How to make lines thinner in a completed drawing [multibrush tool]

[angelaprex]

Hi everybody! You have already helped me, some months ago, with a similar question. At the time, I needed to make a line thicker. Your help was precious to helping me improve. I am a newbie, and I use Krita to draw mandalas.

The issue I meet is that I draw, then I use the “smooth” function (select opacity → substitute → smooth), then what results is a drawing with thicker lines, that I don’t want. I attach 2 images: the first is a pic of the screen while drawing; the second one is the final result).

I have tried different solutions (as I could imagine) including all you have suggested to me last time and the shrink function, but I guess that I don’t know how to use in a profitable way all the wonderful tools offered I have imagined I could use the eraser as well, or is it pure fantasy? How to prevent this problem when I want to smooth it?

Thank you so much for your help and for the great work you do with Krita

[tachiko]

Liquify Transform invert it. Might need to make selection first so you restrict area.

gimp has better grow shrink I find it blurs less with it.

[angelaprex]

@tachiko thank you! Could you help me with the procedure? I know a few basic actions. First, I guess I have to select (what kind of selection?), then “liquify”, “transform”, and “Invert”… Are they functions where I need to insert any parameters? I’d prefer not to change software, but if I can’t solve it, I’ll have a look at gimp. In the meantime, thank you!

[tachiko]

My first suggestion only good if want to edit key spots. Select transform open tool setting> Liquify> check invert.

To change all Maybe do shrink 2px prior to smooth then fill on a new layer. Hide origina

Edit: you could then overlap both and erase parts you want less thin. And then pinch area of layer above to transition

[angelaprex]

@tachiko I go, and try…

[KNap]

I don’t know if the effect will be satisfying for you, but you can make the lines on a finished black and white picture like this thinner (or thicker) by using G’MIC (Filter → Start G’MIC-Qt).

When you open G’MIC, find Contours → Morphological Filter.
If your picture has black lines on white background like here, you can choose the Dilation action to make the lines thinner or Erosion to make them thicker and adjust how strong this effect should be with the Size slider (you should probably select very small values on it).

I can show you what it looks like on your picture if you don’t mind me using it for this purpose.

[sooz]

For your next mandala, why not try changing the width of the line before you start? You have infinite control over line width using the size adjustment.

[angelaprex]

@KNap Thank you! I will try because I haven’t found a solution yet. Sure, you can try using my drawing. It would be helpful

[angelaprex]

@sooz yes, you are right next time I’ll do it.

[KNap]

This is how your picture changes after using dilation and erosion G’MIC filters on it:

Erosion aside for making the lines bolder created a thin frame around the picture, but it’s easy to erase it.

[angelaprex]

@KNap Thank you very much! I will practice with that. The Dilation size 2 seems the better one. Thanks to you I have learned a new thing.

[KNap]

You’re welcome.