The process of sanding down imperfections (dust, runs) in a paint finish.

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De-nib sanding is the process of removing raised imperfections from a paint finish, like dust nibs and runs, by lightly sanding the surface until it’s flat and even. The goal is to knock down those kleine protrusions that mar the smooth look so the finish can be uniform before the next coat or final polish. It’s usually done with a very fine grit and often with wet sanding to keep the surface lubricated and avoid removing too much material. After this step, you’ll typically recoat and then polish to restore gloss.

Wet sanding is a general technique used to smooth and level a finish with water as a lubricate; color sanding refers to smoothing the color layer itself, often between coats to refine appearance; gloss sanding isn’t a standard term for this context. The specific procedure described—targeting dust nibs and runs to flatten the surface—fits de-nib sanding best.