Question about brushes - can I use the ones from Serif?

[Popple]

Hello

I used Serif V8 before I bought Affinity recently.  For Serif 8 I had some extra designer brushes that looked like embroidery stitches.

 

Is there any way I can use these in Affinity? Or if the Serif brushes are not compatible, is there an update pack available to purchase that has these brushes?

 

I bought the workbook but I cannot see what I need.  The brushes mentioned in there all look like paintbrush strokes  or palette knife smears.

 

Thank you

 

[Alfred]

If you're using brushes from the Serif Affinity products then you're already using "ones from Serif" ;) but I take it that you're referring to Serif DrawPlus X8. If you look at the Image category in the Draw Persona in Affinity Designer, you'll find that it has the 'Chained Feather Stitch' and 'Eyelets Running Thread' that you know from DPX8; you can add others by exporting them as 32-bit PNG and using the 'New Textured Image Brush' option to create copies of them in AD.

 

The DPX8 file in the attached zip archive should get you started. I drew a straight, horizontal line with the V-Stitch brush, set it to 160pt so that it would be large enough to include plenty of detail, and made it just long enough that it doesn't repeat; if you switch to something like 'Fly Stitch' or 'Detached Buttonhole Stitch' you'll find that you need to make it longer before the stitch displays correctly. Back in AD, go to the Image category in the Brushes panel, click on the menu icon to the right of the panel labels, choose 'New Textured Image Brush' and browse to the exported PNG image. Scroll down to the bottom of the list, double-click on the new brush to open the 'Brush - Editing' dialog, set the Body to 'Repeat' instead of 'Stretch' and then press 'Close'.

 

I hope this helps a little. :)

DPX8_Embroidery.zip

[Patrick Connor]

Alfred, I will need to check our licence on those brushes as to whether they are for DrawPlus / CraftArtist or for any Serif product.

[Alfred]

I'm a little surprised to learn that there might be a licensing issue here, Patrick. All the user is doing with the brush is to create a PNG image with it, and then re-purposing that PNG image for use elsewhere: it's isn't as though the actual brush files are being shared.

[Patrick Connor]

Not the user, you Alfred, I'll check if YOU are allowed to post/distribute it here in a different format....

[Alfred]

I wasn't proposing to share my PNG images with anyone, Patrick. I've merely shared a DPP file, as DrawPlus users often do, but I'm happy for the attachment to be removed if it's at all problematic. :)

[Popple]

Thank you Alfred.  The explanation is really helpful. I can do that.  :)

[2989]

I too would like more information on this as I have all of the serif programmes Draw, Page, etc and would like to know how to be able to use the brushes in affinity photo and designer I am new to both affinity programs so a step-by-step, Newbie guide, would be very helpful    Thanks!

 

Also is it possible to use the other assets from these programs in Affinity ? If so, How? PC Desktop version

[Steven Walker]

Getting a bit disappointed by all this. I do a lot of technical illustrations for my job. (Technical Author.) That includes putting a lot of leader lines on exploded parts illustrations. With illustrator and InDesign I can create vector line styles, with white and black lines, that stand out as they cross the illustration. This is VERY important to me, and no I do not like Adobe's very greedy business model. So yes, I am going to be a nuisance about this. You are going to figure out how to do this too. 😃

[MikeTO]

Hi @Steven Walker and welcome to the forums. You can create black and white leader lines with Designer using the Appearance and Stroke panels. Create a solid white line and then add a second stroke with the Appearance panel and make it dashed black using the Stroke panel. You can save it as a Style to reuse when desired.