Quick links to procedures on this page:

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Applying brushstrokes

Paint tools let you imitate a variety of painting and drawing media. For example, you can apply brushstrokes that imitate watercolors, pastels, felt markers, and pens. By default, brushstrokes are added to the active object or background. Brushstrokes can also be rendered as separate objects. For information about objects, see “Creating objects.”

Merge modes control the way the foreground colors blend with base colors. Merge modes let you combine these colors in various ways to create new colors and effects. For more information about merge modes, see “Understanding merge modes.”

Preset brush type
Painting an image

Photo Paint paint brushes 2a Applying brushstrokes

Airbrush

Photo Paint paint brushes 2b Applying brushstrokes

The Airbrush is used for shading.

Photo Paint paint brushes 3a Applying brushstrokes

Spray can

Photo Paint paint brushes 3b Applying brushstrokes

Colors are splattered to add texture.

Photo Paint paint brushes 4a Applying brushstrokes

Brush

Photo Paint paint brushes 4b Applying brushstrokes

A decorative effect is added by using a Camel hair brush.

The paint tool and brush type you choose determines the appearance of the brushstroke on the image. When you paint with a preset brush, the brush attributes of the paint tool are predetermined.

The color of the brushstroke is determined by the current foreground color, which is displayed in the color control area. You can also choose a foreground color by taking a color sample from an image. For more information about choosing colors, see “Working with color.”

In addition to painting with color, you can apply images and textures by painting with a fill. You can also apply a brush stoke to a path. For more information, see “Applying brushstrokes to paths.”


To paint with a preset brush

Photo Paint btnbacktotop Applying brushstrokes
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In the toolbox, click the Paint tool Photo Paint pgx paint tool Applying brushstrokes.
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Open the Paint tool picker on the property bar, and click a paint tool.
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Choose a preset brush type from the Brush type list box on the property bar.
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In the color control area of the toolbox, double-click the Foreground color swatch, and choose a color.
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Drag in the image window.
If you want to constrain the brush to a straight horizontal or vertical line, hold down Ctrl while you drag, and press Shift to change direction.

You can also
Change the brush shape
Choose a brush shape from the Nib shape picker on the property bar.
Change the brush size
Type a value in the Size box on the property bar.
Change the transparency
Type a value in the Transparency box on the property bar.

Photo Paint note Applying brushstrokes

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The property bar provides options for changing the attributes of a preset brush. After you change an attribute, the brush name changes to Custom art brush. For more information about custom brushes, see “Creating custom brushes.”

Photo Paint tip Applying brushstrokes

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You can use this procedure to create an object by clicking Object Photo Paint onestep Applying brushstrokes Create Photo Paint onestep Applying brushstrokes New object before you drag in the image window.
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You can also choose a preset brush by clicking on a brushstroke sample in the Artistic media docker. If the Artistic media docker is not open, click Window Photo Paint onestep Applying brushstrokes Dockers Photo Paint onestep Applying brushstrokes Artistic media.
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You can quickly choose a square or round brush shape by clicking the Round nib button Photo Paint pgx round nib button Applying brushstrokes or the Square nib button Photo Paint pgx square nib button Applying brushstrokes on the property bar.

To paint with a color sample from an image

Photo Paint btnbacktotop Applying brushstrokes
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Click the Eyedropper tool Photo Paint pgx eyedropper tool Applying brushstrokes.
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Click a color in the image window.
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In the toolbox, click the Paint tool Photo Paint pgx paint tool Applying brushstrokes.
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Open the Paint tool picker on the property bar, and click a paint tool.
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Choose a preset brush type from the Type list box on the property bar.
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Drag in the image window.

To paint with a fill

Photo Paint btnbacktotop Applying brushstrokes
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In the toolbox, click the Fill tool Photo Paint pgx fill tool Applying brushstrokes.
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On the property bar, choose a fill type.
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In the toolbox, click the Clone tool Photo Paint pgx clone tool Applying brushstrokes.
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On the property bar, open the Clone tool picker, and click the Clone from fill tool Photo Paint pgx clone fill tool Applying brushstrokes.
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Drag in the image window.

Photo Paint note Applying brushstrokes

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You can paint with any type of fill. For information about fills, see “Filling images.”

To change the merge mode

Photo Paint btnbacktotop Applying brushstrokes
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In the toolbox, click a paint tool.
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Choose a merge mode from the Mode list box on the property bar.

Photo Paint note Applying brushstrokes

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For more information on merge modes, see “Understanding merge modes.”

Applying brushstrokes