You work with two components when adding dynamics elements to a brush:

•Jitter percentages specify the randomness of dynamic elements. At 0%, an element does not change over the course of a stroke; at 100%, an element has the maximum amount of randomness.

•Options in the Control pop-up menus specify how you want to control the variance of dynamic elements.You can choose to not control the variance of an element, to fade an element over the specified number of steps, or to vary an element based of pen pressure, pen tilt, or position of the pen thumbwheel.

Note: Pen controls are only are available only when you’re using a pressure-sensitive digitizing tablet such as the Wacom® tablet. A warning icon appears if you select a pen control but have not installed a tablet.

Specifying brush shape dynamics (Photoshop)

Shape dynamics determine the variance of brush marks in a stroke.

Brush stokes without shape dynamics and with shape dynamics

To edit shape dynamics for a brush:

1In the Brushes palette, select Shape Dynamics on the left side of the palette. Be sure to click the name, rather than the check box, to select the item.

2Set one or more of the following options:

Size Jitter and Control Specifies how the size of brush marks vary in a stroke. For more information, see “About brush dynamics (Photoshop)” on page 231.

To specify the maximum percentage of jittering, type a number or use the slider to enter a value. To specify how you want to control the size variance of brush marks, choose an option from the Control pop-up menu:

•Off to not control the size variance of brush marks.

•Fade to fade the size of brush marks between the initial diameter and the minimum diameter in the specified number of steps. Each step is equal to one mark of the brush tip. The value can range from 1 to 9999. For example, entering 10 steps produces a fade in 10 increments.

•Pen Pressure, Pen Tilt, or Stylus Wheel to vary the size of brush marks between the initial diameter and the minimum diameter based on the pen pressure, pen tilt, or position of the pen thumbwheel.

Minimum Diameter Specifies the minimum percentage by which brush marks can scale when Size Jitter or Size Control is enabled.Type a number, or use the slider to enter a value that is a percentage of the brush tip diameter.

Tilt Scale Specifies the scale factor applied to the height of the brush prior to rotation when Size Control is set to Pen Tilt. Type a number, or use the slider to enter a value that is a percentage of the brush diameter.

Angle Jitter and Control Specifies how the angle of brush marks varies in a stroke. For more information, see “About brush dynamics (Photoshop)” on page 231.

To specify the maximum percentage of jittering, type a number or use the slider to enter a value that is a percentage of 360 degrees. To specify how you want to control the angle variance of brush marks, choose an option from the Control pop-up menu:

•Off to not control the angle variance of brush marks.

•Fade to fade the angle of brush marks between 0 and 360 degrees in the specified number of steps.

•Pen Pressure, Pen Tilt, or Stylus Wheel to vary the angle of brush marks between 0 and 360 degrees based on the pen pressure, pen tilt, or position of the pen thumbwheel.

•Initial Direction to base the angle of brush marks on the initial direction of the brush stroke.

•Direction to base the angle of brush marks on the direction of the brush stroke.

Roundness Jitter and Control Specifies how the roundness of brush marks varies in a stroke. For more information, see “About brush dynamics (Photoshop)” on page 231.

To specify the maximum percentage of jittering, type a number or use the slider to enter a value that is a percentage indicating the ratio between the brush’s short and long axes. To specify how you want to control the roundness variance of brush marks, choose an option from the Control pop-up menu:

•Off to not control the roundness variance of brush marks.

•Fade to fade the roundness of brush marks between 100% and the Minimum Roundness value in the specified number of steps.

•Pen Pressure, Pen Tilt, or Stylus Wheel to vary the roundness of brush marks between 100% and the Minimum Roundness value based on the pen pressure, pen tilt, or position of the pen thumbwheel.

Minimum Roundness Specifies the minimum roundness for brush marks when Roundness Jitter or Roundness Control is enabled. Type a number, or use the slider to enter a value that is a percentage indicating the ratio between the brush’s short and long axes.

Specifying brush scattering (Photoshop)

Brush scattering determines the number and placement of marks in a stroke.

Brush strokes without scattering and with scattering

To edit scattering options for a brush:

1In the Brushes palette, select Scattering on the left side of the palette. Be sure to click the name, rather than the check box, to select the item.

2Set one or more of the following options:

Scatter and Control Specifies how brush marks are distributed in a stroke. When Both Axis is selected, brush marks are distributed in a radial direction. When Both Axis is deselected, brush marks are distributed perpendicular to the stroke path.

To specify the maximum percentage of scattering, type a number or use the slider to enter a value.To specify how you want to control the scattering variance of brush marks, choose an option from the Control pop-up menu:

•Off to not control the scattering variance of brush marks.

•Fade to fade the scattering of brush marks from the maximum scattering to no scattering in the specified number of steps.

•Pen Pressure, Pen Tilt, or Stylus Wheel to vary the scattering of brush marks based on the pen pressure, pen tilt, or position of the pen thumbwheel.

Count Specifies the number of brush marks applied at each spacing interval. Type a number, or use the slider to enter a value.

Note: If you increase the count without increasing the spacing or scattering values, painting performance may decrease.

Count Jitter and Control Specifies how the number of brush marks varies for each spacing interval. For more information, see “About brush dynamics (Photoshop)” on page 231.

To specify the maximum percentage of brush marks applied at each spacing interval, type a number or use the slider to enter a value. To specify how you want to control the count variance of brush marks, choose an option from the Control pop-up menu:

•Off to not control the count variance of brush marks.

•Fade to fade the number of brush marks from the Count value to 1 in the specified number of steps.

•Pen Pressure, Pen Tilt, or Stylus Wheel to vary the number of brush marks based on the pen pressure, pen tilt, or position of the pen thumbwheel.

Creating textured brushes (Photoshop)

A textured brush uses a pattern to make strokes look like they are painted on textured canvas.

Brush strokes without texture and with texture

To edit texture options for a brush:

1In the Brushes palette, select Texture on the left side of the palette. Be sure to click the name, rather than the check box, to select the item.

2Click the pattern sample, and select a pattern from the pop-up palette.

3Set one or more of the following options:

Invert Inverts the high and low points in the texture based on the tones in the pattern. When Invert is selected, the lightest areas in the pattern are the low points in the texture and therefore receive the least paint; the darkest areas in the pattern are the high points in the texture and therefore receive the most paint. When Invert is deselected, the lightest areas in the pattern receive the most paint; the darkest areas in the pattern receive the least paint.

Scale Specifies the scale of the pattern. Type a number, or use the slider to enter a value that is a percentage of the pattern size.

Texture Each Tip Specifies whether or not to render each tip individually as it is painted. When this option is not selected, the Depth variance options are not available.

Mode Specifies the blending mode used to combine the brush and the pattern. (See “Selecting a blending mode” on page 241.)

Depth Specifies how deep the paint penetrates into the texture. Type a number, or use the slider to enter a value. At 100%, the low points in the texture do not receive any paint. At 0%, all points in the texture receive the same amount of paint, therefore hiding the pattern.

Minimum Depth Specifies the minimum depth paint can penetrate when Depth Control is set to Fade, Pen Pressure, Pen Tilt, or Stylus Wheel and Texture Each Tip is selected.

Depth Jitter and Control Specifies how the depth varies when Texture Each Tip is selected. For more information, see “About brush dynamics (Photoshop)” on page 231.

To specify the maximum percentage of jitter, type a number or use the slider to enter a value. To specify how you want to control the depth variance of brush marks, choose an option from the Control pop-up menu:

•Off to not control the depth variance of brush marks.

•Fade to fade from the Depth Jitter percentage to the Minimum Depth percentage in the specified number of steps.

•Pen Pressure, Pen Tilt, or Stylus Wheel to vary the depth based on the pen pressure, pen tilt, or position of the pen thumbwheel.