Bleank releases Black Ink 2023.6
Originally posted on 16 May 2024, and updated with details of Black Ink 2023.6.
Bleank has updated Black Ink, its unusual GPU-accelerated digital painting software.
Black Ink 2023.5 added new tools for non-destructively mirroring and tiling images.
Black Ink 2023.6 adds a new Radial Symmetry operator.
A GPU-accelerated digital painting tool with a number of innovative features
First released a decade ago, Black Ink is a GPU-accelerated digital painting app.
It is capable of creating professional-quality illustrations and concept art, supporting 64-bit linear rendering, and a maximum layer resolution of 64,000px.
It also has a number of unusual features, including a brush shader language for creating custom brushes, and a node-based system to control how layers are composited.
After a hiatus of several years, Bleank began putting out new builds of the software again late last year, with Black Ink 2023 – the first paid update since the initial release – standardizing the user interface and adding support for Photoshop PSD files.
Black Ink 2023.5: new nodes for non-destructively mirroring and tiling images
The 2023.5 update added a new Symmetry node, making it possible to mirror images along the X- or Y-axis, with the option to reposition the mirror axis non-destructively.
A new Domain Wrap node generates seamlessly tiling textures, and the existing Tiling node now properly handles images without alpha blending along the edges.
In addition, the Eraser now has its own history, and can maintain settings across a work session.
Black Ink 2023.6: new Symmetry Radial operator
Black Ink 2023.6 adds support for radial as well as mirror symmetry, in the shape of the new Symmetry Radial oprator.
Again, the centre of rotation and number of repeats – the operator supports up to 48 – can be adjusted non-destructively, helping to create complex mandala-like patterns.
There are also a number of workflow and performance updates, including updates to the Paint Bucket and Magic Wand tools
Price and system requirements
Black Ink 2023.6 is available for Windows 7+. Personal licenses now have a MSRP of €33.99 (around $37), down €25 since the release of Black Ink 2023.
Business licenses cost €99 ($107).
Read a full list of new features in Black Ink in the online changelog
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