Creating your own Art History Brush

[zip022]

Is there a tut out there for this?

[Doug Nelson]

Do you mean how to use the AHB, like this:
http://retouchpro.com/tutorials/?m=show&id=164
http://retouchpro.com/tutorials/?m=show&id=3

or more about making custom brushes, like this:
http://retouchpro.com/tutorials/?m=show&id=21

[DannyRaphael]

Originally Posted by zip022

Is there a tut out there for this?

In Photoshop (or Elements) one defines a brush, which can be used by any of the brush-related tools, e.g., Brush Tool, Dodge, Burn, Erase, Art History Brush, etc. Essentially in this step one is saving the brush tip shape (square, round, rough-edged, whatever).

Google: photoshop tutorial define brush

If you want to define and save "characteristics" (settings) for a given brush and assign them to a specific tool for later recall, e.g., Art History Brush using brush=Watercolor Small Round Tip, 25 pxl diameter, Opacity=25%, Style=Tight short, etc., that's done through the New Tool Preset dialog.

Google: photoshop tutorial New Tool Preset

Does this help?

~Danny~

[zip022]

Thanks both of you. How this began is I was attempting to use a regular brush as an art history brush and I was not able.

Most of these were Trimoon's brushes (tmtoolpreset#1 )which I am not able to open as AHB. But I see in your response "In Photoshop (or Elements) one defines a brush, which can be used by any of the brush-related tools, e.g., Brush Tool, Dodge, Burn, Erase, Art History Brush, etc. Essentially in this step one is saving the brush tip shape (square, round, rough-edged, whatever)." It didn't work that way for me...what am I missing?

[DannyRaphael]

Originally Posted by zip022

Thanks both of you. How this began is I was attempting to use a regular brush as an art history brush and I was not able.

Most of these were Trimoon's brushes (tmtoolpreset#1 )which I am not able to open as AHB. But I see in your response "In Photoshop (or Elements) one defines a brush, which can be used by any of the brush-related tools, e.g., Brush Tool, Dodge, Burn, Erase, Art History Brush, etc. Essentially in this step one is saving the brush tip shape (square, round, rough-edged, whatever)." It didn't work that way for me...what am I missing?

What you're missing is an understanding of how the AHB and History Palette work together, something that's neither obvious nor intuitive. Before one can use the AHB tool, regardless of settings or preset in effect, a valid Snapshot needs to be in effect in the History Palette. This concept/requirement is not defined very well in Adobe-provided AHB documentation.

Try this...
* Open any document.
* Add a new layer.
* Choose the AHB tool.
* Choose one of Trimoon's presets from the preset menu.
* If you try the AHB at this point, you'll get the "can't do it" icon and message.
* Click on [highlight] the Background.
* Open the History Palette.
* From the flyout menu choose New Snapshot... (From: Current Layer, name it anything you like).
* When the snapshot is created, click in the embossed square next to the snapshot thumbnail and name at the top of the palette. This identifies it as the "active snapshot."
* Click on the new layer to make it active
* Now you will be able to paint on the new layer using the AHB.

It's kind of a convoluted process, but once you try it a few times the dots will start to connect.

[zip022]

I sure do appreciate your help, but I'm still stuck. I can see Trimoon's regular brushes plus many others I've collected under tool presets but as soon as I select one, it changes my choice to Brush not AHB. I've loaded many AHB and regular Brushes, yet they don't seem to be interchangeable as mentioned. I tried your steps and it keeps changing to Brush...I must be missing something...I'll keep trying.
Deb

[DannyRaphael]

I just checked my archive... If the file you're speaking of is named TM Tool Presets Set #1.tpl (or something close to that), all of the presets in the file I loaded are for the Brush tool. There are none in this group for the AHB, which would explain the results you are getting if you have the equivalent file.

If I recall correctly Trimoon does offer some .tpl (preset) files which contain AHB presets.

[zip022]

Thanks Danny, that is the one I'm talking about...so it's true then you can't use a Brush Tool as a Art History Brush...correct? All that work for nothing...except I learned something once again!
Deb

[DannyRaphael]

It gets a little murkey sometimes...

There are a number of brushes that come with PS... think of them as a pool of "brush tips" of various sizes and shapes. These brush tips (listed in the Brushes Palette) can be used by many different "tools," e.g., Brush, Sponge, Eraser, Dodge, Burn, Art History Brush, etc.

A preset (selected from the preset menu) is defined for a specific combination of "brush tip", "tool" and settings specific to that tool and particular brush tip. So, when you click a preset that was defined for the Brush Tool, that's the tool activated. Likewise, click an AHB preset and the AHB is activated. Click a Dodge preset... etc.

Hope the fog is lifting. A lot of this stuff isn't exactly intuitive.

[zip022]

Thank you and yes the fog is lifting. My misunderstanding was simple...I thought any Brush could be used as an AHB and I could not find any help or documentation. But I did find my answers here! Thanks again.
Deb

[DannyRaphael]

Originally Posted by zip022

Thank you and yes the fog is lifting. My misunderstanding was simple...I thought any Brush could be used as an AHB and I could not find any help or documentation. But I did find my answers here! Thanks again.
Deb

To hopefully clarify further and leave no stone unturned, if you choose the AHB tool from the Tools palette, you can then choose any brush tip among those listed in the Brushes palette.

If you choose an AHB preset from the Preset list, it will engage the AHB tool and assign whatever brush tip was in effect when the preset was defined. At that time you can change the brush tip by choosing a different one from the Brushes palette.

Glad we're making progress.