If the results are to sharp or you want the 'Laced' effect when the material is just about going off you can run a lacing tool or trowel lighty over the surface which will dull the high points.
To get your edges neat use a brush all the way around.
Artex Patterns and Applying them
Artex is more commonly used to describe what's really called a texture, artex is the material used to create the textured effect.
You can use finishing plaster instead of artex and many do, but artex takes a lot longer to dry so you have more time to work with it, artex also dry's white.
Getting a texture is easier then people may think, after all it it not like you need a perfect flat smooth surface.
You would plaster your walls or ceilings as normal but you wouldn't need to smooth off, as long as its flat you ready for the artex.
Unlike a skim coat you can apply artex as you go along, so doing 1 square meter at a time is great.
Bark
After applying some material onto the surface, you would use a bark roller to run over lightly up and down the area, making sure your spreading the material to keep the surface flat.
This finish is generally used for walls but always make sure you only go up and down not side to side other wise the end result will look more like a broken leather effect.
Broken Leather
After applying some material onto the surface, you would cover a stipple brush with a piece of polythene. Twist the brush from left to right lightly bouncing the brush on the coated background, making sure that the pattern is random. You could also use a trowel, wet the trowel and run a fine coat of material over the base then dab the ceiling in random patterns.
This finish is better for ceilings.
Stipple
After applying some material onto the surface, you would use a stipple brush to gently bounce the brush into the material, to keep the pattern even don't twist the brush at all.
Best suited for walls.
Old Plaster
After applying some material onto the surface, you would use a 6" brush to brush through the surface in random directions and short to long strokes.
Great between beams on ceilings and walls.
Knifed Plaster
After applying some material onto the surface, you would use a 4" filling knife to pull down at the material. All ways overlap and change angles to keep it random looking.
Great for in between beams on walls.
Swirls
After applying some material onto the surface, you would use a stipple brush, twisting the brush in a circular motion on the coated background, Always over lapping and keeping the pattern random.
Perfect for ceilings.
Broken Swirls
After applying some material onto the surface, you would use a stipple brush, twisting the brush from left to right lightly through the material, keeping it random.
Great for ceilings.
Scroll
After applying some material onto the surface, you would use a stipple brush to drag the brush through the material twisting and turning in a figure eight motion. Always slightly over lapping and keeping it random.
Great for ceilings.
Medusa
After applying some material onto the surface, you would use your fingers in a circular motion through the material, keeping the pattern random.
Great for smaller areas such as archways.
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