A method for preparing a coated gas turbine component comprising: a base material, an outer surface (200, 300) and a coating (175, 225, 325) on a portion of the outer surface (200, 300); wherein at least two adjacent cooling holes (165, 205, 305) are arranged along an axis (A, B) on the outer surface (200, 300) and extend within the base material at an angle to the outer surface, and the coating (175, 225, 325) comprises at least one unfinished edge (230, 330) oriented substantially parallel to the axis (A, B) and set off at an oblique angle (α, β) and a distance (x, y) from the at least two adjacent cooling holes (165, 205, 305), characterized in steps of: preparing one or more mask elements (210, 310) substantially conforming to the contours of the outer surface (200, 300) of the component and comprising: at least one edge (235, 335) oriented substantially parallel to the axis (A, B) along which the at least two adjacent cooling holes (165, 205, 305) are arranged, wherein the at least one edge (235, 335) protrudes from the outer surface (200, 300) at the oblique angle (α, β,) and extends the distance (x, y) from the at least two adjacent cooling holes (165, 205, 305), and a central portion (240, 340) oriented substantially parallel to the axis (A, B) and raised with respect to the at least one edge (235, 335), wherein the one or more mask elements (210, 310) substantially cover the at least two adjacent cooling holes (165, 205, 305); affixing the one or more mask elements (210, 310) to the outer surface (200, 300); coating the outer surface (200, 300); and removing the one or more mask elements (210, 310) from the outer surface (200, 300). a base material, an outer surface (200, 300) and a coating (175, 225, 325) on a portion of the outer surface (200, 300); wherein at least two adjacent cooling holes (165, 205, 305) are arranged along an axis (A, B) on the outer surface (200, 300) and extend within the base material at an angle to the outer surface, and the coating (175, 225, 325) comprises at least one unfinished edge (230, 330) oriented substantially parallel to the axis (A, B) and set off at an oblique angle (α, β) and a distance (x, y) from the at least two adjacent cooling holes (165, 205, 305), characterized in steps of: preparing one or more mask elements (210, 310) substantially conforming to the contours of the outer surface (200, 300) of the component and comprising: at least one edge (235, 335) oriented substantially parallel to the axis (A, B) along which the at least two adjacent cooling holes (165, 205, 305) are arranged, wherein the at least one edge (235, 335) protrudes from the outer surface (200, 300) at the oblique angle (α, β,) and extends the distance (x, y) from the at least two adjacent cooling holes (165, 205, 305), and a central portion (240, 340) oriented substantially parallel to the axis (A, B) and raised with respect to the at least one edge (235, 335), wherein the one or more mask elements (210, 310) substantially cover the at least two adjacent cooling holes (165, 205, 305); affixing the one or more mask elements (210, 310) to the outer surface (200, 300); coating the outer surface (200, 300); and removing the one or more mask elements (210, 310) from the outer surface (200, 300). preparing one or more mask elements (210, 310) substantially conforming to the contours of the outer surface (200, 300) of the component and comprising: at least one edge (235, 335) oriented substantially parallel to the axis (A, B) along which the at least two adjacent cooling holes (165, 205, 305) are arranged, wherein the at least one edge (235, 335) protrudes from the outer surface (200, 300) at the oblique angle (α, β,) and extends the distance (x, y) from the at least two adjacent cooling holes (165, 205, 305), and a central portion (240, 340) oriented substantially parallel to the axis (A, B) and raised with respect to the at least one edge (235, 335), wherein the one or more mask elements (210, 310) substantially cover the at least two adjacent cooling holes (165, 205, 305); at least one edge (235, 335) oriented substantially parallel to the axis (A, B) along which the at least two adjacent cooling holes (165, 205, 305) are arranged, wherein the at least one edge (235, 335) protrudes from the outer surface (200, 300) at the oblique angle (α, β,) and extends the distance (x, y) from the at least two adjacent cooling holes (165, 205, 305), and a central portion (240, 340) oriented substantially parallel to the axis (A, B) and raised with respect to the at least one edge (235, 335), wherein the one or more mask elements (210, 310) substantially cover the at least two adjacent cooling holes (165, 205, 305); affixing the one or more mask elements (210, 310) to the outer surface (200, 300); coating the outer surface (200, 300); and removing the one or more mask elements (210, 310) from the outer surface (200, 300).