Amateur artist here, looking to learn about digital art. For a complete beginner, what software should I be learning to use? I know there are free things like Gimp, but if I ever wanted to get serious down the future and use things with more features like Photoshop, the stuff I learned in Gimp might not translate well. Also for context this is a part of work as well. For our work, we need to spend a certain amount of hours per year doing private learning, and I thought I might as well take one of their digital art courses (they have things for software like Photoshop, Gimp and Affinity). Of course since it's not actually related to my current job (programming), I can't ask work to give me a license for things like Photoshop which means I'll have to acquire it myself. Also I want to know what programs everyone uses in general so I can get a feel for what I might need in the future.
What Programs do you all use?
- Thread starter YAYBANANA
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ConorHyena
From out of the rain.
Krita is nice because it's free. It's fairly good, though a bit resource intensive for very large pieces. For an open source project the UI is actually reasonably good, and things like stabilisation work just fine.
I personally use Clip studio paint, it's a bit better than Krita, the brush stab feels a bit more natural (I have massive tremors in my hands so brush stabilisation is mandatory for me)
There's also Sai and Photoshop and others with which I have no experience but the general consensus is that they all work, just pick and learn 1
I personally use Clip studio paint, it's a bit better than Krita, the brush stab feels a bit more natural (I have massive tremors in my hands so brush stabilisation is mandatory for me)
There's also Sai and Photoshop and others with which I have no experience but the general consensus is that they all work, just pick and learn 1
Weird, when I put Clip Paint Studio into my work's learning database, the only thing that comes up are tutorial's for Krita. I guess they must be very similar.
My problem with picking and learning one though, is how well they translate to others. E.g. Say I get really good at GIMP or other free software, but way down the line from now I want to use something like Photoshop with more features that GIMP doesn't have. Will the stuff I learned in GIMP be helpful, or is the software architecture so different from one another that it wouldn't be any different than if I hadn't learned GIMP at all (same could be said comparing stuff like Krita and Clip Studio)?
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ConorHyena
From out of the rain.
In the end all of them are. I started out with Krita and changed to CSP and after a week or so I had the hang of it just fine.
tuxedo_fish
how i mine art?
I'm only a hobbyist (and barely one, at that), so I don't need any fancy new program. I use an ancient version of Paint Shop Pro 6, last updated in 1999.
It lets me open 50 billion layers without killing my computer, has a built-in animation program, and it recognizes my Huion tablet. That's really all I need out of any sort of art prog, so it suits me just fine. That I don't ever do anything more complex than basic cell-shaded art or quick, flat animations probably helps. I don't know if it would be worth fighting with its' quirks and limitations to do more detailed work.
It lets me open 50 billion layers without killing my computer, has a built-in animation program, and it recognizes my Huion tablet. That's really all I need out of any sort of art prog, so it suits me just fine. That I don't ever do anything more complex than basic cell-shaded art or quick, flat animations probably helps. I don't know if it would be worth fighting with its' quirks and limitations to do more detailed work.
CreachureComforts
bonehead
When it comes to the fundamentals and skills you'll develop as an artist, the app really doesn't matter. Most features are offered by all of the major apps in some way anyways, so the main thing you'll be learning is the UI and keyboard shortcuts of whatever you picked. If you're starting out, I'd recommend just going with the one that least gets in your way, or has the easiest UI to learn. You can always learn the "better" apps later, but I think for now it's better to just get used to making digital art in general.
Faustus
Well-Known Member
I'm currently using Affinity Designer for vectors, Affinity Photo for pixel art (which I do only rarely) and Blender for 3D.
I used to use Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, but I was massively put off by their move to a subscription model, since I often go for weeks or months without doing any art. I moved to Affinity because it was cheap and the freebie options are limited or poor on Mac. Affinity still doesn't have a few of the features I like in a vector package - notably there's no snap-to-grid for bezier control points, and you can't make blend groups to minutely control shading, but I'm getting used to working without these features. Hopefully one day they will be added.
I also used to use Lightwave for 3D work, but every time they updated Mac OS, Lightwave stopped working and I had to wait for - and pay for - an update. The second time that happened in the course of three years, I said screw it. Blender is free. It wouldn't have been feasible for me to make the shift to Blender if its UI hadn't been vastly improved since the early versions, though. It used to be appalling. These days it's pretty good. Still not sure about its hair and fur generation system though.
I used to use Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, but I was massively put off by their move to a subscription model, since I often go for weeks or months without doing any art. I moved to Affinity because it was cheap and the freebie options are limited or poor on Mac. Affinity still doesn't have a few of the features I like in a vector package - notably there's no snap-to-grid for bezier control points, and you can't make blend groups to minutely control shading, but I'm getting used to working without these features. Hopefully one day they will be added.
I also used to use Lightwave for 3D work, but every time they updated Mac OS, Lightwave stopped working and I had to wait for - and pay for - an update. The second time that happened in the course of three years, I said screw it. Blender is free. It wouldn't have been feasible for me to make the shift to Blender if its UI hadn't been vastly improved since the early versions, though. It used to be appalling. These days it's pretty good. Still not sure about its hair and fur generation system though.
HyperPolka
Active Member
I'm currently doing a webcomic and I use SAI for most of the art, then export to photoshop to work with lettering and some other effects. I'm experimenting doing it for other types of rendering and effects so it's been pretty cool, but then again I use older versions of both.
(what I REALLY wanted tho was a license for Manga Debut Studio :/ I used a long time ago and I remember being very resourceful for screentones which is something that I love to use on digital art - then again, SAI has an option of applying texture in layer level so I manage do improvise a lot)
I haven't give Krita a proper try yet but it's on my list, eventually when I don't have to work quickly on commissions and stuff!
(what I REALLY wanted tho was a license for Manga Debut Studio :/ I used a long time ago and I remember being very resourceful for screentones which is something that I love to use on digital art - then again, SAI has an option of applying texture in layer level so I manage do improvise a lot)
I haven't give Krita a proper try yet but it's on my list, eventually when I don't have to work quickly on commissions and stuff!
IvorySkull
Flowery weirdo
I'm a professional digital artist and even if I started with GIMP I quickly turned to photoshop (something like 13 years ago) and never changed my mind.
But keep in mind that years ago there weren't many good options, so photoshop became my preferred software mainly because of that.
I've heard that Procreate and Clip Studio Paint are wonderful softwares suited for all skill levels. Photoshop can do magic, but it's a huge beast and IMHO not so intuitive: you risk losing a lot of time only to learn the basics. A simple user interface could be more helpful than a software with huge potential but hard to learn. If you're new to digital art you could feel frustrated or overwhelmed, make progress very slowly, and ending up thinking that you're not good enough.
Also, another piece of advice: don't spend too much money on a graphic tablet. Yes, an advanced one will save you some time, but believe me, you don't need it if you're just starting out. A good pressure recognition and lack of lag are everything you need.
Heck, I've been doing this job for 10 years and I'm still using the basic Wacom piece of plastic.
Hope this was helpful!
But keep in mind that years ago there weren't many good options, so photoshop became my preferred software mainly because of that.
I've heard that Procreate and Clip Studio Paint are wonderful softwares suited for all skill levels. Photoshop can do magic, but it's a huge beast and IMHO not so intuitive: you risk losing a lot of time only to learn the basics. A simple user interface could be more helpful than a software with huge potential but hard to learn. If you're new to digital art you could feel frustrated or overwhelmed, make progress very slowly, and ending up thinking that you're not good enough.
Also, another piece of advice: don't spend too much money on a graphic tablet. Yes, an advanced one will save you some time, but believe me, you don't need it if you're just starting out. A good pressure recognition and lack of lag are everything you need.
Heck, I've been doing this job for 10 years and I'm still using the basic Wacom piece of plastic.
Hope this was helpful!
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Sphinxx92
Age is But a Moment
I'm so new to digital art it is a joke personally, but I've been drawing all my life. I have started out with fire alpaca just as as the UI is super easy to learn and the basics aren't overwhelming to conquer. It may not be as flashy as other programs out there, as it is free mind you, but it can produce some really cool results if you tinker with it long enough and put in the effort (effort; bane of my existence lmao).
I ordered a Huion INSPIROY H640P for $43. Think that'll be good enough?
IvorySkull
Flowery weirdo
Actually we got the same model for a friend who wanted to get into digital art.
I'd say it's a great choice for a beginner: it has all the basic functionalities you need and it's not expensive compared to other models (so even if you'll stop using it you didn't spend a fortune on it).
The only thing that I don't know is how it performs on iOS systems (aka on a Mac). On windows it does its job and it does it well.
Also, getting used to a tablet without a screen can be challenging at first: don't get discouraged, you'll need to build some eye/hand coordination and pick up the skill of drawing without looking at your hand. It can be tricky but it only takes a bit of practice.
I'd actually suggest retracing artworks as an exercise to get used to it. If you're using other people's artworks don't make it a habit and never retrace to create your own art, but as an exercise to get used to a graphic tablet it can do wonders. The best route would be to retrace/digitally ink your own traditional art.
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Faustus
Well-Known Member
Small note, sorry for being a pedant but it's my day-job: Macs don't run on iOS, they run on MacOS. These days, iOS is only for iPhone and iPod Touch. iPads used to use it but now have their own version - iPadOS - while Apple TV runs on TVOS and Apple Watch on WatchOS.
CreachureComforts
bonehead
Adding to what's been said about tablets... I think the best part about them is your hand and pen never actually gets in the way of your canvas. I've moved on to an iPad now, but that was always my favourite thing about standard tablets
But no, you don't need anything fancy, just a comfortable sized drawing surface and a pen with pressure sentivitity (which is pretty much standard)
One thing to keep in mind is the size difference between your screen and your tablet's drawing surface. If the tablet is small, then your hand gestures are going to translate to larger distances on a bigger screen if the tablet is mapped to the entire screen. Possibly a detriment if you're trying to work on your hand-eye coordination. But sometimes tablet software will let you customize the area your tablet is mapped to, which might help if a small tablet feels "loose" when drawing with it.
In terms of optional features... Probably nice to have a detachable cable in case of any wear down the line, unless you like repairing. Better to replace a cable than a whole tablet IMO. Side buttons on the pen aren't necessary but can be handy, I always liked to have one set to the eye-dropper tool, and another to the pan/hand tool. Tilt might come in handy if you're an artist who wants to do more pencil-type drawing and shading, but I don't see a need for something like painting. I thought buttons on the tablet itself would come in handy, but I always kept forgetting about them and they always felt awful to press.
But no, you don't need anything fancy, just a comfortable sized drawing surface and a pen with pressure sentivitity (which is pretty much standard)
One thing to keep in mind is the size difference between your screen and your tablet's drawing surface. If the tablet is small, then your hand gestures are going to translate to larger distances on a bigger screen if the tablet is mapped to the entire screen. Possibly a detriment if you're trying to work on your hand-eye coordination. But sometimes tablet software will let you customize the area your tablet is mapped to, which might help if a small tablet feels "loose" when drawing with it.
In terms of optional features... Probably nice to have a detachable cable in case of any wear down the line, unless you like repairing. Better to replace a cable than a whole tablet IMO. Side buttons on the pen aren't necessary but can be handy, I always liked to have one set to the eye-dropper tool, and another to the pan/hand tool. Tilt might come in handy if you're an artist who wants to do more pencil-type drawing and shading, but I don't see a need for something like painting. I thought buttons on the tablet itself would come in handy, but I always kept forgetting about them and they always felt awful to press.
Appius
Head Empty
I've been using Clip Studio Paint for about 2 years now and can highly recommend it.
As for the Hardware specifically for drawing, like what the others have said you don't need anything fancy...you just need one that's big enough for you and has pressure sensitivity (which is pretty standard to any drawing tablet nowadays)
As for the Hardware specifically for drawing, like what the others have said you don't need anything fancy...you just need one that's big enough for you and has pressure sensitivity (which is pretty standard to any drawing tablet nowadays)
TheRealTailsChan
Furry Artist
I know things have changed a lot over the years since I’ve started…
But when I first started doing digital art 15 years ago or so, I used GIMP for a basic understanding of what a program like Photoshop could do (fun fact, mostly all the key shortcuts and everything translate over to photoshop fairly well) Only problem I find with GIMP is that it is a little slow.
Nowadays, I don’t know if you have access to an iPad or something, but there’s a $10 app called ProCreate that I highly recommend. I mostly use that now to do all my work.
For PC…I’m a little more out of the loop but I’ve used PaintToolSAI for that. Now, as far as that being free is a bit of a grey area. There are ways to get it for free without paying the license. Searching for a Tumblr or Reddit link will help but I strongly advise you to use caution as far as malicious links go if you do go that route.
But I’d recommend at the end of the day GIMP, PaintToolSAI and ProCreate depending on devices and budget.
But when I first started doing digital art 15 years ago or so, I used GIMP for a basic understanding of what a program like Photoshop could do (fun fact, mostly all the key shortcuts and everything translate over to photoshop fairly well) Only problem I find with GIMP is that it is a little slow.
Nowadays, I don’t know if you have access to an iPad or something, but there’s a $10 app called ProCreate that I highly recommend. I mostly use that now to do all my work.
For PC…I’m a little more out of the loop but I’ve used PaintToolSAI for that. Now, as far as that being free is a bit of a grey area. There are ways to get it for free without paying the license. Searching for a Tumblr or Reddit link will help but I strongly advise you to use caution as far as malicious links go if you do go that route.
But I’d recommend at the end of the day GIMP, PaintToolSAI and ProCreate depending on devices and budget.
Servyl
Buh-bye forums.
Definitely recommend FireAlpaca for starting. If you want something a bit more costly, Photoshop is ideal for most anything.
A pen tablet or graphics tablet is def worth investing in if you're gonna be on PC/laptop. Wacom has the Intuos S for only about $60 USD. Best purchase I've made IMO.
A pen tablet or graphics tablet is def worth investing in if you're gonna be on PC/laptop. Wacom has the Intuos S for only about $60 USD. Best purchase I've made IMO.
D
Deleted member 162282
Guest
If you can afford it, use Photoshop.
It's the industry standard, you can get it for about $10 per month, additionally, you get access to hundreds of brushes from Kyle with your subscription.
Pomorek
Antelope-Addicted Hyena
All my art is 3D so it's Blender all the way. It has good enough 2D part that I can do all my texturing work without leaving the program. For the rare odd thing which it can't do, Gimp is more than enough. All this running on Linux so it's only free software involved.
@Faustus Blender's fur & hair system can give some fine results. The problem is in how complex it is and how poor documentation it has. Also the defaults can be absolutely confusing to the point where they seem to steer newcomers down the wrong path, and/or make them think it's all unusable.
Quick example: it's possible to use this on an old computer such as mine, with a great deal of success - but the way it works out of the box makes people think you need extreme fur densities for a good look, and they end up with most ridiculous RAM usage, capable of bogging down even quite stellar rigs.
Looks to me like the development was halted long ago after Blender Foundation's "Cosmos Laundromat" project (which would involve a lot of fur) didn't pan out.
@Faustus Blender's fur & hair system can give some fine results. The problem is in how complex it is and how poor documentation it has. Also the defaults can be absolutely confusing to the point where they seem to steer newcomers down the wrong path, and/or make them think it's all unusable.
Quick example: it's possible to use this on an old computer such as mine, with a great deal of success - but the way it works out of the box makes people think you need extreme fur densities for a good look, and they end up with most ridiculous RAM usage, capable of bogging down even quite stellar rigs.
Looks to me like the development was halted long ago after Blender Foundation's "Cosmos Laundromat" project (which would involve a lot of fur) didn't pan out.
D
Deleted member 162282
Guest
I've tried blender but found its 2D brushes unacceptably poor, do you have any brush or setting recommendations as the 2D/3D integration does interest me. Cheers.
Pomorek
Antelope-Addicted Hyena
Good question and I'm not sure if I have a good answer. My texturing needs are really modest after all. Also didn't mean to call Blender a fully-fledged 2D drawing program, it just has some capabilities (but it has 2D animation available as well). I know that bitmaps/image textures can be used as brushes or stencils. Also stroke options can be adjusted for additional efects. It's all hidden in the right-hand panel when you're in the paint mode. I think that with enough tweaking some more involved brushes can be created this way.
Image layers don't exist as such (AFAIK) but can be substituted by using multiple image textures and connecting them inside the shader editor as needed. This is how I'm doing it, for example instead of painting one complex texture for a character I split it into a number of black-and-white "maps" which can be conveniently manipulated individually. Each map controlls one property at the shader level, such as color or gradient. Or some fur system parameter. This way even complex fur patterns can be made and adjusted very conveniently & non-destructively.
For environment objects I have a lot of use from textures.com, usually their free format is pretty sufficient.
