Corel Painter Help | Choosing a painting workflow

Choosing a painting workflow

Corel Painter includes a wide array of tools and features that allow you to create original artwork. The purpose of this topic is to introduce you to the two most-common Corel Painter workflows and refer you to Help topics that provide more information about each of these workflows.

Workflow 1: Start with a photo

Using Corel Painter’s powerful cloning tools, you can quickly transform a digital photo into a painting.

photo painting

The photo (left) was cloned (right) to begin the painting process.

Workflow step	Help topic
1. Open a photo for painting	Opening and placing files
2. Prepare a photo for cloning	To clone an image by using Quick Clone
3. Paint the clone	Painting in the clone
4. Save the photo painting	Saving and backing up files

You can also create a photo-painting by using the Auto-painting feature. For more information, see Auto-painting photos.

Workflow 2: Start with a sketch

In Corel Painter, you can quickly create a sketch of a photo so you can use it as a guide for applying color. To maintain the integrity of the sketch, you should apply color to layers, and not directly to the sketch. In addition, depending on the desired effect, using layers gives you the option of incorporating the sketch markings in the final image. If you don’t want the sketch to be visible in the final image, you can delete the sketch by clearing the canvas. When you’re done, you can drop the layers to the canvas.

sketch workflow

The photo (left) was transformed into a sketch (right) to begin the painting process.

Workflow	Help topic
1. Choose a photo	Opening and placing files
2. Convert a photo into a sketch	Applying the Sketch effect
3. Create a layer	Creating and deleting layers
4. Apply a brushstroke to the layer	Painting on layers
5. Clear the canvas	Clearing the canvas
6. Drop layers to the canvas	Dropping layers with the canvas

Workflow 3: Start with a blank canvas

You can also start a project from scratch by choosing a paper texture and a brush, and applying color to the canvas.

You can start with a blank canvas (left) and use your imagination, and the Corel Painter tools, to create a work of art.

Workflow	Help topic
1. Choose a paper texture	Applying paper texture
2. Choose a brush	Selecting, managing, and creating brushes
3. Choose a color	Choosing colors from the Color panel
4. Apply a brushstroke to the canvas	Applying freehand and straight brushstrokes

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