09-22-2002, 11:00 AM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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Pocket Artist 2.03
http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&platformId=2&productType=2&catalog=0&sectionId=0&productId=11011
(affiliate link) I am not an artist and in no way qualified to review this powerful product. I really just wanted an app that would let me resize images, crop, brighten/darken, etc. on my Pocket PC. I use Paint Shop Pro 7.04 on my desktop and probably use 10% of its features. I can't even figure out how to draw a basic square in the color of my choosing with it. So drawing with Pocket Artist really never crossed my mind.
Well, I sat down one day and started playing with it. The image above is the first complete image I have ever done with it, and I never really practiced before doing this. I did use UNDO quite a few times and once or twice had to revert to a version on my PC. Everything was done with tools that come with Pocket Artist except for the stars. I found some star freeware brushes somewhere on the Internet for Adobe Photoshop. Pocket Artist can use Photoshop brushes and gradients. I don't even know what a Gradient is (I know the term, I don't know how it is used in graphics packages) but I know how to use a brush.
Once you spend a few minutes with Pocket Artist, things start to make sense, and I enjoy just doodling with my hand rather than moving a mouse around on the screen. I showed it to a lady in our graphics department at work and she was quite impressed at what it offered, with many common Photoshop features. If you have any artistic tendencies, I recommend you give Pocket Artist a try. I'll still use it predominately for the features listed above, but it is nice to just relax for a few minutes and throw something together.
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09-22-2002, 02:32 PM
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Theorist
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 281
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Well done Ed. CalledHome is a fitting picture for a Sunday in these turbulent times.
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09-22-2002, 03:29 PM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 541
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Gradients are how you did that fading sky (I assume) Allows you to draw a line, and it'll fade one color to another with the direction and length you want, if you haven't figured it out yet :P
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09-22-2002, 05:41 PM
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Contributing Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,228
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by sponge
Gradients are how you did that fading sky (I assume) Allows you to draw a line, and it'll fade one color to another with the direction and length you want, if you haven't figured it out yet :P
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Yeah, that much I know. I just don't get the bazillion downloadable gradients. :?
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09-22-2002, 05:44 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 414
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Very cool. The single PPC program that most makes my tongue hang out.
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09-22-2002, 07:17 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 18
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I just discovered it too. There are so many features I'm still learning about them. I think you can do pretty sophisticated images if you could master even some of the tools.
The coolest thing I've found so far -- try this:
1) draw a big irregular shape with hills and valleys with the Lasso select tool.
2) select two different colors you like for the background & foreground
3) do various gradients with various starting points on that and see what you get.
I could play just that feature all day.
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09-23-2002, 12:03 AM
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Swami
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 4,396
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Gradients
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Ed Hansberry
Quote:
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Originally Posted by sponge
Gradients are how you did that fading sky (I assume) Allows you to draw a line, and it'll fade one color to another with the direction and length you want, if you haven't figured it out yet :P
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Yeah, that much I know. I just don't get the bazillion downloadable gradients. :? |
I'm no graphics expert, either, but I assume the downloadable gradients are for more complex things than a simple gradient. One program I've used allowed for multiple gradients -- you could select multiple colors, and the colors would change from one to the other to the next.
They can probably be used to simulate textures under certain lighting conditions, especially if they can do "pattern gradients".
Steve
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09-23-2002, 12:29 AM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 541
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Yea, it's basically to allow a wider variety of customization, or for something like replicating an effect, tutorials, etc. Multiple colours, even simple patterns if I'm not mistaken can be done.
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09-23-2002, 01:19 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 357
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Gradients are for creating blends between color and/or transparency values. Since there is no gradient editor in pocket Artist you can use Photoshop gradients. You can use gradients as starting points for painted skies and horizons as well as spheres and glows. Combined with selections, they can simulate lighting effects.
heres another trick to try in Pocket Artist... use different blending modes with multiple over lapping gradients for interesting effects.
By the way, this forum is horrible To use on Pocket IE. Wish the old one was still working. 
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09-23-2002, 05:23 PM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Adamz
By the way, this forum is horrible To use on Pocket IE. Wish the old one was still working. |
I know, I know.  ops:
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Linear Mode
