Feature request: Pressure can apply to brush opacity instead of brush size

[monophonic]

Could another pressure option be added where the pressure of the tablet pen would modify the opacity of the brush instead of the size? So at zero pressure the opacity would be zero and at max pressure it would be whatever opacity is set in the color box. UI wise, in my mind this could be as simple as a third option in the pressure sensitivity dropdown.

 

I can get somewhat the effect I want by disabling pressure sensitivity, setting the opacity very low in the color box and repeating strokes several times. I feel that I would get better control over the results if I could control the opacity over a single stroke, though, as I am not dextrous enough to repeat same strokes exactly over and over.

[Roly Poly Goblinoli]

4 hours ago, monophonic said:

I can get somewhat the effect I want by disabling pressure sensitivity, setting the opacity very low in the color box and repeating strokes several times. I feel that I would get better control over the results if I could control the opacity over a single stroke, though, as I am not dextrous enough to repeat same strokes exactly over and over.

You can draw on a new layer and change the layer's opacity, then merge it down. Or you can use Overwrite mode with your desired brush opacity; it won't "stack" that way. You could also try the Dynamic Draw plugin which has support for this type of tablet behavior (though it doesn't use Windows Ink, so you might need to actually change your tablet settings to use it; fair warning)

[monophonic]

On 6/5/2024 at 1:46 AM, NinthDesertDude said:

You can draw on a new layer and change the layer's opacity, then merge it down. Or you can use Overwrite mode with your desired brush opacity; it won't "stack" that way. You could also try the Dynamic Draw plugin which has support for this type of tablet behavior (though it doesn't use Windows Ink, so you might need to actually change your tablet settings to use it; fair warning)

I doubt either of those would work for what I am after. As I understand them, they would allow me to change the opacity of the entire stroke after the fact, while I want to make a single stroke with e.g. very low opacity at the beginning but finish it as almost fully opaque, smoothly increasing the opacity (by adding pressure) as I move the pen. I'll have to check that plugin out, but it might take a week or two as I am currently on vacation and mostly off computer.

 

I'll try to explain what I want in other terms just for the off chance it brings out some more ideas. I don't really know my way around traditional art tools, but I think it would be more like a fancy airbrush that allows one to continously vary the paint-to-air mixture ratio while painting. Definitely not like a bristled brush that makes the stroke wider if you press it down harder.

 

Anyway, thanks for your help!

[Rick Brewster]

The feature request makes sense to me. The pen's pressure would map to Opacity instead of to Brush Size. Mathematically it's straightforward, it's more an issue of work/feature prioritization. It's just not high up on the list (at the moment).

[monophonic]

Thank you @Rick Brewster! Knowing the feature is on the list is enough and really all I could ask for.