Frequently Asked Questions
General Topics
To change the cursor in ArtRage, open the Edit Menu, select Preferences, then Cursors. You can select from the three different cursor types here. You can also use the keyboard shortcuts 1,2 and 3 at any time to change to the precise, outline and tool cursors respectively.
To locate your ArtRage version, open the Help menu and click on ‘About ArtRage’. You will see the version number at the bottom right of this window. If you are using the 64 bit version, it will also say so here.
Importing Images
You can import a standard image file to use as the basis of a new painting by opening the File menu and choosing ‘Import Image File’.
Images can also be imported to existing paintings as a new layer by choosing ‘Import Image to layer’ in the File menu. After importing the image, you can scale, rotate and resize it, then either click the check button in the Transform window or press enter to confirm.
Exporting Images
To export your painting as a standard image file, open the File menu and choose ‘Export Image File’. You can select the type of image you want to export here.
The Short Answer
When you create a painting that you want to print in ArtRage for Windows or macOS, follow these steps to make sure it will be the right size when printed:
- Select the ‘Print Size’ tab at the top of the New File panel.
- Enter the physical dimensions you want the printed image to be.
- Enter the DPI value the printer requires when printing.
ArtRage will then calculate how many pixels are required to make the canvas the right size.
For more information, keep reading!
In More Detail…
The size of a painting on your computer screen is not necessarily the same as its size when printed. This is because the number of dots (‘pixels’ on the screen) per inch of space is often different between screens and printed documents.
The trick to creating your painting at the correct size on the screen for the size you want it to be when printed is to use the Print Size option in the ArtRage New File panel, and to understand DPI.
What is DPI?
DPI is an important concept when you want to print. You may see it when you look at the technical specifications of the printer you are using, or a print shop may refer to it when you ask them to print an image.
‘DPI’ stands for ‘dots per inch’ and refers to the number of dots (which are the same as ‘pixels’ here) a printer will place in each inch of space. So, when someone refers to the DPI value of your image, they are referring to how many of its pixels will be placed across an inch of space when printed.
An average computer screen might be 72 DPI, while a high quality print might be 300 or even 600 dpi, so you can see that many more pixels can be required per inch of space when printing an image.
If I create a painting in ArtRage that is 800 x 600, it might be a reasonable size on my screen but if I print it on a printer that applies 300 dots per inch, it will only be 2.6 inches wide by 2 inches tall.
So you don’t really care about DPI when you create an image on your screen – you just create an image that looks the right size while you’re painting it. But you do need to think about it if you are going to print that image later.
Now you know what DPI is, we can look at the two ways you can set up the painting.
Ensuring the Painting is the Right Size When Created.
When you create a painting in ArtRage you can choose to create it using either Screen Size or Print Size by selecting the appropriate tab in the New File panel.
The Screen Size option lets you select how many pixels wide and tall the painting is. This is good for if you will be showing your painting digitally, sharing it online for example, but we want to set up for printing. Note that when you select Screen Size, the info bar below the width and height entry boxes will show you what size that painting would be if printed using a specific DPI value.
The option we want is ‘Print Size’. Print Size lets you select the actual printed dimensions your image will adopt when printed.
When you set the values in Print Size, choose the physical dimensions you want and set the DPI value the printer you will be using requires. ArtRage will then calculate the total amount of pixels width and height the painting requires.
Note: In some cases this may result in a huge painting that has so many pixels ArtRage slows down while you work on it. In these cases, it’s easier to create the painting at a smaller size then export it as an image and increase the size after you’ve painted it in another application.
Further Support.
Understanding print settings can be tricky if you’re not used to it. If you have any problems please Contact Us and we’ll be happy to help!
How can I rescue a PTG painting that won’t open in ArtRage?
If you receive an error message and are unable to open a PTG file, then it probably means that your ArtRage painting was were corrupted at some point. Damaged PTG files usually result from interrupted saves (for example, if the computer shuts down or ArtRage crashes). We will do our best to help troubleshoot the source of ArtRage errors, but usually cannot fix corrupted or partial files. However, if you can see the image thumbnail then that means that the PNG preview image is intact. If you use File > Import Image File to open the damaged files, then it will import the PNG thumbnail. This PNG file is the full size of your painting and high quality. It won’t rescue your layers or other paint information, but it will give you something to work with.Backup Save Files
If crashes happen frequently for any reason, or you are working on an important painting, we recommend turning on the Store Backup Files option. You can find it by going to Edit > ArtRage Preferences > Advanced > Store Backup Files. Adjust the slider to the number of backups you would like to keep. Important: This function does not save a duplicate file. Instead, it keeps a history of previous saved versions. Every time you save, it will delete the oldest backup file, and save the latest changes as a separate file, so if you have made important changes, save twice to update the older back up and the file you are actually working on.If I get a new computer or upgrade my operating system and lose ArtRage, can I reinstall it?
Yes. You can redownload ArtRage Vitae from the Microsoft or Apple App Stores at any time.
If you have an earlier version (ArtRage 6 or earlier), as long as you have the serial number, you can re-download from the members area and install it again. The application should now launch normally.
If you are experiencing problems with ArtRage not reacting to the pressure of you strokes or not painting at all when using a stylus please follow the troubleshooting steps below. For any other problem please Contact us and we’d be happy to help.
Checking ArtRage Input Settings for Stylus Type.
ArtRage supports two different types of tablet input on Windows: The older ‘Wintab’ standard, and the newer ‘Realtime Stylus’ standard. In many cases where the stylus is not producing pressure changes or is not producing paint at all having support for both of these turned on at once can be the cause, so they can be turned off independently.
Follow these steps to change ArtRage input settings:
- Open the ArtRage Preferences panel from the Edit menu and locate the ‘Input’ section.
- Make sure ‘Use Wintab’ is turned on and ‘Use Realtime Stylus’ is turned off. n
- Click OK and restart ArtRage.
- If the problem persists, return to the Preferences panel and turn ‘Use Wintab’ off, and turn ‘Use Realtime Stylus’ on.
- Click OK and restart ArtRage.
This tests whether the problem was caused by ArtRage incorrectly handling information when both standards were supported. If it does not solve the problem, please do the following:
- Make sure that any drivers for your tablet are up to date.
- Contact us and let us know what version of Windows you are using, what type of input device you are using, and exactly what the problem is.
How do I update ArtRage to the latest version?
Incremental updates are provided freely from time to time for our products. The latest versions may contain bug fixes and/or enhancements, etc.
If you bought your copy through an App Store or Steam, updates should be installed automatically. For older versions, (ArtRage 6 or earlier) to download updates you will need to register an account with us at //members.artrage.com
The current versions of ArtRage support the following systems and languages. Note that if your language is not supported, ArtRage will default to English, and ArtRage for Windows or macOS allows you to manually select an alternative language from the list of ones it supports:
Windows or macOS:
ArtRage Vitae and ArtRage 6 support:
Systems: Windows 10 or later, 32 and 64 bit. macOS 10.9 or later, 32 and 64 bit. Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Russian, and Japanese.
ArtRage 5 and ArtRage Lite support:
Systems: Windows Vista or later, 32 and 64 bit. macOS 10.9 or later, 32 and 64 bit. Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Russian, and Japanese.
ArtRage for iOS:
ArtRage for iOS supports:
Systems: iOS 10 or later.
Hardware: ArtRage for iOS is a Universal app that supports both iPad and iPhone. Includes support for Apple Pencil and styluses from Wacom and Adonit.
Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Russian, and Japanese.
ArtRage for Android:
ArtRage for Android and ArtRage Oil Painter Free for Android both support:
Systems: Android 4.0 or later.
Hardware: Phone and Tablet devices with a screen 320dpi or greater. Includes support for Samsung S-Pen.
Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Vietnamese, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional).
ArtRage Vitae Desktop
To change the cursor in ArtRage, open the Edit Menu, select Preferences, then Cursors. You can select from the three different cursor types here. You can also use the keyboard shortcuts 1,2 and 3 at any time to change to the precise, outline and tool cursors respectively.
To locate your ArtRage version, open the Help menu and click on ‘About ArtRage’. You will see the version number at the bottom right of this window. If you are using the 64 bit version, it will also say so here.
Importing Images
You can import a standard image file to use as the basis of a new painting by opening the File menu and choosing ‘Import Image File’.
Images can also be imported to existing paintings as a new layer by choosing ‘Import Image to layer’ in the File menu. After importing the image, you can scale, rotate and resize it, then either click the check button in the Transform window or press enter to confirm.
Exporting Images
To export your painting as a standard image file, open the File menu and choose ‘Export Image File’. You can select the type of image you want to export here.
The Short Answer
When you create a painting that you want to print in ArtRage for Windows or macOS, follow these steps to make sure it will be the right size when printed:
- Select the ‘Print Size’ tab at the top of the New File panel.
- Enter the physical dimensions you want the printed image to be.
- Enter the DPI value the printer requires when printing.
ArtRage will then calculate how many pixels are required to make the canvas the right size.
For more information, keep reading!
In More Detail…
The size of a painting on your computer screen is not necessarily the same as its size when printed. This is because the number of dots (‘pixels’ on the screen) per inch of space is often different between screens and printed documents.
The trick to creating your painting at the correct size on the screen for the size you want it to be when printed is to use the Print Size option in the ArtRage New File panel, and to understand DPI.
What is DPI?
DPI is an important concept when you want to print. You may see it when you look at the technical specifications of the printer you are using, or a print shop may refer to it when you ask them to print an image.
‘DPI’ stands for ‘dots per inch’ and refers to the number of dots (which are the same as ‘pixels’ here) a printer will place in each inch of space. So, when someone refers to the DPI value of your image, they are referring to how many of its pixels will be placed across an inch of space when printed.
An average computer screen might be 72 DPI, while a high quality print might be 300 or even 600 dpi, so you can see that many more pixels can be required per inch of space when printing an image.
If I create a painting in ArtRage that is 800 x 600, it might be a reasonable size on my screen but if I print it on a printer that applies 300 dots per inch, it will only be 2.6 inches wide by 2 inches tall.
So you don’t really care about DPI when you create an image on your screen – you just create an image that looks the right size while you’re painting it. But you do need to think about it if you are going to print that image later.
Now you know what DPI is, we can look at the two ways you can set up the painting.
Ensuring the Painting is the Right Size When Created.
When you create a painting in ArtRage you can choose to create it using either Screen Size or Print Size by selecting the appropriate tab in the New File panel.
The Screen Size option lets you select how many pixels wide and tall the painting is. This is good for if you will be showing your painting digitally, sharing it online for example, but we want to set up for printing. Note that when you select Screen Size, the info bar below the width and height entry boxes will show you what size that painting would be if printed using a specific DPI value.
The option we want is ‘Print Size’. Print Size lets you select the actual printed dimensions your image will adopt when printed.
When you set the values in Print Size, choose the physical dimensions you want and set the DPI value the printer you will be using requires. ArtRage will then calculate the total amount of pixels width and height the painting requires.
Note: In some cases this may result in a huge painting that has so many pixels ArtRage slows down while you work on it. In these cases, it’s easier to create the painting at a smaller size then export it as an image and increase the size after you’ve painted it in another application.
Further Support.
Understanding print settings can be tricky if you’re not used to it. If you have any problems please Contact Us and we’ll be happy to help!
How can I rescue a PTG painting that won’t open in ArtRage?
If you receive an error message and are unable to open a PTG file, then it probably means that your ArtRage painting was were corrupted at some point. Damaged PTG files usually result from interrupted saves (for example, if the computer shuts down or ArtRage crashes). We will do our best to help troubleshoot the source of ArtRage errors, but usually cannot fix corrupted or partial files. However, if you can see the image thumbnail then that means that the PNG preview image is intact. If you use File > Import Image File to open the damaged files, then it will import the PNG thumbnail. This PNG file is the full size of your painting and high quality. It won’t rescue your layers or other paint information, but it will give you something to work with.Backup Save Files
If crashes happen frequently for any reason, or you are working on an important painting, we recommend turning on the Store Backup Files option. You can find it by going to Edit > ArtRage Preferences > Advanced > Store Backup Files. Adjust the slider to the number of backups you would like to keep. Important: This function does not save a duplicate file. Instead, it keeps a history of previous saved versions. Every time you save, it will delete the oldest backup file, and save the latest changes as a separate file, so if you have made important changes, save twice to update the older back up and the file you are actually working on.If I get a new computer or upgrade my operating system and lose ArtRage, can I reinstall it?
Yes. You can redownload ArtRage Vitae from the Microsoft or Apple App Stores at any time.
If you have an earlier version (ArtRage 6 or earlier), as long as you have the serial number, you can re-download from the members area and install it again. The application should now launch normally.
If you are experiencing problems with ArtRage not reacting to the pressure of you strokes or not painting at all when using a stylus please follow the troubleshooting steps below. For any other problem please Contact us and we’d be happy to help.
Checking ArtRage Input Settings for Stylus Type.
ArtRage supports two different types of tablet input on Windows: The older ‘Wintab’ standard, and the newer ‘Realtime Stylus’ standard. In many cases where the stylus is not producing pressure changes or is not producing paint at all having support for both of these turned on at once can be the cause, so they can be turned off independently.
Follow these steps to change ArtRage input settings:
- Open the ArtRage Preferences panel from the Edit menu and locate the ‘Input’ section.
- Make sure ‘Use Wintab’ is turned on and ‘Use Realtime Stylus’ is turned off. n
- Click OK and restart ArtRage.
- If the problem persists, return to the Preferences panel and turn ‘Use Wintab’ off, and turn ‘Use Realtime Stylus’ on.
- Click OK and restart ArtRage.
This tests whether the problem was caused by ArtRage incorrectly handling information when both standards were supported. If it does not solve the problem, please do the following:
- Make sure that any drivers for your tablet are up to date.
- Contact us and let us know what version of Windows you are using, what type of input device you are using, and exactly what the problem is.
How do I update ArtRage to the latest version?
Incremental updates are provided freely from time to time for our products. The latest versions may contain bug fixes and/or enhancements, etc.
If you bought your copy through an App Store or Steam, updates should be installed automatically. For older versions, (ArtRage 6 or earlier) to download updates you will need to register an account with us at //members.artrage.com
The current versions of ArtRage support the following systems and languages. Note that if your language is not supported, ArtRage will default to English, and ArtRage for Windows or macOS allows you to manually select an alternative language from the list of ones it supports:
Windows or macOS:
ArtRage Vitae and ArtRage 6 support:
Systems: Windows 10 or later, 32 and 64 bit. macOS 10.9 or later, 32 and 64 bit. Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Russian, and Japanese.
ArtRage 5 and ArtRage Lite support:
Systems: Windows Vista or later, 32 and 64 bit. macOS 10.9 or later, 32 and 64 bit. Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Russian, and Japanese.
ArtRage for iOS:
ArtRage for iOS supports:
Systems: iOS 10 or later.
Hardware: ArtRage for iOS is a Universal app that supports both iPad and iPhone. Includes support for Apple Pencil and styluses from Wacom and Adonit.
Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Russian, and Japanese.
ArtRage for Android:
ArtRage for Android and ArtRage Oil Painter Free for Android both support:
Systems: Android 4.0 or later.
Hardware: Phone and Tablet devices with a screen 320dpi or greater. Includes support for Samsung S-Pen.
Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Vietnamese, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional).
Painting with ArtRage Topics
To change the cursor in ArtRage, open the Edit Menu, select Preferences, then Cursors. You can select from the three different cursor types here. You can also use the keyboard shortcuts 1,2 and 3 at any time to change to the precise, outline and tool cursors respectively.
To locate your ArtRage version, open the Help menu and click on ‘About ArtRage’. You will see the version number at the bottom right of this window. If you are using the 64 bit version, it will also say so here.
Importing Images
You can import a standard image file to use as the basis of a new painting by opening the File menu and choosing ‘Import Image File’.
Images can also be imported to existing paintings as a new layer by choosing ‘Import Image to layer’ in the File menu. After importing the image, you can scale, rotate and resize it, then either click the check button in the Transform window or press enter to confirm.
Exporting Images
To export your painting as a standard image file, open the File menu and choose ‘Export Image File’. You can select the type of image you want to export here.
The Short Answer
When you create a painting that you want to print in ArtRage for Windows or macOS, follow these steps to make sure it will be the right size when printed:
- Select the ‘Print Size’ tab at the top of the New File panel.
- Enter the physical dimensions you want the printed image to be.
- Enter the DPI value the printer requires when printing.
ArtRage will then calculate how many pixels are required to make the canvas the right size.
For more information, keep reading!
In More Detail…
The size of a painting on your computer screen is not necessarily the same as its size when printed. This is because the number of dots (‘pixels’ on the screen) per inch of space is often different between screens and printed documents.
The trick to creating your painting at the correct size on the screen for the size you want it to be when printed is to use the Print Size option in the ArtRage New File panel, and to understand DPI.
What is DPI?
DPI is an important concept when you want to print. You may see it when you look at the technical specifications of the printer you are using, or a print shop may refer to it when you ask them to print an image.
‘DPI’ stands for ‘dots per inch’ and refers to the number of dots (which are the same as ‘pixels’ here) a printer will place in each inch of space. So, when someone refers to the DPI value of your image, they are referring to how many of its pixels will be placed across an inch of space when printed.
An average computer screen might be 72 DPI, while a high quality print might be 300 or even 600 dpi, so you can see that many more pixels can be required per inch of space when printing an image.
If I create a painting in ArtRage that is 800 x 600, it might be a reasonable size on my screen but if I print it on a printer that applies 300 dots per inch, it will only be 2.6 inches wide by 2 inches tall.
So you don’t really care about DPI when you create an image on your screen – you just create an image that looks the right size while you’re painting it. But you do need to think about it if you are going to print that image later.
Now you know what DPI is, we can look at the two ways you can set up the painting.
Ensuring the Painting is the Right Size When Created.
When you create a painting in ArtRage you can choose to create it using either Screen Size or Print Size by selecting the appropriate tab in the New File panel.
The Screen Size option lets you select how many pixels wide and tall the painting is. This is good for if you will be showing your painting digitally, sharing it online for example, but we want to set up for printing. Note that when you select Screen Size, the info bar below the width and height entry boxes will show you what size that painting would be if printed using a specific DPI value.
The option we want is ‘Print Size’. Print Size lets you select the actual printed dimensions your image will adopt when printed.
When you set the values in Print Size, choose the physical dimensions you want and set the DPI value the printer you will be using requires. ArtRage will then calculate the total amount of pixels width and height the painting requires.
Note: In some cases this may result in a huge painting that has so many pixels ArtRage slows down while you work on it. In these cases, it’s easier to create the painting at a smaller size then export it as an image and increase the size after you’ve painted it in another application.
Further Support.
Understanding print settings can be tricky if you’re not used to it. If you have any problems please Contact Us and we’ll be happy to help!
How can I rescue a PTG painting that won’t open in ArtRage?
If you receive an error message and are unable to open a PTG file, then it probably means that your ArtRage painting was were corrupted at some point. Damaged PTG files usually result from interrupted saves (for example, if the computer shuts down or ArtRage crashes). We will do our best to help troubleshoot the source of ArtRage errors, but usually cannot fix corrupted or partial files. However, if you can see the image thumbnail then that means that the PNG preview image is intact. If you use File > Import Image File to open the damaged files, then it will import the PNG thumbnail. This PNG file is the full size of your painting and high quality. It won’t rescue your layers or other paint information, but it will give you something to work with.Backup Save Files
If crashes happen frequently for any reason, or you are working on an important painting, we recommend turning on the Store Backup Files option. You can find it by going to Edit > ArtRage Preferences > Advanced > Store Backup Files. Adjust the slider to the number of backups you would like to keep. Important: This function does not save a duplicate file. Instead, it keeps a history of previous saved versions. Every time you save, it will delete the oldest backup file, and save the latest changes as a separate file, so if you have made important changes, save twice to update the older back up and the file you are actually working on.If I get a new computer or upgrade my operating system and lose ArtRage, can I reinstall it?
Yes. You can redownload ArtRage Vitae from the Microsoft or Apple App Stores at any time.
If you have an earlier version (ArtRage 6 or earlier), as long as you have the serial number, you can re-download from the members area and install it again. The application should now launch normally.
If you are experiencing problems with ArtRage not reacting to the pressure of you strokes or not painting at all when using a stylus please follow the troubleshooting steps below. For any other problem please Contact us and we’d be happy to help.
Checking ArtRage Input Settings for Stylus Type.
ArtRage supports two different types of tablet input on Windows: The older ‘Wintab’ standard, and the newer ‘Realtime Stylus’ standard. In many cases where the stylus is not producing pressure changes or is not producing paint at all having support for both of these turned on at once can be the cause, so they can be turned off independently.
Follow these steps to change ArtRage input settings:
- Open the ArtRage Preferences panel from the Edit menu and locate the ‘Input’ section.
- Make sure ‘Use Wintab’ is turned on and ‘Use Realtime Stylus’ is turned off. n
- Click OK and restart ArtRage.
- If the problem persists, return to the Preferences panel and turn ‘Use Wintab’ off, and turn ‘Use Realtime Stylus’ on.
- Click OK and restart ArtRage.
This tests whether the problem was caused by ArtRage incorrectly handling information when both standards were supported. If it does not solve the problem, please do the following:
- Make sure that any drivers for your tablet are up to date.
- Contact us and let us know what version of Windows you are using, what type of input device you are using, and exactly what the problem is.
How do I update ArtRage to the latest version?
Incremental updates are provided freely from time to time for our products. The latest versions may contain bug fixes and/or enhancements, etc.
If you bought your copy through an App Store or Steam, updates should be installed automatically. For older versions, (ArtRage 6 or earlier) to download updates you will need to register an account with us at //members.artrage.com
The current versions of ArtRage support the following systems and languages. Note that if your language is not supported, ArtRage will default to English, and ArtRage for Windows or macOS allows you to manually select an alternative language from the list of ones it supports:
Windows or macOS:
ArtRage Vitae and ArtRage 6 support:
Systems: Windows 10 or later, 32 and 64 bit. macOS 10.9 or later, 32 and 64 bit. Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Russian, and Japanese.
ArtRage 5 and ArtRage Lite support:
Systems: Windows Vista or later, 32 and 64 bit. macOS 10.9 or later, 32 and 64 bit. Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Russian, and Japanese.
ArtRage for iOS:
ArtRage for iOS supports:
Systems: iOS 10 or later.
Hardware: ArtRage for iOS is a Universal app that supports both iPad and iPhone. Includes support for Apple Pencil and styluses from Wacom and Adonit.
Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Russian, and Japanese.
ArtRage for Android:
ArtRage for Android and ArtRage Oil Painter Free for Android both support:
Systems: Android 4.0 or later.
Hardware: Phone and Tablet devices with a screen 320dpi or greater. Includes support for Samsung S-Pen.
Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Vietnamese, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional).
ArtRage for iOS / Android Topics
To change the cursor in ArtRage, open the Edit Menu, select Preferences, then Cursors. You can select from the three different cursor types here. You can also use the keyboard shortcuts 1,2 and 3 at any time to change to the precise, outline and tool cursors respectively.
To locate your ArtRage version, open the Help menu and click on ‘About ArtRage’. You will see the version number at the bottom right of this window. If you are using the 64 bit version, it will also say so here.
Importing Images
You can import a standard image file to use as the basis of a new painting by opening the File menu and choosing ‘Import Image File’.
Images can also be imported to existing paintings as a new layer by choosing ‘Import Image to layer’ in the File menu. After importing the image, you can scale, rotate and resize it, then either click the check button in the Transform window or press enter to confirm.
Exporting Images
To export your painting as a standard image file, open the File menu and choose ‘Export Image File’. You can select the type of image you want to export here.
The Short Answer
When you create a painting that you want to print in ArtRage for Windows or macOS, follow these steps to make sure it will be the right size when printed:
- Select the ‘Print Size’ tab at the top of the New File panel.
- Enter the physical dimensions you want the printed image to be.
- Enter the DPI value the printer requires when printing.
ArtRage will then calculate how many pixels are required to make the canvas the right size.
For more information, keep reading!
In More Detail…
The size of a painting on your computer screen is not necessarily the same as its size when printed. This is because the number of dots (‘pixels’ on the screen) per inch of space is often different between screens and printed documents.
The trick to creating your painting at the correct size on the screen for the size you want it to be when printed is to use the Print Size option in the ArtRage New File panel, and to understand DPI.
What is DPI?
DPI is an important concept when you want to print. You may see it when you look at the technical specifications of the printer you are using, or a print shop may refer to it when you ask them to print an image.
‘DPI’ stands for ‘dots per inch’ and refers to the number of dots (which are the same as ‘pixels’ here) a printer will place in each inch of space. So, when someone refers to the DPI value of your image, they are referring to how many of its pixels will be placed across an inch of space when printed.
An average computer screen might be 72 DPI, while a high quality print might be 300 or even 600 dpi, so you can see that many more pixels can be required per inch of space when printing an image.
If I create a painting in ArtRage that is 800 x 600, it might be a reasonable size on my screen but if I print it on a printer that applies 300 dots per inch, it will only be 2.6 inches wide by 2 inches tall.
So you don’t really care about DPI when you create an image on your screen – you just create an image that looks the right size while you’re painting it. But you do need to think about it if you are going to print that image later.
Now you know what DPI is, we can look at the two ways you can set up the painting.
Ensuring the Painting is the Right Size When Created.
When you create a painting in ArtRage you can choose to create it using either Screen Size or Print Size by selecting the appropriate tab in the New File panel.
The Screen Size option lets you select how many pixels wide and tall the painting is. This is good for if you will be showing your painting digitally, sharing it online for example, but we want to set up for printing. Note that when you select Screen Size, the info bar below the width and height entry boxes will show you what size that painting would be if printed using a specific DPI value.
The option we want is ‘Print Size’. Print Size lets you select the actual printed dimensions your image will adopt when printed.
When you set the values in Print Size, choose the physical dimensions you want and set the DPI value the printer you will be using requires. ArtRage will then calculate the total amount of pixels width and height the painting requires.
Note: In some cases this may result in a huge painting that has so many pixels ArtRage slows down while you work on it. In these cases, it’s easier to create the painting at a smaller size then export it as an image and increase the size after you’ve painted it in another application.
Further Support.
Understanding print settings can be tricky if you’re not used to it. If you have any problems please Contact Us and we’ll be happy to help!
How can I rescue a PTG painting that won’t open in ArtRage?
If you receive an error message and are unable to open a PTG file, then it probably means that your ArtRage painting was were corrupted at some point. Damaged PTG files usually result from interrupted saves (for example, if the computer shuts down or ArtRage crashes). We will do our best to help troubleshoot the source of ArtRage errors, but usually cannot fix corrupted or partial files. However, if you can see the image thumbnail then that means that the PNG preview image is intact. If you use File > Import Image File to open the damaged files, then it will import the PNG thumbnail. This PNG file is the full size of your painting and high quality. It won’t rescue your layers or other paint information, but it will give you something to work with.Backup Save Files
If crashes happen frequently for any reason, or you are working on an important painting, we recommend turning on the Store Backup Files option. You can find it by going to Edit > ArtRage Preferences > Advanced > Store Backup Files. Adjust the slider to the number of backups you would like to keep. Important: This function does not save a duplicate file. Instead, it keeps a history of previous saved versions. Every time you save, it will delete the oldest backup file, and save the latest changes as a separate file, so if you have made important changes, save twice to update the older back up and the file you are actually working on.If I get a new computer or upgrade my operating system and lose ArtRage, can I reinstall it?
Yes. You can redownload ArtRage Vitae from the Microsoft or Apple App Stores at any time.
If you have an earlier version (ArtRage 6 or earlier), as long as you have the serial number, you can re-download from the members area and install it again. The application should now launch normally.
If you are experiencing problems with ArtRage not reacting to the pressure of you strokes or not painting at all when using a stylus please follow the troubleshooting steps below. For any other problem please Contact us and we’d be happy to help.
Checking ArtRage Input Settings for Stylus Type.
ArtRage supports two different types of tablet input on Windows: The older ‘Wintab’ standard, and the newer ‘Realtime Stylus’ standard. In many cases where the stylus is not producing pressure changes or is not producing paint at all having support for both of these turned on at once can be the cause, so they can be turned off independently.
Follow these steps to change ArtRage input settings:
- Open the ArtRage Preferences panel from the Edit menu and locate the ‘Input’ section.
- Make sure ‘Use Wintab’ is turned on and ‘Use Realtime Stylus’ is turned off. n
- Click OK and restart ArtRage.
- If the problem persists, return to the Preferences panel and turn ‘Use Wintab’ off, and turn ‘Use Realtime Stylus’ on.
- Click OK and restart ArtRage.
This tests whether the problem was caused by ArtRage incorrectly handling information when both standards were supported. If it does not solve the problem, please do the following:
- Make sure that any drivers for your tablet are up to date.
- Contact us and let us know what version of Windows you are using, what type of input device you are using, and exactly what the problem is.
How do I update ArtRage to the latest version?
Incremental updates are provided freely from time to time for our products. The latest versions may contain bug fixes and/or enhancements, etc.
If you bought your copy through an App Store or Steam, updates should be installed automatically. For older versions, (ArtRage 6 or earlier) to download updates you will need to register an account with us at //members.artrage.com
The current versions of ArtRage support the following systems and languages. Note that if your language is not supported, ArtRage will default to English, and ArtRage for Windows or macOS allows you to manually select an alternative language from the list of ones it supports:
Windows or macOS:
ArtRage Vitae and ArtRage 6 support:
Systems: Windows 10 or later, 32 and 64 bit. macOS 10.9 or later, 32 and 64 bit. Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Russian, and Japanese.
ArtRage 5 and ArtRage Lite support:
Systems: Windows Vista or later, 32 and 64 bit. macOS 10.9 or later, 32 and 64 bit. Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Russian, and Japanese.
ArtRage for iOS:
ArtRage for iOS supports:
Systems: iOS 10 or later.
Hardware: ArtRage for iOS is a Universal app that supports both iPad and iPhone. Includes support for Apple Pencil and styluses from Wacom and Adonit.
Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Russian, and Japanese.
ArtRage for Android:
ArtRage for Android and ArtRage Oil Painter Free for Android both support:
Systems: Android 4.0 or later.
Hardware: Phone and Tablet devices with a screen 320dpi or greater. Includes support for Samsung S-Pen.
Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Vietnamese, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional).
Website Topics
To change the cursor in ArtRage, open the Edit Menu, select Preferences, then Cursors. You can select from the three different cursor types here. You can also use the keyboard shortcuts 1,2 and 3 at any time to change to the precise, outline and tool cursors respectively.
To locate your ArtRage version, open the Help menu and click on ‘About ArtRage’. You will see the version number at the bottom right of this window. If you are using the 64 bit version, it will also say so here.
Importing Images
You can import a standard image file to use as the basis of a new painting by opening the File menu and choosing ‘Import Image File’.
Images can also be imported to existing paintings as a new layer by choosing ‘Import Image to layer’ in the File menu. After importing the image, you can scale, rotate and resize it, then either click the check button in the Transform window or press enter to confirm.
Exporting Images
To export your painting as a standard image file, open the File menu and choose ‘Export Image File’. You can select the type of image you want to export here.
The Short Answer
When you create a painting that you want to print in ArtRage for Windows or macOS, follow these steps to make sure it will be the right size when printed:
- Select the ‘Print Size’ tab at the top of the New File panel.
- Enter the physical dimensions you want the printed image to be.
- Enter the DPI value the printer requires when printing.
ArtRage will then calculate how many pixels are required to make the canvas the right size.
For more information, keep reading!
In More Detail…
The size of a painting on your computer screen is not necessarily the same as its size when printed. This is because the number of dots (‘pixels’ on the screen) per inch of space is often different between screens and printed documents.
The trick to creating your painting at the correct size on the screen for the size you want it to be when printed is to use the Print Size option in the ArtRage New File panel, and to understand DPI.
What is DPI?
DPI is an important concept when you want to print. You may see it when you look at the technical specifications of the printer you are using, or a print shop may refer to it when you ask them to print an image.
‘DPI’ stands for ‘dots per inch’ and refers to the number of dots (which are the same as ‘pixels’ here) a printer will place in each inch of space. So, when someone refers to the DPI value of your image, they are referring to how many of its pixels will be placed across an inch of space when printed.
An average computer screen might be 72 DPI, while a high quality print might be 300 or even 600 dpi, so you can see that many more pixels can be required per inch of space when printing an image.
If I create a painting in ArtRage that is 800 x 600, it might be a reasonable size on my screen but if I print it on a printer that applies 300 dots per inch, it will only be 2.6 inches wide by 2 inches tall.
So you don’t really care about DPI when you create an image on your screen – you just create an image that looks the right size while you’re painting it. But you do need to think about it if you are going to print that image later.
Now you know what DPI is, we can look at the two ways you can set up the painting.
Ensuring the Painting is the Right Size When Created.
When you create a painting in ArtRage you can choose to create it using either Screen Size or Print Size by selecting the appropriate tab in the New File panel.
The Screen Size option lets you select how many pixels wide and tall the painting is. This is good for if you will be showing your painting digitally, sharing it online for example, but we want to set up for printing. Note that when you select Screen Size, the info bar below the width and height entry boxes will show you what size that painting would be if printed using a specific DPI value.
The option we want is ‘Print Size’. Print Size lets you select the actual printed dimensions your image will adopt when printed.
When you set the values in Print Size, choose the physical dimensions you want and set the DPI value the printer you will be using requires. ArtRage will then calculate the total amount of pixels width and height the painting requires.
Note: In some cases this may result in a huge painting that has so many pixels ArtRage slows down while you work on it. In these cases, it’s easier to create the painting at a smaller size then export it as an image and increase the size after you’ve painted it in another application.
Further Support.
Understanding print settings can be tricky if you’re not used to it. If you have any problems please Contact Us and we’ll be happy to help!
How can I rescue a PTG painting that won’t open in ArtRage?
If you receive an error message and are unable to open a PTG file, then it probably means that your ArtRage painting was were corrupted at some point. Damaged PTG files usually result from interrupted saves (for example, if the computer shuts down or ArtRage crashes). We will do our best to help troubleshoot the source of ArtRage errors, but usually cannot fix corrupted or partial files. However, if you can see the image thumbnail then that means that the PNG preview image is intact. If you use File > Import Image File to open the damaged files, then it will import the PNG thumbnail. This PNG file is the full size of your painting and high quality. It won’t rescue your layers or other paint information, but it will give you something to work with.Backup Save Files
If crashes happen frequently for any reason, or you are working on an important painting, we recommend turning on the Store Backup Files option. You can find it by going to Edit > ArtRage Preferences > Advanced > Store Backup Files. Adjust the slider to the number of backups you would like to keep. Important: This function does not save a duplicate file. Instead, it keeps a history of previous saved versions. Every time you save, it will delete the oldest backup file, and save the latest changes as a separate file, so if you have made important changes, save twice to update the older back up and the file you are actually working on.If I get a new computer or upgrade my operating system and lose ArtRage, can I reinstall it?
Yes. You can redownload ArtRage Vitae from the Microsoft or Apple App Stores at any time.
If you have an earlier version (ArtRage 6 or earlier), as long as you have the serial number, you can re-download from the members area and install it again. The application should now launch normally.
If you are experiencing problems with ArtRage not reacting to the pressure of you strokes or not painting at all when using a stylus please follow the troubleshooting steps below. For any other problem please Contact us and we’d be happy to help.
Checking ArtRage Input Settings for Stylus Type.
ArtRage supports two different types of tablet input on Windows: The older ‘Wintab’ standard, and the newer ‘Realtime Stylus’ standard. In many cases where the stylus is not producing pressure changes or is not producing paint at all having support for both of these turned on at once can be the cause, so they can be turned off independently.
Follow these steps to change ArtRage input settings:
- Open the ArtRage Preferences panel from the Edit menu and locate the ‘Input’ section.
- Make sure ‘Use Wintab’ is turned on and ‘Use Realtime Stylus’ is turned off. n
- Click OK and restart ArtRage.
- If the problem persists, return to the Preferences panel and turn ‘Use Wintab’ off, and turn ‘Use Realtime Stylus’ on.
- Click OK and restart ArtRage.
This tests whether the problem was caused by ArtRage incorrectly handling information when both standards were supported. If it does not solve the problem, please do the following:
- Make sure that any drivers for your tablet are up to date.
- Contact us and let us know what version of Windows you are using, what type of input device you are using, and exactly what the problem is.
How do I update ArtRage to the latest version?
Incremental updates are provided freely from time to time for our products. The latest versions may contain bug fixes and/or enhancements, etc.
If you bought your copy through an App Store or Steam, updates should be installed automatically. For older versions, (ArtRage 6 or earlier) to download updates you will need to register an account with us at //members.artrage.com
The current versions of ArtRage support the following systems and languages. Note that if your language is not supported, ArtRage will default to English, and ArtRage for Windows or macOS allows you to manually select an alternative language from the list of ones it supports:
Windows or macOS:
ArtRage Vitae and ArtRage 6 support:
Systems: Windows 10 or later, 32 and 64 bit. macOS 10.9 or later, 32 and 64 bit. Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Russian, and Japanese.
ArtRage 5 and ArtRage Lite support:
Systems: Windows Vista or later, 32 and 64 bit. macOS 10.9 or later, 32 and 64 bit. Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Russian, and Japanese.
ArtRage for iOS:
ArtRage for iOS supports:
Systems: iOS 10 or later.
Hardware: ArtRage for iOS is a Universal app that supports both iPad and iPhone. Includes support for Apple Pencil and styluses from Wacom and Adonit.
Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Russian, and Japanese.
ArtRage for Android:
ArtRage for Android and ArtRage Oil Painter Free for Android both support:
Systems: Android 4.0 or later.
Hardware: Phone and Tablet devices with a screen 320dpi or greater. Includes support for Samsung S-Pen.
Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Vietnamese, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional).
ArtRage 6 & Earlier
To change the cursor in ArtRage, open the Edit Menu, select Preferences, then Cursors. You can select from the three different cursor types here. You can also use the keyboard shortcuts 1,2 and 3 at any time to change to the precise, outline and tool cursors respectively.
To locate your ArtRage version, open the Help menu and click on ‘About ArtRage’. You will see the version number at the bottom right of this window. If you are using the 64 bit version, it will also say so here.
Importing Images
You can import a standard image file to use as the basis of a new painting by opening the File menu and choosing ‘Import Image File’.
Images can also be imported to existing paintings as a new layer by choosing ‘Import Image to layer’ in the File menu. After importing the image, you can scale, rotate and resize it, then either click the check button in the Transform window or press enter to confirm.
Exporting Images
To export your painting as a standard image file, open the File menu and choose ‘Export Image File’. You can select the type of image you want to export here.
The Short Answer
When you create a painting that you want to print in ArtRage for Windows or macOS, follow these steps to make sure it will be the right size when printed:
- Select the ‘Print Size’ tab at the top of the New File panel.
- Enter the physical dimensions you want the printed image to be.
- Enter the DPI value the printer requires when printing.
ArtRage will then calculate how many pixels are required to make the canvas the right size.
For more information, keep reading!
In More Detail…
The size of a painting on your computer screen is not necessarily the same as its size when printed. This is because the number of dots (‘pixels’ on the screen) per inch of space is often different between screens and printed documents.
The trick to creating your painting at the correct size on the screen for the size you want it to be when printed is to use the Print Size option in the ArtRage New File panel, and to understand DPI.
What is DPI?
DPI is an important concept when you want to print. You may see it when you look at the technical specifications of the printer you are using, or a print shop may refer to it when you ask them to print an image.
‘DPI’ stands for ‘dots per inch’ and refers to the number of dots (which are the same as ‘pixels’ here) a printer will place in each inch of space. So, when someone refers to the DPI value of your image, they are referring to how many of its pixels will be placed across an inch of space when printed.
An average computer screen might be 72 DPI, while a high quality print might be 300 or even 600 dpi, so you can see that many more pixels can be required per inch of space when printing an image.
If I create a painting in ArtRage that is 800 x 600, it might be a reasonable size on my screen but if I print it on a printer that applies 300 dots per inch, it will only be 2.6 inches wide by 2 inches tall.
So you don’t really care about DPI when you create an image on your screen – you just create an image that looks the right size while you’re painting it. But you do need to think about it if you are going to print that image later.
Now you know what DPI is, we can look at the two ways you can set up the painting.
Ensuring the Painting is the Right Size When Created.
When you create a painting in ArtRage you can choose to create it using either Screen Size or Print Size by selecting the appropriate tab in the New File panel.
The Screen Size option lets you select how many pixels wide and tall the painting is. This is good for if you will be showing your painting digitally, sharing it online for example, but we want to set up for printing. Note that when you select Screen Size, the info bar below the width and height entry boxes will show you what size that painting would be if printed using a specific DPI value.
The option we want is ‘Print Size’. Print Size lets you select the actual printed dimensions your image will adopt when printed.
When you set the values in Print Size, choose the physical dimensions you want and set the DPI value the printer you will be using requires. ArtRage will then calculate the total amount of pixels width and height the painting requires.
Note: In some cases this may result in a huge painting that has so many pixels ArtRage slows down while you work on it. In these cases, it’s easier to create the painting at a smaller size then export it as an image and increase the size after you’ve painted it in another application.
Further Support.
Understanding print settings can be tricky if you’re not used to it. If you have any problems please Contact Us and we’ll be happy to help!
How can I rescue a PTG painting that won’t open in ArtRage?
If you receive an error message and are unable to open a PTG file, then it probably means that your ArtRage painting was were corrupted at some point. Damaged PTG files usually result from interrupted saves (for example, if the computer shuts down or ArtRage crashes). We will do our best to help troubleshoot the source of ArtRage errors, but usually cannot fix corrupted or partial files. However, if you can see the image thumbnail then that means that the PNG preview image is intact. If you use File > Import Image File to open the damaged files, then it will import the PNG thumbnail. This PNG file is the full size of your painting and high quality. It won’t rescue your layers or other paint information, but it will give you something to work with.Backup Save Files
If crashes happen frequently for any reason, or you are working on an important painting, we recommend turning on the Store Backup Files option. You can find it by going to Edit > ArtRage Preferences > Advanced > Store Backup Files. Adjust the slider to the number of backups you would like to keep. Important: This function does not save a duplicate file. Instead, it keeps a history of previous saved versions. Every time you save, it will delete the oldest backup file, and save the latest changes as a separate file, so if you have made important changes, save twice to update the older back up and the file you are actually working on.If I get a new computer or upgrade my operating system and lose ArtRage, can I reinstall it?
Yes. You can redownload ArtRage Vitae from the Microsoft or Apple App Stores at any time.
If you have an earlier version (ArtRage 6 or earlier), as long as you have the serial number, you can re-download from the members area and install it again. The application should now launch normally.
If you are experiencing problems with ArtRage not reacting to the pressure of you strokes or not painting at all when using a stylus please follow the troubleshooting steps below. For any other problem please Contact us and we’d be happy to help.
Checking ArtRage Input Settings for Stylus Type.
ArtRage supports two different types of tablet input on Windows: The older ‘Wintab’ standard, and the newer ‘Realtime Stylus’ standard. In many cases where the stylus is not producing pressure changes or is not producing paint at all having support for both of these turned on at once can be the cause, so they can be turned off independently.
Follow these steps to change ArtRage input settings:
- Open the ArtRage Preferences panel from the Edit menu and locate the ‘Input’ section.
- Make sure ‘Use Wintab’ is turned on and ‘Use Realtime Stylus’ is turned off. n
- Click OK and restart ArtRage.
- If the problem persists, return to the Preferences panel and turn ‘Use Wintab’ off, and turn ‘Use Realtime Stylus’ on.
- Click OK and restart ArtRage.
This tests whether the problem was caused by ArtRage incorrectly handling information when both standards were supported. If it does not solve the problem, please do the following:
- Make sure that any drivers for your tablet are up to date.
- Contact us and let us know what version of Windows you are using, what type of input device you are using, and exactly what the problem is.
How do I update ArtRage to the latest version?
Incremental updates are provided freely from time to time for our products. The latest versions may contain bug fixes and/or enhancements, etc.
If you bought your copy through an App Store or Steam, updates should be installed automatically. For older versions, (ArtRage 6 or earlier) to download updates you will need to register an account with us at //members.artrage.com
The current versions of ArtRage support the following systems and languages. Note that if your language is not supported, ArtRage will default to English, and ArtRage for Windows or macOS allows you to manually select an alternative language from the list of ones it supports:
Windows or macOS:
ArtRage Vitae and ArtRage 6 support:
Systems: Windows 10 or later, 32 and 64 bit. macOS 10.9 or later, 32 and 64 bit. Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Russian, and Japanese.
ArtRage 5 and ArtRage Lite support:
Systems: Windows Vista or later, 32 and 64 bit. macOS 10.9 or later, 32 and 64 bit. Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Russian, and Japanese.
ArtRage for iOS:
ArtRage for iOS supports:
Systems: iOS 10 or later.
Hardware: ArtRage for iOS is a Universal app that supports both iPad and iPhone. Includes support for Apple Pencil and styluses from Wacom and Adonit.
Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Dutch, Russian, and Japanese.
ArtRage for Android:
ArtRage for Android and ArtRage Oil Painter Free for Android both support:
Systems: Android 4.0 or later.
Hardware: Phone and Tablet devices with a screen 320dpi or greater. Includes support for Samsung S-Pen.
Languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Vietnamese, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional).