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suminagashi brushes

Last post 07-20-2008 8:04 PM by Jinny Brown. 15 replies.
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  • 07-14-2008 6:00 PM

    • squirrel
    • Top 10 Contributor
    • Joined on 02-29-2008
    • Nottinghamshire UK
    • Posts 116

    suminagashi brushes

    Ok, Now I am hooked. So far I have just been experimenting with the basic programme and still have lots to explore. But these suminagashi paintings are really fluid and beautiful.

    Can someone please tell me the steps I need to go through to download these brushes into my programme. I am running on windows XP.

     

  • 07-14-2008 6:38 PM In reply to

    Re: suminagashi brushes

    Hi squirrel,

    I agree the forum name, Got a Question?, can be confusing, but since that forum is for technical issues and bug reports, subjects that can and often do involve the Corel Painter developers, I've moved your thread to a more appropriate forum, Painter Past one of the forums where general understanding and use of the program are discussed.

    The reason I'm moving it to Painter Past instead of Corel Painter X is that the Suminigashi brush library was created in an earlier Painter version and David has made it available to install for use in Painter 7 through Painter X.1

    Then, if David Gell hasn't already answered your question by the time I finish typing the answer, I'll post it here.

    Be back in a few minutes....

     

     

     

     

  • 07-14-2008 7:51 PM In reply to

    Re: suminagashi brushes

    I always place custom brush downloads in a new empty folder somewhere outside of my Corel Painter application/program folder and outside of my Painter User folder. This isolates the Zip file and extracted contents and avoids unnecessary confusion. I suggest you do that as well.

    When I extracted the ZIP file for David's Suminagashi brush library into a new empty folder, this is what it contained:

    brushes_dl3_folder (not needed except for David's organization of brush downloads)

    Inside that folder, I found:

    • Suminagashi (the brush library folder)
    • .DS_Store (a file not needed in Windows)
    • Brushes_ReadMe.rtf (information from David)
    • Brushes_ReadMe.txt (information from David)

     Inside the Suminagashi brush library folder, I found:

      • 1 Suminagashi (brush category folder)
      • Distortonagashi (brush category folder)
      • 1 Suminagashi.jpg (brush category icon image file)
      • Distortonagashi.jpg (brush category icon image file)
        • I won't list them all, but inside the 1 Suminagashi brush category folder and the Distortonagashi brush category folder are all of the brush variants for those two brush categories.

     

    NOTE: When the ZIP file is extracted, the Suminagashi brush library can be installed in any version from Painter 7 through Painter X.1.

    Before going to the final installation step, remember if you want to install this brush library in more than one Corel Painter version, don't just move the Suminagashi brush library folder.

    Instead, copy it from the folder where you extracted the ZIP fle, then paste it in the appropriate location to install it.

    If you move the Suminagashi brush library folder to install it into a more recent Painter version (i.e. Painter X or X.1), and later delete the ZIP file, you won't be able to install it into an earlier Painter version (i.e. Painter IX, Painter 8, or Painter 7). The reason is, once the brush library is installed into a more recent Painter version, since brushes are not backward version compatible, they won't work in an earlier Painter version.  

     

    Now that you know the Suminagashi brush library folder's contents, close the Suminagashi brush library folder, highlight and copy it, then paste it into the following folder:

    Mac - Applications > Corel Painter [version number from 7 through X.1] > Brushes

    Windows - Program Files > Corel > Corel Painter [version number from 7 through X.1]> Brushes

    TIP: Close other programs while using the Suminagashi brush library. These brush variants use a lot of resources and you'll have an easier time with them if you allow Painter to have as much of your system resources as possible.

    Also, if you're using Painter 7 through Painter IX.5, you'll be wise to close Painter every now and then and delete the Pre-built Brush File (the file doesn't exist in Painter X through Painter X.1). This file is used to store brush building information (Painter has to build the brush before we can use it) and if the Pre-built Brush File is deleted by the user no harm is done as Painter automatically generates a new file the next time the program is launched.

    In Painter IX through Painter IX.5, unlike earlier Painter versions, the Pre-built Brush File has a maximum file size of 200 MB, and the file size is automatically reduced by Painter when it reaches that size. That file size is way too large for some users' systems to handle, mine included, so I continued to close Painter and delete the Pre-built Brush File frequently. I did this more frequently, depending on the brush variants I was using. Some brush variants make this file grow large, and grow fast, and the Suminagashi brush library's variants are among those that do. In previous versions Painter 6 through Painter 8, the Pre-built Brush File had no size limit and grew to be huge, sometimes very fast.

    The Pre-built Brush file is located in the following folders, depending on the Painter version (though it's not applicable to the Suminagashi brush library, I'll include Painter 6 since it's the earliest version that used a Pre-built Brush File the user could delete):

    Application/Program Folder

    • Painter 6 > Brushes
    • Painter 7 > Brushes

    • Painter 8 > Brushes

     

    User Folder - Painter IX through Painter IX.5

    • Mac - Users > [User Name] > Library > Application Support > Corel > Painter IX > Brushes

    • Windows - Documents and Settings > [User Name] > Application Data > Corel > Painter IX > Brushes

     

     Launch Painter, load the Suminagashi brush library, and Have fun!

     

  • 07-14-2008 8:09 PM In reply to

    Re: suminagashi brushes

    Just today, someone at WetCanvas! commented, on seeing my two latest Suminigashi paintings, that she wasn't familiar with the term suminagashi, and said she'd "seen that effect created for years using the warp tool." Then she asked what she might be missing here.

    Below is a quote of my response that might also help anyone new to the Suminagashi brush library, understand a little about how they work.

    Hi [insert name],

    The effect of pushing pixels around can be done using several methods, in several programs... including a few ways in Corel Painter.

    What may be different with these paintings is the effect is accomplished only with brush strokes, nothing done after the brush strokes are painted other than Undo and try again until the brush stroke is what you want (except, of course, things like mats, copyright notice, etc.).

    Color can be selected using several options including the following, some of which were used in these two paintings...

    Current Color
    Color Variability, using one of the four Color Variability palette options:
    • in HSV
    • in RGB
    • from Gradient
    • from Color Set


    In addition, all of the brush controls available for these brush variants can be chosen by the artist, adjusted, and applied to the brush variants. For instance, Opacity, Grain, Size, Spacing, Angle, Resaturation (amount of color painted in the brush stroke), Bleed (how much existing color is picked up and painted in the brush stroke), and many other controls used to fine-tune how the brush variant will paint.

    Here are sample, single brush strokes painted with each of the brush variants used in my first painting above, to show you what I mean:



    Corel Painter X screen prints are © 2006 Corel Corporation, reprinted by permission.


    For brush strokes painted with Suminagashi Grad, Suminagashi Grad a, and Suminagashi Grad b all of which used Color Variability, from Gradient, I chose two colors for a Two Point Gradient, from a Color Set made from colors I mixed in the Mixer palette. For the bottom brush stroke painted with the Life Form variant, I used Color Variability, in HSV with Hue: 9%, Saturation: 0%, and Value: 50% to paint color variability based on the Current Color, the same color used in the brush stroke painted with the Fuku Riu variant (second stroke up from the bottom).

    David Gell explains his brush library was created to try his hand at a Japanese interpretation, and that Suminagashi is an ancient Japanese art of marbling. The word Suminagashi translates as "ink floating". You can read more and see more examples on this page at David's Brush Port site:

    Suminagashi Brush Demo


    #
     
     

    It's important to note: Many, if not all, of the Suminigashi brush library's variants require existing color in order to work. Even on a blank white Canvas, the Canvas color is considered by Painter as existing color. However, they won't work on a New Layer (entirely transparent) or on an existing Layer where there are transparent areas.

     

     

  • 07-18-2008 11:16 AM In reply to

    • David Gell
    • Top 25 Contributor
    • Joined on 09-18-2007
    • Nottinghamshire, England
    • Posts 19

    Re: suminagashi brushes

    Jin,

    Thanks for helping Sheila out with installing my brushes.

    Hi Squirrel,

    I see that you are also from the Nottingham area (I live in Sandiacre) - small World!

    David 

     

    "I'll be more enthusiastic about encouraging thinking outside the box when there's evidence of any thinking going on inside it."



    Terry Pratchett

  • 07-18-2008 4:42 PM In reply to

    • squirrel
    • Top 10 Contributor
    • Joined on 02-29-2008
    • Nottinghamshire UK
    • Posts 116

    Re: suminagashi brushes

    Thanks for the help jinny. I took me a little while to understand what I had to do but I got there in the end. I think this is the steepest learning curve I have been on in a long time. .. LOL

    My first suminagashi attempt looked like flowers to me so here is a whole bunch of them as a thank you ;-)


  • 07-18-2008 4:54 PM In reply to

    • squirrel
    • Top 10 Contributor
    • Joined on 02-29-2008
    • Nottinghamshire UK
    • Posts 116

    Re: suminagashi brushes

    Hi David, thanks for creating the brushes I think they are lovely.

    Yes it is a small world as it seems we are less than an hour's drive away. (Providing of course there is no other traffic on the road ... LOL) However I used to live much closer years ago when I lived 2 mins walk away from the A52 at lenton.

    Nice to see a fellow countryman from such a nearby area even if you do tip over the border into Derbyshire.

  • 07-18-2008 10:45 PM In reply to

    Re: suminagashi brushes

    Hi David,

    You're most welcome. I've done it many times before as people get pretty confused even when the download is fairly simple since they often don't know how to figure out what really needs to be installed.

    Now you can "reward" me by telling me how you learned squirrel's name is Sheila? :D

     

     

  • 07-18-2008 10:51 PM In reply to

    Re: suminagashi brushes

    squirrel:

    Thanks for the help jinny. I took me a little while to understand what I had to do but I got there in the end. I think this is the steepest learning curve I have been on in a long time. .. LOL

    My first suminagashi attempt looked like flowers to me so here is a whole bunch of them as a thank you ;-)

     

     

    What a lovely thank you gift, squirrel! Thank you.

    As to "steepest learning curve", we're just putting you through the initiation. ;) 

    If you stick around David and me very long, you'll learn lots more. David has a way of digging into the program to make it do things others might not try or might not even discover. I enjoy doing that too, so between us, and all of the other inspiring artists here at The PainterFactory, we'll keep you occupied for a long, long time. 

    Never fear. It'll be loads of fun as you already know.

    Thanks again for the Suminagashi bouquet.

     

    Jinny

     

     

  • 07-19-2008 3:28 AM In reply to

    • David Gell
    • Top 25 Contributor
    • Joined on 09-18-2007
    • Nottinghamshire, England
    • Posts 19

    Re: suminagashi brushes

    Jinny Brown:

    Hi David,

    Now you can "reward" me by telling me how you learned squirrel's name is Sheila? :D

     

     

    Ah!! now I suppose I have to reveal my undercover detective secrets.

    Well, it was just a case of following the links. I noticed to the left of squirrel's post that he/she lived in Nottinghamshire (UK), so being the inquisitive person I am, I clicked on squirrel's username which took me to a page About Squirrel. I then clicked on the option View squirrel's blog, which took me to Squirrel's Brush and Camera Spot, whereupon I discovered some lovely paintings and squirel's name in the About Me section.

    Special agent Gell :D

    "I'll be more enthusiastic about encouraging thinking outside the box when there's evidence of any thinking going on inside it."



    Terry Pratchett

  • 07-19-2008 3:51 AM In reply to

    Re: suminagashi brushes

    Aha, Special Agent Gell,

    So that's how you did it. Hmmm.. if I'd only used a little more imagination....it's possible I might have found out too. 

    Oh well, it was more fun getting you to reveal your undercover detective secrets.

     

    Thanks! ;)

     

    Jin

     

     

  • 07-19-2008 12:42 PM In reply to

    • David Gell
    • Top 25 Contributor
    • Joined on 09-18-2007
    • Nottinghamshire, England
    • Posts 19

    Re: suminagashi brushes

    Jinny Brown:

     

    If you move the Suminagashi brush library folder to install it into a more recent Painter version (i.e. Painter X or X.1), and later delete the ZIP file, you won't be able to install it into an earlier Painter version (i.e. Painter IX, Painter 8, or Painter 7). The reason is, once the brush library is installed into a more recent Painter version, since brushes are not backward version compatible, they won't work in an earlier Painter version.  

     

     

    Hi Jin,

    In my experience (at least on the Mac), the above is not correct. A brush xml file located anywhere within the application Brushes folder/ sub folders will retain the original version format. An associated cached variant xml file, or a re-saved variant xml file will however be formatted to the version it is generated in. With Painter X.1 the newly formatted xml files will reside in the applicable User Workspace Brushes sub folder, leaving the original Application Brushes sub folder resident xml file unaltered.

    David 

    "I'll be more enthusiastic about encouraging thinking outside the box when there's evidence of any thinking going on inside it."



    Terry Pratchett

  • 07-19-2008 1:15 PM In reply to

    Re: suminagashi brushes

    I'm sure you're right about that, David. Thanks for setting me straight.

    Still, since people get so confused about where files are stored and written and what's written to the User folder, it may just be safer/easier for them to keep the Zip file and install in other versions from there.

    I truly do wish Corel could make this whole process simpler as I'm getting very tired of explaining it all over and over and over and over again... and again... and then again a different way each time a different donor packages their custom brushes a different way.

    EGADS! is all that's left to say. ;)

     

    Jin

     

     

  • 07-19-2008 5:08 PM In reply to

    • squirrel
    • Top 10 Contributor
    • Joined on 02-29-2008
    • Nottinghamshire UK
    • Posts 116

    Re: suminagashi brushes

    Hi Undercover agent david.

    You could have made life much simpler and just asked me .... hehehehe

    However I don't think it would have been as much fun

    Now I'm off to play with my new toys. I'll be back when I'm hungry or when I have something to show you. ;-)

    I sure am looking forward to learning more if this is just the initiation period jinny.

    regards ... squirrel

  • 07-20-2008 7:36 AM In reply to

    Re: suminagashi brushes

    Hi squirrel,

    Yes, it was fun learning your name, Sheila, this way. ;)

    As to initiation period, well... it seems never to end. I still discover new things on a regular basis even after using Painter for 13 years.

    Now you'll be in perpetual initiatiion along with the rest of us.

    Don't stay away too long, or we'll expire from curiousity waiting to know what you do next with your new toys.

    Happy Sunday! (It's only 6:36 am here in California, so my day's just starting). 

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