I've been using Painter since around 2000, back before corel owned it. I feel that Painter has lost its way and no longer has a identity or aim of what it ultimately is suppose to be. Its suppose to be the premiere software for artists, yet the devs insist on adding things that do little for artists yet more for people who do art casually and want to try random stuff. Audio brushes? AI painting? How on earth does that even fit with the painter theme? Time and resources could of spent on adding things that matter. How about I don't know...something simple like recent documents prioritizing themselves by the last time they were opened? The ability to copy and paste multiple layers at once. How about being able to rotate the reference window? How about adding gpu support for all brushes instead of trying to milk them by adding them each painter revision? I can't even imagine what random feature they will add in painter 2022.
+100
I've been taking a digital painting course which (of course) is based on Photoshop. I'm sticking with Painter 2019 because it's familiar to me and I do like the way brushes are handled in Painter better than Photoshop. Plus no subscription. A good workflow example from Photoshop that's lacking in Painter is the ability to have a layer mask attached to a group (which means it affects all layers in the group). I'd pay for that. Like Aza mentions, this would be an artist oriented feature.
Also, the reference window should have the ability to show a grid that matches the document window for proportion work.
I wouldn't say it's unusable and I do like some of the UI enhancements like the graphical tooltips for many of the sliders (can't remember when they started appearing), but I certainly didn't pay for the things that came out in 2020 and 2021.
Yes completely agree. Sory for unusable layers, it has been bit harsh maybe, but lack of possibility to reorder multiple selected layers, lack of proper group functionality (when you hid group it will switch visibility on layers under group too), lack of possibility to create mask on groups, lack of possibility to create mask on something like "adjsutment layers". and lack of proper clipping mask. I do not know what was there prior version 2019, I now have 2020 and as you are saying there is some UI update which is not bad, it has potential but some basic functionality you would say after so many years in developement would be there.Another thing I found out which bugs me is not possibility to copy paste data from clipboard when doing print screen or copy elsewhere in the system... For example I used DAZ for posing 3d character as reference and wanted to paste it in to the layer in Painter...Posed my character in DAZ, used Light Shot App to create screenshot, tried pasting it in painter and finding out it is not possible, all you need to do is save your external image / print screen to file, load it in painter inside texture pallet and press button in texture pallet "Export to Layer", or open your image in new canvas in painter and then copy paste between the opened documents inside painter...instead simple copy paste in couple seconds...and Painter is full of this... the user experience is just frustrating in every other area then painting inside single layer. Other good stuff which is there is perspective and grid tools... love those...Like the potential is great but they completely focusing development wrong way...They should add proper levels / curves editing tools, histogram would be nice to have instead those ai tools which does not fit Painter Aplication, I would tell ad those to Corel Photo Paint...and make seamless connection between Photo Paint and Painter if you reaaly think there is a need to have posibility of ai photo editing inside Painter...another thing which must be stated:Painter upgrade with not fixing and improving important stuff (at the moment) - $429 + $229 per year(I know you dont need to pay upgrades, but then you are stuck with those imperfections half finished tools)Photoshop subscription - $288 per yearClip Studio Paint $50 - one time payment, free upgradesKrita - freefor most people no brainer where to go...I would love to use Painter and see it start making competition for Photoshop in the field of digital painting and concept art, because potential is there and I would love to pay for the updates and support the devs, but it is still too far from there :/anyway I am preparing more detailed and constructive feedback and suggestions which I would like to share here for devs to think about, hope devs are reading it and are opened to suggestions and it will be not just more wasted time, not sure what is the plan for Painter if they just want to hanging it here and there or actually making competitive application to others out there.
I started at Painter 11 and so I have seen it change through 12, X3, 2015, 2019. Generally for the better. But we're talking about a time frame of 10 years and in that context it's very slow to improve. I can personally live without some of the image processing features since I can bring that into my photography apps if I really want to go that route. But if Corel could put a release into non-destructive editing (i.e. a lot of the layer features you mention) that would go a long way to making this an artist first program again. The productivity gains for an advanced layering system are ever lasting. AI painting? Not so much.
Yes I agree with you. Well I chose Krita for my personal needs.Similar brush engines as Painter, with tools more like photoshop (no thick paint, and no water color, but I am not interested in it, and not so good particle brush, but again not so fond of it) , for me it feels in a way like enhanced photoshop :), as photoshop also somewhat got stuck after CS6 version with just small additions...I always find here and there something additional in Krita over photoshop, adjustment tools and layers works perfectly with all the bells and whistles again with some differences to photoshop, but for me works even better. UI and overall user experience intuitive, instead working against you it makes your work easier. Speed of whole software, brushes and UI is much better in Krita then Corel...and no ridiculous adds popping up even when disabled...Even I bought Painter...spent couple weeks, created my brushes and setup...uninstalled it and not getting back if they do not do something with the fundamental tools and core functionality.I've looked at many other 2d applications lately...with this conclusion:If you want to use thick brushes - go for Painterwell if you are in to real media digital simulation check out also this (haven't tried, but based on reviews looks good)Realistic PaintRebelleIf you looking for good complete alternative for Photoshop with touch of painter / digital painting / bitmap editor - go for Krita if you want to do more comic style / inking - go for Clip Studio Paint