Painting Assignment Setup
This assignment was originally created with SuperPaint on a Mac. When this lab was converted to a PC lab, I searched for a replacement to SuperPaint, which combined Pixel and Vector Graphics in one program. I didn't really find one, but I did find a pretty good program called Paint.net...and it was free. In the future, we will be starting with Photoshop in the Fall as the painting program. For the time being, you have a choice to either continue with Paint.net, or give Photoshop a try. I will start to build my resources for Photoshop as a painting program as soon as possible. Please refer to the bottom of this page for tips as I develop them.
* Paint.NET is one of the most popular image editing program and is FREE to download and use on your home computer. Very similar programs are used to create movies like
Go here to download your own copy at home...or bring in a memory stick to class. (Paint.net requires .NET 2.0 Framework, which I also have on the server for you.) Go to \\wbphoto\public then to Software for Students. You are welcome to use any of the software, but YMMV!!! And "caveat emptor" (that means...use at your own risk!!!). Mac users...use www.Pixlr.com
Instructions to READ BEFORE STARTING
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To start your Paint Document, launch the program located in the Start Menu, All Programs. Be sure NOT to choose the
built in MS Paint
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Set your Canvas PRINT Size: Ctrl + Shift + R, to 8x10.5 or 10.5x8 depending on if you want a Horizontal or a Vertical.
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Do your painting on a NEW layer, Ctrl + Shift + N. Leave the background blank. Add new layers to add different parts to your picture. Layers are easy to delete if it doesn't turn out right. F7 will show/hide your layer pallet. Layers are a VERY useful feature...and will be used in Photoshop also. Layers can be moved up and down to change the order of the objects.
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Be sure to close out Paint.net before logging out. It does NOT like being open and you log out...and it will leave your computer log in vulnerable...not to mention you will lose your recent work, and the file may be corrupted.
Other TIPS to read shortly AFTER starting
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Show/Hide: F5 Tools, F6 History, F7 Layers, F8 Colors
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Ctrl + or - to zoom In and Out. Also, Ctrl + Scroll Wheel also zooms in and out.
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Spacebar brings up the hand tool
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Experiment with the different tools, such as how to do a red box with a blue fill...be sure your "Colors" pallet is ON. Your final assignment should reflect a variety of tools...and should fill the frame.
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Play around. Have some fun. And Save AS as you go along. Like "House 1" then saving as House 1a, House 1b as you move along through your work art. This will allow you to close the document and go back to an earlier state if you mess up. Note: You have multiple undos. You can see a list of your actions under History (F6). But, if you go a long ways back, and then make a change, the rest of the history will disappear, so you may need to go back to your last saved version so be sure to Save and Save as often. Also, PDN is known to corrupt a file, so Save As to a new revision to also make sure you have a recent version to go back to should your file become corrupted.
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You will need to work up several examples, as time permits. At the end of this 6 weeks, you may print up your best example, which will eventually be entered into the Computer Generated Graphics category in the End of Year Contest in April. Please do not loose this print out.
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Do not apply any kaleidoscope filters to your actual project. You can play around with the filters on your own work...but keep the design based on original creation...not from that of a filter.
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Paint.net suggestion: Find a photo you want to try to replicate. It can be on the internet, one I've taken, or one you have seen recently and can bring in with you. I think a lot of students struggle initially because even if you did a rough draft, you don't have anything realistic to go by. So, get something that can be a guide for you. This should make it easier. You can even open an image from down below.
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For those that already have experience with or are up to the challenge to use a Graphics Tablet, I have 18 available for your use during class....just ask. It could be helpful to get the basic part of your drawing done. There is a bit of a learning curve, but I highly recommend that you give the tablet a try.
Wacom Genius
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Please refer to the following pages for tool assistance:
http://www.eecs.wsu.edu/paint.net/doc/2.6/Help/en/index.html (note...see below for an updated Tutorial Page)
and
http://www.freewebs.com/cmdsketchpad/basics.htm (like how to do a gradient of several colors)
http://forums.getpaint.net/ (forum for asking questions...search for previous questions that have been answered)
Paint.net Tutorials (look through the tutorials for something of interest to you...or search for a key word).
Take a look at some specific Paint.net Examples...look either at the Pictorium or in the "Galleria: The Paint.NET Art Gallery" of the Forum. Unfortunately, the tutorials under the "Galleria" photos on how they were done is not working. I am contacting the developer for a workaround. But there are plenty of tutorials in the forum for tutorials.
Use the Layers Pallet to add new elements to your picture. IOW, put something on the background, but put everything else on top of that layer, in multiple layers.
Specific Tips:
Feathered Tools - the clone tool, like other tools, is controlled by the alpha transparency on the colors dialog
1) choose the clone tool. (menu->clone->tools->clone stamp).
2) select brush width. (toolbar -> brush width).
3) select alpha transparency (menu->window->colors->[more]->transparency alpha)
a value of 255 has a crisp edge.
a value 70 has a nice feathering.
a value of 0 is completely invisible
How to do a Gradient
Take a look at some specific Paint.net Forum Examples (examples by other users of Paint.net around the world):
"I think you will be amazed at what can be created with Paint.NET."
http://www.getpaint.net/users/BoltBait/galleria/gasattaxe.png
http://www.getpaint.net/users/BoltBait/galleria/Eggscape_by_cjmcguinness.png
http://www.getpaint.net/users/BoltBait/galleria/Mymouse.png
http://www.getpaint.net/users/BoltBait/galleria/Horizons2.jpg
http://www.getpaint.net/users/BoltBait/galleria/Daisys-1.jpg
More examples:
http://www.getpaint.net/users/BoltBait/galleria/CarPop.jpg
http://www.getpaint.net/users/BoltBait/galleria/BMWbot800.jpg
http://cjmcguinness.deviantart.com/art/All-In-66206833
http://www.getpaint.net/users/BoltBait/galleria/baby_whale_little_fish_by_omagrandmother.png
http://www.getpaint.net/users/BoltBait/galleria/PyjoWinner.jpg
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Student Examples:
by Jennifer Le
by Jenna Spacek
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Types of Drawing/Painting Programs
Pixel Painting - Each pixel can be edited. Includes programs like: Paint.net, Photoshop, or any image editing program.
Vector Drawing - objects, shapes. Includes programs like: Serif Draw Plus, Illustrator, MS Word. Used to generate animated objects.
** On the Mac that is checked out for home use...there is a program installed called SuperPaint that actually combines a Drawing Program and Painting Program into one program. VERY cool...with NO PC (or even current Mac OS 10) equivalent program.
You may also want to try Serif DrawPlus 4.0 at home, etc. It is also a free program and can be installed and used at home. It is a vector drawing application which is completely different than the pixel editing you may be used to in a program like Paint.NET or Photoshop. It offers tremendous control of it's objects, but is more complicated to use, at least initially. It is also Vector Drawing which may be quite different than anything you have tried before. Serif Draw also includes an animation module to allow you to take a series of images and turn them into an animated .gif, like for an animated avatar. Not to be confused with Avatar, the movie, but similar vector based programs ARE used to create the characters for the movie industry.
Painting with Photoshop:
Coming soon!
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Tips for MS Paint: (don't use MS Paint for our class project...these are just some tips I wrote up at first a few years ago before we started using Paint.net)
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Once in your document, do a Ctrl + E (Image/Attributes) and set to the Units to Inches, and then either 8x10.5 or 10.5x8 depending on if you want a horizontal, or a vertical. I recommend horizontal if you are not familiar with moving around on the computer. Paint's ability to "see" the whole page is rather limited.
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To Zoom In and Out, use Ctrl + PgDn and Ctrl + PgUp. Go to View/Zoom/Show Thumbnail to see the entire page.
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Experiment with the different tools, such as how to do a red box with a blue fill. Your final assignment should reflect a variety of tools...and should fill the frame.
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Save AS as you go along. Like "House 1" then saving as House 1a, House 1b as you move along through your work art. This will allow you to close the document and go back to an earlier state if you mess up. Note: There are only 3 Undo levels...so if you make more than three mistakes, you will need to go back to your last saved version.