Smudging nicer?..

[NM!]

Well, I'm new to smudging and was wondering on tips to do it well. From how I've done it, I only manage to get a cloud of it, while I see like paint scrubbings on other ones, that of course will be used in an effect. So, I was wondering if some of you EWB'sters would kindly help me? I'm using GIMP btw, which is almost like Photoshop.

[Docpepper]

When I smudge I always start with a medium sized soft brush with the opacity down pretty low. usually around 20-30 percent. as I go I decrease the brush size increase the hardness of the brush and pull the opacity to bout 40%

to get different effects you can use different brushes

[SeanDMan]

When I'm smudging something I ALWAYS use a duplicated layer and then blend it down to the original. I think it goes without saying that you should always avoid destroying hard edged and clear source material if at all possible.

[LUKIE]

I smudge a lot when drawing or colouring, just because I always like doing hard lines.

But as SDM said, always duplicate your images.

[NM!]

Thanks.