Programs for drawing arts. What are the free programs for drawing on a computer? Artweaver is a free alternative to Photoshop
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Today, paintings or art created using a computer are of no less interest than ordinary canvases painted on paper. Controlling the mouse cursor is no easier than guiding a canvas with a pencil or brush. Some artists who are professional electronic painters use special devices like graphics tablets to eliminate the mouse, but in this case special software is needed.
Consider best programs to create art on personal computer for both amateur and professional environments. Let's designate the key features of the software, ease of use and availability of products for different users. We will not mention the venerable "Photoshop", because literally all PC artists already know about its existence and widespread dominance in our computers, but we will analyze the less well-known and sensible drawing utilities.
Paint.NET
This basic program to create art, which is included in almost every copy of the Windows platform. She has at her disposal all the tools necessary for initial drawing: a brush, a pencil, an eraser and a fill. Moreover, each instrument has a dozen varieties: thickness, saturation, handicap, etc.
For connoisseurs of virtual art in the style of abstractionism and cubism, the art creation program provides shapes of a triangle, a rectangle, an expanding ellipse, polyhedrons and a cloud of conversations for comics. With support for graphic formats, there are also no problems. On the official Microsoft resource and on amateur sites, you can find some additional plug-ins and add-ons that greatly expand the capabilities of the program for creating art, turning it into a real monster of art.
You can recommend the utility to any novice artist, as they say, to test the pen. You can’t count on creating some serious canvases with the help of this program, but it’s quite possible to fill your hand.
The GIMP
This is a fairly powerful program for creating pixel art, and in terms of its functionality, it is as close as possible to the legendary Photoshop. The capabilities of the utility allow you not only to draw a picture from scratch, but also to apply many effects to ready-made images. In addition, the functionality of the program easily copes with the initial layout of sites or some other design layouts.
The program for GIMP supports multi-layered work with images, detailed setting tools, the most accurate color calibration, and so on. The utility also supports professional graphics tablets, so it can be recommended to both experienced artists and beginners.
inkscape
Another well-designed program for creating pop art and complex drawing. The utility allows you to perform any operations with contours, edit the gradient, change the style and type of nodes. In general, the software provides almost everything to draw professional masterpieces of art.
In addition, in the settings you can find a large number of preset shapes that you can change as you like. The program supports convenient "hot keys" and export not only to all popular graphic formats, but also to specific ones, such as XML. Professional draftsmen have a place to turn around in the fields of Inkscape, but it will be difficult for amateurs to figure out all the nuances and specifics of the utility, so they'd better choose something simpler or study the manual thoroughly.
SmoothDraw
This great program to create art from photos. The utility has been adopted by tens of thousands of users, including both professional artists and beginner amateurs. There is no need, as in previous programs, to thoroughly study the menu and the available tools - just open new file and let your imagination run wild with intuitive and well-rendered functionality.
At your disposal - layering of objects, rotation of the canvas in all axes, blending modes and sub-pixel anti-aliasing levels. In addition to the standard set of tools for painting on finished photos or from scratch, the utility includes rare ready-made brushes like graffiti, stars, grass or water drops. Also, the program fully supports graphics tablets, which is a clear plus for such software.
PixBuilder Studio
Another program for editing and creating pixel art, that is, raster graphics. The capabilities of the software also allow you to calmly work out the design of websites, so the utility is enviably popular with webmasters, competing with the eminent Photoshop.
Apart from the usual basic set tools, there is work with layers, multi-stage undo operations, adjustment of lines of curves and levels, as well as adjustment of popular effects "Bloom" (blur) and sharpness. Also, the user has the opportunity to customize the interface at his own discretion: fix tools, display important options as separate elements, etc. Working with the program is quite comfortable for both professionals and amateur beginners.
Manga Studio
This is a special program for creating anime art. The user has access to a chic set of tools for drawing manga and comics. Those who have thoroughly studied the manual and are well versed with the menu branches as well as with hot keys, consider the utility to be the most convenient for sculpting anime.
All the tools, and customizable ones, are always at your fingertips: screenton, coloring, black contour, brightener, etc. If you are unfamiliar with software of this kind, but you really want to draw anime, then an extended version of the program step by step instructions to choose from - illustrations or videos, where all the nuances of this event are explained in detail - from the basics to creating professional manga canvases.
livebrush
This utility can be called a vivid example of how a high-quality drawing game for children should look like. Despite its specificity, the program enjoys enviable popularity among established artists.
One of the distinguishing features of this software is vector patterns, where the user can draw a picture given forms and sizes. Here you can easily decorate Slavic or Oriental ornaments, some kind of symmetrical nets or Gothic patterns. The already huge selection of brushes can be expanded with your own settings or you can download an even larger assortment from both the developer's official resource and other amateur resources.
The software proved to be excellent in working with graphic tablets and fully supports all stylus protocols. Moreover, the program monitors not only the pressure on the pen, but also its inclination, which for many artists is a critical moment when choosing utilities of this kind.
PaintTool SAI
This utility, along with Manga Studio, has become popular with fans of Japanese comics. In addition, many users called it a program for creating art on Minecraft because of the specific and convenient tools for this business. The utility is also perfect for those who like to draw landscapes and portraits in the style of hyperrealism or pop art.
A wide range of tools is available to the user: ballpoint pens, ink, dozens of brushes, pencils of different softness, pastels, watercolors, etc. Moreover, each individual tool can be customized to fit your needs. It is also possible to work with several canvases in parallel and support for multi-layered objects. This software is used by both professional artists and novice amateurs, and as mentioned above, this is an almost ideal program for creating art for Minecraft.
Affinity Designer
This is a good software for creating art with classic design and familiar set of tools. Here you will find a large assortment of brushes, gradients and other auxiliary modes. Among other masses of similar utilities, this program stands out in that it does an excellent job with vector objects and can easily process bitmaps. Many people use this software not only for drawing from scratch, but for photo retouching and further processing into an art work.
One of the obvious disadvantages of the program is the lack of support for third-party plugins. All that is available to the user is a small list of add-ons on the developer's official resource. The latter, by the way, promised to correct this defect in the very near future. But even without additional plugins, the utility is capable of a lot and will delight you with intuitive functionality with good artistic capabilities.
Summarizing
Drawing is a specific thing. Someone likes to sculpt landscapes, someone prefers to draw faces, and don't feed someone with bread - let them turn all reality into Japanese manga. Despite the similarity of all the above products and functionality, each utility has some of its own distinctive features.
Before you start creating another masterpiece that your friends will admire, be sure to consider the focus and set of tools of a particular art program. It is better to spend a couple of hours studying the manual of the software you like than to port your work to another utility with data loss due to lack of some kind of brush.
Drawing is one of the oldest occupations. People from different parts of the world were engaged in it even before history began to be recorded in written sources. A lot of time has passed since then. And now, instead of the walls of the cave, we have at our disposal modern smartphones, tablets and computers.
Adobe Illustrator Draw
Dotpict - it is intended exclusively for pixel graphics. The work screen is displayed as a grid, each square of which can be filled with a specific color. This way you can create small landscapes, images of people, animals, etc.
To draw small details - zoom in, and then zoom out again to view the whole picture. The application has a function to automatically save the results of work. Dotpict is a great app for pixel art lovers who want to create simple drawings without using complicated tools.
Medi Bang Paint
MediBang Paint works on Android OS, Mac OS X, Windows, iOS. It is possible to start and continue drawing anywhere on the different devices. The results of the work are stored in the cloud service, they can be shared with other people.
There is also a decent amount of brushes and other tools for drawing, creating comics. It is even more amazing that such a high-quality application can be obtained completely free of charge.
RoughAnimator
RoughAnimator allows you to first create drawings and then turn them into animation. In other programs, you first need to draw something, then import the image into another program, and animate it there. RoughAnimator has brought it all together.
Draw frame by frame, turning them into little cartoons. There is a playback speed control function and a number of simple tools. Save your work as GIF animation, QuickTime video, or as a sequence of frames. The application costs 300 rubles.
We have considered the most common applications that act as full-fledged complexes for drawing, as well as processing various images.
Which drawing program on a graphics tablet or editor on a PC you choose depends on your specific goals.
Corel Painter will be highly appreciated by digital graphics professionals. This the best choice when you want to download a drawing tool to your computer to work with your tablet. The eminent developer offers a developed, but rather complex product. To learn how to use all the benefits of the package, you will have to spend a lot of time. And if you also want to learn how to work in vector, you will have to switch to a more functional tool from the same developer - CorelDRAW.
Autodesk SketchBook Pro is a quality drawing program for all categories of users. It allows you to both process graphics and create cool art, comics, sketches from scratch. An accessible interface in Russian will be a nice bonus, but in order to work with the utility at the highest level, it is advisable to think about purchasing a professional monitor with good color reproduction.
Krita is no less functional. Artists draw in it both posters and entire comics. The application is free, has an open source code and is suitable for all modern operating systems. However, it will be a little difficult for beginners to master it. If you are not afraid of difficulties and are ready to spend time - try it and you will get a really functional tool.
Adobe Photoshop allows you to apply a wide variety of effects and filters. Creating images will seem very comfortable and quite simple. You can enjoy an accessible Russian-language interface and big amount training videos and materials on the Internet.
Working with Tux Paint is aimed at high-quality training for inexperienced users. The interface of the utility will be convenient for any user, and the presence of sound and animation effects will attract the attention of a children's audience whose parents want to teach their child the art of drawing on a computer.
Paint.NET will bring a lot of positive impressions, the program engine is able to remember all user activity and return more than a dozen completed actions, excluding the errors present in the editing process and applying all kinds of effects. With the help of Paint, vector graphics are effectively edited.
Pixbuilder Studio is distinguished by high performance indicators, the rest of the utilities from the above selection demonstrate a lower speed of launching and opening images. The program contains rich professional-level functionality and is available for download absolutely free of charge.
Fans of various brushes will appreciate the Artweaver Free program, which has a lot of useful filters and effects. It is worth noting that the application allows you to create your own brushes, which will become difficult for competitors.
Paint Tool SAI is a serious utility designed for professional artists and designers to create stunning illustrations as well as digital paintings. The utility supports tablets, giving creative people all the necessary resources for artistic activities. Moreover, some studios use SAI as a cartoon drawing program. Its functions are too good.
Graffiti Studio is difficult to compare with full-fledged painters and even drawing games for children, since the purpose of this application is to entertain the user. You can fulfill your teenage dream and feel like a master of street graffiti. True, the range of tools is scarce - only a marker and spray cans, but a huge selection of colors and shades, line thicknesses will be a significant plus.
Also, the wonderful programs MyPaint, Medibang Paint, SmoothDraw, Affinity Designer, the Paint graphic editor built into Windows and the Inkscape raster graphics editor were not included in the review. Their detailed descriptions you can always find on our website.
So, you bought a graphics tablet. In addition to the fact that you still have to get used to it and "fill your hand", you need to immediately decide on a graphic editor that will reveal all the possibilities of your new device to the maximum. And if you think that you can only draw in Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator, then you are greatly mistaken.
In addition to the world-famous and undoubtedly cool Adobe products, there are many graphic editors, offering the same functionality, but for less money, and sometimes even for free. In addition, some programs boast a unique interface with many interesting features that designers and illustrators will definitely appreciate.
We have compiled a list of programs where you can fully draw with a graphics tablet, imitating various artistic techniques, make sketches, create raster and vector images and practice lettering and calligraphy.
Corel Painter X3
Painter X3 simulates traditional brushes, textures, dry and wet effects to incredible accuracy. Thanks to this, there is an almost complete immersion in a real artist's studio, where there is no computer and monitor, only an easel and canvas.
Painter Lite
The lighter and cheaper version of Painter offers all the tools you need to draw, but for more low price. A great option for those who are just starting to draw and are not ready for significant spending.
Clip Paint Studio PRO
Although this program was developed specifically for drawing manga, Clip Paint Studio has gone quite far and can be used in industry-standard digital painting with the same success. The program has incredibly handy features, such as ready-made shapes that you can use as a nature for drawing poses.
Autodesk Sketchbook Pro 7
SketchBook Pro is a professional drawing application optimized specifically for tablet devices. Drawing in it is easy and pleasant, which will undoubtedly be appreciated by novice users.
ArtRage 4
A program with incredible tools and the most attractive interface. Drawing in it is easy and pleasant. Focused on creating realistic images.
Xara Photo and Graphic Designer 9
Photo editing, drawing, unusual effects- not all features of Xara Photo. Users will appreciate the compatibility of file formats and the low price of the product.
Affinity Designer
The program supports working with layers, import / export of different file formats, convenient navigator and all tools for working with vector graphics that one can think of. Affinity Designer is a kind of Adobe Illustrator killer. The only drawback of this program may be that it is only for MAC. But the price is more than pleasant.
inkscape
Free and handy vector illustrator, which is essentially a symbiosis of CorelDRAW and Adobe Illustrator. The remarkable support for pen pressure sensitivity, a big shortage in the vector illustration world, makes Inkscape a powerful tool for those who are serious about calligraphy.
By the way, Inkscape has an excellent resource in seven languages, including Russian, which is very rare even for commercial graphic programs. On the Inkscape website, you can not only download the program, but also read articles, study lessons, participate in discussions, and much more. There is also an opportunity to become one of the developers and testers of the product and bring useful features to it.
artweaver
A raster graphics program that looks like a symbiosis of Painter and Photoshop. Compared to GIMP, it is slower in processing, but with a much larger set of brushes. Broad Wacom tablet support.
GIMP
Colorful and functional raster program for drawing, illustrating. By appearance interface and features similar to Corel Painter. Broad Wacom tablet support.
MyPaint
A resource-friendly and easy-to-use open-source software for digital artists. Allows you to concentrate on creativity, not the program interface. Tablet support is well implemented.
SmoothDraw
And here's another one noteworthy program for drawing - ten thousand beginners and professional artists managed to download this wonderful development for free. You don't have to spend time learning menus and tools - just open a new file and show off your talents with clear visualized features.
Blending modes, layers, virtual canvas rotation, sub-pixel anti-aliasing are available to users. Except standard means painting app contains special tools like graffiti, water drops, stars, grass. Synchronization with tablets is also implemented.
Paint Tool SAI
Don't be intimidated by the clean SAI interface, as this is the de facto program standard for most Japanese anime artists. It also has a line correction function to create sharper contours.
Serif Draw Plus (starter edition)
Serif DrawPlus offers all the tools to work with raster and vector graphics. Here you can create interesting prints, make logos, edit photos or draw using a lot of custom effects, including 3D. Truly a godsend for novice illustrators and designers, moreover, completely free of charge!
All of the programs on the list will make great alternatives to Adobe products, even if you're not ready to admit it just yet. It's enough to give them a chance, and who knows, maybe in a couple of weeks you won't even remember about Photoshop! Moreover, for some products you don’t have to pay at all. Don't be afraid to try new things, push boundaries and improve!
Do you want to paint beautiful pictures, but don't want to spend money on materials? This is no longer a problem! Today, digital technologies have come to replace paints and canvases, which have made painting an incredibly convenient and exciting experience.
Mouse or graphics tablet?
This choice depends on your drawing skills. If you went to art school or are just a confident pencil and brush user, you'll be more comfortable working with a graphics tablet. If you still do not know how to draw, then you can easily start with a computer mouse.
As with any art form, drawing requires a certain amount of skill. The more confidently you use the tool, the more accurate the picture is. Someone creates second-rate drawings on a cool graphics tablet, and someone writes masterpieces using a regular computer mouse.
Choose a tool based on your abilities and skills, and special programs help you turn your ideas into reality.