gemmawolf

Hi! I've been needing a program on my computer that I can use a graphic tablet on for a while now, and I know that Paint.net and GIMP are free. But what are they like? I've got a few questions and criteria that need filling, and I'd also like some advice on which program would be suited to me. If I can buy it in a shop for less than £100, good. Ideally, I'd like Photoshop CS3, but it's around £250 and there's no way my parents would pay that!

Criteria:

Ideal for drawing with graphic tablet (changes width of brush depending on how hard you press)

Has a 'Paint friendly' setting - preferrably, but I don't know if it even exists. This would be for linearts.

Cheap or free

Reliable

Relatively up to date - I'm stuck in the dark ages with MS Paint so I'd like a fairly modern program

Wide range of brushes (without having to download extra, but it would be good to have that option aswell)

Colour wheel/palette so I can select he precice colour I want

An art program, not an image manipulation one (although if it's both in one that's fine)

Something that makes it easy to select areas to colour in/cut out (for linearts and quickly filling in large areas of colour - can live without it though)

Has a range of effects - lighting, those little circles that show light, shade tool, something along those lines to make my art look more realistic

Simple to use

 

Bear in mind that there probably isn't a program filling all those catagories, but if you think one is close enough to what I would want, please let me know. I have to stress that I DO NOT WANT AN IMAGE MANIPULATION PROGRAM! I am looking for an art program.

Thanks.

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Last comments

Animal Whispere r	August 30, 2010
	Aurora Borealis Alpha Female

Even though it really has already been answered (I myself use GIMP and highly recommend it.) I do have a Trustworthy site to download the newest version from. I'll give you a direct link to the newest version... ( http://computershopper.download.com/GIMP/3000-2192_4-10073935.html ) I'm currently using GIMP 2.6.6 but while getting the link for you I see that the latest is GIMP 2.6.10. I'll have to download the newest version later... ^^ (If you ever have any questions about GIMP I will answer them, OR I will try my absolute hardest to get an answer for you. ^^)

Gemmawol f	August 28, 2010

Right, thanks you two! I'll see if I can nag my dad into letting me download it sometime XD Hopfully I can start creating good quality, digital art soon - I will finally be able to preserve my pencils!

Guest	August 27, 2010

GIMP is the closest thing I've ever seen to Photoshop (I have experience with both since my School has digital art classes) And best of all... it's free! 1. It has an Ink tool that works nicely with a tablet (it behaves like an actual ink pen) 2. Paint friendly setting (pencil tool, options for eraser to have a "hard edge") 3. Gimp has worked well for me so far but it crashed once and deleted all of my downloaded brushes, but I quickly resolved the problem by consulting my computer-nerd cousin XD 4. Gimp is updated every now and then and updates are also free. 5. It has several brush sizes and even a calligraphic brush along with a few others you can adjust the sizes yourself even, making a certain brush larger or smaller. Downloading and installing brushes isn't that hard either. 6. It's color program is similar to paint's it has a foreground color and a background color. You can change both by clicking on them and there is something similar to a color wheel where you can change the colors to whatever you wish. 7. Gimp can be used for art or photo manipulation (I turned my brother into one of those Blue Cat-things from Pocahonta-... I mean Fern Gull- I mean... Avatar) 8. There is a select by color option and a magic wand that selects large areas of color. 9. There is a dumpload of effects you can use including several options for lighting. (the circle things and stuff) 10. It's not too different from Photoshop and it's not too hard to use. Once you've figured everything out, it becomes child's play.

Sofiel	August 27, 2010
	Anti-BaltoSource

well then in that case For free I'd Sudjest gimp, because i holds a whide rang for brushes AND it takes photoshop brushes, so you can downlaod those into the Gimp brush file and they will work. it has 97% of what Photoshop has and is always being updated, you can find Brushes of High quality free on Deviant art to downlaod all are safe and work with GIMP. they have brushes that are ment to look like real paint, coffee stains, hair, flames, penicles, ink pens, paint brush strokes and more. you can you can create lanscpaces, draw free hand, or color in a drawing on gimp as well. I belive it was started as more of an Art program and then people decided to use it as a Manipulation one. I don't think the brush size changes with pressure although you can always chang eit manually. it is the clostest you can get to Photoshop for free as of yet, and i would downlaod it just incase because it seems its only a matter of time before they'll want money for it . hte only thing it is really lacking is a Line tool it has the pen tool and everything else but no line tool. If you use the pen tool your linearts will become paint friendly. it hold many art features, the the cartoon filter it give your art the look of a comic book almost, it has lens flare with give your drawing a Suns relection and much more i'd play with it for a while if i were you and see if it's up to standard. as far as Non-free programs I would sujest maybe goign to like a pawn shop or a place that sales used software, you migh tbe able to get photoshop cheaper there.

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