Art software mimics real paint

Corel's new Painter lX is the closest software has yet come to reproducing the effects of paints and brushes with a digital palette, the company claims.

The product was released in London at the same time as a range of Wacom pen tablets designed to take advantage of the new software and allow artists to transfer their traditional skills to computers.

New features include a revamped oil-painting system in which colours behave very much like the real thing; enhanced brush controls; snap-to-path painting; and water colours that stay 'wet' between sessions, allowing you to resume painting where you left off.

A quick-clone tool transforms a photo into a painting, a feature increasingly offered at a price by high-street photographers. Corel says Painter is designed to complement rather than rival imaging packages such as Photoshop.

Painter IX is between two and 10 times faster than its predecessor, according to Corel. It will be available in October for £249 ex VAT, or £99 as an upgrade. There is also a £59 education edition.

The Wacom Intuos3 tablets come with a 'lite' version of Painter, a five-button mouse, and a pen with two extra nibs mimicking the feel and effects of a brush and a feltpen. The A4, A5 and A6 versions cost £305, £199.99 and £129.99 ex VAT respectively. A digital airbrush costs £84.99 extra.