Mastering Object Movement In Corel Painter Essentials 5

Corel Painter Essentials 5 is a powerful tool for digital artists, offering a range of features to bring artwork to life. One of its key functionalities is the ability to move objects within a digital painting. This can be achieved through a variety of methods, depending on the specific scenario and version of Corel Painter. The following paragraph will introduce the topic of moving objects in Corel Painter Essentials 5, providing an overview of the techniques and tools available to users.

Moving pixel-based selections with the Transform tool

To move pixel-based selections with the Transform tool in Corel Painter Essentials 5, follow these steps:

• First, determine whether your selection is pixel-based or path-based. To do this, use the Selection Adjuster tool. If the selection does not have handles, it is pixel-based.
• Choose the Transform tool from the toolbox. If you can't see it, click and hold the Layer Adjuster tool to open the flyout and select the Transform tool from there.
• Point to the centre of the selection's bounding box.
• Drag the Reference Point to a new location on the canvas. You can place the Reference Point outside the selection if you wish.
• To reset the Reference Point to its default location, click the Reset Reference Point button on the property bar or choose Edit Transform Reset Reference Point.

Please note that if a portion of the pixel-based selection moves off the canvas, it will be subtracted from the selection.

Repositioning selections with the Move tool

To reposition a selection in Corel Painter Essentials 5, you can use the Move tool. This tool allows you to drag your selection to a new position on the canvas. A rectangular marquee will appear while you are dragging the selection, indicating the new position.

You can use the Move tool to reposition both path-based and pixel-based selections. For pixel-based selections, you can also use the Transform tool, but keep in mind that if any part of the selection moves off the canvas, it will be subtracted from the selection.

When using the Move tool, you can transform either a copy of the selection or the contents of an active layer. This gives you flexibility in how you make changes to your artwork. Additionally, you have the option to scale or rotate path-based selections using this tool. Scaling allows you to change the dimensions of a selection, and you can preserve the aspect ratio to scale an object proportionally.

To scale a selection, simply drag a side handle to scale it horizontally. You can also rotate a selection, skew it, or distort it. Skewing slants the vertical and horizontal dimensions of a selection non-proportionally, giving you the ability to create unique perspectives. Distorting a selection allows you to move the sides or corners in different directions, enabling you to crush or stretch the selection for creative effects.

Using the Layer Adjuster tool to move objects on a layer with a transparent background

If you want to move objects on a layer with a transparent background in Corel Painter, you can use the Layer Adjuster tool.

First, make sure that the imagery you want to move is alone on a layer with a transparent background. To do this, right-click on the layer in the Layers panel and choose "Select Layer Content". Alternatively, you can go to the Select menu and choose "Select Layer Content".

Once the selection is made, you can choose the Layer Adjuster tool from the toolbox. The property bar will give you options to select layers automatically and change a layer's position in the hierarchy.

After selecting the Layer Adjuster tool, simply click inside the selection to lift its content to a new layer. You can then move the layer to your desired position.

If you want to arrive at the same result but keep the original imagery on the canvas or layer, hold down the Alt key (on Windows) or the Option key (on Mac) while clicking inside the selection. This will lift a duplicate of the selected imagery.

Using the Lasso Selection tool to move objects not on a layer with a transparent background

To move objects not on a layer with a transparent background in Corel Painter Essentials 5, you can use the Lasso Selection tool. This tool allows you to isolate objects or areas of your image that you want to move or edit. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use the Lasso Selection tool for this purpose:

Step 1: Access the Lasso Selection Tool

From the toolbar on the left, select the Lasso Selection tool. This tool is identified by an icon that resembles a lasso or a freehand drawing loop.

Step 2: Create a Selection

Using the Lasso Selection tool, create a selection around the object you want to move. Simply drag the tool around the object to isolate it. You don't need to be too precise, as the Lasso tool allows for freehand selections.

Step 3: Move the Object

Once you have created the selection, you can then move the object within the selection to your desired position. Simply click and drag the object to its new location.

Step 4: Refine the Selection (Optional)

If needed, you can refine your selection by using the Selection Brush. Choose the Soft or Hard Selection Brush from the toolbar or property bar and use the "Add" or "Subtract" functions (by pressing SHIFT or ALT/OPT) to paint over areas near the selection that you want to include or exclude.

Step 5: Perform Other Actions (Optional)

After you are satisfied with your selection, you can perform various other actions besides moving the object. You can delete, copy, paste to a new layer, fill, add effects, transform, and more.

Step 6: Remove the Selection

Once you have finished moving or editing your object, you can remove the selection by pressing CTRL + D (or COMMAND + D on Mac) or by clicking the "Remove all selections" button on the property bar.

Note: While the Lasso Selection tool is useful for freehand selections, it may have some limitations in terms of precision. If you require a more precise selection, you may consider using other selection tools available in Corel Painter, such as the Rectangular, Oval, Polygonal, Magic Wand, or Selection Brush tools.

Using the Polygonal Selection tool to move objects on the Canvas

To move objects on the Canvas in Corel Painter Essentials 5, you can use the Polygonal Selection tool. This tool allows you to select an area with precision by clicking different points on the image to anchor straight-line segments.

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to use the Polygonal Selection tool to move objects on the Canvas:

Step 1: Select the Polygonal Selection tool from the toolbox. You can usually find it under the Lasso tool or the Rectangular Selection tool.

Step 2: Click on the Canvas to set the starting point of your selection. This will be the first anchor point for your straight-line segments.

Step 3: Move your cursor to another location on the Canvas and click again to create a straight line between the two points. Continue this process to create a selection outline with multiple straight-line segments.

Step 4: To close the selection, position your cursor over the starting point and click again. This will create a closed polygonal selection.

Step 5: With the selection active, you can now move the selected object by dragging it to a new position on the Canvas.

Step 6: Release the mouse button to place the object in its new position.

The Polygonal Selection tool is ideal for moving objects with straight edges or when you need more precision in your selection. It gives you greater control compared to freehand selection tools like the Lasso tool.

Additionally, if your object is already on a layer by itself with a transparent background, you can use the Layer Adjuster tool. Simply click and hold the layer, then move it to the desired position.

Frequently asked questions