Hiya,

I'm just really curious.

What program do you use to make digital art, aka to draw or paint on the PC, and why?

I've used Photoshop in the past, for drawing and colouring, and later on different photo-editing programs, from Corel Paint, Corel Draw, and more recently everything from Pixia to Sai to GIMP.

I only actually like GIMP right now. It's freeware, clunky as hell, but is easier to use than the simpler stripped down stuff like Pixia, SAI, MyPaint, Sketchbook, ArtRage, and Krita.

The other programs are too simplified, lacking layers, filters, and decent brushes and palettes.

All of which GIMP has to some extent.

It's still not as good as Photoshop, but I don't have over 2 grand to field the pricetag.

Ouch.

If I did, lol, I wouldn't have tried GIMP in the first place.

I will give GIMP this though, it's easy to use, and it's free, but it does take some getting used too.

What do you use and why?

~ Pyre

Hrmm... you mention Sketchbook. Is that the Alias Sketchbook (Well, I guess it's Autodesk now) or a different one?

If that one, I loved using that. Having the multiple layers on a TIFF image was nice, and there was some nice features going between Sketchbook, Mudbox, and Maya. IIRC, Sketchbook was also a simple one to create a new pencils on (If it's the one I'm thinking of it was just an alpha channel image).

Haven't used it since Autodesk bought Alias, so I'm expecting they screwed it all up as they did Maya.

Mostly, whenever I get around to doing anything, I screw around with Gimp and Blender.

-M

when i was not being *cough*thefty*cough* I used Paint.net

I have the monthly subscription to photoshop now

zenfluence wrote:
when i was not being *cough*thefty*cough* I used Paint.net

I have the monthly subscription to photoshop now

I am so envious right now.

LOL.

I know Adobe, anything, is totally fantastic.

And @ Mith, nods it is Autodesk Sketchbook, version I can't remember.

It's a nice sketching program, but too hard to do layers in for moi, and the UI is confusing too.

The simplicity of the layer tool is beyond frustrating too.

That's why I adored Photoshop the most.

I could use filters per layer, and it was a especially nice when colouring on the PC.

GIMP is OK with layers, but takes some getting used too.

The zoom function is beyond unusable, but I'm getting used to it.

~ Pyre

Alias Sketchbook was wonderful ... Doesn't surprise me that Autodesk screwed it up. *sigh*

-M

I used to always torrent (eep) a copy of Paint Tool Sai, it's actually great for painting with a wacom tablet etc. I'm not sure you can get a copy anymore, but that was always my go to painter. I can't stand gimp, it just feels so haphazardly thrown together. There's so many features in gimp, which I believe is the main reason why so many people use it, but I just couldn't warm up to it.

Question for anyone who knows, are there any good apps for iPad that you can draw with, comparable to drawing on a pc? I was considering buying a stylus and buying an app on my iPad instead of repurchasing a wacom tablet and getting a new version of photoshop.. any ideas?

Omyouji,

If it works for you Autodesk Sketchbook has a mobile version.

-M

I still use Gimp for things like my blog graphics, like an ancient version on an ancient computer. Old school like. I haven't used it since it changed to freeware, just a really ancient version I have on my old computer. Makes me feel kinda nostalgic every time I use it <3 Brings me back to the days of making really crappy graphics for my stories. *sigh*

@Mitharus,

Thank you! I'm going to download it tonight and try it out