For creating the stipple effect onto your ceiling, a "square brush" which contains "flexible rubber prongs" over the surface of the face side of the tool; is used to lightly; "bounce" off, the textured surface.
You can also create the same effect, if you roll onto the surface, the texture mix, and keep on rolling over this until a stipple is finally achieved.
The depth on the "finished texture" pattern depends on how thick the consistency of the texture powder is mixed, plus also, how thick you apply the mixed texture material onto the surface to be textured.
To create a final "uniformed" finish, you must make sure that you roll out the applied texture as evenly as possible onto the surface; and keeping it the same depth / level, through the whole ceiling.
A lot of new build establishments favor a stipple, broken leather or swirl pattern, usually a stipple pattern can be done quickly, and as texture coating dries out reasonably white does not need painting afterwards, so saving both time and money for the contractor.
In this section I'm going to take a look at the stipple pattern for its uniform, soft or heavy finish; and the speed at which it can be done.
To achieve this finish, the prepared surface / area to be textured onto has to be as "flat and as level as possible" (Otherwise, any discrepancies and uneven surfaces will show through afterwards).
As this pattern requires the final mixed texture material to resembble a thick emulsion type of paint, I find this one of the messiest patterns to do also.
Mix up a bucket of texture powder, (thick first to get out the lumps).
After letting the thickly mixed texture rest for a few minutes in the bucket, add small amounts of cold water into the texture mix to thin it out.
Then transfer this mixed texture material into the large roller bucket ready for application, and mix once again, using the bumper tool, or drill with the mixing attachment.
When adding cold water to mix down the texture coating to the required consistency, just add a little at a time, as it is not advisable to add powder at this later stage.
The finished product should now resemble thick emulsion paint.
Next step: Decide where to start the pattern onto the ceiling.
Usually, when trying the stipple effect the best place to start is furthest away from the room door entrance.
1: Using the large paint roller, attached to the pole / handle, dip the roller head completely into the bucket of mixed texture, to completely cover the roller head. (You can also use a small roller for application if you want.)
2: Lift the roller out and give it a little shake to get rid of the residual, and then sharply offer the loaded roller head to the ceiling surface.
3: Start along the wall edge of the ceiling, (when using the roller, and always extend your straightened arms upwards, and away from you). With a light but firm pressure, pull the roller towards, and above you, to spread the material onto the surface, (rolling on may take a little practice to get right, but this method is used to roll on for any ceiling work.)
4: When you've rolled the texture onto the ceiling, (about 3 foot area coverage) load the roller once again, and roll it onto the ceiling, next to the area that you've just covered.
5: Continue this method until a large area has been covered with the texture mix, probably a third or even half of the ceiling, depending on the size of the area to be covered.
6: When you've completed this; and using the roller again, (but do not load it with texture mix this time), continue to roll out, in the opposite direction of the applied texture, to even out (spread out) the texture coating already applied to the ceiling, otherwise you'll have an uneven finish when you come to stipple it: the thickness of the texture on the ceiling should be about half an inch in depth.
7: The next step is to prime the stipple brush with the mixed texture coating, you can use a large or small stipple brush; but you will get a more uniform pattern with a large brush, especially if your texturing larger surfaces, making sure a wooden handle is attached to the large stipple brush so that you can reach the ceiling height.
Below is a quick summary:
1: Apply the texture to the surface.
Rolling on about a third or even half of the ceiling).
2: Take the roller, (but do not load it with texture mix this time).
Roll out onto the ceiling, in the opposite direction of the applied texture to 'even out' the texture already there: otherwise the finished pattern will look uneven.
The next step is to prime the stipple brush.
3: Attach a pole / handle to the stipple brush and hold it so that the soft rubber bristles are pointing upwards.
4: Load the roller head with the texture mix, and gently roll this small amount across the surface of the stipple brush, (the rubber bristles) making sure that you do not squash down or flatten the rubber bristles; once covered with texture we are now ready to stipple the covered area.
5: Stand directly benefit the area to be textured, start along the ceiling / wall edge then lightly bounce the stipple brush onto the ceiling to create the desired effect.
7: Continue stipping and bending onto the covered area.
(Going to the room door entrance to take a look every now and again, and do not forget, what you can see, so will others-make any adjustments as necessary)
continue rolling onto the ceiling, and stippling until complete.
8: Finally, run an inch sized brush around the perimeter of the ceiling to wall line to create a tidy border, and not forgetting the center rose light also, to tidy up.
You can also use a small stipple brush to create this design, but if you're using the large brush, it looks easier to create a more uniformed finish.
The stipple pattern can also be created by just rolling the texture coating onto the surface and then keep rolling the mix out with the roller head until a stipple type pattern is ever formed.
If you want a heavier stipple effect, mix the thick texture down with cold water as normal but do not add as much water so that you are left with a thicker consistency in the bucket, and then roll this mixture onto the surface, thickly.
A heavy stipple is great for lacing back (flattening slightly) to create an "anaglyptic" looking effect.