Category Archives: Skip Allen & Painter 11

In general, this category includes Painter IX and X. Tips, tricks, and tutorials are offered to beginners, intermediate, and advanced users of Painter.

Free Corel Painter Brushes, Drips and Runs, Backward Compatible to Painter IX – 11

Posted by Skip Allen on

Hello Everyone,

Again, we have David Gell to thank for this.  In Drips and Runs, there are several variants that use the new Real Watercolor brush engine in Painter 12.  Those cannot be made backward compatible.  I removed those variants and David took the rest and performed his magic.  This set will have 9 variants instead of the original 16.  I hope you enjoy the set.  To separate from the Drips and Runs for Painter 12, I call these WC Drips and Runs.

WC Drips and Runs IX – 12

I can hear you saying, but where are the papers.  See the next post.

Enjoy,

Skip

Corel Painter 12 Just Released…Wow…I love it

Posted by Skip Allen on

Hello Everyone,

I am so excited.  Corel just released the new version of Painter 12 and it is a solid update to Painter 11.  There are so many new features and enhancements that I believe everyone will love it.  I plan to have a few videos to showcase this new product.  I hope you enjoy them.

The first one is about Custom Palettes.  This isn’t a new feature, but it has been enhanced greatly.

If you enjoy the music by Michael Moore-Kelly, do check out his album, “Piano Without Makeup” at Amazon.com.

Have a Happy Day,

Skip

“That’s it.  That’s all you are going to say?”

“Oh Kevin, I didn’t think you were here,” I said with a sigh.

“Yes, I’m here.  I’m always here!  I just think if you are saying Painter 12 is so wonderful, you ought to tell the readers more about it.”

“I will; I will.  But I want to do it through videos and time is wasting.  I need to start the next video…so if you don’t mind, I’ll go do that.”

“Don’t let me stop you,” he snipped.  Kevin can be very snippy when he wants.  But enough…I must start the next video

Splashing water download

Posted by Skip Allen on

Hello Friends,

I am trying to do a bit more with this blogging and add another download of one of my watercolor brush sets for Corel Painter 11.  Actually, there are two downloads.  One is called PIX Splashing Water and the other is called P11 Splashing Water.  Why two downloads?  Well, when I make brushes in Painter 11, they are not backward compatible to earlier versions of Painter.  David Gell , an incredible brush master for Corel Painter, has a way of making the brushes backwardly compatible, and he generously makes them compatible for me.  However, this time, there were two brushes that were using the Hard Media brush engine, which is not backwardly compatible.  To alleviate the problem, David changed the two brushes in a way that it is impossible to tell the difference from the ones that I originally made and the ones that are backwardly compatible.

So what does this mean to you? When you click on the link below, if you are using Painter 11 select the P11 Splashing Water brushes for download.  If you are using Painter IX or X, then select the PIX Splashing Water Download.  If you have all three versions, then PIX Splashing Water will work for IX, X or 11.  Or shoot, if you like, just download both.

“Now you are confusing folks,” quipped Kevin.

“Oh hey, Kevin.  I was wondering if you were going to show up.”

“Present and here to help.”

“Oh good grief,” I sighed.  “Look it isn’t really hard.  If you are working in Painter 11 and would like the set as designed, then download P11 Splashing Water.  But, if you have all three versions, you can get by with just PIX Splashing Water and you will not really miss the original design because to be honest, I can’t tell the difference after David changed the variants.”

BTW, both zip files are compatible with StudioChris Brush Manager. Here is the link for the brush downloads:

Splashing Water

Now for the next surprise.  I am experimenting with videos added to the blog.  Here are a couple that are 10 minutes long and show a bit about how I envisioned the use of the brushes.  However, I find that folks use them in very different ways than I expect, which is great.  I love to see what folks do with the brushes.

Here is the second video and it is a little longer than 10 minutes.  I didn’t demo all the brushes, but if you have any problems or questions, please feel free to add a comment and I’ll try to help in any way I can.

Well that is it for this post.  I hope it is enjoyable and useful to you.

“I’m impressed.  You did good.”

“What? Kevin you are giving me a compliment,” I replied skeptically.

“Yes, you are learning about blogging and are picking up a few new tricks.  For an old dog, that is pretty impressive.”

I don’t think I’ll answer him.  I know there is a catch here, so it is best to just leave it alone.

I just noticed something.  The second video doesn’t seem to have the HD option in the upper right corner like the first video does.  Both were done in HD format and the video press upgrade is supposed to show the videos in HD.  I have deleted the video several times, reproduced it several times, but it always posts as if it isn’t HD.  Got to figure that one out.  Anybody having the same problem?

Enjoy!

Doreen is Back!

Posted by Skip Allen on

I have several bird feeding stations in my yard and they are a delight to watch.  Two are outside my windows in my computer room, so I can watch all day.  I also have a fig tree and several pear trees.  One day last year I looked up and was shocked to see a white-tail deer near one of the feeders eating fallen pears.  She was so beautiful.  The very next day I had cracked corn and apples added to the feeding station.

To my surprise she came back and seem to really enjoy the corn and apples. I named her Doreen.  I recognized her by the nick in her right ear.

Day after day she returned and munched on corn and apples.  Of course I wanted to train her to eat out of my hand, but I live in an area where deer hunting is a favorite pastime.  I didn’t think it was a good idea to take away any fear of humans that she had.  Normally hunters can only take bucks, but we do have a doe season, too.  Bow hunters and primitive hunters can take buck or doe.

I guess Doreen felt safe visiting my feeding station.  I often wondered why no other deer came with her, so I was delighted when she brought her fawn with her.  The fawn didn’t come everyday; she came maybe two or three times a week.

Doreen and Fawn

Doreen and Fawn

At least that is what I first thought until the day Doreen brought two fawns with her.  Over the next week or two, she would bring one and sometime two of her fawns.  They were a bit skittish and so cute.  Then, OMGosh, she arrived with three fawns in tow.

Doreen and 3 fawns

I never understood why, but she seldom brought all three with her, usually just one at a time, less frequently two.  As they grew older, Doreen and all three visited, and occasionally another doe joined the group. The fawn frisked about from time to time and chased each other.  They reminded me of puppies.  Sadly, when hunting season came, they all disappeared and I haven’t seen them for months.  I know someone was still visiting the feeding station because I could see evidence of the corn and apples being eaten.

” You really missed your chance! Venison for Thanksgiving would have been so good.”

“KEVIN, shut up.  I would never hurt Doreen and her kids!,” I yelled at him.

“Come on, you have eaten venison before.  And what about those venison sausages you love?”

“I don’t want to talk about it.  Those were just packages brought over by a friend.”

“Look idiot, a deer had to die before you could eat those sausages.”

“Go away! I can’t deal with you right now.  And I especially do not want to think about eating.”

Where was I.  Oh yes…

I kept putting corn out, but less and less was eaten.  Yesterday, I was delighted to see deer approach the feeding station.  One, then two, then three.  None were Doreen and these didn’t seem quite large enough to be full grown, so I hoped they were Doreen’s fawn.  I almost hollered when I saw her; Doreen with her nicked ear approached the feeding station.  And last but not least another doe arrived.  All were still in their gray winter coats, but I suspect they will be reddish brown in no time.  I know one of Doreen’s fawn was a male, but none of these were male.  I suspect that two of the group were Doreen’s and the third was the second doe’s.  The female fawn will stay with Mom for about 2 years, but the males only hang around for a year.

I was so happy to see them.  I had worried that something may have happened to them.

After a year’s absence

Posted by Skip Allen on

Where has the time gone?  I meant to come back each week and have a chat with you, but I have been so busy.

“Busy! You procrastinated and you know it!” Kevin interrupted.

“OMGosh.  Are you back to heckle me?”

“You couldn’t write without me.”

“Kevin, I assure you I can write without you, but I have to admit, it isn’t as much fun when you are not around.  Now let me get back to the reader.”

I am so excited.  With a little help from a friend, I have figured out how to add my brushes to the blog.  That means, dear Reader, you can download the zip file and install them using StudioChris Brush Manager.  Or, you can unzip the file and load them manually.  Following is the zip file for Eastern Water.  They should be compatible from Painter IX to Painter 11.

Eastern Water

“Do you think everyone knows how to install brushes with or without the brush manager?”

“I don’t know, Kevin.  I suppose if anyone has trouble they will add a comment asking questions,” exasperatedly I replied.  I know I shouldn’t be exasperated, but I was just beginning to feel the flow of writing.

If the test for Eastern Water works, I think I will add a brushes page with all of my brushes listed.

Enjoy, Skip

Bamboo on Silk

Posted by Skip Allen on

Sue made a comment on the last post that the bamboo would look good printed on silk.  It was a timely comment because I had just finished a piece with a background that looks like the piece was printed on silk.   I called this one wind.

Enjoy,

Skip

Bamboo in the wind

Wind

Second Week Open Studio – Bamboo

Posted by Skip Allen on

Hi…

I’m just stopping by to let you know that the second week of Open Studio at the Digital Art Academy has started, and we are working on sumi-e bamboo.  Kevin is processing a video in the background, which means he will probably not pop in and bother me.  I don’t want to hang around too long, though.

Here is my first painting for this week.  It has more of a digital feel to it than traditional sumi-e, but I liked it.  Be back later in the week with more information on brushes.

Bamboo

 Enjoy,

Skip

Eastern Water Brushes; What’s the Big Deal

Posted by Skip Allen on

I love watching You Tube videos of sumi-e paintings.  There is something intriguing about the process.  When I found out that Open Studio at Digital Art Academy was going to focus on sumi-e, I was delighted.  I began to practice.

No matter how hard I practiced, the process felt muddled.  Did I just need more practice? Of course, but who has time for practice.  Good brush painters hone their skills for decades; I had a matter of weeks.  Surely (tongue in cheek) with the right brush I could be a Master in less than a few days.  I knew it was impossible, but what else is a hardhead good for, if not for banging it against an impossible goal.

Bang one.  What is necessary for a good sumi-e brush? “Kevin?” (Dear reader, I know you do not know Kevin, but if you will bear with me, I’ll make a page explaining all about my computer Kevin, but right now, let’s just chat about the brushes.)

“Many things,” he replied rather too simply.

“Well, duh.  You champion the obvious.  I’m asking for one essential behavior.” Sometimes Kevin can be so obtuse.

“The ability to load the brush tip with one value of a color and the base with a lighter or darker value. But you will never remedy that conundrum.”

“Exactly, a perfect function of the brush.  What? Never remedy? Don’t be rude or I’ll run the CCleaner you hate?

“What we need is the ability to sample multiple colors with one brush, and Painter has that exact function.  It is located in the Mixer Pad.

Sample Multiple=

  1. This is the dropper tool, which will sample a single pixel of color
  2. This is the sample multiple colors dropper.  It will sample a range of colors from a single pixel to 50 pixels.
  3. The slider determines the range of colors.  Currently it is set to sample 24 pixels; slide it all the way to the right and it will sample 50 pixels.”

“Aha…you jest.  Are you telling me that you can eyeball 50 pixels on the screen?  I think not,” he chuckled; well it was more like a giggle.

“No, of course not.  I do a little trial and error to get the right range, but most of the time, I leave it at 50 pixels and change when needed.  Check this out.

Sample Strokes

Sample Brushstrokes with 50 Pixel Range

“The slider is set for 50 pixels and I sampled color from just beyond the tips of each arrow.  You can see the resulting strokes.  Obviously, 50 pixels is not very big; plus, there is a bigger problem.  Not all brushes can use the sample multiple function.

“Artist’s Oils Category variants can use the function, but many, for example, in the Acrylic Category cannot.  The determining factor is the Brush Dab Type, which can be found in the General Palette.”

Kevin coughed, hacked, cleared his throat; he made a noise, “Sputter. Is this the first time you have mentioned this palette?  Will the readers understand what it is?”

“Some, yes; others, no.  But I get your point.  Explain the General Palette.

“Under Window > Brush Control you will find a palette group consisting of a number of palettes relating to brush controls.  The General Palette is first in the list.

Brush controls Group Palette

Brush Controls Group Palette with Emphasis on General Palette

“If one of the following four words is listed in the first drop down menu, then the brush can sample multiple colors from the Mixer Pad: camel, flat, and bristle spray.  The illustration identifies all dab types that can use this function.

“Bang one resolved.  And you said it couldn’t be done.  All I have to do is use Camel, Flat, and Bristle Spray Brush Dab Types.”

“You got lucky.  There are many more obstacles ahead,” he said with a certain amount of glee.  He delights in my struggles.  I wonder if all computers are like that, or if I got the only one.

I promised to give you the Eastern Brushes.  Download them here.

The Eastern Brushes conversation will continue.  In the meantime, you may want to download a free webinar that Karen Bonaker and I did about how to use the Eastern Brushes.  The webinar lasted for an hour and 20 minutes, so the zipped file is around 170 MB.  You can download it at Painter Talk, but you will need to register.  It is a free forum; lots of Painter enthusiasts are members.

April edition of Digital Paint Magazine is available. It is a free subscription.

A few paintings I did in the first week of Open Studio:

Dragon Fly

Dragon Fly and Japanese Magnolia

Orchid in a Tree

Orchid in a Tree

The next image is referred to as a Haiga, a combination of Haiku and ga.

My Haiku:

Parrot tulips bright

Bring spring inside the dwelling

Winter returns grey

A Haiga...Parrot Tulip

Enjoy and see you next post,

Skip

Open Studio Assignment, Cherry Blossoms

Posted by Skip Allen on

Today was the first day of Open Studio at the Digital Art Academy.  Time to give my shiny new brushes a try.  I dubbed them Eastern Water in deference to sumi-e style paintings.  I wish I could tell you that I successfully culled them, but strangely the numbers increased to a colossal number, 42, which has cult status and is the answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe, and everything.

Armed with the answer to everything, I began to paint the assignment, cherry blossoms.  My first attempt was rather stiff, as was my second, third, fourth and fifth.  Then I had an “aha” moment.  I noticed the weeping cherry in full bloom outside my window.  Duh, it is much easier to paint when you have the real thing as your reference.  I cut a branch and brought it inside.

Have you ever tried to put weeping cherry in a vase.  I’m sure florist know how to do it, but my little weepy branch kept falling out.  I finally propped it and vase in a vertical position, which meant the flowers were upside down.  I found a workaround.  I painted a little; extracted the branch from the vase and observed the flowers in their normal position, and then returned them to the vertical.  Hey, the answer to everything is pretty handy. 

Alpha channels are pretty handy in Painter, too.  Alpha channels are defined as a storage device for selections, but I think of them as super selectors.  To start this painting, I first created an alpha channel.  My intent is not to make a tutorial about this painting, but simply show the workflow through a series of screen shots.  This is the alpha channel after painting it with short vertical strokes.  When a selection is created the black areas will be protected and the lighter areas are available for paint, which is just the opposite of a layer mask.

Texture applied to alpha channel

Alpha channel prepared with texture

I added a watercolor layer.  Using my Textured Fill Wet variant I lightly and softly identified the areas where the blossoms would be.

Placement of flowers

Determining the placement of the flowers

Added an additional watercolor layer; I work with a lot of layers.  I used my Chrysanthemum Sharp variant to give some form to the flowers.  I inadvertently continued painting on this layer with Iris Blade, but I wanted to be on another layer.  I deleted what I could.

Giving form to the flowers

Giving some form to the flowers.

On the third watercolor layer I used Iris Blade to give a soft overlay that looks like a petal.

Adding soft petals

Adding soft petals

The center of the flowers and the branch was painted on layers 4, 5, and 6.  I used several brushes, Chrysanthemum Sharp, Bamboo Texture Sharp, Thistle, and Plum Anther.

Flower details and the branch

Added flower details and the branch in the next three layers.

Layers 7 to 10 finished the details of the painting, buds and the first early leaves just barely showing.  At this point I did an Iterative Save and then dropped all layers.

Added buds and the beginning of leaves opening.

Added green buds and leaves just beginning to open.

I didn’t like the composition and added some canvas to the left and bottom of the image.  Also added my name in Chinese characters, at least I think that is what it is.  I got it from one of those sites that claims to write your name in Chinese; it could be profanity for all I know.

Improved composition

Improved composition by adding area to the left and bottom of the canvas, and added my signature in Chinese characters.

When I increased the size of the canvas, the alpha channel did not have any texture in the extra area.  I created a new alpha channel that was the correct size and with the same style texture.  I loaded the selection from this channel and in two layers painted the background.  I reduced the opacity of the layers for the finished piece, but in this screen shot I left the background at 100% opacity so you can see the texture.

Texture layer

Added texture from alpha channel selection. In the final piece, the texture will be reduced in opacity greatly.

I added a frame to finish the work.  I hope you enjoyed this quick look at the workflow of this painting.

Finished with frame

Added a frame for the final image

Here is the zip file of the Eastern Water Brushes.  They are compatible with Painter IX, X, and 11, thanks to Brush Master David Gell, who has created a script to automatically adjust the brushes for backward compatibility.  The brushes can be installed using the Studio Chris Brush Manager.

Zip file will be added later; I can’t figure out how to add it now.

Enjoy,

Skip

Culling and Naming Brushes; Brutal

Posted by Skip Allen on

I am so excited.  Open Studio starts next Saturday at Digital Art Academy.  We are going to study sumi-e painting, which is one of my favorite art forms.

To get ready, I started researching sumi-e by watching You Tube “how to” videos and trying it myself in Painter 11.  Guess what?  It “ain’t” so easy, at least not digitally.  To make life simpler, I decided to create some brushes that I thought would make the process easier.  Did I just write that?  Anybody got any whiteout?

Simple, easy, and brush creation do not belong in the same paragraph.  Brush creation can be frustrating, and it can be satisfying.  In Painter 11, there are a seemingly infinite number of controls, yet the one tweak that I need to make the perfect brush is just out of reach, so frustrating.  However in the search for the ideal brush for sumi-e, many flawless brushes for different styles develop, which can be very satisfying.

Many does not describe the actual reproduction phenomenon.  Brushes ripen in numbers equal to the spore of a mushroom.  In case you don’t know, that’s a whole bunch.  So, I need to cull and name.  Have you ever tried to name a brush.  Think about it.  It has a stick and some bristles.  What do you name something like that? If you think about it, digital brushes have neither stick nor bristles, but are pretend brushes.  The difference between digital and traditional will have to wait until another day, besides, the function of the brush is most important.

I like the name of the brush to reflect its function, but that isn’t always so easy.  In this current set, I made a brush I called curly leaf because it made a curly leaf.  But then I proceeded to make 11 variations of that brush, each called curly leaf followed by a number; curly leaf 1, 2, 3, etc.  I know, it is not very original, but in the heat of tweaking, naming is not a high priority.

Tweaking is over; naming and culling are hot.  In my last set, I had descriptive names like rouge, powder, lipstick, and I have a mind to continue descriptive names with this set.  If I do, there will be names like Iris Blade, Carnation Splash, and Thistle Prickles.  I wonder if I have the first signs of dementia.   

Okay, so I am naming and culling; luckily, I have experience.  I used to raise fancy goldfish.  Some babies got named and some got eaten by the Red Oscars.  Naming and culling can be brutal.  Mistakes will be made.

Here is a sample page of the brushes that have made the first cut, but are yet to be named and still in danger of being culled. 

Masterpiece in the works

Brushes from the first cull

Notice how similar they look at first glance.  So, how do I decide who makes the grade.  For me it is through application.  Normally, I don’t start creating a set of brushes without some idea of their function.  In this case, I’m interested in sumi-e.  I need brushes that can help me create the essence of a form, without giving too many details.

Want to see some brushes in action.  Check out this video.

In another post, I’ll talk about tweaking brushes, but today, all I can think about is culling, naming and getting ready for Open Studio.