PS vs Painter for "painterly" looks

synthetic · 05-06-2008

Here's something kinda interesting. I just attended a full day class with Fay Sirkis who is known for her photo paintings. The class covered some painting history and styles which was nice.

I thought the class was centered around painter... which most of it was... but there was some Photoshop stuff involved as well. She showed how to prepare our images in Photoshop before bringing into Painter.

So the main workflow she used was camera to PS to Painter. Then she showed us how PS could accomplish some of the same things as Painter and it really made me think.

Painter is a neat program but... if you are converting a Photo to painting... most of what can be done in Painter can also be accomplished in Photoshop. She even showed how to create the brushed stroke effects in Photoshop as used in Painter in case some of us lacked Painter software.

Not trying to persuade anyone from getting Painter... but if you already have Photoshop and considering Painter... I suggest giving Painter a test drive first. You may find that digging into the PS brushes with a Wacom can accomplish many of the same effects... though if you really just want to smear oils and watercolors around and like the additional brush choices and behaviors... then Painter is worth a look.

my4monkeys · 05-11-2008

I think the catch with painter is the more natural brush strokes that seem a bit difficult to accomplish with PS. But thats just me.

synthetic · 05-12-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by my4monkeys

I think the catch with painter is the more natural brush strokes that seem a bit difficult to accomplish with PS. But thats just me.

I don't know... maybe its depends on the stroke you are trying to create because for me... since I can create any type of brush I want in PS and modify settings to behave like traditional brushes etc. to use with my Wacom... seems like much of the same can be done in both programs.

I know there may be a few types of brushes in Painter that would very difficult to emulate in Photoshop... but if you don't need those type of brushes or use them... seems you can accomplish same thing in both for most part.

Nancy Wett · 05-22-2008

I get my photos ready in ps and then paint in painter and then go back and forth. I haven't figured out how to paint in photoshop but that is due more to the lack of time. Being new to all computer programs painter didn't intimidate me as much and I got success quickly without knowing much. There are things in both programs that still totally confuse me though and at the time I bought painter I didnt have photoshop so it was a nice starting point and was cheaper for me.

synthetic · 05-22-2008

oh... that's totally understandable Nancy. I see your point.

I think majority computer artists often get Photoshop first though because of its almost do all role in computer graphics. I just wanted to point out that it was possible to still create the "painterly" look with PS tools "almost" as easy as with painter. Painter just has a few other tricks up its sleeve which may or may not matter to some depending on what look they wish to create.

I like Painter... don't get me wrong... but it was when we were going over prep in PS for Painter in a class and how to setup PS for painting did I realize how much could really be done in both programs to achieve same look.

Nancy Wett · 05-22-2008

Well like you I'm anxious to learn all I can in photoshop! To confess I was so new to computers at the time I didn't even know you could paint in photoshop. If I had gotten photoshop first I doubt I would have tried painter. I saw it in an add and got all excited you could do art on the computer - even me! Ha Ha. I was lucky that my son was given a copy of photoshop cs at his job and he doesn't do art so he gave his version to me. That is how I got CS3 also. Thank god for my son!

synthetic · 05-22-2008

Sounds like you are well on your way Nancy. Just keep at it.

I grew up on Photoshop and Freehand. My father was a graphic artist and always had a computer with those programs at home I used to dabble on when I was a teen. So, I have always had a copy of Photoshop available since then. We are stuck at only CS at work though and I hadn't learned many of the new features of newer versions but since getting CS3 at home... I have been working more at learning the new stuff. I still tend to do many things the old traditional way when there are new tricks to be used in CS3 ;-)

I have been experimenting with painting though in PS for a year or two. I created this one over about a 6 month period at work in spare time. one of my first PS paintings. Looking back at it now... I see where I could have improved the look a little but... hey... it was my first attempt.

Nancy Wett · 05-25-2008

Especially for a first try i think it was pretty darn good and is still quite a picture to look at. Good job. I have been drawing, some painting, some airbrushing, some scupting and some college in my youth and now that the kids are pretty much grown I am trying my hand at drawing and computer. I would still like to scupt some but my hands don't like to work the fimo clay any more. Only 47 but I feel like 95 in my hands sometimes. I really did some pencil drawings last vacation and was amazed that even though I had not drawn in many years my skills had still managed to improve. Now if my understanding of the computer could work that way...I'd be set! Ha Ha

synthetic · 05-26-2008

interesting... sculpting always interested me.... just never really gave it a try. I had thought about getting a welder setup and doing metal sculptures though or even tossed idea around for making some with fiberglass but... just not enough time in the day

I haven't done much drawing either... I doodle while in work meetings many times though... usually comes out with a guy being strangled somehow unfortunately lol

Nancy Wett · 05-28-2008

Doodles often represent feelings in real life. So maybe it's fortunate you are only strangling the guy on paper instead of in real life. I can't sit still when we go to eat out so I always have a pen with me so I can doodle. My family gets some good laughs when I draw something that they can relate to our lives at the time. Once I drew about something I really wanted which was an SUV so I could be wild and adventurous driving all over the place. My hubby tends to get me mad when I am driving. The kids usually were fighting and my dog was just thrilled to go any where. So in my doodle I was driving my new SUV. My hubby's head had smashed into the roof going over a bump leaving a big cartoon bump in the roof. The kids had fallen out the back and were chasing after us and the dog was just thrilled to be going for a ride. Everyone really enjoyed the comic. I think I still have it some where. Ha Ha

synthetic · 05-28-2008

LOL... that sounds hilarious Nancy... if you still have one of those illustrations... you should post up for us.

Yeah... I know mine came from the subconscious that felt it was being choked and strangled as an artist for my current employers lol. If I can find one... will post it for kicks.