Tribal Beads and Weaves Brushes

The above image demonstrates some of the brush strokes possible using the Tribal Beads_Weaves variants.

The Beaded Braid variants are supplied in three widths; 3, 5 and 7 Strand. Both hue and value for each strand has been randomised via. the Color Variability palette, and it is recommended that this palette is kept open when using variants from the Tribal Beads_Weaves library, in order to make adjustments on the fly.

The Beads 1 String Dab variants are based on captured dabs, and have been configured to produce single strings of beads (or bones).

It is important to note how the strokes appear against a non-white background. This is due to the fact that Painter uses the luminance of the captured dab imagery to control transparency within the resulting dab. This means that areas which were originally white in the pre-capture dab imagery, will now be totally transparent, whilst black regions will be fully opaque. This factor can impact on the three dimensional appearance of resulting dabs.

Dab orientation is affected by the direction of the stroke, and can also be constrained to a straight line in any one of eight directions by holding down the shift key whist making the stroke. In order to maximise the three dimensional quality of the original dab, for the bottom stroke in the above image, I have used a more contrasting, lighter colour shade, and this time rendered the stroke from right to left. The original lighter (more transparent) regions of the dabs are now in the lower half of the beads, thus appearing top-lit, with the dark background seeping through the more transparent areas, giving the illusion of shadow.

The Beads 1 String Round and 3, 5 and 7 String Round counterparts employ the Circular Dab Type, rendering circular, soft cover beads of flat colour. I have set these variants up so that you can easily make the dabs oval in shape by reducing the Squeeze value in the Angle section of the Brush Controls.

Using Painter’s Rake stroke type, it is possible to render several rows of beads in one stroke, and by checking the Spread Bristles option in the Rake section of the Brush Controls, the gap between the individual rows can be controlled by stylus pressure, as is Size and Min Size of the individual beads (via. the Window menu> Brush Controls> Size palette). The number of rows (strings) is governed by the Contact Ang and Bristles settings in the Rake section. It is also possible to modify the height and length of the repeating dab by changing the Squeeze value in the Brush Controls> Angle palette (this must be set at 99 percent or less to allow rotation).

Although it does not seen possible to vary the individual spacing between each row with three or more strings (which could be created manually using a Beads 1 String variant), the overall spacing between rows can be further controlled using the Brush Scale slider in the Rake section of the Brush Controls. The spacing between individual dabs (beads) is controlled by the Spacing and Min Spacing values in the Spacing section of the Brush Controls.

For the Beads 7 String Dab1 variant, I have employed 50 percent Value (V) variability from the Color Variability palette, but please feel free to adjust the Color Variability setting to your own requirements. This particular variant is also useful for creating mosaic bead patterns at lower stylus pressure. It is a good idea to set up Brush Tracking in the Painter Preferences, to ensure a smooth spread transition in the brush stroke, based on stylus pressure.

In combination with Color Variability, the Sequin Braid and Tiny Bead Necklace variants are capable of producing a shimmering metallic appearance to the brush stroke. With suitable colour and Color Variability combinations, the scaly appearance of Sequin Braid variant could also be used for rendering butterfly/ moth wings or reptile skin for example.

The Tribal Weave 1, 2 and 3 variants are also Rake based, and there was something subconsciously familiar about the brush stroke form when I first saw it; maybe it was a beaded chest piece or perhaps an Ancient Egyptian collar. Again, Painter’s wonderful Color Variability feature was used to provide added interest to the strokes.