Monthly Archives: April 2016

Using Wacom On-Screen Controls with Multiple Applications

Posted by Skip Allen on

Hello Friends,

You know the old saying, “Necessity is the Mother of invention.”  As I said in the video, it was true for me with this topic.  Well, I didn’t invent anything, but I figure out how to use Wacom’s On-Screen Controls, previously known as Radial Menu, with multiple applications.  I really, really like the on-screen controls and have set mine up to use almost every command possible in Painter.  Since I use Painter most, I didn’t feel the need to set up the on-screen controls for multiple applications.  Asked if it was possible to use on-screen controls (OSC, I’m tired of writing that out) with multiple applications, I always said no.  Why?  Because the Wacom Tablet Properties grays out Applications when setting up the OSC.  So, I stupidly just stopped my investigation.

I use LightRoom and Photoshop a lot more lately and wished I could have OSC work in those applications, too.  Necessity kicked in and I looked at the problem with fresh eyes.  I couldn’t believe it; the solution was so simple and not different from what I had done all along.  My apologies to anyone I told it couldn’t be done.

At this point, I probably should say that OSC isn’t for everyone.  If you find that you never use shortcut keys, and you don’t mind using the menu system and having lots of panels open, then OSC is probably not for you.  If you do use shortcut keys, but haven’t tried OSC, then you may want to explore the possibilities.  This post isn’t going to tell you much about setting up your Wacom Tablet for Painter, but I have posted about it before.  Check out How I set up my Wacom for Painter.

If you already know a lot about OSC, then skip the first video.  If you are curious about how I use OSC, then watch the first video.  I introduce you to the concept of OSC; it is quite powerful.  I show Painter with a very clean UI and how to use it with OSC.  The image showing is a work in progress and is mainly there for a backdrop.  I don’t paint in the videos.

In the second video, I explain the structure of the OSC.  There is a specific hierarchy followed and that is what makes working with multiple applications possible.  Again, if you are very familiar with OSC, then skip to the last video.

Finally, I actually explain how to use OSC with multiple applications in the last video.

Enjoy,

Skip

 

Painter Master Dominick Saponaro and more on Painter Tutorials

Posted by Skip Allen on

Hi Friends,

Yesterday I attended Corel Painter Master Dominick Saponaro’s webinar and it was excellent.  I enjoyed watching how he used colorize composite method to color his gray-scale image.  Also, his use of Straight Line Strokes intrigued me.  The recorded video is now on-line.  Check it out at Painter Tutorials.

Painter Master Dominick Saponaro walks you through his painting process

Two other wonderful Painter Master tutorials were also released today.

Painter Master Elite Karen Bonaker demonstrates creative uses of layer masks and graphic stencils.  Karen outlines the technique in a way that is easy to understand and follow, but the results are far from simple looking.  I know you will enjoy Karen’s tutorial using Corel Painter 2016.

Painter Master Elite Karen Bonaker demonstrates creative uses of Layer Masks

Painter Master Elite Cher Pendarvis explains the new Blending Brush Control Panel available in Corel Painter 2016.  The enhanced and updated Blending Panel, previously called the Well Panel, is far more powerful and useful in Painter 2016.  Cher’s excellent tutorial sheds light on this rather complex panel.  Her explanation will change the way you paint.

Painter Master Elite Cher Pendarvis explains the Blending Panel

There are many more Corel Painter tutorials on You Tube.  I believe that some folks only look for the latest tutorials thinking that the earlier tutorials will not apply to the latest version, but that is not the case.  Yes, there are more bells and whistles in the latest version, but the basic underlying principles are the same.  So if you are looking for a particular topic for Painter 2016 and you find it demonstrated in Painter X3, don’t pass it up.  More than likely, you will get the answers you need.  Do visit Painter Tutorials and have a look around.

Corel Painter Tutorials

Subscribe today!

Enjoy,

Skip

Webinar with Award Winning Artist Dominick Saponaro 28 April 2016, 12 PM EDT

Posted by Skip Allen on

Hello Everyone,

Corel Painter is having a webinar tomorrow, Thursday, April 28. 2016 at noon Eastern Daylight Savings time with Dominick Saponaro, who is a Corel Painter Master 2016.  I plan to be there; it is going to be a great webinar.  Dominick is an award wining illustrator and has worked for many publishers.

The demonstration will include tips on using color effectively and showcase his illustration work flow.  He states that he works in a traditional way with an initial line drawing and builds from there.  He says that he completes a black and white painting before adding color.  You can find out more and register for the free webinar at the following link.

Digital Painting Process and Technique Webinar with Dominick Saponaro

Don't miss Dominick Saponaro's Webinar

Don’t miss Dominick Saponaro’s Webinar

And a little about me:

I know I haven’t been around in a while.  Family issues have taken all my time.  I have painted when I could and I recently finished 13 videos for Corel about using and making papers in Painter 2016.  When released, I will let you know.

The interest in paper fueled my renewed interest in “inky” landscapes.  I am actually using custom watercolor variants in Painter matched with custom papers to create the images.  I have worked this way before and find myself returning to the style time and again.  It will be fun to see how Dominick adds color to his black and white paintings.  Maybe I can give it a try with my “inky” landscapes.  Following is an example image.  When the release of the paper tutorials, I’ll do a couple of inky landscape tutorials on the blog and showing this type of image.

Inky Forest, Corel Painter 2016, Watercolor variants

Inky Forest, Corel Painter 2016, Watercolor variants

More later…until then, enjoy,

Skip