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Art Programs, Tablets and YOU
(Thanx Bama for the sticky)<br>M'kay at least three times a week I find a post asking how to do something or another on some art program, receive a message or asked in chat. I'm finding that there are a lot of them that I seem to be answering repeatedly! Thus I have under taken to write up most of these into one section that is easy to find! <br><br><span style="font-weight:bold">Where to Get the Programs</span><br>GIMP is a free art program, you can get it from their website- <a href="http://www.gimp.org/"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">http://www.gimp.org/</a><br>PhotoShop you can get a free trial, or you can buy it from adobe<br>OpenCanvas you can search for version 1.1 which is free or buy the latest and greatest<br>PaintTool SAI you can get a free trail or buy it.<br>ArtRage you can download the basic program for free, or pay for an upgraded version.<br>Paint.NET is a free program that you can download from their website.<br>ArtWeaver is a free program that you can download from their site.<br><br><span style="font-style:italic">I wish to take a moment and point out that of all the art programs I have listed ONLY TWO require buying them. If you have a 'free' copy of photoshop, it is illegal, no I will not help you acquire a free copy of the program, I do not have it because I can not afford it, nor do I wish to obtain an illegal copy!</span><br><br>First off I'm betting you have all heard of GIMP and Photoshop and you may be wondering what the huge difference is, or which one is better. In short unless you are selling your art to companies for magazines/posters/books, or other printed material there really is not a huge difference! That's right for all your digital art needs you don't have to go pirate/buy photoshop! Now arn't you happy? The biggest difference is the CYMK color mode, which is only used to LIMIT the color plate to colors that a printer can actually print. <br><br>Now that I've got that out of my system 
<br><br><span style="font-weight:bold">The Basics</span><br>First off I'm getting a bit tired of all the questions about 'the basics' not point a finger at any one here, I've have questions about the basics of programs from some of my fellow art majors.<br>So, you really want to know the big secret for the basics? Google! ZOMG genius! You can search for program tutorials. Amazing isn't it? <br>These are some tutorials that I JUST GOOGLED that go over the very basics:<br><a href="http://www.ufocomes.de/files/basegien.html"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">GIMP</a><br><a href="http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/photoshoptutorialsbasic/Photoshop_Basics_Tutorials_for_Photoshop_Beginners.htm"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">PhotoShop</a><br><a href="http://fc86.deviantart.com/fs9/f/2006/023/2/9/oCTutorial.jpg"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">OpenCanvas</a> (click to enlarge)<br><a href="http://fc76.deviantart.com/fs19/f/2007/266/6/e/PAINT_TOOL_SAI_TUTORIAL_1_by_xxlilevilangelxx.jpg"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">Paint Tool SAI</a> (click to enlarge)<br><a href="http://www.artrage.com/artragetutorials.html"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">ArtRage</a><br><a href="http://groups.melbpc.org.au/~bayside/Tutorial on Paint.Net.pdf" target="_blank" class="bb-url">Paint.NET</a> (this is a .pdf file)<br><a href="http://fc07.deviantart.com/fs31/f/2008/222/6/8/ArtWeaver_Tutorial_2_by_evilangel990.png"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">ArtWeaver</a> (click to enlarge)<br><br><span style="font-weight:bold">Tablets, Mice, and Pencils oh my!</span><br>I've noticed about every one and their dog buying a tablet now days. Will they make your art better? No not really.. It is only a TOOL it will not make your art magically better. In fact unless you are doing a lot of DRAWING on the computer I wouldn't waste my money. For banners and photomanip a mouse or a track pad is fine. The only real advantage of a tablet it the pen shape because your hand/wrist already know all the right motions to draw. Think about it, do you have to tell your hand every motion to draw a star, or does it just do it when you think 'oh I think I'll put a star here'.<br><br>So you say you do want to use your art program to draw, and you are convinced that a tablet will solve every one of your short comings. I am here to tell you that you are completely wrong! Even now after having two tablets I still prefer to do most of my drawing on good old fashion paper! (don't believe me? I have literal piles of sketches, doodles and finished art all done in pencil!) So really, I would get good at drawing with a pencil, and then learn the basics of painting. I know I got a tablet way way to early. I thought every thing was just awesome because it was drawn on the computer. Then I really took a look and you know my traditional art was a class above the computer art. Need some proof? <a href="http://evlon-shape-shifter.deviantart.com/art/Look-into-my-Eyes-109824431"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">Pencil & Paper</a> vs <a href="http://evlon-shape-shifter.deviantart.com/art/Dreaming-of-Super-Heroes-105738913"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">Digital</a> Yup, the anatomy, shading, and fur is much better on the pencil drawing. You can see the point I am trying to make, so I'll stop rambling on this point.<br><br>If you have been convinced that you don't need a tablet right now or can not afford one take a look at this! <a href="http://evlon-shape-shifter.deviantart.com/art/Art-on-GIMP-with-mouse-71565566"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">Mouse Art Tut</a> You got it, I started my computer art with a mouse, a gamer mouse which is harder than the track pad to get used to <br><br><br><span style="font-weight:bold">Which Tablet?</span><br>So I get this one a lot, 'which tablet is the best?' or 'What is your opinion about this brand?'. I'm not quite sure how I became the local tablet expert, but I'll do my best here. I've only had a tablet sense Dec 07, so I have a VERY limited experience. <br>I have learned that you want no less than 1024-level pressure sensitivity on a tablet. If it does not list the pressure levels don't buy it!<br><br><span style="font-style:italic">The Beginner's Tablet</span> Should be economical. Remember for the first one you are exploring if you like/need a tablet. I brought a dinky 3x4 Genius for $20, and it's still working might I add. You are not looking for the biggest fish out there, go small and low cost. Your budget (or parent's budget) will greatly appreciate this. <br><br><span style="font-style:italic">The Intermediate's Tablet</span> After you have gotten the feel and flow of your tablet you may find that you actually like it, and long for more drawing space. I had the 3x4 for 6 months before upgrading! Your goal is to still be budget friendly here. I got a 6x10 Genius for $90. This in the same price range as the Wacom Bamboo, I opted for the larger drawing area. And yes, I'm still in this category 
<br><br><span style="font-style:italic">The Advanced Tablet</span> By the time you get to this point you should know just what you want in a tablet. You also know rough you will be on the tablet, how often you'll need to change the pen tips, and the average life span to expect. You still want to get a bang for your buck so try to stay under $200.<br><br><span style="font-style:italic">The Professional User</span> You have enough experience to stop reading this and scoff at me now. You have a tablet for work that you some how got them to fund, one for home, and then one for your fun fast doodles, and more to spare. Pfft why sell your older models? You know the attributes of each of your babies, which programs are good with which brand and model and how to get the most out of each. And the best part? You get paid to do this. (yeah, I'm no where near this!)<br><br>I'm going to say that most of the people on VP belong in the first class, and a few belong in the second class.<br><br>
<br>So was there some question I didn't answer? Ask it here, and I'll answer for every one to hear
<br><br><span style="font-weight:bold">The Basics</span><br>First off I'm getting a bit tired of all the questions about 'the basics' not point a finger at any one here, I've have questions about the basics of programs from some of my fellow art majors.<br>So, you really want to know the big secret for the basics? Google! ZOMG genius! You can search for program tutorials. Amazing isn't it? <br>These are some tutorials that I JUST GOOGLED that go over the very basics:<br><a href="http://www.ufocomes.de/files/basegien.html"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">GIMP</a><br><a href="http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/photoshoptutorialsbasic/Photoshop_Basics_Tutorials_for_Photoshop_Beginners.htm"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">PhotoShop</a><br><a href="http://fc86.deviantart.com/fs9/f/2006/023/2/9/oCTutorial.jpg"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">OpenCanvas</a> (click to enlarge)<br><a href="http://fc76.deviantart.com/fs19/f/2007/266/6/e/PAINT_TOOL_SAI_TUTORIAL_1_by_xxlilevilangelxx.jpg"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">Paint Tool SAI</a> (click to enlarge)<br><a href="http://www.artrage.com/artragetutorials.html"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">ArtRage</a><br><a href="http://groups.melbpc.org.au/~bayside/Tutorial on Paint.Net.pdf" target="_blank" class="bb-url">Paint.NET</a> (this is a .pdf file)<br><a href="http://fc07.deviantart.com/fs31/f/2008/222/6/8/ArtWeaver_Tutorial_2_by_evilangel990.png"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">ArtWeaver</a> (click to enlarge)<br><br><span style="font-weight:bold">Tablets, Mice, and Pencils oh my!</span><br>I've noticed about every one and their dog buying a tablet now days. Will they make your art better? No not really.. It is only a TOOL it will not make your art magically better. In fact unless you are doing a lot of DRAWING on the computer I wouldn't waste my money. For banners and photomanip a mouse or a track pad is fine. The only real advantage of a tablet it the pen shape because your hand/wrist already know all the right motions to draw. Think about it, do you have to tell your hand every motion to draw a star, or does it just do it when you think 'oh I think I'll put a star here'.<br><br>So you say you do want to use your art program to draw, and you are convinced that a tablet will solve every one of your short comings. I am here to tell you that you are completely wrong! Even now after having two tablets I still prefer to do most of my drawing on good old fashion paper! (don't believe me? I have literal piles of sketches, doodles and finished art all done in pencil!) So really, I would get good at drawing with a pencil, and then learn the basics of painting. I know I got a tablet way way to early. I thought every thing was just awesome because it was drawn on the computer. Then I really took a look and you know my traditional art was a class above the computer art. Need some proof? <a href="http://evlon-shape-shifter.deviantart.com/art/Look-into-my-Eyes-109824431"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">Pencil & Paper</a> vs <a href="http://evlon-shape-shifter.deviantart.com/art/Dreaming-of-Super-Heroes-105738913"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">Digital</a> Yup, the anatomy, shading, and fur is much better on the pencil drawing. You can see the point I am trying to make, so I'll stop rambling on this point.<br><br>If you have been convinced that you don't need a tablet right now or can not afford one take a look at this! <a href="http://evlon-shape-shifter.deviantart.com/art/Art-on-GIMP-with-mouse-71565566"; target="_blank" class="bb-url">Mouse Art Tut</a> You got it, I started my computer art with a mouse, a gamer mouse which is harder than the track pad to get used to <br><br><br><span style="font-weight:bold">Which Tablet?</span><br>So I get this one a lot, 'which tablet is the best?' or 'What is your opinion about this brand?'. I'm not quite sure how I became the local tablet expert, but I'll do my best here. I've only had a tablet sense Dec 07, so I have a VERY limited experience. <br>I have learned that you want no less than 1024-level pressure sensitivity on a tablet. If it does not list the pressure levels don't buy it!<br><br><span style="font-style:italic">The Beginner's Tablet</span> Should be economical. Remember for the first one you are exploring if you like/need a tablet. I brought a dinky 3x4 Genius for $20, and it's still working might I add. You are not looking for the biggest fish out there, go small and low cost. Your budget (or parent's budget) will greatly appreciate this. <br><br><span style="font-style:italic">The Intermediate's Tablet</span> After you have gotten the feel and flow of your tablet you may find that you actually like it, and long for more drawing space. I had the 3x4 for 6 months before upgrading! Your goal is to still be budget friendly here. I got a 6x10 Genius for $90. This in the same price range as the Wacom Bamboo, I opted for the larger drawing area. And yes, I'm still in this category <br><br><span style="font-style:italic">The Advanced Tablet</span> By the time you get to this point you should know just what you want in a tablet. You also know rough you will be on the tablet, how often you'll need to change the pen tips, and the average life span to expect. You still want to get a bang for your buck so try to stay under $200.<br><br><span style="font-style:italic">The Professional User</span> You have enough experience to stop reading this and scoff at me now. You have a tablet for work that you some how got them to fund, one for home, and then one for your fun fast doodles, and more to spare. Pfft why sell your older models? You know the attributes of each of your babies, which programs are good with which brand and model and how to get the most out of each. And the best part? You get paid to do this. (yeah, I'm no where near this!)<br><br>I'm going to say that most of the people on VP belong in the first class, and a few belong in the second class.<br><br>
<br>So was there some question I didn't answer? Ask it here, and I'll answer for every one to hear
Due to lack of interest tomorrow is canceled. Let the clocks be reset and the pendulums held.
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