Watercolor layer in Painter 6?
odyssey
from scratch digital paintings. I am attempting to do a tutorial called
Pencil Sketch and Water Color but it was written for Painter 7. In step 7 it
says to create a new layer, a water color layer, but the only option I see
in Painter 6 is to simply create a new layer(though I see from the screen
shot that Painter 7 allows you to create a new layer, a new water color
layer, and a new liquid layer). Is there a way for me to specifically add a
watercolor layer in Painter 6 and if not, is it going to matter in the
tutorial? It is at
http://the-internet-eye.com/HOWTO/2001a/oct/PainterPSW/default.htm .
I would also love if anyone could point me in the direction of Painting
tutorials for Painter .. not for image manipulation or nozzle use or things
like that .. but from scratch painting techniques and tutorials beginning
with a blank 'canvas' would be greatly appreciated. Even any online painting
lessons in general for painting "in real" that I could apply to Painter
would be great.
Thank You a lot for reading this far.
Namaste,
Carla
--
.:~~It is better to be hated for who You are than to be loved for who You
are not~~:.
Karen Sperling
The watercolor brushes were completely changed in Painter 7, it was the main
change in the version update so no, tutorials for Painter 7 watercolors
don't apply to Painter 6.
The change was that they added watercolor layers in Painter 7.
In Painter 6, just choose a watercolor brush and paint. The watercolor paint
automatically floats above the canvas in what's called the Wet Layer, but
this is an invisible level that isn't the same as layers. That may sound
confusing at first, but that technology was around in earlier versions
before layers were added to Painter in X2 (called floaters back then). My
hunch is the confusion may have been one reason they decided to change the
way watercolors work in Painter 7, to make them more "standard" on layers.
Take a look at p. 105 of your Painter 6 manual. Watercolors and the wet
layer are explained there.
I have a bunch of Painter 6 tutorials at my web site.
My Deluxe CD has the most information about starting images from scratch,
but it is for Painter 5.0./5.5. You would find it useful because the
watercolor brushes were the same in both versions. They changed other
brushes in Painter 6 vs. Painter 5.
I'm about to announce Painter seminars and cd's for Painter 6 and Painter 7
in the very thing you mentioned, creating paintings from scratch in Painter,
for both artists and photographers.
--
Karen Sperling
Editor/Publisher
Artistry Painter Tutorial CD's
http://www.artistrymag.com
----------
Jinny Brown
It's best to use tutorials written for the version you're using, or an
earlier version. Painter 7 is quite different and includes things not
found and/or not possible to create or do in Painter 6 and earlier
versions. Likewise, Painter 6 has capabilities not found in or possible
in earlier versions. You'll find a lot of pertinent and usable
information in the Painter Forum at In Depth Discussions, along with
painting demonstrations and tutorials. Post a message in the Painter
Forum and let us know what you're looking for and we'll help you find
it. Paulo, for instance, has done several Water Color demos and at least
one painting (from scratch) tutorial useable in Painter 6 and either
it's default brushes or ones Paulo created and shared with us. The URL
is below my signature.
In the meantime:
Read all of this thoroughly then apply it as needed to make the original
Painter 7 tutorial work for you as much as possible:
NOTE: Be sure to save often along the way, in Painter's native RIFF
format so you won't lose any Painter-specific information like Layers,
for instance.
1. In Edit > Preferences > Undo, set the number to 32. If your system is
low on resources, this may be too high a number as it uses memory, so
set the number to what you think might be OK and adjust it if you find
that you need to.
2. Open a new white Canvas, using, if you want, the size suggested in
the original tutorial. It's important that you use white if you want to
separate your Water Color painting on separate Layers. You can add a
background color to the Canvas later, after all the Water Color painting
is done and it's on a Layer or multiple Layers.
2. Using (since the specified Pencil Variant is not available in Painter
6) the Pencil's 2B Pencil Variant: In the Brush Controls palette's
General section, change the Method to Cover and the Subcategory to
Grainy Soft Cover. In the Size section, change the Size to 2.0. In the
Brushes palette's Variant menu, choose Save Variant and name the new
Custom Brush Variant "carla-pencil-01".
3. From the Layers section menu, choose New Layer and do the sketch.
Since you'll be making selections based on areas in the sketch, you'll
need to make sure that your lines are not broken and each area is
enclosed with a solid line. Otherwise, the Magic Wand will make
selections including other areas outside of the area you want.
4. Beginning at Step 8, wherever the original tutorial instructs you to
make a selection, use the Magic Wand on the sketch Layer then, while the
Selection is active, highlight the Canvas to paint using the Water Color
Variants. When the Canvas is highlighted, the Selection will apply to
the Canvas and/or invisible Water Color Layer.
5. Since Painter 7 Water Color technology is so different from that of
Painter 6 and earlier versions, you won't be able to follow the original
tutorial using so many Water Color Variants or even ones that look
exactly the same. Instead, you'll need to pick only a few of the Painter
6 Water Color Variants and if you want to adjust the settings, then do
that. Your painting will need to be simpler than what could be done in
Painter 7 but it can be perfectly beautiful using Painter 6 Water Color
Variants, whether or not you choose to make adjustments to them. In case
you do want to make adjustments:
To somewhat simulate the first brush specified in the original tutorial,
here's how the brush could be set up. Use this only as an example for
setting up this and other brushes specified in the original tutorial.
You'll need to refer to the images to get a rough idea of how these
brushes paint. Choose the Brush Category's Captured Bristle Variant and
make the following setting adjustments.
BRUSH CONTROLS PALETTE SECTIONS:
GENERAL
Dab Type: Static Bristle
Stroke Type: Single
Method: Wet
Subcategory: Grainy Wet Buildup
Opacity: 40%
Grain: 1%
SIZE
Size: 20.0
Min Size: 100%
Size Step: 5%
SPACING
Spacing: 12%
Min Spacing: 0.1
Damping: 1%
Continuous Time Deposition: box unchecked
Cubic Interpolation, Points: 0
ANGLE
greyed out
BRISTLE
Thickness: 23%
Clumpiness: 11%
Hair Scale: 486%
Scale/Size: 21%
IMPASTO
Draw to: Color
all others greyed out
EXPRESSION
Size: None
Jitter: None
Opacity: Pressure
Grain: None
Color: None
Resat: None
Bleed: Pressure, Invert Box checked
all other Invert boxes unchecked
all other Controllers greyed out
Direction: 0 degrees
WELL
Resat: 60%
Bleed: 38%
Dryout: maximum
Brush Loading: box checked
AIRBRUSH
greyed out
RAKE
greyed out
RANDOM
Jitter: 0.00
Random Brush Stroke Grain: box unchecked
all others greyed out
WATER
Diffusion: 20
Wet Fringe: 0%
CLONING
Clone Color: box unchecked
all others greyed out
MOUSE
Pressure: 100%
Tilt: 0 degrees
Bearing: 0 degrees
Wheel: 100%
ART MATERIALS PALETTE'S RGB COLOR SECTION:
R: 190
G: 209
B: 250
Clone Color: box unchecked
ART MATERIALS PALETTE'S COLORS SECTION:
Clone Color: box unchecked
In the lower right corner of the Colors section, you'll see the HSV
percentages displayed
H: 94%
S:81%
V:86%
Click this display to toggle to RGB which should read as follows:
R: 190
G: 290
B: 250
To choose another color, move the small circle on the Colors section's
Hue ring.
To change the value (light or dark), move the small circle in the Color
section Triangle up or down (down makes the color darker, up makes it
lighter).
To change the Saturation, move the small circle in the Color section
Triangle to the right or left (right makes the color more saturated,
left makes it less saturated).
If you're happy with the Value and Saturation levels, just move the Hue
ring circle to choose a new color.
ART MATERIALS PALETTE'S PAPER SECTION:
Paper: Basic Paper
Invert Paper: box unchecked
Scale: 100%
Contrast: 400%
Brightness" 50%
When you are finished making all of these adjustments, in the Brushes
palette's Variant menu, choose Save Variant, name the new Custom Brush
Variant "carla-water-color-01" and check the Save Current Colors box.
The first time you use this brush after opening Painter it will paint in
the color chosen when you saved the "carla-water-color-01" brush
variant. If you move the Hue ring circle to choose another color or make
any other setting adjustments, and want to return the
"carla-water-color-01" brush variant to the original color and other
original settings, choose the "carla-water-color-01" brush variant and,
in the Brushes palette's Variant menu, choose Restore Default Variant.
If you've chosen another Paper, you'll need to manually choose the
original Paper again.
6. If you want to paint the colors on separate Layers, before making the
second selection to paint the second color, highlight the Canvas and in
the Canvas menu, uncheck Wet Paint to dry the Water Color paint. Use
Select > All (or Ctrl/Command+A) then click inside the selection using
the Layer Adjuster tool to lift the Canvas to a Layer. In the Layers
section, choose Gel or Multiply from the Composite Method drop down
list. Now the white background is transparent so you'll be able to see
the Canvas when you begin to paint again on the invisible Wet Layer
using a Water Color Variant.
7. Highlight the sketch Layer and make the second selection, then
highlight the Canvas. Repeat this procedure whenever the original
tutorial tells you to paint a new color.
8. There is no need to delete the sketch Layer (or "pencil layer" as
instructed in Step 16 of the original tutorial. If you don't want to see
it, just highlight that Layer in the Layers section list and click its
Eye icon to make it invisible. You might want to also click the Lock
icon to make sure it doesn't move or changed in any way.
9. There is no need to "Drop All" as instructed in Step 16 of the
original tutorial.
10. You will not be able to "Lift Canvas to Water Color Layer" as
instructed in Step 17, then paint using Water Color variants on that
Layer. Again, if you want your Water Color paint to appear on separate
Layers, first highlight the Canvas and in the Canvas menu, uncheck Wet
Paint. Use Ctrl/Command+A and click inside the selection to lift the
Canvas to a Layer. Then in the Layers section, choose Gel or Multiply
from the Composite Method drop down list to make the white background
transparent. Now do whatever Water Color painting you want, or is
instructed in Step 17, on the Canvas level.
11. When the original tutorial calls for erasing, switch to the Water
Color Category's Wet Eraser.
12. If you get a message saying you can't paint on the Water Color
Layer, go to the Canvas menu and check Wet Paint.
13. When you're all finished, do one last Save in Painter's native RIFF
format. In the Canvas menu, uncheck Wet Paint. In the File menu, choose
Clone. Now you have an exact copy of the image, flattened to the Canvas
and you also have the original file containing Painter-specific
information. Save the Clone with a new file name (i.e. the original is
named carla-wc-o1.rif and the Clone is named carla-wc-02.jpg ... or
whatever other format you want).
NOTE: If you ever want to work on the original RIFF file again, all of
its Layers will be intact and you can continue working however you want.
Happy Painting!
Jinny Brown
PixelAlley Links - Jin's Painter Classes
see http://www.pixelalley.com
or the PixelAlley Section Links Page at:
http://www.pixelalley.com/pixelalley-sections-pages.html
Visit us in the Painter Forum at In Depth Discussions:
http://www.critical-depth.com/cgi-bin/idd/
______________________________________
Karen Sperling
You know I have the utmost respect for you. And you are indefatigable to go
through all of this.
But it's unnecessary in Painter 6. I only mention it because I hate to see a
new user get jumbled up in too much info. The program is complicated enough
as it is.
After I skimmed through what you wrote I went over to the original tutorial
and took a look.
All it is is a pencil sketch, then they selected areas, painted, then
deleted the pencil lines.
It's so easy in Painter 6. And you don't need layers. Also, you can't paint
in layers with watercolor in Painter 6.
The steps would be:
1. Draw the pencil lines in the canvas.
2. I would do File: Clone to keep a copy of the pencil strokes.
3. Select an area, paint with the watercolor brushes. The watercolor strokes
go within the selections. Keep everything in the wet layer (in otherwords,
don't choose canvas: dry).
4. When the painting is done, select all (command+a, mac; ctrl+a, windows)
and delete, mac; backspace, windows. The pencil lines disappear and the wet
watercolor strokes remain behind. Watercolor remains in its own separate
invisible level till dried.
5. Choose Canvas: Dry, setting or flattening the watercolor strokes into the
canvas.
----------
In article <3C38E622...@mindspring.com>, Jinny Brown
Jinny Brown
Please use Karen Sperling's Tutorial. It's the best one by far and it
won't confuse you as both the original one and mine will. Sorry if
you're already confused.
Thanks again, Karen. :o)
Jinny
______________
Jinny Brown
You're absolutely right and I agree that beginners don't need to be
confused by so much confusion. <g>
I got it stuck in my mind that Carla wanted especially to use that
tutorial. Frankly, after reading some of the others this author wrote..
well... let me just say they are confusing no matter which version you
have and how much you already know about Painter.
Thanks for cleaning up the procedure. I hope Carla reads this and uses
your tutorial. It is the far better one most definitely.
Carla? Are you reading this.. I hope?
Jinny Brown
PixelAlley Links - Jin's Painter Classes
see http://www.pixelalley.com
or the PixelAlley Section Links Page at:
http://www.pixelalley.com/pixelalley-sections-pages.html
Visit us in the Painter Forum at In Depth Discussions:
http://www.critical-depth.com/cgi-bin/idd/
______________________________________
Karen Sperling
Thanks, I know sometimes it's hard to see the forest for the trees. I know
you were just trying to translate that tutorial for Painter 6.
So once again we all live happily ever after.
The end.
:: cue credits ::
<g>
--
Karen Sperling
Editor/Publisher
Artistry Painter Tutorials
http://www.artistrymag.com
----------
In article <3C391DC7...@mindspring.com>, Jinny Brown
odyssey
replied to this i had just about finished my painting but before i could
save it painter locked up on me(which it does two or three times a day) .. i
have a partially finished version of it finished and will probably go back
to it when i get over the disappointment. i am new to Painter, but not new
to graphics programs so i can follow along on most things pretty well, or
find my way around if i don't know the direct path .. i tried to use the
watercolor brushes available with painter 6 and i did not care for how they
were looking and ended up making my painting more .. oil like i guess, not
sure ..
The one thing i didn't like though(aside from my technique with close up
objects, though i am pretty good with skies and mountains), were the blank
outlines surrounding everything. You know .. where the pencil outline was in
the sketch layer, the selections were made inside those.
i think next time i made a sketch on a different layer that i will only make
the pencil size .5 if that is possible .. though 1 may be as small as it
will go.
i have been through both your site, Jinny, and Karen's site, and i like them
both, they just don't have a lot of tutorials specific to what i am looking
for. In fact, i just don't seem to be able to find many of them out there at
all and i cannot afford to buy any books or cds or anything so if it isn't
on the web freely i cant access it, right now anyway. i use (whispering) psp
7 for virtually all of my 2d graphic work and 3d post work and am really
comfortable with it and can get a lot out of it. But i really ..*really* ..
want to do totally all mine art .. which i can do in psp ... but the brushes
etc. available in Painter surpass psp's ability in that area so i really
want to learn it for *that* purpose .. to do 'all mine' art .. lol.
i just cant seem to find many free art classes online though .. and i have
looked.
Thank You both so much again for taking the time to respond to my inquiry ..
and for so much detail ..i plan to do the tutorial both ways because i think
i can learn something from each.
Jinny Brown
Teamwork helps too. I never mind at all if someone catches me going off
a cliff.
Jin (where's that darned forest!) <g>
_____________________
Karen Sperling
I know what you mean about my site, I'm in the process of creating new, more
painterly tutorials.
I will continue to offer some freebies as incentives for people who can to
buy the CD's, the income from which is what keeps me going, so check back to
my site soon.
What brushes did you wind up with for your oil look in Painter 6?
----------
Jinny Brown
Phew! Whew! Oh I am relieved! <g>
Making selections directly with the Lasso tool can be a better way to
avoid those unfilled areas caused by the pencil lines. If you need
precision, draw with the Pen tool to create the Shape you need, then in
the Shapes menu, Convert to Selection. Since you can Save Selections and
Load them again when you need them.. or convert them back to Shapes
(Select menu, Convert to Shapes), you have a lot of flexibility.
Or.. you can draw on a Layer and paint on the Canvas freehand, using the
drawing Layer as a visual guide.
Karen? Want to add to this one or make it better somehow? It's fine with
me if you do.
Jinny Brown
PixelAlley Links - Jin's Painter Classes
see http://www.pixelalley.com
or the PixelAlley Section Links Page at:
http://www.pixelalley.com/pixelalley-sections-pages.html
Visit us in the Painter Forum at In Depth Discussions:
http://www.critical-depth.com/cgi-bin/idd/
______________________________________
odyssey
i know i used the opaque and variant flat and round ones quite a bit at
different opacities and sizes ... and the airbrush digital airbrush and
variable splatter on the clouds.
i have uploaded the last save i had made before painter froze on me .. after
i saved it i had done all the shading and detail work in the foreground and
on the river but that is lost now .. i used the burn photo feature for that
but of course you cannot see that here because without that it basically
looks like a coloring book page from the trees down.
The other url here is for some clouds that i did practicing in painter ..
they are about the only thing i am good at right now and once i get them
finished i find it hard to move on to the rest of the painting .. lol
the unfinished painting:
http://www.odysseyindesign.net/images/oid_wcuf.JPG
The clouds:
http://www.odysseyindesign.net/images/painteronebcdblue.JPG
odyssey
.. so I could make it and then expand it 2 pixels and it would cover up that
empty space where the sketch line is .. but, even though in the selections
menu of Painter I see an option to 'widen' it has always been grayed out for
me so I have not been able to use it.
Karen Sperling
reason seem to have been taken out. But then there's that ghost that makes
you think it should work. Welcome to Painter lol.
----------
Jinny Brown
When you see the Select > Modify flyout menu options greyed out, choose
Select > Transform Selection first, then choose Select > Modify > Widen
(or whichever option you want).
Jinny Brown
PixelAlley Links - Jin's Painter Classes
see http://www.pixelalley.com
or the PixelAlley Section Links Page at:
http://www.pixelalley.com/pixelalley-sections-pages.html
Visit us in the Painter Forum at In Depth Discussions:
http://www.critical-depth.com/cgi-bin/idd/
______________________________________