Erase paint from the canvas

You can erase paint from the canvas using any brush by setting the brush type to Erase. Painting over an image on the canvas with an Erase brush removes the color from the painted pixels, revealing the underlying canvas Clear Color and maintaining the shape of the brush. For example, if the brush has leaves, the color is removed where the leaves are painted. If you change the default clear color without applying it, the original clear color is revealed. Erasing also removes alpha.

To erase brush strokes from the canvas

1. Modify the canvas Clear Color, if necessary. For information on setting the canvas Clear Color, see To set the default clear color of the canvas.
2. Do one of the following:
   • If you use a stylus and tablet, modify pressure mappings, if desired (Brush > Tool Settings). You can map up to three brush attributes to the stylus pressure. For information on modifying stylus pressure mappings, see Make the brush respond to stylus pressure.
   • If you want to ignore the pressure mappings, select Brush > Use Stylus Pressure to turn it off. You may want to ignore pressure mappings if you paint with a mouse rather than a stylus.
3. In the Visor (Brush > Get Brush), or on a shelf, click the brush preset you want to erase with. The selected brush settings are copied to the template brush.
4. Select Brush > Edit Template Brush. The Paint Effects Brush Settings window opens.
5. Beside Brush Type, select Erase.
6. Set Fake Shadows to None, if this is not already the setting.
7. Modify other template brush settings, if necessary. For information on modifying template brush settings, see Define template brush settings.
8. Drag across the area you want to erase.
   Tip

   Any brush can become an erase brush by changing its Brush Type to Erase. Create some erase type brush presets and save them on a shelf for easy access. For information on storing brushes, see Create new brush presets.