The above Painting is done primarily with the airbrush Tool Straight line Option and the Paintbrush Ribbon Preset with a texture.
The Retouch Tools

General Notes
There are a few basic things to remember when using the paint tools:
First you must set your Preset with the various tools prior to setting your color because when you click on the Preset it will default to a color chosen by PI.Remember to Save often, once you save - clear your undo history.

Painting in Mode versus not

Please note that you may find it much easier to manipulate your painting if you were to paint in object mode.

Advantages to painting in mode is that you can paint a little bit at a time making it an object. If you decide later on down the line that you don't like that particular tree in that spot but it might look better on the other side of the canvas, you can simply move it over.

It also makes it easier should you require to blend certain aspects of your painting.

When you are using the retouch tools, to avoid having a white fuzzy edge on your objects. Use the edit active objects only mode.(Instructions below)
Click on your canvas, right click select all objects, click on the retouch tool you want to use, you will see to the right of the Mode icon a blue dot, that is the Edit active objects Only icon. This works like a mask and allows you to use the retouch tools without bleeding the edges and picking up color from your canvas. If you want to use the retouch tools on only part of your object, use the layer manager to select the parts you want to use the retouch on and then select your retouch tool and the Edit Active Objects Only icon.


If you find a setting you like or think you will use often refer to this snapshot tutorial by Debbie Hardisty on how to save your favorite brushes.
Saving Brush Settings to your Easy Palette

Make a folder for your painting textures so if you happen to see a texture you think would work you can crop it out and save it and know where to find it..Then next time you paint just add it to your painting texture panel in PI.

Dodge tool is what is used to give your items a reflective or shiny spot ..There are 4 options with this tool as seen here

Burn Tool is used to give shading and depth to an object and make it appear 3D

Blur tool is obvious but there is a lot of varied options and uses with this.You can adjust the level of blur from very very little to the maximum for each of the 4 presets. Slight blur is very good at a high soft edge and medium level for skies or water for example.

Sharpen is as the name suggests a tool for clarity and to give depth using the edge sharpen or the slight sharpen.

Smudge will smear your paint using none for preset it is a very slight smear and using the smudge preset you can make it as smeared as you would like.

Saturation can change the appearance by giving a weathered or aged look
or be heightening the color.

Warp Tool...........This is a tool that can be used for shaping bending smearing blurring fixing a small area or warping an entire sky or mountain .The uses are only limited by your imagination.

Bristle Smear.............Another very versatile tool...Very good for making a fuzzy or furry edge. Also good for a motion or wind effect. Makes sand look realistic.

Remove scratch and Remove noise are pretty self explanatory so I have just briefly shown you what they do

Retouch Tonal Adjustment has 4 Presets and as the picture shows varies the tone of the color to different degrees

I have not covered the Color Replacement Pen , Colorize ,Remove Red Eye etc as there primary use is for photos but they are worth experimenting with.You never know what will give you that new look you were after.Remember you are only limited by your imagination and you can only learn what the tools can do by experimenting and practice. I hope this series has helped you learn a little of what the tools can do. Only working with them will show you all the possibilites.


Questions?
Email me
Sparrow


Series 1 PaintBrush Tool
Series 2 Airbrush through the Particle Brush
Series 3 Oil Paint Tool throught the Bristle Brush
Series 4 Retouch Tools
Series 5 Exploring the Brush Panel
Sparrowz World PI Index