Technical data

50 Working with Paint and Text
♦ Opacity is basically the same concept as “transparency”—they’re
just different ends of the same scale (0% opaque is 100%
transparent). Thus a lower opacity value produces paint that’s more
transparent, with less effect on existing pixels on the layer—more
of the underlying paint “shows through.” A fully opaque stroke
completely replaces all pixels in its path.
♦ Fade simulates a realistic brush stroke, with less paint applied over
a longer stroke. The more steps, the longer the stroke takes to fade
out. For a continuous flow, with no fade-out, use a setting of 0.
q Take a few moments to experiment with varying the opacity and
fade settings. With opacity, note how different settings affect the
way the foreground color gets painted over existing color.
q Click “Layer 1” in the Layer Manager tab and try painting on the
upper, transparent layer. Using semi-transparent brush strokes,
you’ll begin to see how you can combine and overlap colors on
different layers.
If you have a pressure-sensitive stylus, checking the Size box causes the
brush size to vary according to pressure. A light application of the pen
makes for a very thin brush stroke, and full pressure allows the brush
size to expand up to the defined size. (If your brush tip is defined as 35
pixels wide, that’s how wide it would be at full pressure.) You can also
turn on the Opacity option so that faint pressure then correlates to a
fainter brush stroke.
Using the Airbrush tool
Like the Paintbrush tool, the Airbrush tool is used for freehand
drawing in the foreground color, but it behaves like a spray-can.
Holding the tool over one spot with the left mouse button held down
“sprays” more paint.
The choices for Brush Tip and Tool Properties tab settings for the
Airbrush are the same as for the Paintbrush. Note that PhotoPlus
“remembers” your custom settings for each individual tool.
To paint a line using the Airbrush tool, select it from the Tools toolbar
and drag over the image area.
q Choose the Airbrush tool and experiment with it, noting how it
differs from the Paintbrush.
q Try airbrushing on both the Background and the standard
(transparent) layer while varying properties, particularly opacity.