7 Queries
Keith Gale
I get no preview. i.e. I can't see what is happening, which is completely
useless. Is this the case with 7? It's probably too much to expect a
program
for artists to be visually intuitive? In 6.1 there is no straight line
lasso.
Is this the case with 7 too? In 6.1 why are there no zoom levels between
50% and 100%? and why can't I type in the level I want? Has this been
changed in 7? One of the most useful tools in windows, the right click menu,
is completely absent in 6.1. Is it there in 7? etc. etc.
I have serious doubts about this Corel "makeover". It doesn't seem to be
much different to 6. All those "fantastic" examples at Procreate can be
created in 6.1, so exactly what is the $199US for? This should be a free
upgrade to fix all the bugs. I read the news groups and see so many
problems with both versions it's difficult to understand why anyone
would buy the software anyway. I know that a lot of these queries
are from newbies but there are complaints from professionals too.Guys
who use the program every day.
A stylus will never replace a good sable but it was never intended to.
Computers produce a different result. You will only ever get something
"similar" and why would you bother? I already have real pencils and a
scanner. The beauty of painting software is it's difference. Having
accepted that why do we have to put up with all these bugs and inadequacies?
Metacreations wasted a lot of effort making Painter as different as
possible to Photoshop {alienating all the Photoshop users} and a lot more
effort using type A programmers to make a programme for type A
personalities who use only macs, and not enough time testing and
improving. It's time, I think, to put the artists in charge of the geeks.
I too make a living from drawing and painting. I used to do all this stuff
on real paper, mix a colour, pick up the right brush and Hey! but now I have
the convenience of computers saving me heaps of time which I can waste
replacing whole file sets because the program crashed, or refused to start
or searching the manual or the internet to find the answer to a problem
which should never have existed.
Does anyone know another programme which destroys it's own
operating files? I have almost given up. It will take a lot more good
reviews fom users, not the sales department, to convince me to
buy Painter 7. If Photoshop ever gives us a brush engine as good as
Painter the battle will be over.
Cheers.
Koolhand
gw
Thinking about a couple or so of your posts just a little while
ago, I've been wondering why Corel have not equipped you with an
adequate Painter-appropriate computer system. May be they can't
afford it. May be they won't. Maybe they don't care. I am in
awe about your valiant defence of CorelPainter, as I am - and I'm
sure everybody is - about the fantastic and gratuitous dedication
of Jinny the Magnificent, the champion of both the Program and
its Users.
They seem to have no idea of your immense value as a windbreak
facing this turbulent Painter community - a community they
inherited but a turbulence they created , or at least they let it
happen, seemingly in ignorance rather than by intent.
Personally I cannot imagine that this scenario can continue as
far as a future P8; may be perhaps as far as an intermediate
stopper or two. On the other hand, as someone who's fascinated
by Painter but does not have to earn a living by it, I find it
uncanny and amazing how expert Painters have become in their
beloved much-maligned medium.
We all know, rather more I think than the Corel hierarchy, how
revolutionary and mind-boggling a medium that Painter is. There
is no equivalent, not by a long long way. My view is that Corel
never had much interest in Painter on the transfer from
Metacreations, and they might even then have had some superficial
thought about what it would take to develop this program further,
as its users expected from Corel.
It is said that Corel employ - directly or indirectly - the
original *inventors* of Painter.
In the light of events since Metacreations, does one conclude
that they are kept at arms' length so that they cannot use their
supreme skills to continue to develop Painter, or is it that they
have reached their limit of ingenuity to keep pace with Painter's
upward pressures?
With great respect to Tanya,I believe a far greater rapport
between the Painter *engineers* and its prominent *user engines*
is highly overdue and I'm sure everybody who cares would advocate
and greatly welcome a direct co-operation between the Enablers
and the Enabled in full view of the whole Painter community -
which, incidentally, has the largest number of graphics forums on
the Web (I think).
Finally, I read many complaints about Painter's user-imposed
function as an editing medium.
Why use Painter when you can get much better results from
Photoshop for certain/many activities? Why brush with Photoshop
when you can get vastly better results in Painter? In other
words, I cannot imagine that a proficient graphics artist would
not toggle (fairly) constantly between these two magical media to
meet his/her machinations. Many of the complaints, I read, seem
- in my fairly knowledgeable but humble opinion - more to do with
the limitations of the complainant than the restrictions of the
wealth of tools at hand.
In this great debate that's going on, and on, and on, can we not
get a better balance and perspective about the merits and
demerits of what remains (unrivalled) a unique Program - indeed a
unique Experience. Let the Love prevail!
gw
==============
Gerry Noble
Painter is such a beautiful idea. What a waste.
Maybe now Corel will think about getting into the software business.
I'm sure they can do it.
Gerry Noble (UK)
Matt McElligott
> Along with a lot of other nuisances, in 6.1, if I scale, rotate or
distort
> I get no preview. i.e. I can't see what is happening, which is completely
> useless. Is this the case with 7?
For a long time Painter has had a feature called "Free Transform" (reference
layers), which allows you to scale, rotate, distort, and skew, while viewing
a preview. Plus, it's non-destructive. Make as many changes as you want and
when everything is perfect, "Commit" the layer/floater. Painter calculates
the final changes directly from the original, undistorted image. Works very
well.
> In 6.1 there is no straight line lasso.
No, but there's something just about as good. Make a selection with any of
the vector shape tools, then convert that shape to a selection. This one has
also been there for quite a few versions.
> Is this the case with 7 too? In 6.1 why are there no zoom levels between
> 50% and 100%? and why can't I type in the level I want? Has this been
> changed in 7?
Yes.
> One of the most useful tools in windows, the right click menu,
> is completely absent in 6.1. Is it there in 7?
Yes.
Hope this helps!
Matt
Jinny Brown
My comments are inserted below.
Jinny Brown
My prayers for the safety of your loved ones today
and for a quick and certain stop to terrorism everywhere.
September 11, 2001
_____________________
Keith Gale wrote:
>
> Along with a lot of other nuisances, in 6.1, if I scale, rotate or distort
> I get no preview. i.e. I can't see what is happening, which is completely
> useless. Is this the case with 7?
In both Painter 6.1 and Painter 7, if you manually Rotate or Scale,
you'll see the bounding box rotation or scale, though the image itself
is not previewed.
> It's probably too much to expect a program for artists
> to be visually intuitive? In 6.1 there is no straight
> line lasso. Is this the case with 7 too?
In Painter 6.1 and earlier versions, as well as in Painter 7, the Pen
tool is used to draw straight lines by clicking from point to point to
create a Shape. The Shape is closed, either by clicking the end point
exactly on the beginning point or by clicking the Close button in the
Controls:Shape Design palette. The Shape can then be converted to a
Selection by choosing Shapes > Convert to Selection or by clicking Make
Selection in the Controls:Shape Design palette.
> In 6.1 why are there no zoom levels between
> 50% and 100%? and why can't I type in the level I want? Has this been
> changed in 7?
Continuous Zoom has been added in Painter 7. We can now Zoom in several
ways. Here are a few that I can think of:
1. Click the Magnifier tool then Click and Hold to Zoom In until the
desired Zoom level is reached, then lift the pen (or mouse). Hold down
the Alt/Option key, click the Magnifier tool, then Click and Hold to
Zoom Out until the desired Zoom level is reached, then lift the pen (or
mouse).
2. Move the Magnifier slider at the lower left corner of the image
window or type the desired Zoom percent number in the box to the right
of the Magnifier slider.
3. Click the Magnifier tool, then click the image to Zoom in at
user-specified Magnifier Increments (Edit > Preferences > General then
type the desired percent number in the Magnifier Increments box). To
Zoom out, click the Magnifier tool, hold down the Alt/Option key, and
click the image.
4. Double-click the Magnifier tool icon to return the image to 100%
Zoom.
One of the most useful tools in windows, the right click menu,
> is completely absent in 6.1. Is it there in 7? etc. etc.
In Painter 7, in the Objects palette's Layers list, we can highlight the
Canvas, a Layer, a Shape, or a Dynamic Layer and use Right-click to open
the appropriate menu. When the Brush tool is active, we can also hold
the cursor over the image and Right-Click to open a list of the
currently active Brush Category's Brush Variants.
> I have serious doubts about this Corel "makeover". It doesn't seem to be
> much different to 6. All those "fantastic" examples at Procreate can be
> created in 6.1, so exactly what is the $199US for? This should be a free
> upgrade to fix all the bugs. I read the news groups and see so many
> problems with both versions it's difficult to understand why anyone
> would buy the software anyway. I know that a lot of these queries
> are from newbies but there are complaints from professionals too.Guys
> who use the program every day.
Painter 7 is very different from Painter 6.1 and earlier versions. It
contains many new capabilities that we've been asking for for a long
time, two of them being continuous Zoom and improved Water Color
brushes.
Both Painter 6.0.3 and Painter 6.1 are quite stable, though not perfect.
Painter 7 is, in many ways more generally stable and faster, though the
new Water Color brushes can be quite slow, depending on how they are
set. It is possible to change the settings and make them work faster.
Also, there are a number of obvious bugs in Painter 7 for which I expect
Corel will be releasing a patch or two.
We are currently, as Corel probably is, collecting reports of bugs and
other problems that may not be bug related but instead related to our
not yet having learned how to use Painter 7 fully. Making it work
properly requires that we learn how to alter settings from the defaults.
The Brush technology is quite changed and new to all of us, professional
or not.
> A stylus will never replace a good sable but it was never intended to.
> Computers produce a different result. You will only ever get something
> "similar" and why would you bother? I already have real pencils and a
> scanner. The beauty of painting software is it's difference. Having
> accepted that why do we have to put up with all these bugs and inadequacies?
You don't have to. The option not to buy or use software has always been
available to any user. Even if their current job requires using
software, they have the option to look for work where that is not a
requirement.
Obviously, many people do opt to use software and Painter is the most
advanced and exciting one to use if what it offers is what the artist or
designer wants. It happens to be what I want and then some but I
couldn't convince my traditional artist brother if my life depended on
it. He doesn't even want to learn why I love it so much and I don't try
to convince him.
I prefer to help document and report problems and encourage Corel to do
the right thing.. fix bugs, and fix them as quickly as possible.. while
trying to help Painter users learn how to use what works (most of it)
and find workarounds until Corel fixes problems/bugs.
<SNIP>
Jinny Brown
Thank you for the more than kind words about my efforts to support
Painter and the Painter Community. I am not the only Painter user who is
passionate about it and works hard to solve problems.. thank goodness
and thanks to all who do. As you probably know from reading my posts, I
am also in support of Corel, in the following ways:
1. Encouraging them (urging them frequently, both in private mail and
publicly) to do what is right for their customers and for the care and
nurturing of Painter (and expecting that they will).
2. Encouraging them (urging them frequently, both in private mail and
publicly) to get their web design act together. It is insulting to the
intelligence of Corel's customers to put up a site that either is not
working or is so difficult for many of Corel's customers to use that it
is virtually useless to many of them.. and to do this repeatedly.
3. Encouraging them (urging them frequently, both in private mail and
publicly) to get their Marketing act together as it relates to Painter.
(I suspect that this is tied to item 2 in ways I am not knowledgeable
enough to describe.)
4. Encouraging them to get their bug-fixing act together and fast!
Fortunately for Corel, their life as a laughing stock over the choice of
the name "Procreate" for their new line of products has been fairly
short-lived as we have *un*-fortunately been quite thoroughly distracted
by bugs in Painter 7 and difficulties/disappointments using the Water
Color brushes.. though admittedly, both the new Water Color brushes and
Liquid Ink brushes.. as well as other new features like painting on
multiple Water Color Layers are appreciated and welcomed. Bugs in the
following are not excuseable and if they are not promptly fixed with one
or more patches, Corel will have again shot itself in the foot.. and
possibly lost the use of that foot altogether. To list only a small
number of many:
Editing Water Color Masks doesn't work
No Masks for Liquid Ink Layers.
Zoom function problems like sudden jump to 10,000% and Zoom to Fit
resulting in an image window that measures something like 1.25" x 1/2"
and the Canvas being something like 1/16" wide.
etc, etc, etcetera...
What is more important today... and for our future as a civilized human
community:
My prayers for the safety of your loved ones today
and for a quick and certain stop to terrorism everywhere.
September 11, 2001
Jinny Brown
_____________________
gw
All of New Zealand is deeply shocked at the terrible catastrophy
inflicted on your country with which we have such close ties as
co-members of the free world. Our prayers and condolences are
with you all in this traumatic ordeal that brings tears to our
eyes as well.
gw
===================
xals...@san.rr.com
limitations.
However, I LOVE this program, and have been using it since version 2.
It is the ONLY tool for doing what it does well.......but other programs do better
what it does poorly. I usually have Painter, CorelDRAW, and Adobe Photoshop open
at the same time, or in sequence, to create and edit the images my company uses.
Our tasks are as varied as block diagrams for industrial equipment to the art used
on the marketing website.
Painter: Painting.
CorelDRAW: Drawing.
Photoshop: masking, editing.
Jinny Brown
Thanks to you and all of New Zealand.. and people around the world who
are writing to the lists, boards, forums, and newsgroups with messages
of support such as yours. This is not only an event affecting the U.S.
It is a threat to the safety and welfare of all people, everywhere.
They, whoever they are, have attacked the ***wrong*** people. Americans,
and good people around the world are shocked, saddened, and angry... and
all that mixed with disbelief.
We will not, however, be frightened into inaction. God help us to do
what has to be done and do it quickly and surely. Hatred and terrorism
have no place in God's earth of in our hearts and lives.
The following is a message written to one of the Painter Forums
yesterday:
"Prayers and Priorities
There are priorities today and among our first priorities at the moment
are to prevent these horrendous events from occurring again, to care for
those who were injured and those who have lost loved ones, and to avoid
placing blame before we know who is responsible.
The many other freedoms we enjoy, besides safety and survival, are
important too and should not be forgotten or neglected.
**None of these can be protected if we are murdered by terrorists or
frightened into thinking that nothing can be done.**
Let us not be distracted from what is of highest priority **now** so
that we can remain alive and free to nurture our many other freedoms in
health and safety.
Jinny Brown
My prayers for the safety of your loved ones today
and for a quick and certain stop to terrorism everywhere.
September 11, 2001"
________________________
The World Trade Center did exist and will exist in our memories the rest
of our lives.
The attack(s) on the World Trade Center did take place, including one on
the Pentagon that killed, at last report, 800 human beings (not to count
those innocents who died in the plane crashes).
This is, and will not be, easy. It is, however, what we are given to
deal with and as long as we hold true to our beliefs and our faith in
God, and don't fall prey to the temptation to run away from it to seek
only pleasure and ease, we will hold together and take the action that
is needed. I mean all of us around the world, not only the U.S. as,
again, this is a threat to the freedom and welfare of all people.
Thank you, gw.
Courage, Integrity, Faith, and Peace to you and those you love,
Jinny
__________________________
gw wrote:
>
> Jinny,
>
> All of New Zealand is deeply shocked at the terrible catastrophy
> inflicted on your country with which we have such close ties as
> co-members of the free world. Our prayers and condolences are
> with you all in this traumatic ordeal that brings tears to our
> eyes as well.
>
> gw
<SNIP>
David Clemons
"Jinny Brown" <jinb...@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:3B9F5FA4...@mindspring.com...
gw
TRIBUTE TO THE UNITED STATES
This, from a Canadian newspaper, is worth sharing.
America: The Good Neighbour.
Widespread but only partial news coverage was given recently to
a remarkable editorial
broadcast from Toronto by Gordon Sinclair, a Canadian television
commentator.
What follows is the full text of his Trenchant remarks as
printed in the Congressional
Record:
"This Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans
as the most generous and
possibly the least appreciated people on all the earth.
Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy were
lifted out of the debris
of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and
forgave other billions in
debts. None of these countries is today paying
even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States.
When France was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the
Americans who propped it up,
and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets
of Paris. I was there. I
saw it.
When earthquakes hit distant cities, it is the United States
that hurries in to help.
This spring, 59 American communities were flattened by
tornadoes.
Nobody helped.
The Marshall Plan and the Truman Policy pumped billions of
dollars into discouraged
countries.
Now newspapers in those countries are writing about the
decadent, warmongering Americans.
I'd like to see just one of those countries that is gloating
over the erosion of the
United States dollar build its own airplane.
Does any other country in the world have a plane to equal the
Boeing Jumbo Jet, the
Lockheed Tri-Star,
or the Douglas DC10?
If so, why don't they fly them? Why do all the International
lines except Russia fly
American Planes?
You talk about Japanese technocracy, and you get radios.
You talk about German technocracy, and you get automobiles.
You talk about American technocracy, and you find men on the moon
- not once, but several
times -
and safely home again.
You talk about scandals, and the Americans put theirs right in
the store window for
everybody to look at. Even their draft-dodgers are not pursued
and hounded. They are here
on our streets, and most of them, unless they are breaking
Canadian laws, are getting
American dollars from ma and pa at home to spend here.
When the railways of France, Germany and India were breaking
down through age, it was
the Americans who rebuilt them.
When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central went
broke, nobody loaned them an
old caboose.
Both are still broke.
I can name you 5000 times when the Americans raced to the help
of other people in
trouble.
Can you name me even one time when someone else raced to the
Americans in trouble?
I don't think there was outside help even during the San
Francisco earthquake.
Our neighbors have faced it alone, and I'm one Canadian who is
damned tired of hearing
them get kicked around.
They will come out of this thing with their flag high. And when
they do, they are
entitled to thumb their nose at
the lands that are gloating over their present troubles.
I hope Canada is not one of those."
Stand proud, America!
Wear it proudly!!
This is one of the best editorials that I have ever read
regarding the United States.
It is nice that one man realizes it.
I only wish that the rest of the world would realize it. We are
always blamed for
everything, and never even get a thank you for the things we do.
I would hope that each of you would send this to as many people
as you can and emphasise
that they should send it to as many of their friends until this
letter is sent to every
person on the web.
I am just a single American that has read this, I SURE HOPE THAT
A LOT MORE READ IT
SOON. ----------
======================================================================