General use:
Masking tape should ideally be removed from a surface before the paint has dried. Once the drying process begins, the paint can form a bridge between tape and surface, so whilst the tape may remove cleanly, the paint film may not break evenly and the line won’t be as sharp as you want.
New surfaces:
If you are using masking tape on a newly painted surface, a low-tack variant is advisable. A new surface is where the paint was applied less than 28 days previously, as it typically takes this length of time for the paint to fully cure or harden and achieve optimum adhesion. For this reason, low tack tape should ideally be removed within 24 hours to minimise the risk of the tape bonding more strongly with the surface and reduce the chances of leaving residue or, worse, pulling the previous paint off.
High Temperatures:
Avoid using any masking tape at all in high temperatures where the heat and humidity can affect the performance unless it’s specifically designed for that environment, such as UV-resistant tape.