TACK CLOTH:
A fabric impregnated with a tacky substance that is used to remove dust from a surface after sanding or rubbing down, and prior to further painting. It should be stored in an airtight container to preserve its tackiness.

TACKY:
The stage in the paint's drying process at which the film is sticky when lightly touched.

TALC:
Magnesium silicate; a white extender pigment used in paint. The base for talcum powder.

THINNER:
A liquid that, along with the binder, forms the paint's vehicle. The thinner evaporates after the paint is applied. Water is the thinner used in latex paint, while turpentine, mineral spirits and denatured alcohol are thinners associated with different solvent-based coatings; the liquid used to thin the coating.

TINT:
A tint is created when white is added to a color. Also, to add colorant to a liquid paint.

TITANIUM DIOXIDE (TiO2):
An expensive, high opacity, bright white pigment that is used as a prime pigment in paints, both latex- and solvent-based.

TOLUENE, TOLUOL:
An aromatic solvent used in the manufacture of some paints and lacquers; also used as a "reducer," particularly in lacquers.

TONE:
A tone is created when gray is added to a color.

TOOTH:
In a dry paint film, a fine texture imparted either by a proportion of relatively coarse or abrasive pigment, or by the abrasives used in sanding; this texture improves the burnish properties and also provides a good base for the adhesion of a subsequent coat of paint.

TOPCOAT:
The coating intended to be the last coat applied in a coating system. Usually applied over a primer, undercoater, or surfacer. Finish coat.

TOUCH UP:
Application of paint on small areas of painted surfaces to repair misses, mars, scratches and places where the coating has deteriorated, in order to restore the finish.

TOXIC:
Harmful or poisonous.

TRANSPARENT:
Having the property of allowing light to permeate without diffusion or scattering; clear.

TRIADIC COLOR SCHEME:
A color scheme using three colors that are equidistant on the color wheel.

TRISODIUM PHOSPHATE (TSP):
A cleaning compound based on an alkaline material. Because it contains phosphate, its use may be controlled in certain geographical areas.

TUNG OIL:
A fast-drying oil obtained from the nut of the tung tree; also known as chinawood oil. Generally used in fine wood finishing and in spar varnishes.

TURPENTINE:
A colorless, volatile oil distilled from pine. Used as a thinner and cleaning solvent in the past, it has since been replaced by mineral spirits or white spirits.