[Gametamer]

After you?ve exhausted the creative possibilities of Painter?s Image Hose Nozzles presets, it?s time to build your own. Yes, you can create a nozzle file in Painter, but because Painter?s masking tools and resizing features aren?t as intuitive as Photoshop?s, I recommend using Photoshop.

To set up your file, create 6-8 layers, trim photo objects, and put them in 2 rows. Take advantage of layer transparency to make an outstanding nozzle. I recommend at least an 800 by 600 image window; large resolution images make your Image Hose work in Painter suitable for high-quality printing. To assist you in setup, I?ve created and posted a small psd file (300K) at OurMedia for download:

http://www.ourmedia.org/node/156312
Load Painter 9 now.


1. Open the psd file in Painter.
2. On the Layers palette, Shift+click on the layer titles from top to bottom. Don?t click the Canvas layer. Hide it.
3. Press Ctrl+G to group the layers
4. Click the Nozzle Selector icon from the toolbox; click the flyout triangle and choose Make Nozzle from Group
5. Save the file to RIF file format and close it.
6. Open a new file, Click the Nozzle Selector, click the flyout triangle, and choose Load Nozzle; choose the saved RIF file.
7. Stroke away.

Thoughts:
? Click the Pattern Selector icon on the toolbox, click the flyout and choose Define Pattern to wrap nozzle strokes around, creating a seamless tiling image.
? Forget about Ranks if Painter pops you a query box about it. Ranks are used to create sophisticated nozzle characteristics such as size and rotation variations, but you have to be a math wiz to use them correctly. Instead, just click the flyout on the Brush Selector flyout and choose Show Brush Creator?you can create plenty of variations using this command.
? Use different nozzles on different layers to jazz up a composition.
? Save a seamless tile composition in which you used your nozzle(s) as a psd. In Photoshop, load the image and choose Edit>Define Pattern to be able to use a seamless Painter tile with the Paint Bucket tool and the Edit>Fill command.
? Get out of Iraq now.

My Best,

Gare

[Dennis@DigArts]

Originally Posted by gare

After you?ve exhausted the creative possibilities of Painter?s Image Hose Nozzles presets, it?s time to build your own. Yes, you can create a nozzle file in Painter, but because Painter?s masking tools and resizing features aren?t as intuitive as Photoshop?s, I recommend using Photoshop.

My Best,
Gare

Good suggestions Gare.? I use Photoshop when making my nozzles, and in the ways you've mentioned.

Nozzles can become very sophisticated "paints" that not only render the images they contain, but objects greater than the sum of the images contained in the nozzles, as in trees, forests, gardens and whole landscapes.? Actually, you don't even need nozzles.? You can simply drag and drop layers in PS to produce the same effect.? It's not nearly as intuitive as painting, however, and you lose the kinesthetic of the brush stroke as well.? What's more, Painter let's you control color, opacity and size using a tablet with nozzles, so the differences are substantial.?

I almost posted to the PS and 3D thread above because one of the more popular uses of nozzles is to add foliage to 3D land forms and architectural illustrations in what's called post-processing (painting on layers over the rendered 3D image).? The technique is common to games, film mattes and architectural illustrations, but it's a great way to get print-res landscapes as well.? The point is, nozzles are very versatile and often overlooked as a paint media, probably because PS has never adopted the brush technology.?

With the above in mind, here is a small demonstration version of a winter tree nozzle, (or PSP tubes, Gimp pipes) and a PS file with the trees a layers.? I'll be posting a tutorial on using this same nozzle with a Terragen, Vue, Mojoworld or Bryce render to create images similar to this.? It's a couple of weeks off yet.? In the meantime, people can play with the tree nozzles and create some of their own landscapes.? Use the free demonstrations link (the nozzles are linked from a commercial product page, so please be advised in advance.)

Enjoy,
Dennis@DigArts
http://www.gardenhose.com

[img width=600 height=308]http://www.gardenhose.com/groups/new_winter.jpg[/img]

The clouds are nozzles too.? Original size is 3000 pixels.

[Gametamer]

Very tasty imagery, Dennis.

I wouldn't mind at all if you cared to post some steps, as I'm sort of burdened hosting four forums 8}

Folks, I feel it's okay to advertise any wares if its in the spirit of sharing with the community, as Dennis has done.

But let's always walk that line between sharing and advertising; just some advice to keep the forums clean and accessible.

Thanks for sharing, Dennis--

Gare

[Dennis@DigArts]

[shhh] A PDF tutorial and tools are posted here.

[img width=600 height=350]http://www.gardenhose.com/images/treeline9.jpg[/img]

(You will need Painter, Photoshop, PSP, Gimp or PhotoImpact to complete the tutorial.)

Enjoy,
Dennis @ DigArts