What’s New in ArtRage 2.0

ArtRage 2.0 adds a large number of new features to the application. Here’s a quick list of the things you can expect to find:

• Layers: We’ve added a layers system that allows you to add transparent sheets over your canvas so that you can paint without mixing with paint you’ve applied before. We also support layered Photoshop documents for importing or exporting.
• New Tools: ArtRage 2.0 has all the tools that were in ArtRage 1, but also includes the Paint Roller, Airbrush, Paint Tube, and Glitter tools.
• Tool Settings: As well as improving the quality of the old tools, we’ve added control to all of them so that you can change their look. Want a thinner paint? Want a wetter pen? Want a softer pencil? You can do all that with the Tool Settings panel.
• Custom Colors: We’ve added custom color sets to ArtRage so that you can store your own color samples for use in your paintings. In addition, the Custom Color system lets you load and use any image as a color picker, or create one from the mixed paint on your canvas. For those who want accurate color selection, there’s a numeric color picker too so you can enter RGB or HLS values directly.
• Metallic Paints: ArtRage 2.0 lets you turn your paint metallic for effects such as gold leaf.
• Reference Images: Ever pinned an image to your easel as a copying reference? Reference Images in ArtRage 2.0 are pinned to the canvas and can be moved, scaled, and rotated to just the angle you want.
• Canvas Scale: You can now resize your painting or the canvas it’s on inside ArtRage.
• Improved Speed and Accuracy: We’ve improved the speed and accuracy of all our tools so that you have better control over the result of a stroke.
• Improved Interface: ArtRage 2.0 sports a new, cleaner interface that keeps the old simplicity while giving you access to all the new features.
• Improved Tablet Support: We’ve improved our range of tablet support.
• Improved Tracing Image Control: You can now manually position and rotate tracing images.

The Interface.

When you open ArtRage 2.0, you’ll get a window that looks something like this.

While you’re working in ArtRage, that window is both your easel and your tool box. It has number of handy controls that can be used while painting, and a canvas that fills the entire window.

At the top of the window is the menu bar. Here, you’ll find options for your painting, printing, saving, loading, and settings for your canvas. You’ll also find Undo and Redo, and controls for setting the size of the window.

At the bottom left of the window is the tool picker. Here, you’ll be able to select which tool you’re using to paint with, and control how big it is.

At the bottom right of the window is the color picker. Here, you’ll be able to select which color you’re painting with, and load in custom color pickers when you need them. If the tool you have selected can get dirty (like an oil brush), you’ll see a glass of water too, for cleaning it off.

On the bottom edge of the window is the Canvas Panel. This panel gives you control over your canvas, letting you rotate it, zoom it, or move it around. It also lets you load a Tracing Image if you want to work from that, and gives you access to your Layers.

Stuck to the left edge of the window is the Tool Settings panel. When you have selected a tool in the Tool Picker, this is where you go to change any properties it may have, like how thin your paint is.

Stuck to the right edge of the window is the Color Samples panel. This panel lets you store colors so that you can get them back for use later on.

Other panels will appear as you’re using the application, they’re explained later on in the manual. If you just want to get in and paint immediately, all you need to be able to find are the Tool Picker and the Color Picker.

Interface Changes from ArtRage 1.

If you’ve used ArtRage 1, you’ll find most of the tools you remember in the same place they were before. However, there are some changes we’ve made that you may want to know about:

• Auto Clean: Tools that need the Auto Clean option (like the oil brush) now have an Auto Clean button in their Tool Settings. If Auto Clean is not on, the glass of water will be visible just like before, next to the color picker so you can get to it easily.
• Pressure Control: Each tool in ArtRage now stores its own pressure value. The pressure slider that used to be on the Brush Size Picker has been moved to the Tool Settings pane.
• Canvas Grain and Color: The Canvas Grain and Color options are now part of the Paper Settings panel which can be accessed from the Tools menu. Each Layer has its own Canvas Grain and Color.
• Canvas Move: To move the canvas use the Move Tool, which is located on the Canvas Panel at the bottom centre of the screen.

Using the Interface.

The ArtRage 2.0 interface has a variety of controls that perform common operations. This section takes a quick look at some of the shortcuts you can take when using them.

Grips and Movable Panels.

Any panel that has a grip can be retracted in to the side of the screen. Click the grip and the panel slides in. Click it again and the panel slides back out.

Panels that are on the edge of the screen (the Canvas Pane, Swatch Pane, Tool Settings Pane, and Menu Bar) can be dragged along their edge to move them. Click and drag the grip and you can reposition the pane.

Dials.

When you need to set a value in ArtRage you use a Dial. Dials let you click and drag in their circular area to set their value. The little grey wedge at the top is used if you want to set the value to 100% or 0% quickly, click in the right hand area of it to set the dial to 0%, or the left hand area to set it to 100%.

If you click in the central circular area of the dial (where the number is), you’ll get a text entry that lets you set the value numerically. Press OK to accept the change you’ve made, or Cancel to discard it.

If you click and drag up and down in the central circular area (where the number is), the value will change, this is for if you find it hard to drag in the circular region.

If you want to enter the value by hand, just click the central circular area (where the number is) without dragging, and a number entry box will pop up.

Tip: If you click and drag in the circular area of the dial, you can make the value adjustment more accurate by moving the mouse pointed away from the centre of the dial and dragging in a bigger circle.

Floating Color Pickers.

Some panels in ArtRage, such as the Paper Settings panel, let you select a color. Where you see a color sample you have two options:

• When you click and drag around, a color picker appears and you can select color from it. Release the mouse to apply the selection.
• When you click and release the mouse button, a color picker appears with an OK and Cancel button and you can select color by clicking inside the color samples.

In the top right of the Floating Color Picker is a small circle that contains the default color. Click in there, or drag to it and release the mouse over it, and the color will be selected.

In the top left of the Floating Color Picker is a small circle that contains a dial. Click in that, or drag to it and release the mouse over it, and a Numeric Color Picker will appear that lets you enter accurate color information.

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