noobie Q : general PAINTER info ?

#1

hello folks, sorry to post a seemingly lame-question BUT I value artists/opinions here, hope it’s not a repeat of many noob questions posted in past…
I’ve used various 3d apps for years (3dsMax, C4d) BUT only used photoshop for 2d paint/graphics SO i’d like to
know if PAINTER has
some specific /primary advantages over photoshop’s painting ability-- the problem i keep
encountering w/ this question is
that most online painting/tablet forums are VERY unprofessional– ALMOST ALL responses are
in the realm of “well i’m just used-to this software” OR
something like,
“photoshop is photo manip oriented but Painter is all-paint oriented” THUS no REAL info…
[b]ANYONE have a minute to list just a few Primary reasons that they feel either app is better for
digital-tablet painting?

((sorry it’s kinda vague so here’s an example: I have heard that PAINTER has more power/options for background-texture, such as simulating paper-media, so
perhaps some similar advantages that really seem powerful?))
[/b]
THANX in advance —SO hard to get serious answers—especially as many forums are
now dominated by teenagers who mean-well but lack industry/experience if u follow me.

#2

Painter vs. Photoshop

The programs can do a lot of things similarly. If you really had to, what you can do in Photoshop, you can do in Painter. And the other way around too of course. However…Photoshop is more elegant than Painter in a lot of regards.

On the other hand, Painter’s brush engines are untouchable By Photoshop. Painter is geared more for the artist and, to me, Photoshop is geared more to the technition. Each have their place as artist’s tools. I use both programs, probably 80% Painter though. It’s faster in a lot of regards, and less technical than Photoshop. And a lot more fun from my perspective…although there are lots of incidences where only Photoshop will do.

Rather than me show my own biases, both programs are available for a free 30 day trial at no charge. Try them out for yourself.

I think Painter is easier to learn so I’d concentrate on Photoshop at first. Operations of both have a lot of similarities as far as brushes and controls, although Painters prebuilt brushes will give you a lot more options. It will be a learning experience, and a lot of fun too.

#3

[font=Arial][font=Courier New]hello Tom, thanx for gr3at feedback… I seem to recall that i’ve heard some things around the net that also spoke
to PAINTER’s brushes as a key feature set.

Yeah i’ve used photoshop for general art/photo manip & a tiny bit of painting & sure enough even tho
the paint work is the least/newest type of thing i’ve used it for,
well it DID notice that the brushes had some slightly clunky feel to them as far as options & interface/menu…

You’re right re: testing the demo of Painter X…
i guess i need to get to that asap…
[i][b]HERE’s a specific follow up ::

  1. does PAINTER have layers & compositing abilities?..
  2. does it have any adjustments along the lines of hue/sat and value/levels like photoshop?..
    [/b][/i]well,
    THANX again, Rob [/font][/font]
#4

Hi again Rob,

To answer your 2 specific questions;
“1) does PAINTER have layers & compositing abilities?..
2) does it have any adjustments along the lines of hue/sat and value/levels like photoshop?..”, the answer is yes to both of the questions. In fact, Painter came out with layers,(Painter originally called them Floaters) before Photoshop, and they are composted very similar to how they are done in Photoshop. As far has Hue, sat, etc., etc., Painter also has all these functions.

One thing to keep in mind, although Painter has pretty much all the functionality of Photoshop, some things are better done in Photoshop. You have a bit finer control in things like brightness and contrast. Photoshop is geared to working with images already created, Painter is geared to creating the images.

One really good thing is that you can save your images in Painter in the psd format. You can take images back in forth between Painter and Photoshop pretty much seamlessly with few exceptions. (One negative to this is saving an image with live vector segments, the vector becomes rasterized) For me, I use Photoshop to fine tune images that I created in Painter.

All in all, If I had to use just one program, I’d choose Painter. Partly, because that’s the program I started with way back with version 2. I started with Photoshop much later. And partly, it’s an easier program to work with, at least for my own workflow.

The two programs are a real compliment to each other, and having both is the ideal situation.

#5

[font=Courier New]h3y Tom thanx again for excellent feedback…
i’m starting to get the gist of what i’ve seen around the web on art & illustration sites that feature lots of work from artists using both apps…

ALSO great to know that Painter exports psd format…

btw, i’m another old timer in graphics—where tons of artists in CGI & production tend to be young-- so i recall using adobe & corel apps in ye olde days,
early 90s…

didn’t Corel actually acquire Painter from a company called FRACTAL?..

Btw i recently watched some sample Painter vids + tuts, over on uTube, it looks VERY promising indeed…

HERE’s a question i’d meant to ask earlier:
Do u know if it’s possible to set wacom’s pen/tablet for relative mode [similar to mouse] rather than absolute?..
I spoke to someone else who has an intuos like mine & they had no luck either…
On that note also, have u used any other mouse/pointer devices, as this all relates to my 40-something health battle w/ my overall computer use.
THANX.
[/font]

#6

It looks like CS5 is going to have some painterly tricks up its sleeve. No clue if they’ll be slapped on in a stupid filter box or a major overhaul of the whole brush (:. eraser, stamp, etc.) engine or buggy or awesome or what. Usually second guessing vapourware is a waste of time, but if you’re only in the market for one program… this might be a wait worth taking.

#7

h3llo gruhn, thanx 4 the info…YEAH i’ve noticed that many users of both apps will tend to list the brushes tools as
perhaps the biggest difference
between them;
even tho i haven’t used Painter yet, i have started doing just enough painting in
pshop to notice the
somewhat “clunkyness” of the brush-setting & such…
yeah I’d think Adobe would be tired of
loosing market share re: those types
of issues, etc.

#8

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