Working with brushes using the property bars
When the Brush tool is selected, you can access and change brush options and settings on the property bar. The property bar displays one set of options and settings, such as brush size, opacity, and stroke attributes, that are available for all brush categories, and another related to the selected brush category. You can use the property bar to restore the default settings of a brush. Depending on the selected brush variant, the property bar may also let you choose a paper texture, dab type, and blending options. The flyouts on the property bar simplify the process of finding controls and media relevant for a brush and let you quickly access advanced controls for a brush instead of opening different brush control panels. For example, if you are working with a brush that uses a Dynamic Speckles dab type, you can quickly access the relevant options by clicking the Dynamic Speckle flyout button
.
For more information about modifying the individual controls, see Selecting, managing, and creating brushes. For more information about working with property bars, see Displaying the property bars.
To choose a stroke type on the property bar
1
In the toolbox, click the
Brush tool
![](../Shared_graphics/Brush.svg)
.
2
On the property bar (
Window
Property Bar), click one of the following buttons:
•
Freehand strokes button
![](../Shared_graphics/Freehand-Brush.svg)
— to draw freehand lines
•
Straight line strokes button
![](../Shared_graphics/Vector-Brush.svg)
— to draw straight lines
|
|
Align a brushstroke to a path or shape
|
Click the Stroke Options flyout button ![](../Shared_graphics/stroke-options.svg) , and click Align to Path ![](../Shared_graphics/Stroke-To-Path.svg) .
|
Align brushstrokes to perspective guides
|
Click the Stroke Options flyout button ![](../Shared_graphics/stroke-options.svg) , and click Perspective Guides ![](../Shared_graphics/Perspective_Guide.svg) .
|
To set brush size options on the property bar
1
In the toolbox, click the
Brush tool
![](../Shared_graphics/Brush.svg)
.
2
On the property bar (
Window
Property Bar), type a value in the
Size box, or open the
Size ![](../Shared_graphics/Brush-Size.svg)
flyout, and move the
Size slider.
|
|
Link the size settings to a specific stylus or mouse movement
|
Click the Size flyout button ![](../Shared_graphics/Brush-Size.svg) , and choose an option from the Expression list box.
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Set the percentage of variability that you want the expression to apply to brush size
|
Click the Size flyout button ![](../Shared_graphics/Brush-Size.svg) , and move the Min Size slider.
|
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Click the Size flyout button ![](../Shared_graphics/Brush-Size.svg) , and click the Audio Expression button ![](../Shared_graphics/AudioExpression.svg) .
|
Reverse the effect of an Expression setting on brush size
|
Click the Size flyout button ![](../Shared_graphics/Brush-Size.svg) , and click the Invert Size Expression button ![](../Shared_graphics/Invert-Channel.svg) .
|
![*](images/tip.svg)
You can restore a default brush variant by clicking the Reset Tool button
.
To set brush opacity options on the property bar
1
In the toolbox, click the
Brush tool
![](../Shared_graphics/Brush.svg)
.
2
On the property bar (
Window
Property Bar), type a percentage in the
Opacity box, or open the
Opacity ![](../Shared_graphics/Brush-Opacity.svg)
flyout, and move the
Opacity slider.
|
|
Link the opacity settings to a specific stylus or mouse movement
|
Click the Opacity flyout button ![](../Shared_graphics/Brush-Opacity.svg) , and choose an option from the Expression list box.
|
Set the percentage of variability that you want the expression to apply to brush opacity
|
Open the Opacity flyout button ![](../Shared_graphics/Brush-Opacity.svg) , and move the Min Opacity slider.
|
Link brush opacity to audio
|
Open the Opacity flyout button ![](../Shared_graphics/Brush-Opacity.svg) , and click the Audio Expression button ![](../Shared_graphics/AudioExpression.svg) .
|
Reverse the effect of an Expression setting on brush opacity
|
Open the Opacity flyout button ![](../Shared_graphics/Brush-Opacity.svg) , and click the Invert Opacity Expression button ![](../Shared_graphics/Invert-Channel.svg) .
|
![*](images/tip.svg)
You can restore a default brush variant by clicking the Reset Tool button
.
To apply a paper texture using the property bar
1
In the toolbox, click the
Brush tool
![](../Shared_graphics/Brush.svg)
.
2
On the property bar (
Window
Property Bar), click the
Paper Selector flyout button
![](../Shared_graphics/Corel-Painter-paper-selector.jpg)
.
3
In the
Paper Textures area, click a paper texture swatch.
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|
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Move the Grain slider, or type a percentage in the Grain box.
Move the slider to the left to reduce penetration and reveal more texture. Move it to the right to increase penetration and reveal less grain.
|
![*](images/note.svg)
These options are not available for all brush variants.
![*](images/tip.svg)
For more information about paper textures, see Applying paper texture.
You can restore a default brush variant by clicking the Reset Tool button
.
To choose a dab profile using the property bar
1
In the toolbox, click the
Brush tool
![](../Shared_graphics/Brush.svg)
.
2
Click the Brush Selector on the Brush Selector bar, and choose a brush variant.
3
Click the
Dab Options flyout button
![](../Shared_graphics/Dab-Options.svg)
on the property bar.
If the selected brush is using a
Captured dab type, enable the
Apply Dab Profile check box.
4
Click a brush tip profile icon.
If your brush uses a
Circular dab type, move the
Hardness slider to adjust the opacity of the dab profile.
![*](images/note.svg)
You can adjust the hardness only of Circular brushes that use one of the following dab profiles: Pointed, Medium, Soft, Dull, 1-pixel edge, and Watercolor.
To choose a captured dab using the property bar
1
In the toolbox, click the
Brush tool
![](../Shared_graphics/Brush.svg)
.
2
Click
Window
Search, type
captured in the
Search text box, and then choose a variant from the list.
3
On the property bar, click the
Captured Dabs flyout button
![](../Shared_graphics/captured-dabs-selector.svg)
and then click a captured dab icon.
To apply a dab profile to a captured dab using the property bar
1
In the toolbox, click the
Brush tool
![](../Shared_graphics/Brush.svg)
.
2
Click
Window
Search, type
captured in the
Search text box, and then choose a variant from the list.
3
On the property bar, click the
Dab Options flyout button
![](../Shared_graphics/Dab-Options.svg)
, enable the
Apply Dab Profile check box, and then click a brush tip profile icon.
To apply a dab effect using the property bar
1
In the toolbox, click the
Brush tool
![](../Shared_graphics/Brush.svg)
.
2
Click
Window
Search, type
captured in the
Search text box, and then choose a variant from the list.
3
On the property bar, click the
Captured Dabs flyout button
![](../Shared_graphics/captured-dabs-selector.svg)
, and choose an option from the
Dab Effects list box.
You can adjust the
Strength slider to determine the percentage of the effect.
To display relevant brush control panels using the property bar
1
In the toolbox, click the
Brush tool
![](../Shared_graphics/Brush.svg)
.
2
On the property bar, click the
Advanced Brush Controls button
![](../Shared_graphics/DBP_Advanced_Brush_Panel.svg)
.