpet. Simply, press the tape against the baseboard, covering about 1/4 inch of the bottom edge. Apply pressure on the carpet when you apply the tape. This way, it ensures that the tape will hold the carpet down while you paint. When you remove the tape, the carpet will rise and cover the unpainted edge of the baseboard. Don’t forget to use a good-quality tape for this job because it grabs and holds the baseboard better.

Ever wondered how to create vertical stripes on the wall? Wait for the base coat to dry. Measure the wall, starting in the corner that is the least seen. Make use of a tape measure to mark the lines corresponding to the width of the stripes. If your stripes are going to be the same width, measure the wall and divide by that number, or measure the wall and divide by an odd number to reach the desired stripe width. An odd number of stripes will guarantee that the stripes at the corners are of the same shade. This will make the design seamless and cohesive.

Ever heard of the term ‘hatbanding’? A common problem known as hatbanding occurs when painters use a paintbrush for cutting in and a roller to apply the rest of the paint. A different texture is produced along the ceiling and the trim. To prevent hatbanding from occuring, all you need to do is roll the paint as close to the cut-in areas as possible. Also, remember that properly priming drywall will help prevent hatbanding from occurring. So, next time you take up a painting project at your home, don’t forget these pointers!