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In this tutorial we've
started with ArtWeaver
Let's say for example that we've whipped together a sky as a background.
At the same time, we can have a session running of PD Particles.
And another of PD Pro (Project Dogwaffle) - the free or commercial
versions.
The new Dogweaver plugin allows for images to be sent directly between
Artweaver and either of PD Particles and Project Dogwaffle.
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For example, here's a
screenshot of the PD Particles session. It shows that we painted a
variety of particle brushes in a style that includes alpha. The
marching ants show the selection around the painted foliage.
In this case we've used Pine branches, Fandiago and modified grass
settings, and in each case changed the Style to include Alpha.
When we use the Dogweaver plugin to import this from PD Particles
straight into Artweaver, we can choose an option to use the Alpha
channel's mask while loading the image into a new layer. This will keep
the painted foliage opaque while leaving the background transparent,
showing therefore the lower layer's colors.
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We've also used PD Pro in
this example. Here we used one of the filters to render a wall of tiles
with a weathering effect. We then selected a lower portion of it, and
applied a color change by mapping the current gradient to the
selection's pixels. This will make our 'wall'.
We will want to make it appear in front of the background sky, but
behind the foliage, so we'll load this one first, and then the foliage
from PD Particles.
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Read to roll. Use Alt-Tab
to switch back to the currently running session of Artweaver.
In the File menu of Artweaver, select Import...
If you did install the Dogweaver plugin which supports both Dogwaffle
and PD Pro as well as PD Particles, then you'll see the two entries:
From
Dogwaffle...
and
From PD Particles...
Select Dogwaffle (for both Dogwaffle 1.2, 2 or PD Pro 3)
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The Dogweaver plugin next
offers some options as to where to import the incoming image. It can go
into a new layer of the current document, or other places.
Let's send it into a new layer.
We alsp want to use the Alpha channel from Dogwaffle as a mask. In this
case it's the mask that selected the lower part of the 'wall'. The
upper part from the image in Dogwaffle's image buffer should be ignored
and left transparent in order to show the background sky from layer 0.
Therefore, check the 'Import Alpha' option too.
Then click OK
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Done. we now have the
image from Dogwaffle in Artweaver's second layer. The upper part
of the image is not showing, i.e. it is transparent, and thus shows the
background sky which is underneath in layer 0.
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Now we repeat the process,
but we will fetch the image from PD Particles...
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Same options again, new
layer, and import Alpha. In this case the alpha carries the opacity
mask rendered along the particles since the 'Style' was set to one with
Alpha (Lines+Alpha or Shrinking Lines+)
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And there it is!
We now have 3 layers. The bottom layer 0 shows the original sky which
was created in Artweaver directly.
Layer 1 was imported with alpha from Project Dogwaffle and it shows a
simple 'wall' over the lower part.
Layer 2 came in from PD Particles, and it carries the foliage which
appears in front of the wall and the sky.
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Let's say now we wanted to
send the whole composition back to Project Dogwaffle. Of course we
might work in Artweaver altogether, or even send it to other tools.
In the Layer menu, use the option to flatten the image.
Then select File>Export>To Dogwaffle...
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Using Alt-Tab we can now
switch over to PD Pro or Dogwaffle again. The flattened image from
Artweaver now appears in Dogwaffle.
We can then add other effects such as lens flares.
Or we could have sent the whole thing back to PD Particles to paint
addition tufts of grass and other foliage in some areas, such as on the
top of the wall. The possibilities are endless. And having the new
Dogweaver plugin available makes it all the more powerful and faster to
work with ArtWeaver and PD Partices
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