PhotoPlus X2 User Guide - Serif

The Brush Tip tab hosts a comprehensive
collection of brush presets grouped into
various categories; each category can be
switched to via a drop-down list (the “Basic”
category is shown opposite) and displays a
gallery. Note that each sample clearly shows
the brush tip and stroke; the number indicates
the brush diameter. The brush tip determines
the thickness and many other properties of the
painted line.
Painting and Drawing 77
If you scroll down the gallery, you’ll note that some brushes have hard edges, while
others appear fuzzy, with soft edges. The hardness of a brush is expressed as a
percentage of its full diameter. If less than 100%, the brush has a soft edge region
within which the opacity of applied colour falls off gradually.
Brush attributes (blend mode, opacity, size, and flow) can be modified via a context
toolbar (along with more advanced Brush Options). It’s also possible to save
settings for future use with the Tool Presets tab.
If a more bespoke brush tip is required, you can also customize your own brush tip
and save it in its own user-defined category. (See PhotoPlus help for details.)
An important factor when applying brush strokes is the level of opacity applied to
the brush. This attribute affects brush strokes significantly when the stroke is
applied onto already transparent standard layers. The greater the opacity the more
opaque the brush stroke, and vice versa. Experiment to achieve the right
combination of opacity and colour for your brush strokes.
To use the Paintbrush or Pencil tool:
1. Select the Paintbrush Tool or Pencil Tool from the Tools toolbar's
Brush flyout. When you move the tool over the image the cursor will change.
2. Choose a brush tip preset on the Brush Tip tab. If you've picking a Basic brush,
set a brush colour (i.e. the foreground colour) from the Colour tab (see p. 73)
before painting. You can also create your own brush from within the tab
(see p. 76).