Use the Brush Tip Angle Control in the Brush Settings Panel to rotate the brush into a completely horizontal position. STEP 1: Save The Brush In A Horizontal Position: Use the Brush Tip Angle Control in the Brush Settings Panel to rotate the brush to a completely horizontal position. You can DOWNLOAD all of the Brushes and Actions created in this tutorial in a section near the end of this post. I recommend working through this tutorial with my Wiggles Brush before you try it with your own brushes. I’ll be working with my own custom “Wiggles” Brush because it’s a little bit of everything. …maybe it’s a messy texture brush, a flat brush or a brush shaped like a calligraphy pen. Start with a brush that is NOT perfectly round. The “Oatley Wiggles Brush” selected in the Brush Presets Panel and saved at the default angle. You’ll need your Actions Panel later on so you can open that now or wait until STEP 6. If your Brush Presets and Brush Settings Panels aren’t visible, go up to the Window Menu and turn them on.

Part Two requires Photoshop Actions and a Wacom Tablet or Cintiq with the programmable ExpressKeys, Touch Ring or Radial Menu.

This alone can really smooth out your digital painting workflow and save you tons of time. Part One of this tutorial will work in just about any version of Photoshop.

Today I’ll show you how to set up a custom rotation control for your Photoshop Brushes so you can quickly and smoothly change the brush angle as you’re painting. This option is clunky and incredibly disruptive to your workflow. The Brush Tip Angle Control inside the Brush Settings Panel in PhotoshopĢ.) You could constantly click over to the Brush Settings Panel and rotate the Brush Tip Angle manually. This option is really expensive considering that the rotation control isn’t always dependable. The angle of a brush stroke is essential for sophisticated edges.īefore I designed the workflow revealed in this tutorial, I knew of only two disappointing solutions to this problem:ġ.) You could spend up to $100 on a special stylus with rotation capability like the Intuos4 Art Pen (or the 6D Art Pen for older tablets and Cintiqs). Interpretive edges are one of the most appealing and beautiful aspects of oil painting and watercolor techniques.Įdge control isn’t easy in traditional painting but when it comes to digital painting in Photoshop, edge control has been almost mechanically impossible. Note the beautiful, atmospheric edges in this detail of Sargent’s ‘Capri Girl.’

New digital painting photoshop brushes