Gouache is a water soluble paint which is favoured by designers because of its ability to create beautifully even areas of bright colour without streaking. It is not to be confused with watercolour, though both are water-based media. Watercolour should be used thinly and transparently, but Gouache should be applied in opaque washes, very much in the style of oil colour. Like oil colour, it is capable of covering over other colours, which is useful for correcting mistakes or lightening areas. Gouache is a very practical medium – brushes are easily cleaned with water, which is also used to thin the colour. The technique of painting is broadly similar to that of oil and acylic colour, but it does not stay wet enough to blend colours in a painting. Instead, areas are often butted together using a technique similar to that of paint by numbers. Gouache is also not suitable for applying very thickly to create texture.