Smudge

Generally, paint strokes are not a continuous lines, but a series of dots or dabs placed on the image canvas. This option defines the distance between each dab as a percentage of the brush size. By default, this value is set to 5%. So for an 80 pixel sized brush, dabs are placed every 4 pixels (5% of 80 = 4). You can increase or reduce this value for a variety of effects. Increasing it toward 100% produces individual dots, rather than what looks like a stroked line.

The Curve Constraint option allows you to use pre-drawn curves, either Spline (see Adding Curves) or Bezier, and then constrain the brush strokes to the curve when painting, producing a very smooth, controlled, and repeatable result. It works by having the curve element in the background layer (visible, but not selected). Then the Curve Constraint option is set to either Background 2D or Background 3D mode. Once set, any paint strokes into the canvas near the curve constrain to the nearest curve position.

The None option disables the constraining, the Background 2D projects the curve from any orientation onto the surface through the viewport and the Background 3D option constrains the stroke to the curves position in 3D space, only affecting surfaces that are within close proximity (defined by the brushes size).

The Blend Mode defines how the strokes blend into the existing canvas. The default Normal setting applies opaque strokes (as defined by the Opacity option) over the top of the existing canvas. The alternate options work in the same respect as the layer blending options documented with examples on the Layer Blend Modes page of the documentation.

This value determines the transparency of the brush tip, in turn affecting how opaque the paint generated by the brush is. Values under 100% reduce the transparency, attenuating down toward 0% where the pixels painted are completely invisible.

This value determines the amount of paint that comes out during a paint stroke. A value of 100% applies even pressure across the brush's tip, values under 100% attenuating down toward 0% gradually concentrate the paint toward the center of the brushes tip, producing a results that is similar, but different, than changing the opacity.

This value causes the paint to fade out after the set number of steps is reached in the stroke. This setting is somewhat related to the speed with which you create the stroke as painting quickly spreads out the steps used to paint the stroke. Moving the brush slowly with this value set above 0 causes the paint to run out in a shorter stroke. This is a very useful setting to use if you do not have a tablet to paint with. Tablet users would be better suited to modulate the paint opacity based on the tablet pressure so as to have greater control.