New tools let many make digital art
~ YOU CAN MAKE DIGITAL ART, WITH THESE NEW TOOLS ~
Have you previously tried your hand at art, but couldn't hack the traditional manual tools and difficult skills - like pencil drawing, mixing pigments, etc.? Or maybe you've recently retired and now have time to realize your dream of a more creative life?
Whatever kept you from making art - perhaps your time has come!
My lens is about the new popular online digital art images. Images you can make, submit to online galleries and (sometimes) sell via your personal computer and the web.
I hope to be of help to those who want to get into digital art. FYI, I'm most expert in Photoshop for 2D and Silo 2, Poser and Vue for 3D. My strongest area of expertise is lighting.
What I can't help you with is character development, character modeling, video or animation.
Another art revolution
Your computer can give you revolutionary creative power

~ A century ago... ~
An amazing thing happened in the art world.
Photography was introduced.

Suddenly anyone could make pictures, not just those who spent years learning to draw and paint! And those who applied themselves to photography, nurtured a keen eye and grew their personal vision, could even make art with their cameras.
~ IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN, ONLINE ~
In the past few years, the kinds of things you see Hollywood special effects professionals do on the big screen became available to anyone who wants to apply themselves a bit - on their personal computer.
Not everyone has the time or patience (or the computing power) to make such pro-quality animations. But it is very practical for you to make digital art still images with these tools. And if you're not interested in "photo-realism" (or realistic surrealism), there are also great tools for making abstract or geometric images.
With a bit of geek work and cash (and lots of free time), you can even make pro-quality short films and film clips.
How does it work?

Basically, you can make digital art of 4 types, using one of 4 tools:
1. PHOTO EDITING TOOLS: Using photos (or other images), you can make collages or composite scenes.
Example artist: Photos by ges
2. DIGITAL DRAWING TOOLS: Using a digital tablet and stylus, you can draw or paint in a way that simulates the traditional manual methods
Example artist: Images by ArtWithin
3. PATTERN GENERATORS: You can set a number of dials and your computer then generates interesting mathematical or fractal patterns.
Example artist: Images by Psion005
4. 3D MODELING AND 3D SCENES: You can sculpt or buy 3D models of figures, vehicles, etc. and then pose them in 3D scenes - applying props, terrains, atmospheres, water bodies, vegetation models and such. Then you light your scenes and render them (using a "virtual camera" inside your scene) as 2D images.
Example artist: Images by Trepz
This last is the digital art type used by Hollywood effects houses, along with character creation, backdrop "painting" and animation - all of which you can now do on your personal computer.
And #4 is also my favorite type of digital art, though I have yet to tackle animation seriously.
Naturally there is some overlap of tools in one's chosen image type. And naturally some digital artists use a mix of tool types to create "hybrid images".
$$ Sounds expensive! $$
For making your images (and/or 3D models) you can start with some excellent free programs. Those could easily see you through your first couple year or two and let you get your feet wet for free.
But for the most creative power with the least hassles, you'll want to eventually move up to more professional level software tools. You could end up spending $1,000 or more - similar to the kind of money a serious but frugal amateur photographer might spend, Still it's a lot less than many hobby or sports participants spend.
"But I can't make Art!"

Actually, you probably can.
Are you afraid you don't have the talent to make good art?
I don't believe in talent, or perhaps I believe everyone has talent and creativity - after all, those are natural human survival skills.
~ YOU'RE EXTREMELY CREATIVE - REALLY! ~

Certainly everyone (who hasn't had it "disciplined" out of them) is extremely creative. And even those with blocked creativity can restore it.
You doubt that?
Do you remember your nighttime dreams? Think about a recent dream. Remember all that wild and crazy stuff in your dream? Well, your own creativity came up with all that, no one else's!
And not only that, but...
..it's great fun!
..it can put you in touch with your unique nature, kind of like a bridge between your hidden inner self and the cosmos.
..you'll make lots of online friends who are on the same path.
Put your art online - Make your mark!

Once your work is good enough that you want to start showing it around, you can upload it to the galleries of any of several free online digital art portals.
There you can get to know others who are doing what you're doing and exchange comments and critiques. And there are plenty of experts to help you with whatever software tools you use, or to guide you on art principles and methods.
Many digital artists (me included) like to create free tutorials, models and materials and make them available on those art portals. It's all pretty exciting and friendly!
You can sell your digital art online!

Once your images are good enough that people want to own them, there are also free (or under $50 per year) "Print-On-Demand" (POD) online galleries, where the public can choose from your gallery images and have high quality prints made and shipped to them. You can even produce T-shirts, mouse pads, greeting cards and such.
If you get into sculpting your own 3D models (big fun!), those models are also much in demand by digital artists who don't know how to model, but need characters, clothes and other objects for their 3D scenes.
So, your art making activities can pay for themselves, once you get proficient.
I hope you'll be joining the digital art revolution and partaking of all the fun and creativity!
Feel free to get in touch, if you'd like some help getting into digital art making.
_jim coe
Art Head Start
My own 3D scenes and models - so far
- See my latest here, at the best place to buy or sell art online - Fine Art America
- Yes, I've found a great place where you and I can show and sell our artworks!
here is my little part of Fine Art America:

Here is the Fine Art America Home Page. - Jim's Google Picasa galleries
- There are 2 galleries, my 3D modeled scenes (rendered as 2D images) and my photographs.
- Jim's "Art Head Start" site
- My site has a lot of freebies and tutorials for Vue 3D users.
It's also the home of my 'Art Head Start" $20 ebook - which is for all art students (and artists who didn't make it to art school) who want to make stronger, more dramatic images.
It's all about Visual Communication, Visual Grammar and art principles. - Now on FaceBook...
- I've started "Jim Coe's Images", a non-profile page on FaceBook. If you like my stuff, please consider becoming my FaceBook "Fan" - thanks :o)
Shameless self-promotion

Why am I promoting digital art making?
Two reasons. My degree is in fine art and I taught at a fine art college for some years. This led me to other teaching gigs from time to time. Seems I simply love to train and instruct and share what I've learned, something like I'm doing here.
And last (but not least), I wrote a $20 ebook to help art school students (and those who can't get to art school) to learn about Visual Communication and basic art principles, and I'd like you to buy it.
Some of you may visit my Art Head Start web site and check out my "Art Head Start" ebook. You Vue 3D fans will also find many free tutorials, my directory of other Vue tutorials all over the web and other free stuff.
digital art portals, forums & galleries
- Renderosity - digital art portal

Renderosity is the oldest and largest digital art portal. Has many forums (yeah, I know it should be "fora", but not everyone learned Latin), one for each major digital art application, as well as many other topical forums. Gives you your own gallery and lets you upload images to the main gallery. Has a store where you can buy or sell digital goods. Several other good features.
The down side for Rendo (and the other most popular digital art portals) is that there is a lot of poor work shown. Rendo in particular has a lot of amateur soft porn. Still, there are many excellent images and lots of friendly help there.
If you're interested in digital art, you should get your free membership.- Computer Graphics Society Forum
- Has several galleries and many forums. No store and fewer private features. Has jobs list. A bit heavy on product ads.
What sets "CGTalk" way apart from the rest is the professional quality of the images. This is a good place to get pro level inspiration and calibrate your own digital goals up a few notches. Definetly another "must join". - Cornucopia 3D
- C3D is the digital art portal of e-on Software, the makers of my favorite 3D scenery and staging program. With a very friendly community a store for both buying and selling, which specializes in Vue content and great topics and galleries, Cornucopia is a must for Vue users.
- 3D Commune
- 3D Commune is a smaller community, but very friendly. It's a complete portal, with a store where you can buy and sell, forums for the major software tools, as well as freebies and tutorials.
In particular you Vue users and wannabes may want to check out "Monsoon", the mod of the Vue forum.
He has lots of great info on some of the more difficult effects, like simulating fire, rocket exhausts, outer space backgrounds, etc. And he's the author of some amazing environment products for Vue, like SeaVue (amazing ocean and surf building stuff). - Seventh Complex
- I'm pretty new to 7th Complex, which I think is also new. Seems a good site though, with some excellent work on display. No store and few pesky ads.
- Ultimate 3D Links
- This is a digital art portal with most of the usual features and a store for buying or selling 3D goods. It has lots of links to resources and freebies - including a list of free 3D software tools.
My favorite digital art tools
- e-on Software's "Vue"

e-on makes the "Vue" series of 3D landscape and 3D model staging software. There is a free "Learning Edition" (somewhat crippled, of course) that let's you check out the product and several retail product levels from hobbyist up to professional.
I use the top product, "Vue Infinite" (but not the "xtreme" edition, with it's extensions for (very expensive) pro 3D modeling programs). Vue Infinite Is not cheap, at over $700. But I've never regretted breaking my piggy bank, because of the extreme creative power Vue Infinite gives me.
Check out the demo reels for Vue Infinite.
Hey! Almost forgot: Vue makes movies - as Hollywood has been discovering in some major releases. The video show reel was created and animated entirely in Vue Infinite (except the titles and audio) and is a set of animated 3D scenes. View the Home page. Here's the Vue Infinite product page with the usual fine show reel.
Vue is quite superior to Carrara, Bryce, Terragen and other older or less developed 3D landscape modelers. And it integrates closely with Poser for importing Poser human figures, animals and props.
As I write this,Terragen has just (finally) released their new version. It does create great clouds and terrain, but lacks Vue's ability to add vegetation, forests, and all the vast number of other things one needs in most scenes. If you only do empty landscapes with maybe a body of water and lovely clouds, check out the latest Terragen version.- "Silo 2" - 3D modeler
- Silo 2 is an incredible 3D modeling tool, for only $159.
There's nothing quite like being able to sculpt your own 3D models from scratch! Picture yourself creating any object you can dream up - hot, hot, hot!
Like any skill, it takes time and patience to learn 3D modeling. It's a fun and exciting time though.
Silo is what's called a "Box" or "Polygon" modeler, which uses "Subdivision" modeling to support up to millions of polys.
What's a polygon? Think of making models out of chicken wire mesh, where each opening in the mesh has 4 sides - those openings are the "polys".
Silo is incredibly intuitive and fast to use. Unlike most 3D modelers, it does exactly what you expect every time and it's interface stays out of your way.
Is Silo 2 hard to learn? You might think so, because it doesn't try to teach you HOW to model - that's not it's job. So, if you already understand box modeling, you'll grok Silo right away. If not, you'll have to learn elsewhere (see my links). - "Poser" - e frontier
- Poser is the oldest (and de facto standard) tool for working with human and animal figures. The current Poser 7 is $250 (wow! $150 at Amazon today - see recommended products link below).
Very few artists are skilled enough to sculpt realistic 3D models of humans. And then there's the challenge of putting "bones" into them, so they move realistically and programing the kinematics of their movements. So, most 3d artists buy "base" figures from companies like DAZ (see next link) and modify them inside Poser.
In Poser, you do pretty much what it sounds like, you pose your figures (right down to the degree of squint of their lower eyelids). And you "morph" (expand or contract body parts) them, to make unique characters. You also add hair, clothing and props - which again most artists purchase, rather than make.
Most Poser artists do everything inside Poser, including rendering their 3D model as a final 2D image. But I like to export my Poser figures and import them into Vue, where much more realistic and complex scenes can be built and advanced lighting and environments are possible.
Free & inexpensive tools for beginners
A fine free figure posing, lighting and rendering tool

Many digital artists prefer the free "DAZ|Studio" application over the traditional $250 "Poser" program. And DAZ|Studio has just had a major upgrade, moving it into serious competition with Poser.
Personally, I've given up on that old, difficult Poser user interface and now use DAZ|Studio exclusively. And DAZ keeps improving it constantly - unlike Poser.
Free DAZ Studio
More free & inexpensive tools for beginners
- Free Blender

A free and open source 3D modeling program with a reputation for a lot of power and features and one of the hardest to learn interfaces ever.
Those who make the (reportedly large) effort to learn Blender tend to love it. All that fierce loyalty must have a cause, right? I gave up pretty fast, myself.- Free Google SketchUp
- A free and easy 3D modeling program for mechanical shapes (seems not suited for organic shapes, like people or vegetation).
A favorite for 3D modeling beginners, or even advanced users who just need a quick architectural model.
Has the unique ability to integrate your 3D models with Google Earth. - Ultimate 3D Links site
- Ultimate 3D Links has a good list of free 3D tools. Check their left column navigation menu.
Where to get 3D figures and environments
Most 3D hobbyists buy 3D models. Here's a way to save $.
If you get into 3D scene making, you'll soon want your own library of characters, animals, architecture, vehicles, props and environments.
There are 2 major online sources for these, the Marketplace at Renderosity and the models at DAZ 3D.
Which 3D store do I recommend?
Both actually, although DAZ can save you considerable money in the long run. Rendo and DAZ have different groups of 3D modelers selling their work, and a slightly different approach. So, you won't find the same models on both. And only DAZ sells the "base" human and animal figures that are the foundation to which you add hair, clothing props and environments.
Usually, you know what you're looking for to complete a scene you have in mind and you'll search both sites.
The way you can save big bucks on your models is to join what DAZ calls their "Platinum" program. 3D models cost something like $5 to $40 each, but for a $99 annual Platinum membership, you can get many fine models for $1.99 each and get discounts on many others. You can see that with an "average" model costing maybe $15, $99 is equivalent to fewer than 10 model purchases. Believe me, if you make very many 3D scenes, you'll want a lot more than 10 models in a year.
At a guess, I probably bought at least 40 DAZ models in 2007. If they averaged $15 retail, that's $600. So my Platinum account saved me over $420!
Visit DAZ
Print-On-Demand sites - sell your digital art
POD?
All this leaves the artist more time and energy to create more art. All they need to do is market their POD gallery to attract prospects (like I'm doing here, lol).
- Fine Art America.com - the best I've found!

Fine Art America is a somewhat new Print-On-Demand (POD) site. But it's so good that they have about 6,000 artists already - and it's the only site (according to the owner, and I believe him) which actually gets more visits from non-members than from members. Most such site are very "cloistered", with more visits from artist members than from potential buyers.
FAA Is set up to sell fine quality art prints, or original artworks - rather than decorated products (T-shirts, etc.), such as CafePress sells.
You can use FAA as a web site "shopping cart", by linking to your personal FAA gallery from your own web site. They even offer a cart to put into your own web site.
You can join FAA and show your images for free, but there is a very reasonable charge of $30 per year to join the POD service.
FAA gets great natural search positions on Google Search for your artwork, if you use their "tag" system well.- Jim's Fine Art America Gallery
- I have a POD gallery with Fine Art America, where you can purchase posters and prints of my digital art. If you make art, you really should consider joining FAA.
- CafePress
- CafePress is a very complete service for selling all kinds of products created from your artwork (or just text).
You can basically build your own web site, a CafePress, with a product catalog and shopping cart. Typical products range from art prints to mouse pads, T-shirts, mugs and many other items.
There is a small charge for a "Premium" "store" - which is very much better than the free "Basic" store. - CafePress stores
- I tried my hand at a CafePress store, to sell my digital art as posters, prints, cards, mouse pads, printed ceramic tiles and such. Didn't get much action and took way too much time, so I chocked that one up to experience. If your stuff is perfect for T-shirts and such, check them out.
RSS: Renderosity - A popular digital art portal

Fetching RSS feed... please stand bymy favorite digital art blogs

- Mark's "Impworks" (stereo 3D also)
- Mark is a Vue 3D artist and Python programming expert. You can use Python scripts to customize Vue, my favorite 3D program. Several free useful scripts are available, e.g. in the Cornucopia 3D forums, in the Scripting topic. Cornucopia
If you want to use Vue to create stereo 3D images (real 3D you view with stereo LCS glasses), check his right column listing under "Python", for "Vue Stereo Image Camera Creation Script" This is a free Python script that gives you 2 cameras inside your Vue scene, one for the left eye and one for the right.
Google "computer art" blogs
- BAT-BLOG BATMAN TOYS and COLLECTIBLES
- BATMAN'S 70th ANNIVERSARY: 3D Computer Art! This amazing 3D Computer Graphic Art was done by our goo...
- Rhizome | Call For Applications: Syracuse University Computer Art MFA
- The Computer Art MFA is a research and development program situated in the context of art and techno...
- ToC Computer Art by Joan: Christmas Bells for His Adorning
- skip to main | skip to sidebar. ToC Computer Art by Joan · Christmas Bells for His Adorning. Once a...
- An interview with Donald Kuspit by Diane Thodos — New York City ...
- My understanding of the Nauman show is that there are going to be sound pieces, with all this high t...
Famous video clip hoax, made with Vue 6 Infinite - my favorite digital art tool.
Haiti-Ufo-Hoax But is there more?
Is there more behind the video than just good animation?
curated content from YouTube
New Del.icio.us bookmarks
Excellent books on Amazon
Digital Lighting and Rendering (2nd Edition)
Doing excellent lighting of your 3D scenes is critical. Learn all about it from a master. This is the industry standard text on lighting 3D models and animations.
Practical Poser 7 (Graphics Series)
I like this series on working with Poser figures. But be warned that I haven't checked out the other available books.
Drawing the Head and Figure (Perigee)
An older book meant for manual artists, but lots of great info on face and body proportions. Very helpful to Poser users. You could even learn to draw! Wouldn't do your digital art any harm.
The Cg Tutorial: The Definitive Guide to Programmable Real-Time Graphics
Want to understand how your display card works? This is written for graphics programmers, but a big part of it is a good basics tutorial for anyone who's art is at the mercy of the world's display cards. And it will help you understand 3D shaders, textures and materials.
My recommended digital art tools
These are the products I use myself or my colleagues like.
Poser 7 3D Figure Design and Animation [OLD VERSION]
Amazon has a price that's much lower than the software maker's! Note that the Windows only version costs less than the Windows or Mac version. There is also a Mac only version.
You might want to check out the free "DAZ Studio" figure posing program. It's pretty new and has some limitations compared to Poser, but some like the interface much better than Poser's old and rather clumsy one. DAZ is offering it free to try to get market share away from poser. DAZ 3D
I recommend that you get both applications.
3Dconnexion SpaceNavigator PE (Personal Edition) 3D Navigation Device USB ( 3DX-700029 )
Have not tried one of these tools myself, but have read positive posts about this type of "mouse" from a 3D artist friend.
3D connexion SpaceExplorer 3D Navigation Device with USB Interface ( 3DX-700026 )
This seems to be the most popular SpaceNavigator model, according to digital art forum posts I read.
Wireless E-D 3D Gaming Glasses
We 3D artists don't REALLY make 3D images! We make 2D renders of 3D models. But with Vue (plus a free Python script) you can use a left eye and a right eye camera in your scenes and create real stereo images. These are the stereo glasses I use. NASA buys 3D goggles using this same "Liquid Crystal Shutter" technology. You can also buy inexpensive software from eDimensional which displays any DVD movie in 3D, on-the-fly! It's a cool idea and works pretty well. Try it on Jurassic Park!
Vue Easel 6
This is the hobbyist level version of Vue 6 - my favorite 3D environment modeler (all my digital images were made in Vue 6 Infinite, the pro version, as well as the 180 illustrations in my ebook, "Art Head Start"). "Easel" doesn't have all the features of the "Infinite" edition, but lets you get started inexpensively. If you possibly can, you should start right off with the "Infinite" edition. e-on Software has a product comparison chart on their site: Products
More recommended digital art tools
ColorVision Spyder2 Express Win/Mac
This is a light/color sensor that attaches to your display, plus color and gamma software that adjust your computer for correct color, white point, etc. If you're serious about online images (especially if you sell them or work for clients), you have to do a serious monitor calibration (every month or two). Only a hardware + software system like this is good enough.
When I bought mine, only the more expensive pro model was available. This low price model should help get a lot more monitors calibrated. You might want to check out the pro unit's extra features before buying.
Wacom ACAD INTUOS3 6X8 USB TABLET ( PTZ630AC )
Wacom is the industry standard graphics tablet maker. I think you'll be happier with and 8 inch unit like this than the smaller ones. There are many models, so look around.
If you plan to draw with your computer, a mouse just won't hack it. With a graphics tablet, you use a pressure sensitive stylus which simulates a pencil or pen. More pressure draws a heavier line. Some computer artists like their tablets so much that they never use their mouse - even when they are not drawing.
E-on Software's Vue 6 Revealed
This is the Vue 6 (my favorite 3D scene modeling program, if you weren't paying attention) book I recommend. It's also the only one. Richard is active in our Vue community and a guy I respect.
Are you selling digital art?
Selling digital art online is not easy.
Please let the newbies and wannabes know if there's hope.
How are your digital art sales?
Fetching blurbs now... please stand byPoorly: Few or no sales here.
ChristopherInMexico says:
I'm just getting started with digital art, but I've seen a couple sales :-)
Posted June 20, 2009
leonrott says:
bad!!
Posted May 03, 2008
jim_coe says:
I'll go first.
Just started late last month (Fine Art America, Cafepress, Diviant Art). Nothing yet.
Posted January 10, 2008
Best place to sell digital art online?
If you buy or sell digital art online, what's your #1 favorite sales site?
Please add it if you don't see it in my list!
Feedback please...
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Reply
- artistdianayoung artistdianayoung Jul 9, 2009 @ 7:47 pm
- Thank you so much for sharing your plethora of knowledge.
I wrote down a lot of information!
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Reply
- henzy henzy Mar 13, 2009 @ 1:35 pm
- great lens full of great information
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Reply
- jim_coe jim_coe Jan 31, 2009 @ 3:03 pm
- Thank you very much - it was fun to make.
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Reply
- bromley2 bromley2 Jun 7, 2008 @ 9:19 pm
- Great information and nicely organized. I really enjoyed your Lens, great work. (and some nice digital art!)
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Reply
- bbug bbug May 10, 2008 @ 8:30 pm
- Lots of info thanks!
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