Flatwash

/ˈflætwɑʃ/ noun

Definition

A thin or watery application of paint or ink used in art to cover large areas with a single tone.

Etymology

Compound of 'flat' + 'wash.' The term comes from painting and illustration traditions where 'wash' refers to diluted paint, and 'flat' indicates an even, unmarked surface.

Kelly Says

Artists and cartoonists use flatwash to quickly fill in background areas—it's like the graphic design equivalent of coloring with a highlighter marker.

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