Watercolor Tool Properties¶
The Watercolor tool simulates painting with water-based pigments like
watercolors or gouache.
Activate the Watercolor tool by choosing it in the Tools panel or by tapping the Shift + W shortcut.
The basic settings for each watercolor brush, such as its Size, Opacity, and Water are set in the Properties panel while more complex brush mechanics are defined in the Brush Creator panel.
Size - Determines the size of a watercolor brush as a percentage (1 to 100) of the brush's maximum size (set in the Brush Creator panel).
Opacity - Determines the transparency of the color applied by the brush as a percentage (1 to 100) of the brush's maximum opacity (set in the Brush Creator panel).
Water - Determines the amount of water applied by the brush. Lower numbers define a dry brush while higher numbers simulate color applications that readily spread and drip.
Pressure - Determines the pressure applied to the brush (1 to 100). This slider is provided for those using a mouse or a stylus that is not pressure-sensitive.
Length - Determines the length of the stroke (1 to 100). At the lower settings, the brush "runs out of" paint quickly, with the highest '100' setting, the paint on the brush is infinite.
Tip
Set 'Water' to low values to slightly wet the layer, or set 'Water' to higher values to put more water to the specific part of the layer.
Note
The Pressure and Length sliders are hidden by default. You can view it anytime by selecting 'Pressure' and 'Length' in the Properties panel menu > Show Sliders.
You can also change the size or opacity of watercolor brushes without using the Properties panel. To do so, hold Ctrl (or Cmd) key on the keyboard while dragging the mouse or stylus:
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Drag to the left to decrease brush size.
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Drag to the right to increase brush size.
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Drag down to decrease the opacity of the brush.
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Drag up to increase the opacity of the brush.
When you engage in this process, the on-screen representation of the brush (the brush pointer) will first appear in its Resize Color along with the info window with the current volumes' values. The brush pointer will then change in size or loading depending on which direction you drag it and the info window will update accordingly.
Tip
The brush Resize Color of the brush pointer can be changed in the Preferences panel > Tools > Painting Cursor.
Brush Creator - Opens the Brush
Creator with many more settings for brush customization.
Video tutorial
Learn more about Rebelle's Watercolors in this video: Rebelle Watercolors.
Watercolor Tool Modes¶
Like Rebelle's other painting tools, watercolor brushes can be set to different Paint Modes. In addition, watercolor brushes feature Mixing Color Modes that determine the density and transparency of the paint applied. Use the Mixing Color Mode menu to choose:
Transparent - sets colors to their
most translucent, allowing previously painted areas to show clearly
through subsequent layers. This setting is best for glazing techniques.
Semi-transparent - sets colors to a
midpoint between transparent and opaque. Painting in this Mixing Color
mode with lower opacity settings applies transparent color, higher
opacity settings apply colors that appear increasingly solid.
Opaque - sets dense colors like
painting with gouache (like watercolors in Rebelle 3).
Note
Watercolor mixing color modes are deactivated when Pigment color mixing is enabled.
Watercolor tool brushes have several different modes that determine how each brush applies, blends, or removes color from the canvas.
Paint - Sets the brush to apply the
selected color without mixing it into any other color it encounters on
the canvas (previously called Permanent Brush in Rebelle 3). Paint Mode
can also be engaged by tapping or holding 1 on the keyboard.
Paint & Mix - Sets the brush to
apply the selected color and to mix it into any colors it encounters on
the canvas (previously called Normal Brush in Rebelle 3). It starts with
painting. After you lower the pen pressure you start to mix the colors.
With higher pressure, you paint again. Paint & Mix Mode can also be
engaged by tapping or holding 2 on the keyboard.
Paint & Blend - Sets the brush to
apply the selected color and to blend it into any colors it encounters
on the canvas. With lower pen pressure you blend the colors and with
higher pressure, you paint. Paint & Blend Mode can also be engaged by
tapping or holding 3 on the keyboard.
Blend - Sets the brush to blend and
smudge any colors it encounters on the canvas. In this paint mode the
brush does not apply any color of its own. Blending decreases and
smudging increases with stylus pressure. Blend Mode is engaged by
tapping or holding 4 on the keyboard.
Erase Brush - Sets the brush to
erase any colors it encounters on the canvas. Erase Mode can also be
engaged by tapping or holding 5 on the keyboard.
Tip
Each paint mode has a keyboard shortcut (as noted above). By tapping the shortcut, the paint mode is set until it is next changed. By holding the shortcut, the mode is engaged only until the key is released.
Tip
You can switch between Paint modes and Blend mode by tapping or holding the V shortcut.
Tip
You can make the brush automatically switch to Blend mode after using Paint, Paint & Mix, or Paint & Blend mode for wet media when the brush runs out of paint - enable this option in Preferences > Tools.