Texture Paint Mode
Before actually painting (several more steps are needed before you begin), let’s very briefly see how the Texture Paint Mode works. In Figure 9.1, you can see how the main interface in the 3D View and the Tools Region changes substantially. Now the cursor is circular and resembles a “brush” and the Tools Region options are completely different from those in other modes.
You can select from a variety of tools (while they’re referred to as tools, they are indeed brushes), such as Brush, Clone, Smear, Soften (similar to a blur), etc. With the number of options available to you, you’ll be able to adjust settings for a brush/tool at the bottom of the Tools Region. You can adjust its radius and strength (its opacity), its texture, the profile curve it will have, or you can even use the Smooth Stroke feature. You can also create your own tool presets for fast access to them. Of course, you can also select the color with which you’ll paint.
For the radius and strength of the brush, it’s worth noting that you can quickly change those two values with shortcuts from the 3D View: press F, move the mouse to define the radius (you’ll see a preview of the resulting brush radius as you move your mouse), and confirm with a left click to change the radius; press Shift + F, move the mouse, and confirm with a left click to change the strength of your brush.
In the previous chapter, you learned a lot about the UV/Image Editor. Do you remember that there is a button on the header that lets you change between View, Paint, and Mask modes? Well, when you’re working in Texture Paint Mode in the 3D View, if you switch to the Paint Mode in the UV/Image Editor, then you’ll also be able to paint over the 2D image.
It’s very important to know that in the 3D View, you can only paint on the object you have selected, and if more than one object is selected, you’ll only paint on the active one. To paint on a different object, you’ll have to switch back to Object Mode, select another object, and go back into Texture Paint Mode.