# Accurate Virtual Paintbrushes 'Project Wetbrush' Tracks Each Bristle for Virtual Oil Paintings By Joey Haar | Published 2016-07-28 | Tech Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/project-wetbrush References: [engadget](https://www.engadget.com/2016/07/28/adobe-nvidia-project-wetbrush-3d-virtual-oil-paint/) & [blogs.nvidia](https://blogs.nvidia.com/blog/2016/07/26/adobe-wetbrush/) 'Project Wetbrush' is a collaboration between [Adobe](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/photoshop-ai-tools) and [NVIDIA](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/3d-imaging-tool) that could revolutionize one of the oldest artistic media in existence. Whereas the invention of photography freed painters from striving for photorealistic works (since pictures would always be more realistic), Project Wetbrush uses mighty computing power and 3D tracking algorithms to allow for picture-perfect real-time digital oil painting. Virtual painting with digital brushes has been around for years, but previous iterations of the technology were forced to rely on stock brushstroke patterns due to a lack of computing power. Project Wetbrush is able to track every single bristle on the artist's paintbrush, mapping how that bristle would transfer its paint to the canvas. The result is richly textured and nuanced colorscapes that look indistinguishable from real-world oil paintings. Ironically, Project Wetbrush's ability to mimic traditional oil painting represents a breakthrough in painting as a whole, since [digital manipulation](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/drawings-alive) of traditional styles can further expand painting for cutting edge artists. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 3.5/10 - Popularity: 36% | Activity: 60% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Tech](https://www.trendhunter.com/tech) > [Multimedia](https://www.trendhunter.com/multimedia) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Real-time Digital Oil Painting:** The development of Project Wetbrush enables artists to create picture-perfect real-time digital oil paintings, revolutionizing the art form. - **Tracking Individual Bristles:** The use of 3D tracking algorithms to track each bristle on a paintbrush opens up new possibilities for creating richly textured and nuanced colorscapes. - **Digital Manipulation of Traditional Styles:** Project Wetbrush's ability to mimic traditional oil painting paves the way for cutting-edge artists to digitally manipulate and expand upon traditional styles. ### Who This Affects Most - **Art and Design:** Artists and designers can leverage the technology of Project Wetbrush to create digitally rendered oil paintings with remarkable precision. - **Technology:** The collaboration between Adobe and NVIDIA in developing Project Wetbrush demonstrates the potential for powerful computing and 3D tracking algorithms in creative applications. - **Animation and Gaming:** The development of real-time digital oil painting techniques can provide animators and game designers with a new level of visual realism and artistry. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [AI-Powered Painting Machines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/loklik-ipaint.md) - [AI Art Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/muse-pro.md) - [AI-Fueled Digital Art Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/drawww.md) - [Photo Art Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/image-painter.md) - [Ultra-Detailed Museum Initiatives](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/night-watch.md) - [AI Paint Color Visualizers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/paint-ai.md) - [AI-Fueled 3D Imaging Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/3d-imaging-tool.md) - [3D-Printed Makeup Brushes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/futura-avant-lab.md) - [Artist-Forward AI Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/blendbox-revolutionizes-ai-art.md)