In this lesson, you learn how to use the Paint tools to enhance an image.

This lesson teaches you how to

use the Image Sprayer tool

feather objects

use paint brushes

copy and size objects

paint images using paths

save the file

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If you are starting with this lesson, you can move the Tutor Docker window to another location to make it easier to work.

In the Image Window, drag the Tutor Docker window tab to a new location.


If you are starting with this lesson, click here to open the sample file:


Otherwise, continue working on your file.

If you just opened the sample file, you can zoom out to improve your view.

  1. Open the Object/Mask Tools flyout, and click the Object Picker tool.
  2. In the Image Window, click anywhere.
  3. Press F3 twice to zoom out.


You can use the Image Sprayer tool to create a sky effect by painting clouds in the blue square.

Click here to preview the sky effect.

  1. Ensure that the Objects Docker window is open.
  2. In the Objects Docker window, disable the Lock Object Transparency button.
  3. In the Objects Docker window, click the New Object button.
  4. In the Objects Docker window, drag the new object thumbnail above the big lizard thumbnail to change the stacking order.
  5. Open the Paint Tools flyout, and click the Image Sprayer tool.
  6. On the Property Bar, click the Load Image Sprayer List button.
  7. In the Load Image List dialog box, click CLOUDS.CPT.
  8. Click Open.
  9. In the Image Window, click the blue square (avoiding contact with the big lizard) to paint the clouds.


You can feather the clouds to give them a softer, more natural-looking edge.

  1. Open the Object/Mask Tools flyout, and click the Object Picker tool.
  2. Click Object menu, Feather.
  3. In the Feather dialog box, enable the Preview button.
  4. From the Edges list box, choose Linear.
  5. In the Width box, type 65.
  6. Click OK.
  7. Click Edit menu, Repeat Object Feather to intensify the feathering.

You can remove any edges that spill out of the blue square by adding a clip mask.

  1. Ensure that the Objects Docker window is open.
  2. In the third column of the Objects Docker window (to the left of the clouds thumbnail), click to create a clip mask.

You can zoom in on the boy to make it easier to work.

  1. Open the Zoom Tools flyout, and click the Zoom tool.
  2. In the Image Window, click near the boy's face to zoom in.


You can add "magical properties" to the boy's paintbrush by creating star-shaped paint strokes.

  1. Open the Paint Tools flyout, and click the Paint tool.
  2. On the on-screen Color Palette, click the white color swatch.
  3. Ensure that the Objects Docker window is open.
  4. In the Objects Docker window, click the New Object button.
  5. Click Window menu, Dockers, Brush Settings to open the Brush Settings Docker window.
  6. From the Paint list box in the Brush Settings Docker window, choose Normal.
  7. From the Nib Shape picker, choose the X-Shaped Nib.
  8. In the Brush Settings Docker window, move the Size slider to 35.
  9. On the Property Bar, ensure the Orbits button is disabled.
  10. In the Image Window, click three times in one spot (near the boy's paintbrush) to apply the paint stroke.

You can add another paint stroke in the center of the paint stroke.

  1. Open the Paint Tools flyout, and click the Paint tool.
  2. Ensure that the Brush Settings Docker window is open.
  3. In the Nib Properties Bar in the Brush Settings Docker window, click the Roll-Down Arrow.
  4. In the Rotate box, type 315.
  5. Move the Size slider to 50.
  6. In the Image Window, position the cursor in the center of the original paint stroke.
  7. Click three times.


You can place a round dab of paint in the center of the paint strokes.

  1. Ensure that the Brush Settings Docker window is open.
  2. In the Brush Settings Docker window, open the Nib Shape Picker, and choose a Round Nib.
  3. Move the Size slider to 15.
  4. In the Image Window, position the cursor in the center of the paint stroke.
  5. Click two times.


You can make a copy of the finalized paint stroke.

  1. Open the Object/Mask Tools flyout, and click the Object Picker tool.
  2. Click Object menu, Duplicate.
  3. In the Image Window, drag the duplicate paint stroke to another location.


You can size the duplicate paint stroke.

  1. Drag the top left selection handle to the center of the paint stroke to size the object.
  2. Double-click inside the paint stroke to apply the transformation.

You can load the paint stroke and its duplicate into the Image Sprayer. Then, you can paint the sky.

  1. Open the Object/Mask Tools flyout, and click the Object Picker tool.
  2. In the Image Window, hold down SHIFT and click both paint strokes to select them.
  3. Open the Paint Tools flyout, and click the Image Sprayer tool.
  4. On the Property Bar, click the Sprayer Options button, and click Save Objects As Image List.
  5. In the File Name list box in the Save An Image To Disk dialog box, type stars.
  6. Click Save.
  7. On the Property Bar, disable the Toggle Orbits button.
  8. In the Image Window, click the blue sky to paint the stars.

You can zoom out of the image to improve your view.

  1. Open the Zoom Tools flyout, and click the Zoom tool.
  2. In the Image Window, right-click to zoom out.

You can combine objects to reduce the file size.

  1. Open the Object/Mask Tools flyout, and click the Object Picker tool.
  2. Ensure that the Objects Docker window is open.
  3. In the Objects Docker window, hold down CTRL and click the first two object thumbnails and the boy thumbnail.
  4. Click Object menu, Combine, Combine Objects Together to combine the boy with the paint strokes.



You can make the paint tube ooze paint by creating a path.

Click here to preview how your path should look.

  1. Ensure that the Objects Docker window is open.
  2. In the Objects Docker window, click the New Object button.
  3. Click the Path tool.
  4. On the Property Bar, click the Free Hand Path tool.
  5. In the Image Window, drag the cursor to create the path.


You can set the paint properties.

  1. Click the Eyedropper tool.
  2. In the Image Window, click the orange circle on the paint tube.
  3. Open the Paint Tools flyout, and click the Paint tool.
  4. From the Brush Type list box on the Property Bar, choose Medium Hard.
  5. On the Property Bar, open the Nib Shape Picker, and choose a round nib.
  6. In the Nib Size box on the Property Bar, type 30.
  7. In the Transparency box on the Property Bar, type 0.
  8. In the Soft Edge box on the Property Bar, type 0.
  9. Click the Stroke Path button.


You can delete the path.

  1. Click Window menu, Dockers, Path.
  2. In the Path Docker window, click the Delete Current Path button.
  3. Right-click the Path Docker window tab.
  4. Click Close to close the Path Docker window.


You can make the paint oozing from the tube look more realistic by applying the Plastic special effect filter.

  1. Open the Object/Mask Tools flyout, and click the Object Picker tool.
  2. In the Image Window, ensure that the paint oozing from the tube is selected.
  3. Click Effects menu, Texture, Plastic.
  4. In the Highlight box, type 90.
  5. In the Depth box, type 10.
  6. In the Smoothness box, type 40.
  7. In the Light Direction box, type 290.
  8. Click OK.

You can combine images to reduce the file size.

  1. In the Image Window, hold down SHIFT, and click the paint tube and stream of paint to select the objects.
  2. Click Object menu, Combine, Combine Objects Together to combine the objects.


You can save your file to safeguard your work.

  1. Click File menu, Save As.
  2. Choose the drive where you want to save from the Save In list box.
  3. Double-click the folder in which you want to save the file.
  4. In the File Name box, type a filename, and click Save.


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