Creating brushes, how large?

[NoLongerHere]

I've played with creating brushes but never could decide how large to make the master images. Take a simple example, if you created a pencil brush how large would you make the master png? 50px high, 100...a huge 400px? So how large are you creating your brush masters that will work regardless of paper size? Thanks.

[ESPR]

Depends a lot on whether its for print or screen.

A 119x119px sized brush prints as 10mm at 300dpi.

Your average line drawn with a pencil is a lot thinner.

[firstdefence]

The standard size, well starting point for brush sizes appears to be 64px but there has to be a tipping point when increasing and reducing brush sizes has a detrimental effect on the brush image.

 

[NoLongerHere]

Exactly, as it's using a png rather than vector you don't want to go too small as it will effect the quality but it's difficult to decide how large is large enough. I guess it's better to go larger to be sure.

[StuartRc]

Hi,
Good question!

Really depends on what type of brush you are creating...'vector' or raster.. This is a bit subjective having completed a few of brushes....

If you are planning a number of brushes..
a. Put a template together that allows you to export slices at different sizes
b. Build the nozzles as vector (then they can be used as vector textures for drawings!) and tends to give you a 'cleaner' output with greater flexibility.

Vector
[500 - 1000 px] x [n-height]*
png + 300dpi + adjust output settings to reduce file size.
*height being dependant on the type and function of the brush

Raster
I tend to ignore icon size convention and just initiate:
100 | 200 px | 400px* (nozzle and base textures)
.png + setting adustments
*400px can be used but I do not believe it is necessary for most brushes. Base textures at 400px are useful if you are going to re-import as a repeat fill pattern

Most of the brushes I completed have nozzles of 200px.
A 100px nozzle is useful when creating 'small' brushes i.e. fine liners or pencil brushes or nozzles that have limited patterning like a couple of 'dots/blobs' of 'ink' . They also react a bit faster with a tablet..but not so useful when scaling up.
A 200px nozzle will give you more flexibility when scaling the brush (keys)..I do this all the time! Size can be scaled down for pencil like effects or upwards..even above 200px

[NoLongerHere]

Hi Stuart, Of course it is lol. Sorry I meant vector brushes but will need to see if they will do what I want, I've not looked at raster yet. I was going to create them as vector then export to png. I will keep those dimensions in mind, thanks.

[StuartRc]

OK!

I added a tutorial some time ago on 'Creating Vector Brushes'..it should help you. 
There seemed to be a lot of brushes around set to >2000px but I didn't think it was necessary..The inkbrush Sets 'Render' | 'Linear' | 'Render Texture' are mostly 500px wide.
I Set up a template to process both output sizes but the 500px width is certainly adequate. 
I am pleased it's not raster brushes..that is a big world for me!...I have another document similar to the one above for Raster Brushes but it needs updating (as of 1.7 update with sub-nozzles)...and picked up a couple of extra techniques!

[NoLongerHere]

Thanks, I think I'm OK creating them but will have a read in case I've missed something. 2k seems rather excessive. I might look at raster sometime or not.

[firstdefence]

Affinity Designer brushes aren't true vector brushes, they are raster images on a vector curve, so in essence, bendable raster brushes.

[NoLongerHere]

I understand that, they just use png's which is a bit weird really. If it used vectors then size would be irrelevant.

[StuartRc]

I was surprised initially that they are not true vector...but I am sure it will be addressed at some point in the future...
However. I find them really useful for sketching and outlining (inking)...especially when you can simply raster the result with a single key-press...

[NoLongerHere]

Yes there are lots of things they could improve on both brushes and effects, they are pretty basic at the moment. There are lots of styles I'd like to create but just can't.

[StuartRc]

Just have to wait and see what Affinity have planned!...True vector would be nice!...