How one can use the Brush Device in Affinity Designer

If you wish to add a hand-drawn aptitude to your Affinity Designer initiatives, then the Brush Device might be a favourite software out of your arsenal. This highly effective software goes past easy traces, permitting you to create something from expressive calligraphy to watercolor washes.
Should you desire video tutorials, dive into the superior Envato Tuts+ YouTube channel for a whole Affinity Designer 2 course. Or, if you happen to’re beginning out, try the video tutorials on the Affinity Designer for Newbies course web page.
Watch the lesson: How one can use the Brush Device in Affinity Designer
In Affinity Designer, the Brush Device is not only for straight traces. It is your gateway to a world of artistic expression since you’re portray with pixels as an alternative of bodily strokes. This software helps you to create something from freehand illustrations to textured backgrounds. You’ll be able to select from a library of Affinity Designer brushes that seem like pencils, watercolors, splatters, and extra.
Moreover, by adjusting brush settings just like the Dimension, Variance, Hardness, and Opacity, you may management the thickness and transparency of your brushstrokes, identical to an actual paintbrush.
First, discover the Brushes panel. You may discover quite a lot of preset brushes that mimic totally different inventive instruments like pencils, pens, or watercolors. Select the one which fits your inventive imaginative and prescient.
Then, modify the Width, Dimension, and Opacity. A bigger dimension creates thicker strokes, whereas adjusting the opacity controls how clear your brushstrokes are. Experiment with strain sensitivity for extra natural-looking brushstrokes.
You’ll be able to modify the colour of your brushstrokes by deciding on a brand new colour. Additionally, you may set colour gradients in your brushstrokes.
For this tutorial, we’ll choose the outlines. Then, we’ll use Inks, change the Width to 10 pt, and use the Textured Brush whereas leaving the ornament settings off.
You’ll be able to add brushes to be used in Designer Persona and pixel brushes for Pixel Persona.
Continuously requested questions
How do I get totally different brush results, like splatters or calligraphy strokes?
Affinity Designer provides a library of pre-made brushes that mimic varied inventive instruments. Open the Brushes panel and flick through the totally different classes. You may also experiment with totally different brush settings to realize distinctive results.
My brushstrokes lack texture. How can I make them look extra hand-drawn?
There are a few methods to realize a extra pure really feel. First, allow strain sensitivity in your pill settings (in case your gadget helps it). This permits the brushstroke thickness to fluctuate based mostly on the strain you apply. Second, modify the Scatter setting within the Brush choices. This introduces a slight randomness to the comb path, mimicking the pure wobbliness of a hand-drawn line.
Can I create my very own customized brushes in Affinity Designer?
Sure. You’ll be able to create customized brushes from sources like pictures or vector shapes. This allows you to design distinctive brushes completely suited to your inventive fashion. Nonetheless, creating customized Affinity Designer brushes includes a bit extra technical data.