Art Software

[Albie]

I have been thinking about getting new art software and was just looking for opinions.  Right now, I use ArtRage Lite as it came with my tablet.  I like it, but it does seem limited.  I keep running into blocks on various projects and have to think of work arounds for what I am trying to do.

I have been considering to upgrade to the regular ArtRage and not the Lite version.  I find via Google that that version does have many of the things that would be useful.

But ArtRage is pretty much a glorified sketch pad.  I have been considering to check out more advanced programs.  The ones I hear about and never used is Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator.  I can do things like make a computer generated circle and things like that instead of trying to badly hand draw a perfect circle. 

So does anyone use these programs and what do you think about them?  Or is there other software that I should be looking into?

[Vortex Cynbel]

I know about the software you mentioned although I have to say it's quite pricey...


Although I know a free alternative called Gimp. I know many new artists use it . It's kinda advanced but not too advance... so it's a perfect way to start! Plus it's free! It has many drawing tool plus color options, shading brushes etc. Here you can find a list of some of the features ^^


And here's a link to get it from the official website ^^ Hope this helps Try it out and tell me what you think!

[Ventus Fall]

GIMP is like a free version of Photoshop, it's extremely advanced from what I've experienced. Although I used it once, I couldn't stand it myself as I was used to Photoshop. They have different key bindings for various things, so it was a hell to get through for myself. However, perhaps as someone who hasn't used either you'd have a much better experience

Paint Tool SAI is another I have had many friends using, which they preferred over GIMP and many other programs.

[Fable]

Paint tool sai is what I use and I highly suggest checking it out. It's a really nice program.
I've also been playing around a lot with a program called FireAlpaca- it seems like a pretty straight forward and easy program to get used to as well as being free! It doesn't have everything but it seems really nice.

[Albie]

I have used Gimp before.  I forgot about it.  There was something about the interface that I didn't like though, so I dropped it.  Perhaps I should give it another try.

I have never heard of Sai.  Is that a free program like Gimp?

[Timmy Fox]

Gimp .. some people swear by it because it's free and all but pretty much anyone who's ever tried something else will agree it's quite awfully made.

Sai is not free but, whilst it's very old, it's got a big following and a LOT of people really like it despite its flaws here and there.

A newer one a lot of people talk about these days is Krita; I don't know much about it but a lot of people really like it (and others hate it so ymmv).

Photoshop .. quite expensive but most of the highest ranking professional artists use this due to how versatile and powerful it is.

Illustrator, just as expensive as Photoshop (sometimes even more) and much more niche; Not really made for drawing but an interesting tool to work with, though due to being vector-based it works very differently from other art software.

[Ori]

Aah... Art Rage. Used to play with that program from time to time six years ago

Personally I use Clip Studio. It has an interface similar to Photoshop, with a lot of different settings which is awesome. I personally love the way it's set up. You're (However) Going to lose the access to powerful lifelike brushes Art Rage has to offer. That's the truth, Aside from Corel Painter ( I think it was called) Art Rage is the only one with those brushes. I mean, I've had Photoshop, and switched over to this, and I like it more. Sure you lose access to some of the powerful tools Photoshop has. But it just feels better IMO. (And of course since there's no seriously advanced settings and features, it's easier towards beginners.) This program is like a Paint Tool Sai that got buffed up to no end.

(Features that are included)
Vector layers, meaning all your lines on a certain layer can be treated like vectors.
It has a large community of brush makers. (IMO)
Access to Opacity and the other thing that's like it. (Forgot what it's called ^.^;)
Animation? You got it.
Of course it wasn't originally called Manga studio for no reason. Any manga tool that a comic artist or manga artist ever wished for? In here.

And did I tell you it's currently on sale for 25?
http://my.smithmicro.com/manga-studio-5.html?gclid=CjwKEAjw2qzHBRChloWxgoXDpyASJAB01Io0KPYfc3Hm5NEvmyJ6hULz4qci3PEag93zdL2IFwHKARoC4Z_w_wcB

(In terms of free there is also Medibang.)