540 | Corel Painter 2015 User Guide
Pick up colors from underlying layers
When painting using brush variants that push paint, rather than apply paint, you can choose to pick up
colors from underlying layers. For example, if you have red paint on the top layer, and blue paint on the
bottom layer, you can use the Subtle Palette Knife brush variant to blend the red and blue paint. In most
cases, brush variants that allow you to blend colors within an individual layer will also support the picking
up of colors on underlying layers.
Brush methods and painting on layers
The Natural-Media environment allows brushstrokes on different layers to interact with each other.
However, mixing brushstrokes that use the Cover and Buildup methods on the same layer can produce
unexpected results. This is caused by a conflict between the brush method and the layer’s composite
method.
• Brushes that use the Buildup method — such as those in the Felt Pens or Pencils category — work best
on layers that use the Gel composite method. In fact, when you use the Buildup method to paint on a
blank layer, Corel Painter automatically sets the layer’s composite method to Gel.
• Brushes that use the Cover method work best on layers that are set to the Default composite method.
For more information, see “Blending layers by using composite methods” on page 543 and “General
controls: Methods and subcategories” on page 339.
General tips for painting on layers
The following are tips for painting on layers:
• You can use Watercolor brushes only on Watercolor layers.
• You can use Liquid Ink brushes only on Liquid Ink layers.
• You must collapse a layer group before painting, because you cannot paint on grouped layers. For more
information, see “Grouping layers” on page 536.
• You must commit a shape to a pixel-based layer before painting. Corel Painter prompts you to commit
a shape if you attempt to paint on it. After you commit the shape, you cannot re-access the shape’s
vector controls. For more information, see “Converting shapes to image layers” on page 800.
• You can protect areas of a layer from painting by creating a selection or preserving transparency.
For more information, see “Selections and transformations” on page 577 and “Preserving layer
transparency” on page 541.
• You can control what parts of a layer are visible and hidden by creating a layer mask. For more
information, see “Creating and deleting layer masks” on page 552.
To paint on a layer
1 In the Layers panel, select a layer.
2 Click the Brush selector on the Brush selector bar.
3 In the Brush library panel, click a brush category and brush variant.
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