masking tape

A kind of tape used to mask things. For instance, painters use masking tape to make straight edges when painting (so they mask part of the surface).

Masking tape has many more uses than simply masking areas to protect them from paint. It is in some cases even more useful than duct tape. It's my tape of choice for covering holes in my computer and changing my QWERTY keyboard into a Dvorak one.

Pros: (mostly compared to duct tape)

• Masking tape will stick to most surfaces, more so than most other tapes.
• Masking tape can be easily removed from most surfaces, unlike almost every other tape.
• Masking tape leaves behind no residue when removed, unlike duct tape.
• Masking tape comes in different widths, from the small size of Scotch tape to the great girth of duct tape.
• Masking tape does not stretch. This is a perennial bugbear of duct tape.
• Masking tape cuts and rips easily. Duct tape does not.
• You can write on masking tape with almost any writing implement, due to its similarity to paper.
• Masking tape is opaque. This is a good thing for the heavy-duty usage we're talking about.
• Masking tape comes off its spool easier than duct tape.
• Masking tape, like duct tape, comes in many different colors. *

Cons:

• Masking tape does not come out of hair. Trust me.
• You cannot make clothing out of masking tape.
• Masking tape is not waterproof.

* I have never seen non-beige masking tape, but I have been informed by a few noders that such variants do indeed exist.