Painting software etc.

[raven4ns]

Hello,
I am looking for a program that will create photo-art yet allow me to have a good bit of control over how it looks if I want to. I have tried Topaz simplify and wasn't fussy about it, I also tried DAP and liked it but wanted to have more control than what it offers. The auto nature of a painting program is appealing but I want to control the strokes, intensity, direction etc if possible. On my website I tried using PS CS2 and perhaps this is the way I will have to go, however, I am not a painter just an amateur photographer.
If anyone is using software that will allow you to do what I have stated above, please let me know. I find PS difficult to use with a steep learning curve and if I am away from it for a while I need to relearn it all over again. Any and all help is appreciated especially from those who have already gone through what I am attempting to do. Thank you.

Tim

https://www.theportraitsofnature.net

[gholmes1936]

Re: Painting software etc.

Tim, I've been there and done that, I just have been in it for quite awhile, say maybe 18 years with Photoshop, and still learning. The latest version of P.S. has much more painting abilities than the previous versions. However it is costly and, as you say, has a high learning curve.

I suggest you do a Trial version of Corel Painter ll. You can obtain it at the URL I listed.

If that is too expensive then I suggest you try out the Painter Essentials 4. It is MUCH cheaper, er less expensive. Doesn't have as many capabilities but it is a lot less costly. Plus there are legitimate web sales that have OEM version for a lot less moola.

I will put a photo that I did with Painter so that you can see the before and after and judge for yourself if it is sort of what you are looking for. My example might not be as accomplished as many others on this site can show you but it will get you pointed in the direction I think you want to go.

Well, once again I got the two uploaded backwards, I even removed them I tried it just the opposite and they are still backwards in that the original is second.

[pavel123]

Re: Painting software etc.

If you want to have complete control over the process, free hand drawing software such as Corel Painter would be the choice, but I does require artist training to get the most out of it.

[gholmes1936]

Re: Painting software etc.

Painter can be used to do automatic conversion to several different styles of art, and then one can go over thee result and do corrections, etc by hand. If one wants to use it that way. Not all of us are able to do a painting, the way we would like it to be, by hand.

IMHO!

[raven4ns]

Re: Painting software etc.

Thank you for your suggestions. I am looking at Gertrudis painting software as well as Paint Essentials 4 at the moment. I looked at Topaz as well as DAP and they aren't quite what I was looking for. The software should do the painting itself but allow me to vary the strokes, intensity, texture etc. I am an amateur photographer with modest talents but I would like to see some of my color images converted to an art form such as a watercolor, oil, pastel etc.
At the moment I am looking for a program that is modest in cost because I'm not sure how involved I will become with this process. While cost is a consideration so is flexability as well as the option of allowing my input to a large or lesser degree. Thank you again for your suggestions, I am most appreciative.

[raven4ns]

Re: Painting software etc.

I requested the information from Corel about the algorithm that handled the auto-paint in Painter 11 vs PE 4 and was told it was the same. For those people who only want the auto-paint feature you may as well get it with PE 4 and save yourself some money and a less complex piece of software. I hope this information might be of some use to those trying to decide between the two auto-paint features in theses programs.

[plugsnpixels]

Re: Painting software etc.

Issue #5 of the free Plugs 'N Pixels ezine features various photo-painting apps. In fact, Gertrudis (now GMX-PhotoPainter) was just released for Mac.

See a helpful list of these painting apps here under "Natural media/paint".

[raven4ns]

Re: Painting software etc.

Thank you for the list. I bought PE4 and will try it and see how it goes. GMX is a neat program as well which I will get if PE4 doesn't work out. Thank you again.

[plugsnpixels]

Re: Painting software etc.

You're welcome Tim!

PS: Very nice nature/fine art shots on your website! Perfect source material for what you're looking to do.