My Five Favorite Digital Art Tools
This is my list of the Top Five things to get for anyone wanting to get started in digital art. These are the tools I use so I have a pretty good idea about what an artist wants. Having a degree in fine art in the 1980s I was a purist and thought that digital art was somehow cheating. Now I can't imagine not having these tools to work with. The beauty of having any color you want any time, any type of brush or pencil, being able to work in layers and erase anything you want, is unparalleled. As I say below the first main tool you need is a graphic tablet. That's where the magic begins. Then you need the right software and some of it is even free to download. Your computer needs to be configurated in a certain way, too, in order to be able to easily handle the graphics program without crashing. Mainly it needs a dedicated graphics card like you find in gaming computers. That and a lot of extra memory stored in an external hard drive. There is a learning curve with the tablet and the software, but if you spend a week or two spending your free time on it you'll have enough understanding of it to be able to fly.
Get a Graphic Tablet!
If you get nothing else, this is the key to creativity.
Wacom Intuos 4 Small Pen Tablet
The single most important thing
There is no comparison between trying to draw with a mouse and drawing with a graphic tablet. It may take some getting used to if you are accustomed to looking directly at your hand as you draw, but if you're someone like me who has spent their whole life doing things like sight reading piano music and doing medical transcription for a living, you'll find drawing on a tablet in you lap while looking up at a screen is SO much more comfortable and ergonomic.
Yes, you can get graphic tablets for less than $100 now, but this is about what I paid for a tablet similar to one of those in 2007 and the Intuous has so many more features that I think it is well worth it. You have more pressure sensitivity, different pen nibs that have different function and flexibility, and a screen ratio that is more conducive to wide screens. There is also a ring to one side that allows you to do things like zoom with a finger rather than finding the zoom function on the screen.
Yes, you can get graphic tablets for less than $100 now, but this is about what I paid for a tablet similar to one of those in 2007 and the Intuous has so many more features that I think it is well worth it. You have more pressure sensitivity, different pen nibs that have different function and flexibility, and a screen ratio that is more conducive to wide screens. There is also a ring to one side that allows you to do things like zoom with a finger rather than finding the zoom function on the screen.
Wacom Intuos4 Small Pen Tablet
Amazon Price: $145.95 (as of 05/31/2012)
Quickly and professionally edit photos and create digital artwork with natural pen control
New pen tip sensor technology lowers activation force and captures every nuance of pen pressure
2048 levels of pen pressure sensitivity for precise pressure control
User-defined ExpressKeys & multi function Touch Ring put time saving shortcuts, modifiers, scrolling, zooming, and more at your fingertips.
Other Wacom Tablets
Adobe Photoshop Elements
It's not just for photos
Although I still prefer a full version of Photoshop, Elements is a good way to get started. You don't have quite as much control over all the tools and effects, but it is a lot easier to get started with and somewhat less intimidating. I have done all of my drawing and painting in Photoshop and I love how many different types of brushes I can use along with unlimited layers and colors.
Adobe Photoshop Elements 10
Amazon Price: $63.99 (as of 05/31/2012)
Adobe Creative Suite
#1 on my own digital art tool wish list
I'll admit, I wouldn't know what to do with half of the software included in this package but I'd sure like to have a go at it! For one thing it streamlines the process of making ebooks which would be very helpful. I would also like to work with Adobe Illustrator. But there are so many goodies included in this I could probably spend the rest of my life learning it all.
Adobe CS5.5 Master Collection Student and Teacher Edition
Amazon Price: $779.00 (as of 05/31/2012)
My Photoshop Rose Drawing Tutorial
See how I use Photoshop to create drawings
Corel Painter
I just downloaded the full version of this so I haven't had much time to experiment with, but it does do some things that Photoshop doesn't. The kinds of brushes are more like real painting and drawing tools, although I feel like they aren't as sensitive to touch as I expect them to be. Maybe it's my older graphic tablet, or maybe there is some sort of tool parameter I can adjust and haven't found yet.
At any rate, if you're just starting out what it does is pretty eye-popping. It's a little crashy, so far, but I'm willing to overlook that for the eye candy.
At any rate, if you're just starting out what it does is pretty eye-popping. It's a little crashy, so far, but I'm willing to overlook that for the eye candy.
Corel Painter 12
Amazon Price: $199.92 (as of 05/31/2012)
Get a Dedicated Video Card
If you want to save yourself frustration set your computer up for gaming with a dedicated, not integrated, video card. That way it will be able to handle the graphics with ease.
Graphics Cards
You don't have to buy the most expensive graphics card in order for it to work. My computer was custom built by a friend and he was trying to keep costs down, so he didn't get the most expensive, ultra gaming card. But I can run two browsers, Photoshop, Second Life, and Pandora all at the same time with no problem. My card is a NVidia 7600GS 512MB which was purchased for $29.99 in December 2009.
Get an External Hard Drive
All of these graphics will take up a LOT of space, so it's best to go ahead and plan for that with more storage. It will also help graphics heavy software run better if you have more space available for them to use as a temporary cache. Not to mention you definitely don't want to lose all your work in the event that your computer goes down.
Iomega Prestige 1 TB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive 34919 (Gray)
Amazon Price: $79.99 (as of 05/31/2012)
digital art studio stocking stuffers
Lenses That Feature Some of My Digital Art
Digital Art Tutorial Tweets
Say that five times real fast
Comments?
Happy holidays!
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TransplantedSoul
May 5, 2012 @ 6:25 pm | delete
- I have a tablet (Wacom), and it is very useful. I love that it is pressure sensitive.
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Fitzcharming Sep 5, 2011 @ 4:21 pm | delete
- I'm trying to learn photoshop elements and it's pretty tricky. Right now I'm envying all you creative types. I'll be back when I'm ready to take the next step. Thanks
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sukkran Mar 26, 2011 @ 10:31 am | delete
- informative lens. ~blessed~
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mcochs
Mar 22, 2011 @ 8:26 am | delete
- Awesome lens! I really want to get a graphic tablet. Blessed by a Squidoo Angel on 3/22/2011. Have a great day!
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MeelaJoubert
Jan 16, 2011 @ 6:06 pm | delete
- I've had a tablet for years. Love it.
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Margo_Arrowsmith
Nov 30, 2010 @ 10:16 am | delete
- Love my graphic tablet, its good to use for everything!
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