Watercolor Studio

When you first launch Watercolor Studio you will be presented with a familiar JixiPix UI.

This is the screen that will be presented when first launching Watercolor Studio. You have 2 choices to load an image.

1. Click on the "Get Photo" button in the upper left
2. Drag and drop and image onto the main window

Once an image is placed in the application it will auto-create the initial watercolor for you using the landscape default settings. These initial settings consist of two layers: A canvas layer and a Watercolor layer.

This next screen shows the initial user interface when the first image is opened inside the application. The following items are general, however, once your familiar with them they will apply to all the JixiPix applications.

1) Get Image Button. Used to load in an image to process inside of Watercolor Studio. You can also drag and drop an image into Watercolor Studio at any time and the document will switch to that current Photo. (Be careful when doing this as your process will start over).

2) Save Image Button. This will bring up a small menu where you can choose to Save Photo, Save Preset, Bring up this Info page, and get info on other JixiPix Products, etc. This menu will be described in detail in another section.

3) Crop Button. Use this dialog to crop your photo. This is very useful to cut out areas you do not want in your final images.

4) Zoom In Button. Zoom In on your image, or use keyboard Cmd + or Ctrl + on Windows.

5) Undo Button. Undo to your previous step, or use keyboard Cmd Z or Ctrl Z on Windows.

6) Redo Button. Redo to a previous step forward. This only works after hitting Undo at least once, or use keyboard Cmd Shift Z or Ctrl Shift Z.

7) Zoom Out Button. Zoom Out on your image (Cmd - or Ctrl -). You can also use keyboard Cmd 0 or Ctrl 0 to quickly make your photo fit into the window.

8) Original Button. Click on this button and hold it down to see your original loaded photo. This is very useful when doing minor changes to a watercolor and lets you compare the before photo to the rendered one. Click and release to get a view of before and after.

9) Info Button. Will bring up this Info page inside of the app.

10) Product Button. Shows other great JixiPix products :-)

11) Preset Browser. For a quick start this is where you will begin. Click through the Presets on the bottom of the app after an image is placed in the app. We refer to this section as the 'Browser' or 'Preset' section. Presets are a quick way to load in pre-defined 'looks' for your image and includes everything you need to recreate this 'look' at the point you saved it.

Watercolor Studio has a very powerful preset system. A preset is a 'snapshot' of everything you are working on except your initial image. You can play back this presets on any new image you load. This gives you the ability create a fabulous look once, then play it back (or use it as a starting point) for future images. When you save a preset everything you have been working on is captured like settings, layers, brushed areas and more, into put in a nice tidy package represented as thumbnail that you will find in the browser or preset section at the bottom. You also have the ability to name your presets when you save them, delete existing presets, save 'layer' presets, and mark some of your presets as favorite to move them up to the beginning of the 'Preset' section.

1) Once you load in an image you can click through presets to playback your settings, or test out the ones included with Watercolor Studio. Doing this is simple, just tap on one of the thumbnails at the bottom. Once you do this the system will apply that preset and render your image into a painting.

2) If you have a great look that you want to save as a painting just hit the '+' button and then give it a name. (Names have to be unique and the system will ask if you want to replace an existing one.)

3) To delete a preset you can either tap the '-' button or hold down on a preset for a second. Once you do this a series of 'X's will show up over top of the thumbnails and you can tap this to delete the preset. Clicking anywhere else on the document will then turn off the 'delete' mode.

4) To favorite a preset, hold down on any preset and keep holding until you see the hearts. Selecting a heart will move that preset to the front of the list. Super useful if you create a preset you use often. Again, tapping anywhere will disable this mode to continue work as normal.

The power of Watercolor Studio is it's smart layer system. For you to get custom looks you will utilize this layering system adding and stacking multiple layers. This system allows you to combine these layers to make your watercolor unique.

1) Add Layer. This will bring up a menu of all layer types available in Watercolor Studio. Selecting one will add the layer above the currently selected layer.

2) Delete Layer. This will delete the currently selected layer(s). To delete multiple layers hold the keyboard Cmd/Ctrl key while selecting each layers you want to delete, then delete.

3) Layer Menu. This menu has a few fun things in it which will be described shortly.

4) Active Layer. To select a layer just click or tap on it. To move the layer use the drag dots (top of each layer), hold for a second, then move. This will allow you to drag layers above or below the current one(s). Tapping on the name will allow you to rename the layer (very useful to keep track of layers when you get multiple involved).

Tapping on the "+" button will bring up the available layer types. Tapping on any of these will add a layer above the currently selected layer. In Watercolor Studio the layer types are as follows:

Watercolor: This is the main Watercolor Studio layer type. It creates magnificent watercolor out of your current image.

Ink Wash: Similar to Watercolor but creates a limited palette watercolor using the power of shades and colors.

Color Wash: This layer is an 'addition' layer type that will be used on top of other layers to add color and interest.

Liquefy: This layer allows you to add liquid to areas of your image using brush strokes. If you want areas in your image to be washed out or de-focused this would be the layer.

Splatters: This unique layer adds colorful splatters that can moved and resized. Very realistic liquid algorithm is associated with these splatters that will bleed edges where splatter is placed.

Outline: Useful for adding wispy details to your photo. Great for creating architectural drawings, adding details, or to just give emphasis to areas in your watercolor.

This menu has a few useful features available.

Duplicate Layer: Choosing this duplicates the currently selected layer(s) and stacks it above the currently selected one.

Reset Layers: Resets all layers back to their defaults. Using this will delete all layers and reset them back to the default settings. Useful when you are just playing around and want to get back to the start.

Save Layer Preset: This will save the current selected layer(s) as a "Layer Preset". This layer preset is similar to a regular preset except that when you play it back it will only 'add' to your existing layers rather than replace them. (See more in the Preset description below.)

You can get to Layer Settings by selecting a single layer. Doing this will load a control panel below the layer palette with all the settings that pertain to this layer. Here is where you will adjust settings and customize the painting to your own preference. (Please note, if you choose multiple layers the settings will hide.)

On the layer(s) you will also find several layer features:

1) Visible Button: Layer(s) can be hidden or shown by using this circular button. Invisible layers are quite useful when you want to see lower layers look without having an upper layer obstructing the view.

2) Locked Layer: A lock icon has been placed on the Canvas Layer to prevent it from being moved or deleted.

Each layer type has it's own controls to help you achieve a masterful painting (explained in detail in the next section), and a Toolbar area where layer specific controls can be found.

1) Pan Tool: Use this to pan around on the image. Useful when you are zoomed in. Also hitting the Space Bar at any point to temporarily select this tool.

2) Paint On: By default Watercolor layer is fully active. However if you erase something, use this tool to paint back in those areas. Very useful if you have multiple Watercolor layers and you just want to paint in certain areas of the painting.

3) Erase: Use this tool to erase part of the watercolor paint to allow the layer below to be seen.

4) Detail Tool: Use this tool to add ellipses where you need some extra detail in your image.

5) Brush Size: This slider is active when you have the Paint tool or Erase tool active. Use it to control the size of the brush you will be using on the document. Ctrl [ and Ctrl ] are key commands to change the size of the brush without having to select the slider.

6) Brush Opacity: Controls how opaque the brush will be. Values to the left will create a very transparent brush that softly adds to the painting.

7) Fill: If you have erased areas, this button restores the layer back to it's default filling all areas back in.  

8) Clear: This clears the current layer. Once you hit this you will have to brush on to see anything on this layer.

9) Invert: Reverses the brushing. What was painted on becomes erase and what was erased becomes painted on.

Keep in mind that you are not painting watercolor. You are making certain areas of it visible or not. This way you do not have to be an artist since the layer does all the hard rendering the watercolor. You choose how much or what parts of the watercolor you want to show or hide.

Ink Wash is the technique of applying diluted ink to wet paper, normally consisting of one or two colors. Use Ink Wash by itself or as a base to overlay Color Wash and Outline Layers. You can add an Ink Wash layer using the '+' sign at the top of the Layer Palette.

When you add an Ink Wash layer you will find the settings for it below. You know you have the right controls for this layer when you see 'Adjust: Ink Wash' at the top.

All of the controls for 'Ink Wash' are the same as the 'Watercolor' layer and will work nearly identical with exception to the 'Color Enhance' control that is missing as there are rarely any colors to work with.

To add additional color to an ink wash use Artistic Finish. This is critical to this paint style giving it a unique style which adds to the painting.

1) To use 'Artistic Finish' move the slider up in value to blend the finish into the ink wash, and to change the finish use the box to load up a library of them. The link icon when turned on will change finishes used on other layers to this one. This is a great feature for unifying color, light and movement globally.

Color Wash applies semi-transparent watercolor paint to wet paper. Use one or several Color Washes in combination with Watercolor, Ink Wash and Outline Layers. This layer can be used to add a lot of definition to your painting and can be combined with multiple washes to give a stronger overall look.

When you add a Color Wash layer you will find the settings for it below. You know you have the right controls for this layer when you see 'Adjust: Color Wash' at the top.

The controls are described as follows:

1) Layer Opacity: This controls the overall strength of the layer. If you would like to have a super subtle color applied to your painting then turn 'Layer Opacity' down.

2) Direction Controls: These two buttons control the overall direction of the wash. The first one will flip horizontally and the second will flip vertically.

3) Color Wash: This is a 3 part control. The control on the left is used to control how much tinting is applied to the color wash. The middle box uses a color picker to tint the wash with, and the right box is where you change the wash by choosing one from a library of handprinted washes.

4) Render Style: These three render styles control how the color wash is applied to the painting below it. 'Multiply' always makes the dark areas in the layer below the wash darker. 'Overlay' is a combination of making areas dark and making areas lighter but mostly light. 'Tint' subtly adds the color wash to the painting using a partial 'Multiply' and 'Overlay' technique. 'Tint' will typical work on all image types. You can use 'Multiply' to make your painting darker or 'Overlay' to make your painting lighter and translucent.

Liquefy Layer is a transparent layer used to 'wetten' up parts of the painting.  This layer is different then the other layers and needs the brush tool to apply the effect. To get the brush, go to the tool box above the document, then brush on the document area to liquefy areas in the watercolor using a continuous motion. The more times you brush over the painting the wetter it becomes. This subtle but powerful layer affects all layers under it. Once the effect is applied try moving it up and watch as it liquefies outlines, washes and other layers below.

1) Brush Tool: Use this to paint over your painting to liquefy or add 'wetness' to areas.

2) Erase Tool: Erase any areas you have painted on

3) Fill: Fill the whole image with wetness. You can also continue to 'Liquefy' the painting more by brushing on it after.

4) Clear: This clears the liquefied areas and defaults it back to none.

The Splatter Layer adds uniqueness to your painting by adding splatter dots to locations you define. These splatter dots can range from colorful so semi-opaque.

The Toolbar controls for the Splatter Layer are the most unique among the layers. This is the area where you control a good portion of what happens on the layer. Here is where you will add splatter(s), and along with other options to change the color and opacity.

1) Splatter Tool: This is the main tool (selected by default) called a placement box that allows you to move splatters around your painting. Once you have added a splatter a box will appear on the watercolor with a splatter inside of it.

2) Add Splatters: Tapping on this button will drop down a menu where you can choose one from a library of splatters. Selecting one from the library will automaticall add it to your painting. Use this button multiple times to as many splatters as you want.

3) Color Box: The color box controls what color the currently select splatter will be. This box will only show up if you have 'Color Style' set to 'Single' in the main control area.

4) Opacity: This controls the overall strength of the splatter and how transparent it is.

The 'Outline' layer can be used to add details or color to the painting. This layer can add different variations of 'style' to your image based on how the controls are set up. Looks can be a textured watercolor outline or a very straight edged ink outline.

1) Layer Opacity: Controls the overall 'Strength' of the layer.

2) Outline Style: Controls the 'style' of the outline details added. 'Watercolor' mode uses the paper texture and a watercolor brush to paint in the outline and has lots of texture. 'Ink' mode is drawn as if using a technical pen and is very straight with little texture.

3) Outline: Controls the overall thickness of the outline. You can use this to tweak the amount and thickness of the outline. Different images will produce more or less detail.

4) Outline Detail: This controls how the small details are handled in the outline. Large value will produce more small details and a lower value will have less small details. Use this in combination with 'Outline' to get that perfect detail in the painting.

5) Smooth Curves: This will control how smooth the curves are. Higher values will smooth out or 'round' the curves on the strokes and could give them a little more 'style'. Non smooth strokes follow the image closely and can be useful for small details.

6) Smooth Details: This is more of a subtle setting that affects the algorithm and settings of 'Outline' and 'Outline Detail'.  It will smooth out the details and sometimes bring out areas that are not shown without it. This is a good control to just 'play around' with and see how it looks from painting to painting.

7) Render Style: This controls how the outline is rendered onto the layers below. Multiply will darken up the image with the outline while retaining the original paintings color. Overlay does a darkening when applied to the midtone areas in the painting and really stands out when placed on the middle colors or grays. This mode also retains the original colors in the painting. Color is used to mostly add color into the painting. The tone used is based on the original colors in the painting so darker areas will be a darker version of this color and lighter areas will be a lighter version of this color.

8) Outline Color: Controls the color and strength of the outline. This control will only show up if your 'Render Style' is 'Color'.

Pigment Layer adds a granulated pigment texture to the watercolor. Granulation is the effect you get when the pigment particles clump together rather than them settling evenly on a painted surface. This effect is great for creating additional texture in an otherwise 2D watercolor painting.

1) Brush Tool: Use this to paint over your painting to add pigment in the areas you need. By default the pigment is applied to the whole painting.

2) Erase Tool: Erase any areas you have painted pigment on

3) Fill: Fill the whole image with pigment.

4) Clear: This clears the pigment areas and defaults it back to none so you can paint on pigment in just those areas needed.

5) Pigment Strength: Controls the overall strength of the pigment on the painting. Move to the right for stronger pigment and left for less pigment.

6) Pigment Size: Controls the size of the pigment from tiny dots to larger granulating pigment texture.

7) Pigment Variation: Controls the randomness of the pigment in the painting.

Signature Layer personalizes your painting using two signature styles: The first uses a type face from the fonts installed on your computer, and the other allows you to paint on your signature freehand.

1) Signature Box: Use this on screen to move around, resize, and rotate your signature. Grab any corner to rotate and resize and grab the center to move.

2) Signature Style: Use this to control which style of signature you use. Type is used to type in text, Paint is to use free hand to draw in your signature by hand.

3) Line Spacing and Alignment: Controls the spacing between lines of text or the Left/Center/Right alignment of text.

4) Text Box: Use this to enter in the signature text.

5) Font Choice: Use this menu to choose which Font your signature will show up in.

6) Apply Text: Tap this button once done entering your text to render it onto your painting

7) Text Color: Controls the color of the signature. The box lets you choose the color and the slider controls the overal transparency of the signature.

Liquid Vignette Layer creates a focal point by bleeding and blending out detail with our one-of-a-kind ellipse tool. When an ellipse is placed on a watercolor paint liquifies in a smooth gradual transition around the circle and out to the edges. Use one ellipse for a watery vignette, or several for focus on multiple areas.

1) Ellipse: Move this ellipse around and place exactly where you want a focus on your painting. Grab one of the 4 sides to resize/rotate and anywhere in the center to move the ellipse.

2) Add Ellipse: If you need more than one focus ellipse you can tap on this to add another ellipse into the painting.

3) Delete Ellipse: Delete the currently selected ellipse. (Cannot delete the last ellipse)

4) Strength: Controls the overal strength and blending of the vignette effect.

5) Focus Radius: How much bleed does the Liquid Vignette apply to the painting.

The 'Canvas Layer' is a crucial piece to a watercolor painting in quite a few ways. The way the water flows onto the canvas highly depends on the texture in the canvas. The watercolor algorithm actually takes into account which canvas texture is chosen and flows the paint in minute details based on this texture. In fact the Canvas is so critical that Watercolor Studio does not let you re-order the canvas or hide the layer from rendering.

1) Canvas Style: This is the main 'style' of a canvas and controls not only the overall impression of the painting but also the 'flow' of paint along each area's edge. 'Cold Press' is the typical watercolor canvas style and is built on fairly typical peaks and values while having a good amount of texture. 'Hot Press' is similar to 'Cold Press' but is very less pronounced in the peaks and values and is considered a smoother paper. 'Rough' has pronounced peaks and valleys and medium texture for the water to follow.

2) Canvas Strength: Controls the overal strength of the canvas. This mainly focuses on the peaks and values of the paper.

3) Canvas Scale: Controls how large and small the canvas is. Think of this as if you were painting a small flower or rose. In this example you would want the 'Canvas Scale' to be large as you are closer to the paper and have more detail. If you painted something like a building you would be painting on a larger area of the canvas. In this case you would want to move the slider to the left for a smaller texture. Of course the power of starting out digitally is that you can change this to get that 'perfect' look. Quit a bit harder in a traditional painting.

4) Granulating Texture: This affects how the paint pigment reacts with the water and how they settle into the 'valleys' of the paper. Higher value will cause the pigments to react more and lesser values will cause the pigments to react less.

5) Transparency Mode: This controls the overall translucency of the painting by adjusting how strong the pigments will react with each other and the painting overall. You can control this on each watercolor layer with the 'Layer Opacity' control. Use this for a quick way to 'tweak' the level of everything.