CarolOyl's Tutorioyls - Brush Basics

Version: I used PI 8

Skill Level: Intermediate

Featured tool: Paintbrush

NB: If this page is acting strangely, other-click and "Refresh" or "Reload" (that is, click whichever mouse-button you use to bring up context menus--for me it's the left ;-)

PhotoImpact users have been clamoring for years for an updated version that includes "brushes"--but truth is that even old PI 8 has the ability to create, use, save, and even share brushes.

I have a copy of Paint Shop Pro I use mostly for exporting tubes as PSDs (for PI '-)--but I have applied a few of its brushes to canvas just to see how they operate--and PhotoImpact can make the same kind of images! Now I don't claim to know everything about creating and using PI brushes: while I know PI can do the deed, I'm missing some really important info like, for instance, how to assemble a comely collage--and I'm relying on you to help me with the process '-) So this tute is just to let you know what I've discovered and to help you get started making brushes with and for PI.

Creating a Brush

is similar to making a Paintbrush Cutout with a few notable exceptions:

you don't need to clean up your image's background or even make it white
you can choose any color to paint with
your brushes can be made from multi-color images

The brush image can be in any one of a number of file formats--I've made successful brushes from colorful JPGs, PSDs (with or without transparency--layers will be merged by the brush), and 256-color GIFs and PNGs with or without transparency (their masks must be white for the brush to make them totally transparent). Other formats remain to be tested but unfortunately--and strangely--UFOs won't work! True-color transparent PNGs aren't useful either since it appears there's a problem with their masking.

1. Click the Paintbrush tool icon

and make a default preset to reset your Paintbrush after you've finished with your "brushing." On its Attribute Toolbar, set Shape to round, Size to 20, Color to white, Transparency to 0, Soft-edge to 1--or use your favorite settings--then "Add" the preset to the EasyPalette Gallery.

2. Create and save a collage (you're on your own with that '-) or choose a saved image to use for your brush. A size of 500x500 pixels or less will be most convenient. If you're rummaging your hard drive you'll find PI's Browse Manager helpful in giving you information about possibilities--like size and color depth. I'm using a scrap tag a PSP-user friend made for me (since I'm totally handicapped in both the collage and tagging departments :-| ) It's a quality JPG with a white background and a beauty just the way it is.

3. You can other-click a browsed thumb and choose "File Information" for more specifics. (I like to highlight and Copy the file's path.) The File Information's "Advanced" button will tell you if the image contains transparency.

4. For this tute, open a 500x500 white canvas, then invoke the Paintbrush and its Brush Panel using these settings:

5. Texture tab: Click on the "Add Texture" icon and browse to your chosen image. (If you've copied your pic's location from the File Manager's "File Information" sheet, just other-click and paste it into the "File name:" line in the dialog box.) Take note of your image's dimensions.

6. Shape tab: Highlight brush width and height and type in the image's dimensions. Click the Rectangular Brush icon and set Soft-Edge and Brush Angle to zero.

7. Options tab: Apply method: Always; Transparency: 0; Lines: Freehand

8. Color tab: Single Color, #B45340

9. On the Paint Attribute Toolbar: Set the Mode to "Paint as object."

10. Line up the brush with the top and left edges of the canvas and click the mouse once. The reason for this precise size and positioning is that we don't want this "texture" to tile like a normal paintbrush texture would.

11. Click the "Paint as object" icon again to exit that mode. Here's my cropped brush object with the background hidden so you can see its natural transparency:

12. If you like what you've done, you can add a preset for your brush and texture settings to your EasyPalette--just click Add on the Paintbrush tool's Attribute Toolbar. (The preset will save all but the "Paint as object" function--you'll have to remember to do that yourself '-)

That's it! Now that you know the basics, it's up to you to discover the brush styles you like best. You can use both the Attribute Toolbar and the Brush Panel to adjust transparency, color, brush shape, soft edge, merge mode, etc. . . . You can even paint your brushed image or fill it with gradients or textures. The mind boggles with possibilities! This simple example uses a Dover butterfly I cut out (the hard way '-).

Tips and Tricks:

You can use "textures" with the Airbrush too. You might try it to see if you like what it does.
It is possible to use an image larger than PI's maximum brush size to make a brush. For help click here.
If you're making a brush from an object, you can apply a shadow to it before saving that will be part of the brush and take on its coloring. Save the shadowed object as a true-color PSD or JPG, or 256-color GIF or PNG on a white background (remember that white and colors containing white will paint in degrees of transparency). If you apply a shadow post-painting to your brushed object it will darken it considerably.
If you want to add another brushed image to your canvas, grab the first with the Pick tool and move it away from the upper left corner. Repeat the steps for the next, remembering to paint it too as an object.
You can use a PSP brush as a texture for PI's paintbrush by stamping it onto a transparent canvas in PSP then exporting it as a PSD. Use a dark color for the brush (preferably black) because PI's paintbrush will remove the white from any color that contains it--with the potential of making the exported brush too transparent.
You can export an smp of your brushes using the gallery's "Package" option and it will gather up the images you used as well as the settings. I did this and found that in order for the imported smp to work properly PI had first to be shown where one of the images was via the annoying "Locate file" dialog '-))
If you add an image you don't like to your Paintbrush texture thumbnails and PI doesn't show it in the Paintbrush's "Delete Texture" dialog (I had this problem just once with a true-color transparent PNG I tested), mouse-over the thumb in the "Select Texture" dialog and take note of the image's location. Using My Computer or Windows Explorer open the folder containing the image and move it (in WinExp I dragged it into another folder). Leave MyComp or WinExp open. Back in PI reopen the Paintbrush and its Select Texture dialog and click the thumbnail of the image you want removed. PI will ask you to find it--but instead of browsing click Cancel. PI will then ask if you want to delete the thumbnail. "Just say yes" and it's history and you're happy! ;-)) Back in WinExp or My Comp click Edit/Undo.. to put your picture back in its original place.

If you have any questions about or suggestions for this tutelage, or if you can help me create a nice collage '-), please click my sig and send me a note.

Be creative! Have fun :-))