Smear, smudge, and blend colors
You can smear, smudge, or blend the paint in an image. Smearing produces a similar effect to dragging across wet paint. Smudging has the same effect as rubbing across a pastel drawing. Blending softens the transition between colors or hard edges. You can smear, smudge, or blend the colors in an entire image or in an editable area you define. For more information about defining an editable area, see Define editable areas.
The Smear tool was used to alter the shapes surrounding the star.
To smear, smudge, or blend colors in an image
1
In the toolbox, click the
Effect tool
.
2
On the property bar, open the
Brush picker, and click one of the following brush categories:
3
With the
Brush picker still open, choose a brush.
4
Choose a nib from the
Nib shape picker on the property bar.
5
Type a value in the
Nib size box to specify the nib size.
6
Drag in the image window.
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Increase the effect of the brush across an area without clicking over the area multiple times |
Click the Cumulative button  on the Stroke Attributes bar that displays in the Brush Settings docker. This option is available only for some of the Effect tools and the Clone tool. If the Brush Settings docker is not open, click Window  Dockers Brush Settings. |
Apply the effect to an object and the background simultaneously |
Click the Merge Source button  on the Dab Attributes bar that displays in the Brush Settings docker. This option is only available when the Cumulative button is disabled. |
Adjust the transparency of the brushstroke |
Hold down Alt, and click in the image window without releasing the mouse button to display a transparency slider. |
Adjust the feathering of the brushstroke |
Hold down Ctrl + Alt, and click in the image window without releasing the mouse button to display a feathering slider. |
Apply brush effects with symmetrical patterns |
Click Window Toolbars Symmetry bar, and choose the settings you want on the Symmetry bar before dragging in the image window. For more information on the Symmetry bar, see To paint symmetrical patterns. |
You can quickly choose a square or round brush shape by clicking the Round nib button 
or the Square nib button 
on the property bar.
