What brush is needed for the gradient. Gradient manicure gel polish: video, tips, instructions

One of the new fashion trends in manicure is the technique of gradient manicure. This technique has gained great popularity among women.

A creative and neatly executed manicure is the perfect complement to any style of clothing. Over the past few years, manicure has turned into an art: fashionistas and designers come up with more and more sophisticated ways to decorate nails.

Sequins, stickers, foil, rhinestones, stamping, nail piercing, three-dimensional sculptures - a variety of decorations focus on nails in female image. Nail art fans always invent new ways of coloring nails: manicure can be moon, marble, holographic, gradient.

What is a gradient manicure?

gradient manicure became a popular trend in the spring-summer 2013 season. Summer gave way to autumn, but this exquisite manicure has not lost its relevance - bright summer tones have given way to deeper shades corresponding to the season.

Gradient manicure is a special technique of coating nails with varnish, which creates the effect of a smooth transition from one color to another. The gradual color change on the nails looks impressive!

Color solutions for such a manicure can be countless. The color may gradually fade or become brighter if similar tones of different saturation are used.

For a more expressive manicure, you can combine contrasting or related-contrasting colors - in order to correctly compose a harmonious combination, you need to use the color spectrum.

Gradient manicure technique

The technique of gradient coating of nails is not difficult, but it will require patience. There are several ways of coloring to achieve a smooth transition of colors.

The main tool that is used in any gradient manicure technique is a foam rubber sponge. It is best to use a dense triangular-shaped make-up sponge. The smaller the pores on the sponge, the better. The sponge is used as a stamp to apply the desired pattern.

Basic application methods

  • The nail plate is covered with a colorless base varnish. Colored varnishes are applied in lines on the surface of the sponge, after which the resulting pattern is quickly printed. This technique will be discussed in detail below.
  • Varnishes of selected shades are applied not on a sponge, but on the surface of a plastic film or cover. Varnishes must be applied so that the colored spots are in contact. At the point of contact, the colors are mixed with a toothpick, then the pattern is transferred to the surface of the nail plate, which is pre-coated with a manicure base.
  • This method is quite simple and is used when creating a gradient of two shades. If a transition is made from the moon to the tip of the nail from dark to light, a darker shade is applied as a base.
  • If the gradient needs to be made from light at the moon to dark at the tip, the nail is covered with the lighter of the selected shades, or with natural shade varnish. The second shade is then applied to the sponge and imprinted on the top. With the help of a top coat, the varnish is evenly distributed over the nail to create a smooth transition.

How to make a gradient manicure at home

First, select the shades - this process can take longer than the coloring process itself! You can choose shades of the same color and make smooth transition, for example, from lilac to pale pink.

But the colors don't have to be the same: a blue-to-yellow or green-to-black manicure will look very bold! To create a spectacular evening gradient manicure, you can use varnishes with glitter.

You can make a color block of shades different colors- it will look especially expressive: remember how the colors of the rainbow go from one to another. Experiment with different color combinations to start your manicure with a ready-made solution.

When choosing the number of color stripes, consider the length of your nails. It is more convenient to work on long ones, besides, more transitions from one color to another will “fit” on them. On short ones, a blend of two shades harmoniously looks, otherwise the colors will mix too much, and the manicure will be blurry.

Useful tip: if you have white or black polishes, they can be mixed with any other polishes to get a darker or lighter shade. The color transition on the nail plate can be done both vertically and horizontally.

What you need for a gradient manicure

Necessary materials:

  • nail file, tongs, cuticle scissors
  • base for manicure
  • varnishes of selected shades
  • sponge or sponge
  • plastic film (file) or plastic cap
  • cup of water
  • correction pencil or cotton swabs and nail polish remover
  • nail polish finish

Step-by-step instruction


For those who are always on the run and do not have an extra free minute, you can make a simpler manicure using the gradient technique: the effect of a smooth transition of shades of color can be obtained by painting the nails on one hand with different varnishes.

If you have a rich palette of varnishes, you can pick up five close shades of the same color. It doesn't matter if you don't have big amount varnishes - use 2-3 bottles, mixing shades with each other to get a smooth tone transition.

For nail thumb choose the darkest shade, gradually “lightening” it towards the little finger nail - or vice versa. Rinse the brush with solvent each time before applying the next shade.

The gradient has been on the list of the most popular styles in nail design for several years now. Called differently, both ombre and degrade, but without changing its essence - a smooth or not always smooth, contrasting or close in shades transition from one color to another - it gives an unusual charm and style to your manicure, moreover the gradient can visually lengthen your fingers, making them more elegant.

The undoubted advantage of this design is that you can easily make it yourself at home, even if you are completely new to the manicure technique. stock up necessary tools, the list of which is small - base, coating, varnish of several colors to your taste, fine-grained sponge or sponge (as for applying foundation), foil, nail polish remover (remove traces of lacquer that have fallen on the skin of your fingers) - that's probably all you need. Yes, of course, not without nuances and tricks, but that is why we started our article to tell and show you with an example best videos lessons about everything in detail. Master classes from experts in their field and a visual tutorial!

1 gradient for beginners

Without being a master and without special tools, with this video you will learn the basics of the gradient. An easy and wonderful way that will certainly be useful to you.

2 french gradient

Ombre on the example of a French gradient - a smooth transition from transparent to white. Very gentle and stylish manicure- a simple and wonderful way.

3 10 Gradient Secrets

10 rules and tips to help you achieve a truly perfect gradient.

4 Horizontal Gradient

Another useful and worthy master class with a detailed explanation of the technique, possible errors and subtleties.

5 6 ways gradient

Almost an encyclopedia, or at least a desktop tutorial on creating a gradient: 2 ways with brushes, 2 ways with a sponge, and 2 more methods using pigments and acrylic powder.

6 Gradient with a thin brush

An advanced version of the gradient for those who have already gotten their hands on the previous ones. In addition to the technique itself, this video tutorial will teach you how to create and combine negative space and a hole from a slider design in one manicure.


Gradient manicure - on this moment a new and fashionable trend in manicure. It is easily performed, without recourse to specialists. If you choose the right color scheme, you can pay attention to the peculiarity and excellent taste. Thanks to the texture and properties of gel polish, a gradient manicure can be done easily, quickly and accurately.

Thanks to the texture and properties of gel polish, a gradient manicure can be done easily, quickly and accurately.

There are several varieties of gradient gel polish. A gradient is a soft blending on the nails of two shades. Runs horizontally or vertically.

More ideas can be found in .

Vertical gradient with a flat brush

  1. Make preparation: use a primer for a strong connection of varnishes with nails, then you need to cover with a base for varnish, dry your nails in a UV lamp (1-3 minutes) or an LED lamp for 20-25 seconds.
  2. Cover the entire surface of the nail with the thinnest coating with a non-dark of the selected colors of the gel polish for the gradient, dry it using a lamp. Make a strip with the same gel polish, and next vertically the second strip with a different shade.
  3. Wet a flat brush a little in the clinser.
  4. Without pressing down, draw the brush several times along the length at the intersection of shades (from the cuticle to the tip). The brush should be parallel to the nail for soft smoothing.
  5. After obtaining a smooth transition, dry using a lamp.
  6. The second layer is done in the same way. You need to create a softer transition using a brush, dipping in a degreaser. Periodically clean the brush with a napkin.
  7. Dry with a lamp.
  8. Apply the third layer according to the algorithm to saturate the gradient. Dry with a lamp.
  9. Then cover the top under gel polish, dry using a lamp, remove the sticky part using a cotton pad soaked in clinser.

Gradient with fan brush

A fan brush is used here. The result is not entirely soft, but most people like this simple and instant method.

  1. The basis for the design should be a non-dark gradient color.
  2. After application, dry with a lamp.
  3. Mix 2 colors on thermal paper until mixed, paint the center of the nail. Get a neutral zone.
  4. Cover the edge with dark.
  5. Take a brush slightly soaked in the clinser, sweep in different directions, without moving, until the desired option is acquired.
  6. Dry under a lamp.
  7. Apply 2nd coat using the same sequence. The main color should cover directly the upper part so that the gradient does not overlap.
  8. Dry with a lamp.

Gradient manicure with pigments

Execution algorithm:

  1. Cover with a base layer, dry under the lamp.
  2. Using a petal brush, cover the pigment from the cuticle, stretching to the area of ​​mixing colors. Do not press hard with the brush so as not to pull off the sticky part. At the same time, achieve a thick range at the base and matte in the center.
  3. Clear the brush, do the same with the next layer, choosing the second pigment color. You need to start from the tip, moving towards the center. The layer should be the thinnest, but thick.
  4. Apply top, dry.

Gradient on gel polish with a sponge or sponge

The usual sponge for washing dishes with small holes is used. A new sponge must be divided into pieces before use, rinsed and dried.

Pieces should be taken according to the size of the nail, and they should also be high so that it is possible to control the pressure.

  1. Make preparation: apply cream and make a manicure, polish the plate a little;
  2. Cover the base with a thin layer of varnish, dry with a lamp;
  3. Apply to the entire plate the first part of the tint coating of the tone that will be located closer to the cuticle, dry;
  4. Coat the plate from the center to the tip with the second shade;
  5. Quickly, before it dries, wet the line between the shades with a sponge or sponge, then again, but a little closer to the cuticle with a clean edge of the sponge, dry under the lamp;
  6. If you wish, you can also cover the very end with a third color;
  7. After the tint coating has dried, apply top, dry;
  8. Remove excess coating with a stick dipped in nail polish remover.

Method two:

  1. Repeat the algorithm of the previous method until the base dries;
  2. Pour varnishes of 2 shades into a small bowl and get a third color, it should be a link between the two main ones;
  3. Coat the palette with varnishes - from dark to light, apply them tightly to each other without gaps between shades;
  4. Mix varnishes with a stick along two sides, getting a soft gradient from dark to light on the palette;
  5. Wet a wide sponge;
  6. Transfer the impression from the sponge to the nail;
  7. Dry using a lamp;
  8. Apply top, dry.

Linear ombre

  1. Clean and trim nails, push back cuticles and wipe with nail polish remover to remove oil and unwanted substances that affect the durability of a manicure.
  2. Cover with base.
  3. Cover with the main shade closer to the base. At the ends, the opposite color will cover up any imperfections. Dry with a lamp.
  4. Take a small part of the contrasting shade with the end of the cosmetic sponge. Smudge it all over the tip, moving the opposite color down towards the center, which allows for a smoother transition.
  5. Add a contrasting range in parts, making it deeper towards the tips.
  6. After finishing, use nail polish remover to remove excess coating.
  7. Apply a protective coating. Due to the fact that it can capture the varnish with each stroke, cover the nail with it horizontally so that there is no shading of the contrasting shade over the entire base.

Beautiful nails are the face of any girl. Not a single fashionista can resist a stylish and beautiful manicure, and if the varnish is not plain, but with drawings, this is just the perfect manicure. Someone loves the classics or French coating, while someone prefers bright ideas, for example, gradient gel polish on nails. Let's look at a few simple ways how to achieve amazing results yourself.

The gradient is not just an opportunity to use several shades of colors, but also a great chance to complement classic manicure stamping or stencil pattern. In addition to a wide variety of options for applying a gradient to nails, the name of such a technique is of main interest. This technique means not only a gradient, but also stretching, ombre, degradation - all this looks about the same on the nails. With the help of a gradient, you can create a bright design, combine several shades and choose the direction of the stretch itself on the nail plate. In turn, the gradient can be vertical or horizontal. If the manicure is done in accordance with all the rules using quality materials, marigolds will last in excellent condition for at least 14 days.

How to make a gradient gel polish?

Nail service masters have long mastered the technique of applying a gradient using gel polish. For this, thin brushes or short strips are used. The disadvantage of this method is its cost and complexity in execution. Therefore, in order to facilitate the work when drawing a gradient, they use an ordinary sponge, or rather a small piece of it. To make the work more accurate, you can also use a regular eyeshadow brush - it is in any girl's cosmetic bag. The effect of using a sponge or brush is about the same.

Horizontal Gradient Technique

To decorate your nails with a horizontal gradient, you need the following materials:

  • manicure tools, lint-free wipes, thin brush, UV lamp;
  • primer
  • top and base
  • gel polishes to create a gradient (from one or more).

Before applying gel polish in the form of a gradient, nail plate must be prepared in the usual way. This is where cuticle oil and other tools that the nail service master uses in their work come in handy:

  • apply a degreasing primer to the nail;
  • cover the nail with a base and dry it in a UV lamp;
  • apply one shade of gel polish on half of the nail;
  • apply a pre-selected color of varnish to the second half of the nail;
  • between the multi-colored halves it is necessary to leave a gap of about 1-2 mm;
  • using a thin brush with light pressing movements, you need to gently stretch the colors from bottom to top;
  • if varnish remains on the brush, it can be removed with a napkin;
  • after you have achieved desired result, you can lower your nails into a UV lamp;
  • to create a more saturated shade, it is recommended to apply gel polish in two or more layers;
  • to fix the result and give the surface of the nail a gloss, cover it with a top;
  • delete sticky layer using a special napkin.

All stages of creating a gradient on the nails are shown in this video:

To create a vertical ombre on the nails, follow the same steps as with the horizontal gradient. The only difference is the direction of the stretch. In the case of a vertical manicure, stretching should be done from right to left, achieving a smooth connection of shades.

Drawing a gradient on the nails with a sponge

If you don’t have a special brush on hand to create a trendy gradient, you can use a regular dishwashing sponge. You will need a small piece of a clean sponge of medium hardness with fine pores. How to do trendy manicure with a sponge? To do this, you will need the same tools as in the previous cases. Apply a base color to your nail that will blend with the two main colors of the gradient. After that, put two drops of the first gel polish on the foil, dab the sponge into the polish and transfer it to the nail with light pressing movements. In order not to stain the skin around the nails, you can pre-lubricate it with a moisturizer, so the varnish will be easier to wash off. Create a gradient step by step, smoothly connect the lines into a gentle color transition. To fix the color and gradient effect, dry your nails in a UV lamp and cover with a top coat.

This year, the theme of gradient manicure has become very popular, both among nail service masters and ordinary manicure lovers. Many masters teach various technologies and options for its implementation, come up with their own “fast gradient” methods, try to use all new materials and fluids to get the perfect smooth transition. So what is a gradient on nails, how does it differ from an ombre manicure? Let's try to figure it out!

What is a manicure gradient. Types of design and their differences.

We come across different names and types of this design on the pages of magazines and on the Internet - gradient, ombre, Dip Dye and even stripes manicure. What is this design?

Gradient manicure is special technique coating of nails, in which one color smoothly changes into another. Often such a manicure is called a fashionable ombre manicure. In part, this has become synonymous with the word gradient, but the ombre design on the nails involves a gradual lightening of the tips by several tones, while the color remains the same. color scheme. There is the term Dip Dye, it is also a synonym and has a similar meaning, but reflects the essence of the gradient as such more. Dip Dye means dyeing in a completely different bright color.

There are several types of gradient, among them are distinguished, gradient and. Of course, every year there are more and more variations of this fashionable nail cover, but the classics still remain in fashion. The gradient manicure technique is not complicated, but it will require a lot of patience and perseverance to perform.

Gradient with a transition: how to quickly create a trendy design.

Easiest to do gradient with transition. What colors are needed for this? We take 5 varnishes of the same color, but different in shades, and cover each nail from the little finger to the thumb in turn, the transition is obtained from one finger to another. If you do not have 5 shades of the same color, it is easy to create them yourself. To do this, we need a primary color, such as blue, and an additional one, such as white.

We cover the first nail with a blue tint, on the second nail in a separate container or simply on a plastic / glass palette, we mix it into a drop of blue varnish and do not a large number of white, thus obtaining a shade one tone lighter. We cover the second nail with the resulting color. Then again we mix in a little more white, getting an even lighter blue tint, and cover the next nail. Next, we just continue to mix varnishes according to this scheme until we reach the last nail. At the same time, we can also show originality and creativity, cover all 10 fingers in a gradient from blue to completely white, or cover 1 hand from blue to very light blue, and cover the second hand in the same way, or mirror.

Horizontal and vertical gradient: features of the technique.

What is horizontal gradient? In this case, a smooth transition of colors on the nail is created, starting from the cuticle area and moving towards the tips of the nails. The color scheme can be absolutely anything, from similar shades - then the manicure will turn out to be more gentle and “smooth”, to completely different, contrasting colors. In this case, the manicure will turn out bright and extravagant.

In such a manicure, you can combine two, three or even more colors. It should be taken into account that the more colors are used, the sharper the transition of colors in the contrasting nail gradient will be and the smoother the gradient with close shades of varnishes will be.

vertical gradient performed on the nail also with a smooth transition from one shade to another. However, the technology differs in that the color changes from one side roller to another, vertically. You can also create different variations of such a nail cover. For example, a manicure looks very original, in which the little finger is painted entirely in one color, a gradient transition is made on the ring finger to another color, the middle finger is covered with the color that we switched to on the ring finger, and the transition is made again on the index finger. So 3-4 or even 5 colors will be involved in the gradient, and the manicure will become even more original.

Another interesting feature of ombre manicure is the use of thermal nail polishes. You also do a manicure with color transitions, but instead of just polish or gel polish, you use thermo shades, with the slightest change in temperature, the polishes will change shades and the gradient will sparkle with new colors!

How to make a gradient manicure at home.

Here it is very important to consider the materials that you want to use for manicure: varnish or gel polish. Depending on your choice, the coating technology will change.

Consider the materials needed for the gradient.

When using a quick-drying varnish, you will need:

Several shades of lacquer (gel polishes or nail polishes),

Soft sponge or special sponge for gradient manicure,

Many people ask themselves: what varnish for a gradient manicure is suitable?

We recommend using varnishes with a dense texture and good pigmentation - they are optimally suited for the design and require a minimum of coating layers. Next, you need to choose one of the gradient methods that is convenient for you:

Gradient is fast and easy. The two most popular ways to do it.

The first method is the application of several shades of varnish in strips directly on the sponge (sponge). Immediately after application, you need to transfer the varnish to the nail with light patting movements - due to them, the varnishes at the border will mix and give a soft transition. However, be careful! If you fiddle with the sponge for too long, the varnishes at the border of the transition can interfere with each other and give a dirty shade. To prevent this from happening, it is better to use different shades of the same color for this method. There is also a high chance that the polishes will start to dry out, as the polish layer on the sponge is very thin and will start to roll off the sponge and nail, leaving spots and gaps. In this case, it is better to make a thin first layer, dry it, and then add a new varnish to the sponge and duplicate the layer again - so it will be bright, and the sponge will not create any inconvenience for you :)

In order to easily and quickly clean the skin of excess paint after performing the ombre effect on the nails, you can use a liquid tape (it's called Skin Defender). Also popularly this tool for water and French gradient manicure is called a pink ribbon or a pink little thing. It will allow you to remove excess from the fingers quickly and without the use of cleansing liquids, without overdrying the skin of the hands and fingers.


The second method of applying a gradient manicure with nail polish is to use any hard surface, plastic or glass. You can also mix varnishes and make transitions using a special silicone nail mat.

We apply the lightest shade used in the gradient to the nail and let it dry. Next, we moisten the sponge for varnish a little, so the varnish will not be absorbed into it too quickly and will allow us to do a manicure. To our glass surface need to apply dark shade, used for the gradient, and next to it is the same light shade that we applied to the nail. The shades should overlap a little. In order to make the border even smoother, we mix the varnishes at the junction with a toothpick or an orange stick, now we have our gradient in front of our eyes. This procedure must be done quickly enough so that the varnish does not have time to dry completely.

Next, we print our gradient onto the sponge with patting movements, slightly smearing it so that the borders of the colors mix a little and give a smooth transition, and apply polish from the sponge to the nail with the same movements. For each subsequent nail, you need to update the varnishes, however, with proper skill, you can have time to cover several nails at once.

Geometric gradient: design features and method of execution.

In the last season, the geometric gradient (graphic) on the nails gained immense popularity. The design of the geometric gradient gel polish is done with a thin brush. For him, you will need 2 gel polishes: rich color and white. Gradually diluting the colored shellac with white, we get an increasingly lighter shade and draw a geometric gradient step by step with a thin brush from the lightest shade, gradually moving to the darkest, applying a thin layer so that the gel polish does not spread. It is not necessary to dry each step. Only after finishing the whole drawing, we send the design to dry in the lamp. The most frequent and popular in 2016 was the geometric gradient of rhombuses (rhombuses, rhombuses).

How to make a geometric gradient on the nails with ordinary varnish, because it dries very quickly?

For this, it is better to use stencils for nails. Also, stencils can be used in gel polish manicure. But gel polishes tend to flow under the stencil, so you need to get used to it. For varnish, this is a great option, the varnish dries quickly in the air and does not spread, its excess can be easily removed cotton swab dipped in nail polish remover. In addition, manufacturers now offer a large number of stencils and slider designs with a variety of geometric patterns that are suitable for creating an incredible geometric manicure.

Beautiful manicure gradient:

Ombre design with gel polish and gel paint: subtleties of application and execution techniques.

The technology for applying a gradient manicure with gel polish or gel paint is significantly different. For such a manicure, we must fully prepare the nails for coating, apply a base coat and remove the sticky layer from it. It is desirable that the base coat be carried out with alignment, especially when using gel paint. Otherwise, all the irregularities will be very visible on the surface of the nail, and the gel paint will only highlight them even more, since this is a very thin coating.

For the first method, we need 2 shades of gel polish and a thin brush. The simplest and most common method of obtaining a horizontal gradient is with a thin brush. It is necessary to apply 1 layer of colored gel polish on the entire nail and dry it in a lamp. Next, apply the second layer and, without drying it, apply a small drop of the second layer to the area near the cuticle. Be careful not to fill the cuticle with gel polish! Since gel polishes are thinner than gel paints, they flow more easily, so gel polish should be applied with a medium drop and a little indented from the cuticle. We previously painted over the area near the cuticle with a brush in 1 layer so that there were no gaps in it.

Next, we distribute our drop with a thin brush, gradually “lubricating” it down to the end of the nail, but not reaching it. Depending on how well you shade your second shade, the smoothness of the gradient transition will also depend. There are also special brushes for gradients, they are wider and make the process of creating a gradient much more pleasant, speeding it up at times.

The second method is similar to the method of applying a varnish gradient - with a sponge. However, it is better for gel paints, as they do not spread and have good pigmentation. We also apply a gradient with a sponge on the nail, without drying, remove the excess from the side rollers and the cuticle zone, and send the design to dry in the lamp. If necessary, repeat the procedure 1-2 times and cover the finished manicure with a top coat for gel polish.

For vertical gradient technology, you can use a brush from the shellac bottle itself. It is better to use a brush of a darker shade, but it is always necessary to have a dry cloth on hand and often wipe the brush with it so as not to bring another color into the gel polish bottle. You can also use a flat brush, square or oval. Usually they are used for gel, but they are very convenient in creating a gradient. In this technology, a light shade of gel polish or gel paint is applied to the half of the nail. Further, a dark color of paint is applied to the second half with a spade on the light part. After that, we wipe the brush and with a dry brush we pass along the border of the flowers. This is our first base layer, send it to the lamp for 2 minutes. After that, we take with a brush half of the dark and the other half of the light paint at the same time, as if forming a gradient immediately on the brush. We apply the second layer with a brush with gel paints with a brush strictly in the center of our nail, so that the middle of the gradient on the brush approximately coincides with the middle of the gradient on the nail. This way we form a soft vertical gradient.

"Air" gradient: features of using an airbrush to create a manicure.

Now, the execution of the gradient, especially the horizontal one, with an airbrush is gaining popularity. The airbrush is special device spraying a thin layer of paint using air pressure. We'll take a look at the pros and cons of the gradient brush and airbrush.

The horizontal gradient with a brush on the nails is quite difficult to perform, its accurate execution is painstaking and long work. Many craftsmen use an airbrush to simplify and speed up work, thanks to the device, it takes about two minutes to create a gradient for 1 nail, while with a brush we spend about fifteen minutes shading gel polish or paint. The essence of the method is that we pour the paint into the airbrush, turn on the compressor and simply spray the paint on the nail. In this case, the paint, as a rule, is water-based or alcohol-based. In order to clean the client's handles and side bolsters, there is no need to use special liquids, it is enough to cover the design with a top and send the client to wash their hands with soap and water. This not only saves liquids for the master, but also does not harm the skin of the client's hands and eliminates allergies to liquids. The paint is sprayed in the thinnest layer, so paint consumption is minimal. The layer on the nail is thin and doesn't create the "patty nails" that you can get from layering when doing a regular gradient.

What to choose, gradient manicure with shellac or varnish?

If you actively use gel polishes, then we advise you to use gel polishes and paints, because in this case the gradient effect will remain on your nails for several weeks and will delight you every day. The lacquer gradient is quite easy to make and faster, but it will last the same as regular nail polish for 3-6 days.




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