How do I paint ceiling while avoiding getting paint on newly painted walls? Don't want to run risk of stripping paint off walls by using tape to protect any overlap of paint from ceiling. Obviously cannot spray paint. Roller OK but what about edges where ceiling meets walls?
Use an angle brush and very steady hand around edges.
They make roller shields to catch any splattering. Just roll slow & cut in the wall line with a quality angle brush.
While giving strokes on ceiling use a very steady hand so that the paint does not splatter to other walls. If you like you can also use angle brushes for painting the ceiling.
Use this room to learn a lesson--always paint the ceiling first. I don't use rollers because of the splatter, I use a paint pad. I am so experienced after all these years of using the paint pad exclusively that I don't even have to use a brush to cut in. They usually can be put on a long handle so you don't even have to use a ladder (I hate the long handles). Perhaps you could use a pad for about a foot from the wall & roller the center section depending on how large the room is.
Painting around the edge of the ceiling or cutting in can be done in one of two ways. You can use painter's tape around the wall where it joins the ceiling. If the walls were painted properly, the painter's tape won't damage the wall paint. If you're not sure, try the second method. Get a thin, bristle brush and with steady, sweeping strokes, gradually cut in the ceiling paint up to the wall. If you go over, have a clean rag handy to wipe up the overpaint. It's time consuming and requires a steady hand. The good news is if you do it right, you've only got to do it once.
