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Welcome to Rebelle 6!
Rebelle is a one-of-a-kind painting and drawing software that lets you create realistic artwork for screens and for print. Along with powerful and intuitive tools, Rebelle offers stunning real-time simulations of paint and ink flows, color blending, diffusion, and drying. It reproduces the ways media naturally behave including interactions with the canvas and with themselves. Rebelle lets you paint, smear, re-wet, tilt and blow colors across the page, direct drops and runs, and create countless other effects with one or with a combination of several media together.
We designed Rebelle for digital creatives as well as for traditional artists. In fact, Rebelle is for anyone who wants to use the latest in groundbreaking technology to expand and enhance their art-making skills.
Rebelle is the first software in the world to implement state-of-the-art color mixing based on traditional pigments. Taking advantage of NanoPixel, Rebelle 6 Pro introduces Fractal Image Processing – the image recognition machine learning algorithm. It will keep the best image quality and sharp details while using the new Warp and Liquify tools, transforming and deforming layers or objects on the canvas. Powerfully upgraded Brush Creator comes with vast options to create new original brushes - grunge, textured, granulation, and others with great diversity.
The positioning of objects becomes much easier with the option to enable and adjust grids and guides on the canvas and reference image. Rebelle 6 comes with additional masking tools for controlling the visibility of the layers: Layer Masks and Clipping Masks. The option to save Favorite Brushes makes the painting process faster and even more personal.
The realistic feel of the software is enhanced by a new stroke length feature, which determines when the brush runs out of paint.
To ensure you can use all that’s new in Rebelle 6, we’ve expanded this manual. In it, you’ll find detailed instructions to support your full use of the software, along with technical explanations of key features and useful hints on their application.
Thank you for your purchase and welcome to Rebelle 6! I hope you have a great time painting!
Peter Blaškovič
Creator of Rebelle
Installing and Registering Rebelle 6
Understanding Tools, Brushes, and their Properties 15
Oil & Acrylic Tool Properties 19
Express Oil Tool Properties 25
Smudge & Liquify Tool Properties 44
Canvas Size Tool Properties 56
Brush Creator: Shape & Grain 75
Working with Ruler & Perspective Tools 145
Working with Masking Tools 148
Working with Grid & Guides 152
Escape Motions Connect - Photoshop Plug-in 161
Creating, Opening and Saving Paintings 163
Publish from Community website 167
Edit your Community profile and artworks in Gallery 167
Download & Install
After purchasing Rebelle, you will be asked to create a Community account. You will then receive a registration email with a download link for the full version of the software.
If you already have an active Community account on the Escape Motions website, log in to your account before purchasing - after the purchase, Rebelle 6 will be added to your account automatically.
Mac OS X Users
Click the link provided in the registration email to download a .dmg file.
Locate the Rebelle installer file named "Rebelle 6.dmg", double-click it and follow the instructions to complete the installation.
Drag&drop the Rebelle icon to the Applications folder or any other folder you run the software from.
Windows Users
Click the link provided in the registration email to download an .exe file.
Locate the Rebelle installer file named "Rebelle 6.exe", double-click it and follow the instructions to complete the installation.
Rebelle will be installed in the Program Files folder by default. You can select a different location during the installation.
License Type
During installation, you will be asked to choose a type of your license:
Standalone - Select this option if you purchased the Standalone software license for an individual user (private individual) or a single shared computer for multiple users (commercial enterprise).
Floating - Pool of licenses. Select this option if you purchased a Floating software license. The software can be installed on a network of computers allowing access to multiple users. License for the maximum number of simultaneous users works on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.
Registration
When you first launch Rebelle, you will be asked to register the software.
To register:
Ensure you are connected to the internet - this is required to validate your registration details.
Enter your Community account credentials (Email address/Username and Password) in the registration window.
Accept the license agreement and click the "OK" button.
Application Launch
When you launch Rebelle for the first time (or after updating to a newer version), you will see the Intro Tutorial describing Rebelle’s essential tools. You can re-open the Intro Tutorial anytime by choosing Help > Intro Tutorial.
System Requirements
Minimum: Intel i5 or equivalent AMD processor, 4 GB RAM, 200 MB hard disk space,
a graphics card with 1 GB RAM (OpenGL 3.3 required for Rebelle Pro), Windows 10 (64-bit) or Mac OS X 10.14.
Recommended: Intel i7 (6th gen or newer), equivalent AMD processor, or Apple M1 chip with Rosetta 2, 16 GB RAM, 1 GB hard disk space, a graphics card with 2 GB RAM, Nvidia gtx760 for FullHD, gtx1060 for 4K screen, or equivalent graphics card, Windows 10 (64-bit) or Mac OS X 10.15 and newer, Wacom or Windows Ink compatible tablet.
Rebelle 6 and Rebelle 6 Pro
Rebelle 6 Pro edition features a couple of advanced features for all artists wanting to try out the latest technology: Pigments, NanoPixel, Fractal Image Processing, Photoshop plug-in and Color Management. The upgrade from Rebelle 6 to Rebelle 6 Pro is possible anytime, either from your Community account or from the Rebelle 6 menu: Help > Upgrade to Pro.
After you purchase the Pro edition, restart your current Rebelle 6 with an internet connection - the additional Pro features will become available.
Tablet Support
When you first launch Rebelle 6 you will be asked to select your tablet device:
Wacom compatible (Wintab);
Xencelabs tablet;
Windows 8+ Pointer Input (for Windows users only); or
Windows Ink compatible (for Windows users only).
You can change the tablet type anytime by choosing Edit > Preferences > Tablet. Software restart will be required for the new setting to load.
Rebelle is fully tested on Wacom and Surface tablets. Wacom tablets can be plugged into PC as well as Macintosh, Surface tablets run under Windows OS. Rebelle also works on Huion, XP-Pen, or Monoprice tablets which could be a good alternative.
Languages
Rebelle 6 is available in many different languages. Select the interface language of your choice by choosing Help > Language. You must restart Rebelle to apply any language changes.
Getting Support for Rebelle
This manual is meant to be the primary reference for information about and for help using Rebelle 6. We have tried to make it easy to read with all the key details you need to know. You can also visit our Community forum on the Escape Motions website at escapemotions.com/community.
If you still have questions after you check this manual and the Community forum, please send an email to [email protected]. You can contact us at the same email if you would like to report technical issues (and also if you just want to say hello!).
When reporting an issue with Rebelle, please include details of your computer’s configuration (i.e., Windows / Mac OS, 32 / 64-bit OS, processor, graphics card, memory, etc.). This will help us to resolve issues and respond with answers much faster.
Community
We encourage you to visit the Escape Motions Community where you can join in discussions about the software, get tips and tricks, share your feedback, create your own portfolio, post to the public Gallery, and download software and assets. Just log in at escapemotions.com/community with your Community account.
Do keep in touch on our social channels as well - click on any icon below and visit us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, YouTube, DeviantArt, Behance, and Instagram.
- Menu Bar
- Tools Panel
- Properties Panel
- Brushes Panel
- Navigator Panel
- Color Panel
- Color Set Panel
- Layers Panel
- Brush Creator Panel
- Preview Panel
- Reference Image Panel
- Volume Presets Panel
- Ruler Tool / Perspective Tool Panel
- Tilt Panel
- Stencils Panel
- Visual Settings Panel
- Mixing Palette Panel
- Record Time-lapse Panel
Working with Panels
Most of Rebelle’s functions and tools can be accessed from its panels. Each may be opened, closed, and resized, at any time. The full set can be found under the main menu > Window. Panels may float freely, or they can be docked at either side of the Rebelle application window. To dock a panel, drag it to your preferred side of the interface and release it there.
TIP: All panels are dockable on the left and right of the interface window - you can also change positions and adjust their width. Panels hide automatically while you are painting on the canvas behind them.
Two or more panels can be nested within the dock by dragging one panel onto another. Identifying tabs will appear above the combined title bar. To remove a nested panel, you can either close it or drag its back beyond the dock. To close a panel, click its ‘Close’ button or
choose Close under the panels' own menu identified by the icon.
TIP: You can also dock the Tools, Properties, Brushes and Navigator panels at the top or bottom of the user interface. Select this option in Preferences > General > Interface.
Find default keyboard shortcuts for opening/closing a panel in Edit menu > Keyboard Shortcuts > Window. You can customize these shortcuts anytime.
You can collapse every panel or open the panel’s menu via the buttons present in the top
left and right corner of each panel:
Collapse Panel - Click to collapse the panel.
Panel Menu - Click to open the panel menu.
Desktop and Tablet Mode
Rebelle interface can be switched from desktop to tablet mode using the ‘TAB’ shortcut. The tablet mode lets you focus on the canvas without any unnecessary distractions of the user interface. When you need a certain panel, you can open it by using the appropriate shortcut.
Set up how the desktop and tablet mode should work by going to Edit > Preferences > General. Here you can adjust the following:
When the interface is in Tablet mode, show panels:
Under the cursor - The panel will open under the cursor.
In the last position - The panel will open in the last position you used.
In the center of the screen - The panel will open in the center of your screen.
Show only one panel at once when in Tablet mode. - Check this option to see only one panel at once. The previously opened panel will automatically close when you open another panel.
Always undock the panel instead of hiding when Tablet mode is off. - Check this option to undock the panel from the user interface when you close it with a shortcut.
Interface Theme
You can select between the default dark interface or a light theme via Preferences > General
> Interface > Theme. Click OK to confirm - the theme of the interface will be changed immediately.
The light theme of the interface (on the left) vs. the default dark interface on the right.
You can customize Rebelle’s interface according to your needs. Below are a few layout examples:
1. Default interface arrangement with 2. Tools, Properties and Brushes panels in a floating Tilt panel. vertical mode on the left side with other panels
nested on the right.
4. Tools, Properties and Color Set panels in vertical mode with other panels nested on the left.
3. Tools, Properties and Brushes panel
in horizontal mode on the top, other panels merged on the left side.
TIP: You can save your panel layout by choosing Window > Export Layout. To open a previously saved layout, choose Window > Import Layout.
VIDEO TUTORIAL: Learn more about Rebelle’s user interface and how to customize it in this
video: User Interface and its Customization.
The Tools panel gives you quick access to the painting tools and other functions. Close & reopen the Tools panel from the Window menu or by tapping the ‘F3’ shortcut.
Collapse Panel - Click to collapse the panel.
This option is present on every panel.
Tools Panel Menu - Click to open the Tools panel menu. You can close the panel from this menu. You can re-open this and any panel by choosing it in the Window menu.
- Painting Tools - There are eight paint wet and dry media tools in Rebelle:
Oils & Acrylics, Express Oils, Watercolors, Inks, Pencils, Pastels, Markers, Airbrushes and Favorite brushes.
Tools can be selected from the Tools Panel and also by using a keyboard shortcut. By tapping or holding the appropriate key, a tool is selected for use. If you hold a key, the selection returns to the previously selected tool upon key release. If tap the appropriate key, the corresponding tool will be selected until you change it.
TIP: All keyboard shortcuts can be changed by choosing Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts. Further information on how to do so is provided under the Keyboard Shortcuts section of this manual.
- Tools:
Blend - Blends together colors and brush marks. (shortcut: tap or hold ‘N’)
Smudge & Liquify - Drags and distorts colors and brush marks without blending them or pushes, pulls, rotates, reflects, puckers, and bloats any area of an image.
(shortcut: tap or hold ‘S’)
Clone - Duplicates colors and brush marks in a new location on the same layer.
(shortcut: tap ‘Shift + C’ to activate the tool, tap and hold ‘Alt’ to select the clone source)
Eraser - Erases color and brush marks. (shortcut: tap or hold ‘E’ or use your stylus’
eraser)
TIP: You can also select the Eraser Tool by tapping or holding the button on your tablet’s stylus (i.e., the tablet pen). This is subject to the type of stylus you’re using and to its configuration in the operating system.
Fill - Fills in areas that are either blank or that have existing marks of a similar color.
(shortcut: tap ‘L’)
Pick Color - Selects a color from your canvas. (shortcut: tap or hold ‘I’, or hold ‘Alt’) 
Water - Applies water or oil to a specific part of the canvas wetting any brush marks on it. (shortcut: tap or hold ‘W’)
Dry - Removes water or oil from a specific part of the canvas drying any brush marks on it. (shortcut: tap or hold ‘Y’)
Blow - Blows wet colors and drips across the canvas. (shortcut: tap or hold ‘O’)
Selection - Selects areas or marks on the canvas, typically to carry out operations on the selected areas. (shortcut: tap ‘M’)
Transform - Moves, scales, rotates, flips, or warps and deforms the proportions of selected areas or entire layers. (shortcut: tap ‘T’)
Canvas Size / Image Size - Resizes or crops the canvas across all layers.
Hit ‘Ctrl + Alt + C’ (on Windows) or ‘Cmd + Alt + C’ (on macOS) to activate the Canvas Size. Hit ‘Ctrl + Alt + I’ (on Windows) or ‘Cmd + Alt + I’ (on macOS) to activate the Image Size.
Undo - Undoes the last operation performed. (shortcut: ‘Ctrl + Z’ on Windows /
‘Cmd + Z’ on macOS)
Redo - Used after Undo, redoes any operation. (shortcut: ‘Ctrl + Shift + Z’ on Windows
/ ‘Cmd + Shift + Z’ on macOS)
NOTE: Undo and Redo do not have an impact on operations made to the interface
(e.g., moving a panel, adding a color to a Color Set, etc.). They also do not impact preference changes or options like selecting a Color Profile.
Before moving on to describe individual tool properties, let us take a moment to talk about brushes. ‘Brushes‘ in Rebelle refers to the defined shapes and behaviors of tools - those tools that apply or manipulate marks on the canvas.
Tools: All Rebelle tools that make or modify marks on the canvas can have one or several brushes.
Brushes: Each brush is defined by its shape, grain and a set of properties.
A brush’s properties include:
volumes (brush settings available in the Properties panel settings);
paint modes (modes available in the Properties panel settings); and
mechanics (brush settings available in the Brush Creator panel settings).
Volumes: Brushes can have up to 4 adjustable settings. For example, an Oil & Acrylic paint brush has the settings Size, Loading, Oiliness, and Pressure.
You can save custom volume presets via the Volume Presets panel – access it via the Window menu.
Paint Modes: A brush may have one or several modes. For example, a Watercolor brush has Paint, Paint & Mix, Paint & Blend, Blend and Erase modes.
- Mechanics: Each brush can be customized in the Brush Creator panel. Open this panel from the Window menu or click the button in the Properties panel.
VIDEO TUTORIAL: Learn more about Rebelle’s Properties and Volume Presets in this video: Properties Panel, Volume Presets.
Tools have various Properties (presented in the Properties panel) that can be adjusted to serve different methods or effects. Close & reopen the Properties panel from the Window menu or by tapping the ‘F4’ shortcut.
The Properties panel shows settings and options related to a selected tool. These basic properties are described below.
Any changes you make to a brush in the Properties panel, for instance, a change to its Size, or its Paint Mode, can be temporary or saved and applied every time you use the same brush.
Use the Save Volumes menu to set how each brush’s Properties are treated:
Save Volumes (Size, Opacity, and Water) into Brush Preset.
- Save Volumes and Paint Mode into Brush Preset.
Don’t Save Volumes and Paint Modes into Brush Preset.
Reset Brush Changes - Reset the selected brush preset to its default (or the last saved) state. (shortcut ‘Ctrl + Shift + H‘ on Windows / ‘Cmd + Shift + H‘ on macOS)
The Brush Panel can be set to show just the
names of brushes, or it can show icons that
include visual representations of each brush’s saved properties. For instance, icons can show a brush’s shape, stroke, and saved volumes.
Volumes appear as horizontal lines under the icon
representing the brush’s volume sliders.
To change the way brush icons are represented, choose the desired options under the
Brushes panel menu > Icon.
Line Smoothing Options - Rebelle can help to stabilize your stylus as you use it. You can choose from options to smooth the strokes you make and the pressure you apply. These Line Smoothing Options apply whatever tool you are using.
You can save the Line Smoothing Options to the currently
selected brush preset using the ‘Save to Brush Preset’
button:
Position Smoothing - There are two options for smoothing the strokes or lines drawn with a stylus: Moving Average or Pulled String. The strength of either can be set between minimum and maximum.
Moving Average - Calculates a smooth line by averaging the change in position of the stylus as you move it across the canvas. This option will enable you to create smoother lines when painting dynamic strokes with curves and soft corners.
Pulled String - Creates a virtual ‘string’ between the position of the stylus and the mark it draws on the canvas. This option creates smoother lines in your detailed work with sharp corners as it is more precise thanks to the string that pulls the cursor on a more controllable way.
No Position Smoothing - No stabilization for the drawings. The cursor follows your stylus or mouse movement without any line smoothing.
Pressure Smoothing - Between Min and Max, sets the level of smoothing applied to changes in the stylus pressure applied as you draw on the canvas.
Pressure Sensitivity - Between Soft and Firm, sets the sensitivity of the changes in pressure. When set to Soft less pressure is required for a greater change (e.g. in size or opacity of the brush stroke), when set to Firm more pressure is required.
You can adjust the Pressure Sensitivity also via the Curve Editor. Open the Curve Editor using the button .
When you adjust the curve, the Pressure Sensitivity slider will be grayed out as the setting from the curve will be used.
To reset the curve back to the default settings, use the Reset button: 
VIDEO TUTORIAL: Learn more about Rebelle’s Line Smoothing options in this video: Line Smoothing, Pressure Smoothing and Sensitivity.
Properties Panel Menu:
Reset Brush Changes - Reset the selected brush preset to its default (the last saved) state.
Save Changes as Default - Save any changes made to the selected brush as default.
Save as New Brush Preset - Save your brush settings as a new brush preset.
Show Sliders - Select which sliders appear in the Properties panel.
Use Preset Volumes - Select which volume properties are saved with a brush preset.
Close - Close the Properties panel. You can re-open the panel from the Window menu.
The Oils & Acrylics simulate thin or thick (impasto) painting with a wide variety of preset brushes.
Activate the tool by choosing it in the Tools panel
or by tapping the ‘Shift + O’ shortcut.
The Size, Loading, and Oiliness of the brushes are set in the Properties panel. The more complex mechanics that define an oil or acrylic brush are set in the Brush Creator panel.
Size - Determines the size of an oil or acrylic brush as a percentage (1 to 100) of the brush’s maximum size (set in the Brush Creator panel).
Loading - Determines the amount of color (i.e. oil paint) applied by the brush as a percentage (1 to 100) of the brush’s maximum opacity (set in the Brush Creator panel).
Oiliness - Determines the oiliness of the color applied by the brush (1 to 100). Lower settings define a drier brush, and higher settings a more oily, smudgy brush.
Pressure - Determines the pressure applied to the brush (1 to 100). This slider is provided for those using a mouse or a stylus that is not pressure-sensitive.
Length - Determines the length of the stroke (1 to 100). At the lower settings, the brush
“runs out of” paint quickly, with the highest ‘100’ setting, the paint on the brush is infinite.
VIDEO TUTORIAL: Learn more about the Length slider in this video: Stroke Length.
NOTE: The Pressure and Length sliders are hidden by default. You can view it anytime by selecting ‘Pressure’ and ‘Length’ in the Properties panel menu > Show Sliders.
Examples of brushstrokes with different 'Length' settings - the top stroke shows infinite loading, and the bottom stroke runs out of paint almost immediately.
You can also change the size or loading of oil or acrylic brushes without using the Properties panel. To do so, hold Ctrl (or Cmd) key on the keyboard while dragging the mouse or stylus:
Drag to the left to decrease brush size.
Drag to the right to increase brush size.
Drag down to decrease the loading of the brush.
Drag up to increase the loading of the brush.
When you engage in this process, the on-screen representation of the brush (the brush pointer) will first appear in its Resize Color along with the info window with the current volumes’ values. The brush pointer will then change in size or loading depending on which direction you drag it and the info window will update accordingly.
TIP: The brush Resize Color of the brush pointer can be changed in the Preferences panel > Tools.
Brush Creator - Opens the Brush Creator with many more settings for brush customization.
‘Oils & Acrylics’ Tool Modes
Oil and acrylic brushes have several different modes that determine how each brush applies, blends, or removes color from the canvas.
MultiColored Brush - Load two or more colors onto the brush tip and paint with multiple colors. The beginning of the multicolored brush stroke consists of all picked colors.
The colors are then mixed together into a color which is the average value of these colors. The MultiColored brush can be activated also by tapping the ‘Alt + M’ shortcut.
TIP: By using the shortcut ‘Alt’ (Pick Color) or ‘X’ (Mix color) you can load more than one color from the canvas or color set onto the brush tip using several clicks.
