Till yesterday I did not realise that Pixarra did a free version also.
So here it is: http://www.pixarra.com/download.html
2 dl links at bottom.
Twisted Brush 13.5
(12 posts) (6 voices)-
Hello everyone,
The free version of Twisted Brush is a really great program. I've been using it since February, and it has quite a lot going for it. The website's product description must be an old one because the version i have supports things they say it doesn't (yeah, i know, grammer was never one of my strong points), so, by the numbers, the free version has:
55 filters, 19 paper textures, 14 artsets (with up to 60 brushes per set), and 17 mediums (my favorite is "strange"). You can generate your own masks, either by using your image, or a brush from the mask artset. You can also create your own artset, and scripts, which can all be saved. Images can be saved in bmp, jpeg, or png format. A note on saving - Twisted Brush does something i both love and hate, depending on the situation (and my mood), it randomly saves for you as you go along, so, if you want to use your image as it stands at some point...SAVE, and start a new page using a copy. That way your template will be safe, otherwise......(makes cutting motion along throat).Twisted Brush Free does not have your usual type of custom brush creator, like ArtWeaver or Painter, but you can fiddle with the size, density and opacity of each brush. BTW, "brush" in TB refers not only to size and shape, but color as well - thats why there are so many of them. And while you can do your garden variety painting like watercolor, or acrylics, the star of the program is its particle system. I wish i had the techno speak to describe this, but I don't, so...anyone who has used Project Dogwaffle, or PD Particles will know what I'm talking about. The brushes literally take on a life of their own and the effect has to be seen to be believed! There is also a random brush generator (which cooks something up for you) and the *sigh* Random Brush Explorer (which lets you lock some of the variables in for your next "random brush" (aaaaghhhhhh). An outstanding feature is its sketchbook format. Images are saved according to numbered books and pages, with no limits on either, completely controlled by you. A very nice filing system indeed! And it does have a tracing feature, but, like the rest of the program, it too is kinda quirky.
What's the bad side? Well,if you choose a brush that you like, immediately make note of which one it is - use a sticky if you have to. There is no way to tell which brush you are useing after its been selected and these artsets have up to 60 brushes each - very frustrating. And, it crashes. A lot. But I'm willing to concede that it may be my system at fault. But other than that......can't think of any.
Lee, I'm curious, do you have the full version? I know you can pay so much per year for the license, and $160 USD for a lifetime - i've never tried a program like that and wonder what other people's experiences are like.
In closing, if you're into CG at all, then dl this. Now. Even if you're not, dl this. Now. It's just plain fun and thats something we all need. When i first saw what it could do, my jaw just hit the floor. In the hands of an experienced artist this program could really sing, but even a beginner will be producing pieces they will want to keep in no time. A lot of programs say this, but this time its really true.
Hope this was of interest to someone!
HamstergirlPosted 16 years ago # -
This is one of those totally "aw crap" moments - and why am I not surprised? Late last night I decided to do a little virtual housekeeping (hamsters may be nocturnal creatures, but even so, thats always a recipe for disaster). I cleaned up a few things, then uninstalled and deleted my free version of Twisted Brush, dl'd the updated one...only to discover that once installed, was NOTHING like the version available earlier this year (and described above) - i mean this thing is so LITE next to my old one, and i could just cry - naturally, i no longer have the old installer, I chucked that one out several months ago on another housekeeping expedition (if only i put this sort of energy into my physical housecleaning!) Sooo, i've just dl'd the trial version of TB Essentials to keep me happy until my purchase transaction is completed, but even that isn't making up for things. I can't remember where exactly I got my version from. I had been online only a few days when I discovered Twisted Brush, and I would think it came from either Pixarra or one of the major freeware sites which is where i was doing my hunting back then....aaargh!
Well, time to roll up sleeves and get to work - just wanted to post this asap because i don't want to mislead anyone, and i'm sorry if i did, because that was not my intention. If i find out anything (and i'm afraid of what that might be), i'll let you know.
Hamstergirl
Posted 16 years ago # -
Kat
MemberHi Hamstergirl!
I downloaded TwistedBrush 3.5 (the last free full version) from[dead link replaced with]
http://pixarra.invisionzone.com/index.php?showtopic=56Hope this is what you were looking for. Thanks for the review, made me want to find it! I am going to load it onto a usb stick, supposedly it will run from that.
Happy painting, KatPosted 16 years ago # -
Thank you Kat, I'm off to check it out. I have almost all my painting programs on usb sticks, including (well, at least until last night) Twisted Brush!
Cheers,
HamstergirlPosted 16 years ago # -
Kat, I am forever in your debt! This is exactly what I was looking for- thank you. I see now what the problem was (besides me, hehehe). The link you provided is for the full version - but an older incarnation. Well, live and learn - seem to be doing a lot of that lately...but why am i always doing it so publicly *grumble* (note to self-1. no more nocturnal housekeeping, and 2. keep paw AWAY from delete button!) Anyone interested might want to try both. You have this rodent's eternal gratitude (I would even give you my first born litter if I knew where they were - would a sunflower seed do instead?)
Lee, thank you for your honest admission.....LOL! My mother was a talented artist....if only she had passed more of that talent on to me. I try to make up for it in enthusiasm (and I am VERY enthusiastic!), but....let's compare "matchstalkers" some day - I bet yours are better!
Thanks for starting this thread, and Kat, thanks for getting me back on track.
Gratefully,
HamstergirlPosted 16 years ago # -
brillobro
MemberJust a heads up. There are two free versions of TwistedB, old version 3.5, 1.8 MB, d/l site referenced above by Kat, and new(est) version 13.5, 4.6 MB referenced above by Lee. V3.5 is full but older and presumably less developed. V13.5 is new but crippled. However, old and full is often better than new and crippled. (HA! Not just with software!)
Would like to know from hamstergirl or whoever may have worked with both versions, which is more useful, IYO? Or what are the big differences between the two(if any)?
Posted 16 years ago # -
nanook
MemberShoo the link posted by Kat for the dwld of is page not found,now I've tried to google it and all I can find are the newer free version, which are quite lean to say the least.
even went to the Pixara forum to no avail, mine too got down the drain when I have to make an urgent complete reformat on my machine, of course I had no back up of it.Would per chance anyone have another link, or would be willing to upload their free 3.5 version to a website like mediafire.com or even rapidshare or any other of their choice then either post the link or pm me with it, I would be eternally grateful.
Yeah I'm a sucker......I knowPosted 16 years ago # -
You must be using a different google to me.
I Google'd twisted brush 3.5
Fourth link from the top - (which is to the Pixarra Forum)
TwistedBrush 3.5 now Free! - Pixarra Community
... so you say you had to "urgently reformat your computer"? ;)
Posted 16 years ago # -
Hi everybody,
brillobro - can't stop laughing - old and full - heh hehe hee......thank you!
To answer your question (if you are still interested, that is - I've been out of the loop for a short while and only saw your post this evening): Since this thread has been started I have gotten to experience Twisted Brush in all its forms and glory. I wound up purchasing the Essentials version and then decided to purchase the full license. Even so, I still have kept, and use, the earlier free version. Which is more useful? That depends, I think, on what type of art you are trying to do. Now this is only my opinion, but it seems to me that the new TB is aimed more at the traditional, painterly approach and real natural media simulation. The older free version has that as well, but the brush collections are a lot wilder, and more abstract - great stuff to bring out the inner Escher, but a lot harder to use in your average still life! I'm not always that great with words, so.....the following is a quote from a correspondence I had with the developer, he explains it better:"...the new "Free Edition" has changed. It is based on the same current version of TwistedBrush 13.5 that is available in the Essentials and standard editions. This was done because the older version while it had more features did not highlight (in my opinion) the strengths of the later versions of TwistedBrush. The quality of the brushes, the interface, numerous improvements and fixes. It was a bit of a trade off to make this decision...."
And I agree - it was a trade off. Some of the brushes from 3.5 have survived, but even with over 4000 brushes (yup, that many) I still miss some of the ones that didn't. As for Essentials, well, its a good deal for the money, but its still not as full featured as the 3.5, even with all its upgrades.
nanook - did you get your chance to play yet? What do you think? And yes, I would have sent it to you, but thanks to BuBBy (again!) it didn't come to that :-)
Cheers,
HamstergirlPosted 16 years ago #
Reply
You must log in to post.