Traditional watercolors
Corel Painter X is a graphics software package that mimics real world media such as oils, acrylics, chalks, pastels and watercolors. Digital Watercolors interact with any canvas and layer rather than just the restricted watercolor layer of previous versions of the program. You can get a true watercolor effect from the software, which include blotting and blending tools. Digital watercolors interact will all other media as well. You can even keep the watercolors from interacting by choosing "Layers" then "Dry Digital Watercolor."
Tools
Corel Painter X can be used with a mouse. However, you will only get minimal results. Painter X recognizes pressure and rotation when used in conjunction with a drawing tablet and stylus. There are several manufacturers of tablets, bit the most widely recognized maker of drawing tablets is Wacom, which makes several types of tablets and supplies the monitors for some tablet PCs.
Starting a New Painting
Open Painter X and choose "Create a New File" from the Welcome Screen. Set your file to be 500 pixels wide by 500 pixels in height. Change the DPI to 300. 300 DPI (dots per inch) is the resolution of your image. If you plan to print your image later, set the DPI to at least 300 for a clear, crisp image to print. Press Ctrl+M on your keyboard. This will center the image.
Painting in Watercolor
Click the Paper box on the toolbar. This is the first box on the left of the bottom set of six boxes. Choose "Italian Watercolor Paper." You can choose any paper you would like; the digital watercolor brushes will react differently with each paper type.
From the brush selector bar at the top-right of the screen, choose "Digital Watercolor." This will change the brush set to the digital watercolors. Start with the brush called "New Simple Water." Choose the color you would like to start with from the color palette. Starting with a dark color will make it harder to paint on top of it unless you dry that layer and start a new layer to paint.
If you want to change brushes, you can either right-click to bring up the current brush set menu or use the brush selector at the top-right of the screen. You can change the size and opacity of the brush using the brush toolbar at the top-left of the screen.
You can paint just as if you were painting with real watercolors and change your tools on the fly.
Digital Watercolor Brushes
Each brush in the digital watercolor section produces a different effect. The watercolor brushes place watercolor paint on the canvas. Coarse brushes show the bristle strokes while simple and fine brushes do not. Spatter brushes paint spatters of paint on the canvas instead of smooth strokes. Erasers remove the paint but keep the wet look. Diffusers and blenders soften and blend colors. Be sure to use light strokes when using a blender to finely blend the colors rather than using hard strokes. This will muddy the colors on the canvas and cover up your details. Dry brushes place color on without the water and show the bristle strokes. All brushes have opacity and size setting in the top-left corner of the screen.
