imported brushes

[pslane]

Hello,

I imported some of my brushes in paint.net and when I try to use them, they have a white background.  How can I load them without the white so they can be  used?  Also, where can I find some more good smudge-type or blending tools to install?  I only have one (smudge) and I'd like more.

 

Thanks,

pslane

[Cc4FuzzyHuggles]

Hello, what file type are your brushes? File type might make a difference. Also, are you using these brushes in custom brushes mini or importing them directly into paint.net? For paint.net, you can try importing them onto a new layer, if you haven't already.  However, unless your brushes already had a transparent background to begin with, you will need to remove the white background by editing the brushes like you would do with any other picture in paint.net. Removing a white background sometimes is simple, while other times it's a real puzzle. See here on how to cut-out objects and remove colors(including white) from an image : http://forums.getpaint.net/index.php?/topic/28305-mini-tuts/?p=409110
 
If you need further help on separating your brushes from white, please feel free to ask and post a sample image.
 
Now, about the smudge type tools, here is a list of plugins that might interest you, they are mainly distortion tools/effects :
The Liquify Tool -- http://forums.getpaint.net/index.php?/topic/20688-liquify/
TR's Smudger -- http://forums.getpaint.net/index.php?/topic/27034-trs-smudger-v22-dec-17-2013/
TR's Pixel Puller -- http://forums.getpaint.net/index.php?/topic/27046-trs-pixel-puller-v11-9-3-2013/
TR's Pixel Pusher -- http://forums.getpaint.net/index.php?/topic/26836-trs-pixel-pusher/
 

This tutorial shows how to use the Gradient tool to blend images : http://forums.getpaint.net/index.php?/topic/19517-beginner-image-merging-image-heavy/

And these three plugins are good at fading edges : Alpha Blur, TR's Edge Fader, Feather

 

Often, the smudge tool is also used to lessen and soften the looks of unwanted artifacts on a picture by smudging them away or blurring them out.
Here is another method that can be done for image touch-ups, or lessening blemishes, or to simply be creative with.
1) Duplicate your image twice, and turn off the top layer, as it's only there for referencing and comparison.
2) On the middle layer, use Paint.NET's eraser tool with a 1% hardness and start erasing small areas that you want smoothed or touched-up. (this should create holes in the layer)
3) To the bottom layer you can either apply a median effect (effect tab > noise category > median) or apply a blur (here are a few blur plugins I like Fast FX, Overblur).
This may take some trial and error till the touch-ups or smoothings look right. Un-checking the different layers on and off for comparison, as you adjust and play with smoothing, blurring, and erasing, should help with the process of you trying to achieve the look you are after. And remember, you can use the selection tools if specific problem areas need more or less blurring than other spots.
 
For these banana's I did the blurring steps to make some dark spots less drastic :

 
This technique can be changed up to add cool effects to images too. For example, Duplicate the image three or more times. Un-check the two top layers. Add distortion effects to the bottom layers. Re-check one of the top layers and start erasing areas on it.
In this image I did some distortion effects to the bananas. (I had three distortion layers, on these layers I removed the white background from the bananas (cut color, grim color reaper), then I ran Paint.NET's Dents and the Stitch plugin.)

 
 
To add to image touch-ups, you can also try Paint.NET's "Clone Stamp" tool with a 1% hardness. Note on how to use : http://www.getpaint.net/doc/latest/CloneStamp.html
 

I hope these ideas help. Good Luck.

Edited July 5, 2014 by Cc4FuzzyHuggles

[Pixey]

Hi @pslane - I hope I can explain a bit about the brushes. It may just 'look' like the brush backgrounds have a white BG when they are stored in your folder (as per my examples below) but they should work well once you upload them into CBM and use them.

The Brushes are saved in files in the Paint.net User Files. To find this you need to go to My Documents > Paint.net User Files

http://i.imgur.com/sSseps7.png Example 1

You will need two files one for Custom Brushes and another for the Smudge brushes as both are uploaded once you have Paint.net open and when you are in the Custom Brushes mode, or the Smudge area.

http://i.imgur.com/B8ZqZaU.png http://i.imgur.com/vadmXDG.png http://i.imgur.com/3SkzMw6.png