The Paint Brush Tool enables you to paint on a picture using the selection of a wide variety of brushes which are similar to the common brushes from the world of painting. You can paint using either one of the 10 brushes defined in the program or alternately, you may choose to define yourself a wide variety of new brushes. Through the paint tool it is possible to define brushes based on geometric shapes similar to the common brushes from the world of painting (such as round brushes, elliptical brushes, rectangular brushes and so on). To define a brush in any other general shape, use the Custom Paint Brush which enables you to define a brush with any shape whatsoever. CommonTools2('Paint Brush Tool') In order to activate the tool, press the Paint Brush Tool button in the Tools Toolbar.

CommonTools1() The tool's properties

The tool's properties window contains a number of commands through which it is possible to control the tool's properties. To view the tool's properties window press F2.

• Brushes Toolbar - With this toolbar it is possible to select a brush out of the number of standard brushes that have been pre-defined (selecting a brush will cause, in effect, all of the commands to set themselves to their pre-defined values). CommonToolsAutoStyleToolbar('images/PaintBrushAutoSylesToolbar.png')
• Auto Styles Toolbar - With this toolbar it is possible to select a color/style out of the number of standard automatic style that have been pre-defined (selecting an auto color/style will cause, in effect, all of the commands to set themselves to their pre-defined values).
  
  
• Type card-index
  Using the commands in this card-index, it is possible to define the tool's characteristics.
  • Width Slider - This command is used to set the width of the brush. The higher the value of the regulator is, the wider will the brush be; the lower the value of the regulator is, the thinner will the brush be.
  • Height Slider - This command is used to set the height of the brush. The higher the value of the regulator is, the taller will the brush be; the lower the value of the regulator is , the shorter will the brush be.
  • Opacity Slider - The Opacity defines the level of Opacity of the paint tool. When its value is 100 the paint tool will be entirely opaque. When using the tool with this value, the places on which it is used will be covered entirely by the paint tool. When the level of opacity is below 100, the opacity of the paint tool will decrease (it will become transparent) so that the places on which the paint tool is used will not be entirely covered (it will be possible to see the places on which the paint tool is used beneath the paint). As the value of Opacity decreases, the transparency of the paint tool will become greater.
  • Intervals Slider - This command is used to set the painting intervals during the act of painting. The command is not available when working in Auto Intervals mode (when the Auto Intervals Checkbox is marked). The higher the value of the regulator is, the longer will the intervals be. The lower the value of the regulator is, the shorter will the intervals be (a more condensed painting).
  • Auto Intervals Checkbox - Marking this box (default) shifts the brush to a paint mode where the painting intervals are set automatically according to the way (velocity) you move the mouse on the screen.
  • Shape Dropdown Box - With this box it is possible to select the basic geometric shape of the brush on which the final brush will be based on.
  • Smooth (Antialias) - Marking this box will create a object/ selection area with smooth edges (which will blend smoother with the surrounding background). The smoothing is created by adding semi-transparent pixels to the edge area of the image and in so creating a smoother transition and integration between the object/selected area and the background.
• Colors card-index
  With the commands in this card-index it is possible to set the colors, gradients, patterns and the textures of the canvas' surface with which the paint tool will make use.
  • Color Mode Dropdown Box -With this box it is possible to select the color/pattern/gradient of the tool from the following options:
    • Solid - The paint tool will make use of the Fore Color (left mouse button) or the Back Color (right mouse button) for painting.
    • Inverse Fade - The paint tool will perform a gradual transition of color use from the Fore Color to the Back Color (left mouse button) or vise versa (right mouse button).
    • Transparent Fade - The paint tool will perform a gradual transition of color use from the Fore Color to a transparent color (left mouse button) or vise versa (right mouse button).
    • Pattern - The paint tool will make use of the Pattern defined in the Pattern Box in the Color Panel for painting.
    • Linear Gradient, Circular Gradient, Rectangular Gradient, Circular Flux Gradient and Rectangular Flux Gradient - The Paint Tool will perform color transitions using the custom color Gradient selected from the Gradient Box in the Colors panel. The shape of the transition will be according to the name of transition.
  • Blend Mode Dropdown Box - With this box it is possible to set the way in which the colors from the paint tool merge with the surface on which it is painting (More Info...).
  • Gradient Cycle Slider - With this command it is possible to set the pace of the Gradient's cycle of change (the frequency I which the colors change). The higher the value of the regulator is, the quicker will the color transitions be. The lower the value of the regulator is the slower will the color transitions be.
  • Use Textures Checkbox - When this option is marked the paint tool will use the texture defined in the Texture Box in the Colors panel.
  • Negative Checkbox - When this option is marked the paint tool will use a brush that is the Negative of the current (selected) brush.
• Advanced card-index
  With the commands in this card-index it is possible to define a number of advanced characteristics of the tool.
  • Angle Slider - This command is used to set the angle of the paint tool which will be used.
  • Density Slider - This command is used to set the density of the color which will be used by the paint tool. The higher the value of the regulator is, the higher the density of the color will be. The lower the value of the regulator is, the lower the density of the color will be.
  • Feather Slider - The Feather's value defines how the edges of the object/selected area will look. The lower the value of the Feather is, the sharper will the edges of the object/selected area be. The higher the value of the Feather is, the smoother and "softer" will the edges of the object/selected area be (will cause the edges to gradually integrate with the background).When the Feather's value is greater than 0 (i.e. when there is Feather), it is possible to select one of two types of Feather: Round edges or Sharp edges. The selection of the Feather type is done with the radio dial or the Sharp button (depending on which tool you are using), located near the Feather Box.
  • Flip H, Flip V Checkboxes - Marking these boxes will cause a horizontal and/or vertical flip, accordingly, to the brush being used.
  • Outline Checkbox - Marking this box will cause the use of only the outlines of the brush, (without the filling).
  • Wet Edges Checkbox - Marking this box will cause an effect which resembles coloring with water paint

How to use the tool

In order to paint on the picture, bring the mouse to the spot on which you wish to paint. In order to paint, move the mouse in the desired direction while pressing the left button (to paint with the Fore Color or "rising" color transition - Gradient) or the right button (to paint with the Back Color or "descending" color transition - Gradient). The painting is performed on the active layer.

Note: If the active layer is in invisible mode (Visibility Off) or covered with a mask, the painting over the layer will be performed, but will not be seen on the screen. In order to see the painting on the screen, you must convert the active layer to visible (Visibility On) or neutralize/cancel the mask operation.

The Custom Paint Brush tool enables you to paint on a picture using custom made brushes which can be of any shape you wish (as opposed to the standard brushes which only enable the creation of brushes which are based on geometric shapes). The brushes which the tool uses are based on regular bitmaps (images) with 256 shades of grey. The program comes with a number of ready brushes. In addition, you yourself may create new brushes (details on how to create new brushes ahead). CommonTools2('Custom Paint Brush Tool') In order to activate the tool, press the Custom Paint Brush Tool button in the Tools Toolbar.

CommonTools1() The tool's properties

The tool's properties window contains a number of commands through which it is possible to control the tool's properties. To view the tool's properties window press F2.

• Custom Brush Toolbar
  With the buttons on this toolbar it is possible to open existing brushes in order to edit them, delete them and to define new brushes.
  • Edit Brush Button - With this button it is possible to open an existing brush in order to edit it. To edit a brush, select it from the Brush Box and press the button.
  • Delete Brush Button - With this button it is possible to delete an existing brush. In order to delete a brush, select it from the Brush Box and press the button.
  • Create New Brush (From Selection) Button - With this button it is possible to save the selection area on the picture being worked on (the active picture) as a brush. This button is available only when the (active) picture being worked on has a selection area/areas. CommonToolsAutoStyleToolbar('images/CustomPaintBrushAutoSylesToolbar.png')
• Auto Styles Toolbar - With this toolbar it is possible to select a color/style out of the number of standard automatic style that have been pre-defined (selecting an auto color/style will cause, in effect, all of the commands to set themselves to their pre-defined values).
• The Brushes Box
  The Brushes Box is used to select the brush that will be used. Within the box, the list of custom brushes is displayed along with the number of brushes that came along with the program. You may browse through the brushes with the Previous and Next buttons.
• Refresh Button
  Pressing this button will refresh the display of brushes. After editing/creating new brushes and saving them, you must press this button in order to see the new/updated brushes in the Brushes box.
• Type card-index
  Using the commands in this card-index, it is possible to define the tool's characteristics.
  • Width Slider - This command is used to set the width of the brush in percentage in relation to its original size. The higher the value of the regulator is, the wider will the brush be. The lower the value of the regulator is, the thinner will the brush be.
  • Height Slider - This command is used to set the height of the brush in percentage in relation to its original size. The higher the value of the regulator is, the higher will the brush be. The lower the value of the brush is, the shorter will the brush be.
  • Opacity Slider - The Opacity defines the level of Opacity of the paint tool. When its value is 100 the paint tool will be entirely opaque. When using the tool with this value, the places on which it is used will be covered entirely by the paint tool. When the level of opacity is below 100, the opacity of the paint tool will decrease (it will become transparent) so that the places on which the paint tool is used will not be entirely covered (it will be possible to see the places on which the paint tool is used beneath the paint). As the value of Opacity decreases, the transparency of the paint tool will become greater.
  • Intervals Slider - This command is used to set the painting intervals during the act of painting. The command is not available when working in Auto Intervals mode (when the Auto Intervals Checkbox is marked). The higher the value of the regulator is, the longer will the intervals be. The lower the value of the regulator is, the shorter will the intervals be (a more condensed painting).
  • Auto Intervals Checkbox - Marking this box (default) shifts the brush to a paint mode where the painting intervals are set automatically according to the way (velocity) you move the mouse on the screen.
• Colors card-index
  With the commands in this card-index it is possible to set the colors, gradients, patterns and the textures of the canvas' surface with which the paint tool will make use.
  • Color Mode Dropdown Box -With this box it is possible to select the color/pattern/gradient of the tool from the following options:
    • Solid - The paint tool will make use of the Fore Color (left mouse button) or the Back Color (right mouse button) for painting.
    • Inverse Fade - The paint tool will perform a gradual transition of color use from the Fore Color to the Back Color (left mouse button) or vise versa (right mouse button).
    • Transparent Fade - The paint tool will perform a gradual transition of color use from the Fore Color to a transparent color (left mouse button) or vise versa (right mouse button).
    • Pattern - The paint tool will make use of the Pattern defined in the Pattern Box in the Color Panel for painting.
    • Linear Gradient, Circular Gradient, Rectangular Gradient, Circular Flux Gradient and Rectangular Flux Gradient - The Paint Tool will perform color transitions using the custom color Gradient selected from the Gradient Box in the Colors panel. The shape of the transition will be according to the name of transition.
  • Blend Mode Dropdown Box - With this box it is possible to set the way in which the colors from the paint tool merge with the surface on which it is painting (More Info...).
  • Gradient Cycle Slider - With this command it is possible to set the pace of the Gradient's cycle of change (the frequency I which the colors change). The higher the value of the regulator is, the quicker will the color transitions be. The lower the value of the regulator is the slower will the color transitions be.
  • Use Textures Checkbox - When this option is marked the paint tool will use the texture defined in the Texture Box in the Colors panel.
  • Negative Checkbox - When this option is marked the paint tool will use a brush that is the Negative of the current (selected) brush.
• Advanced card-index
  With the commands in this card-index it is possible to define a number of advanced characteristics of the tool.
  • Angle Slider - This command is used to set the angle of the paint tool which will be used.
  • Density Slider - This command is used to set the density of the color which will be used by the paint tool. The higher the value of the regulator is, the higher the density of the color will be. The lower the value of the regulator is, the lower the density of the color will be.
  • Flip H, Flip V Checkboxes - Marking these boxes will cause a horizontal and/or vertical flip, accordingly, to the brush being used.
  • Outline Checkbox - Marking this box will cause the use of only the outlines of the brush, (without the filling).
  • Wet Edges Checkbox - Marking this box will cause an effect which resembles coloring with water paints.

How to use the tool

In order to paint on the picture, bring the mouse to the spot on which you wish to paint. In order to paint, move the mouse in the desired direction while pressing the left button (to paint with the Fore Color or "rising" color transition - Gradient) or the right button (to paint with the Back Color or "descending" color transition - Gradient). The painting is performed on the active layer.

Note: If the active layer is in invisible mode (Visibility Off) or covered with a mask, the painting over the layer will be performed, but will not be seen on the screen. In order to see the painting on the screen, you must convert the active layer to visible (Visibility On) or neutralize/cancel the mask operation.

Feather Slider, Smooth Checkbox and the Shape Dropdown Box - These are not relevant to work with the Custom Brushes since the brush is based on a bitmap.

Creating a New Brush

Creating a new brush is quick and simple. All you have to do is select (with the selection tool) an area on an existing picture which you wish to turn into a brush and afterwards press the Create New Brush (From Selection) Button in the Custom Brush Toolbar or press the sub-menu Save As Brush located under the Image menu. You may create a brush from scratch (by creating a new picture file and painting the brush from scratch) or create a brush based on an existing picture.

Note: The Program's Tool Box contains two additional unique brushes: the Clone Brush and the Super Magic Brush. These brushes are used as advanced editing tools for repairing defects in pictures. More detail on these unique brushes appear in the Editing Tools chapter.

Line Tool

The Line Tool is used to draw lines on a picture. With this tool you can draw a variety of lines, from simple one-hue lines to impressive lines with transparency, textures, patterns and changing colors (color transitions - Gradients), according to your needs. CommonTools2('Line Tool') In order to activate the tool, press the Line Tool button in the Tools Toolbar.