Good Art Programs? What do you use? Recommendations?

[Remi 1,309]

I only use the most advanced software out there my program's are sooo advanced they don't even sell them in computer shops

...I use a pencil and a piece o paperI only use the most advanced software out there my program's are sooo advanced they don't even sell them in computer shops

...I use a pencil and a piece o paper

Pen and Paper?

Pencil and Paper?

Did you say, PENCIL AND PAPER?

 

I WAS INFORMED THAT THAT SPECIFIC SOFTWARE COSTS CIRCA TWO THOUSAND EUROS. HOW ON EARTH DID YOU MANAGE TO PURCHASE IT?

[YALL ARE FUCKING GAY 505]

hey guy i was just wondering what kind of programs you use for your art? ( this includes vectors) 

 

at the moment im using PhotoShop CS5 but its apparently a bit outdated 

 

so im looking for a new program to use 

 

i currently have Inkscpae, PaintTool SAI, PonyScape and photoshop 

 

should i invest my time learning a new program or stick with PhotoShop? 

 

please give some advice below ( what program you use and is it any good for vectors) 

[Jokuc 8,174]

Well it totally depends on what you are going to do in the program. If you're just drawing, stick with Photoshop or get SAI (whatever you prefer, I'd keep photoshop since you're used to it).

 

If you are doing pony vectors, go with Inkscape or Ponyscape (same program duh). Programs like Inkscape/Ponyscape and Illustrator are the only of these programs that's working with vector images, while SAI and Photoshop works with raster images. Which means, you are able to change the size of things and scale it up however you want etc, and zoom in without seeing any pixly edges. When the image then is exported, the program makes the highest quality png raster possible out of the vector.

 

If you are thinking about doing a lot of advanced vectors, Illustrator has more features, but I personally haven't needed to change to Illustrator, I have done vectors for a long time and I have done a few things that's a bit more complicated than normal pony vectors, but I have never needed Illustrator.

Edited September 13, 2013 by Jokuc

[duidamasterXD 9,627]

@HunterScars, just letting you know that I've moved your thread to Creative Resources, since you seem to be asking for advice with something related to art. Hope you get the help you need.

[YALL ARE FUCKING GAY 505]

@@Jokuc,

 

Photoshop can work with vectors ( that's the program i use to do them )  

 

and i will probably not go to illustrator ( expensive as fuck ! and complex as hell )  

 

i might try out inkscape though 

[Jokuc 8,174]

@@Jokuc,

 

Photoshop can work with vectors ( that's the program i use to do them )

 

and i will probably not go to illustrator ( expensive as fuck ! and complex as hell )

 

i might try out inkscape though

 

Photoshop can't work with vectors. If you know what vectors are, you'd know that. Photoshop can use the pen tool to trace paths and make high quality images out of a reference too, but the image is just a vector when you're working with it in the program as a svg file for example. Photoshop can't work with those.

 

Make a curve in Photoshop and zoom in 500 times, then you'll see its pixels

Oh wait, never mind. Isn't there some sort of new feature in Photoshop that converts bitmaps to vectors? I'm not sure, however it's still best to use a program that's created for vectoring

Edited September 13, 2013 by Jokuc

[Moonlight 7,288]

I don't really do vectors, since I could never really wrap my head around it, but I say you should either:

 

A. stick with Photoshop

B. Try out Gimp

C. or possibly use this site... http://pixlr.com/editor/  I don't know if it's good for vectors but it's pretty much photoshop but online and free.

[YALL ARE FUCKING GAY 505]

@@Jokuc,

 

i have tried to use inkscape and i FUCKIN' HATE IT SO MUCH  ( i rage quit in the first 10 minutes) 

 

 

 

I don't really do vectors, since I could never really wrap my head around it, but I say you should either:

 

A. stick with Photoshop

B. Try out Gimp

C. or possibly use this site... http://pixlr.com/editor/  I don't know if it's good for vectors but it's pretty much photoshop but online and free.

 

 

i have tired gimp also and hated it as well 

[Moonlight 7,288]

 

 

i have tired gimp also and hated it as well 

 

I'm going to be honest, the only reason I use GIMP is to crop and resize pictures.

 

But, yeah, you should possibly stick with Photoshop since you're probably used to it by now. 

[Nohbdy 4,108]

Adobe Photoshop CS5 is only outdated if you're a professional who needs the most cutting edge technology available. If you're an amateur, CS5 is more than enough. In fact, even older versions of Photoshop are arguably more powerful than the latest GIMP, Paint.NET, Pixelmator, and similar alternatives. When it comes to art software, Photoshop is the industry standard. 

 

I say stick with Photoshop. 

[Jonke 3,743]

Photoshop can't work with vectors. If you know what vectors are, you'd know that. Photoshop can use the pen tool to trace paths and make high quality images out of a reference too, but the image is just a vector when you're working with it in the program as a svg file for example. Photoshop can't work with those.

 

Make a curve in Photoshop and zoom in 500 times, then you'll see its pixels

Oh wait, never mind. Isn't there some sort of new feature in Photoshop that converts bitmaps to vectors? I'm not sure, however it's still best to use a program that's created for vectoring

 

Actually, you can create true vectors in Photoshop but it's obviously not recommended. The reason people believe PS can't create vectors is because it can't display it properly due to the nature of being a raster program. It's programmed to work with 100% of your resolution. Anything above will be pixelated but if you resize the image from let's say 1000x1000 to 20000x20000 it will retain its vector quality.

 

 

 

4000x4000 --> 20000x20000

 

 

 

 

Edited September 13, 2013 by Jonke

[YALL ARE FUCKING GAY 505]

ive got something special lined up for you all 

 

A MOTHER FUCKIN' VECTOR  will post soon is nearly done ( i dids it in Photoshop  )  

[MoarPony 9]

I guess I'm the only one in the world who uses Adobe After Effects even for making photos

Photoshop is definitely the best out of the list, imo, but if you're going to do mostly vectors then definitely try Illustrator.

I've made vectors in both programs before, and it's a lot easier in Illustrator.

[Doge 34]

Microsoft Paint is obviously the greatest photo editor of all time, anyone who says it isn't is crazy.

 

That's like saying WIndows Movie Maker isn't the best video editor ever.

[Shift 4,272]

For my pixel art?

 

 

...I use Paint.net, but for vectoring (Which i'm getting the hang of) I use Inkscape. Inkscape is nice, but I mostly use Paint.net since i've had it the longest. And it is an amazing photo editor, but I do agree that Microsoft Paint is the greatest photo editor of all time.

[Sweets 198]

So far (And I'm still learning) I use SAi for sketches and lineart. The lines are nicer to me there. Photoshop's brushes have few uses for me, and so I use their colors more (since they have an automatically program selection of palettes). So I generally switch form SAI to Photoshop, but it's still a pain in the ass. I saw this and wanted to click it, since I was wondering the same thing.

[Genepool 224]

Photoshop is a great program, and it offers a lot to the user.  The one bad remark I've heard about Photoshop is the use of tablet input.  That's where Paint Tool Sai shines because of a bit of a motion delay, not sure, that enables for smoother drawing capabilities.  Another program that has been talked about is the sketchbook pro tool and manga studios.  Not sure if it is manga studios, but there's one program that has a faceless 3D model that you can position.  It enables the user to trace the object and flush out the details.  If a 3D pony model could be used, like the dress forms you see in Rarity's shop, it would be quite interesting. 

[GameytheGeemer 147]

I would recommend Illustrator CS3. Not only can it be downloaded for free from adobe it's self, but it's easier to use than Photoshop (biased opinion because I've only had training in Illustrator, but I'ts still taught long before photoshop). Also, the pro to Illustrator is that they almost never change it, so CS3 is almost identical to CS5 (what I use at school). And it doesn't have the only truly complicated tool, Gradient Mesh. But, since you use photoshop picking up Illustrator would be easier than picking up photoshop.

[Astralis 62]

I use Photoshop and SAI, but if you want to do vectors I recommend Inscape or Illustrator. 

These programs help you work, are easy and allow you to get a nice effect.  

[--------- 27]

hey guy i was just wondering what kind of programs you use for your art? ( this includes vectors) 

 

at the moment im using PhotoShop CS5 but its apparently a bit outdated 

 

so im looking for a new program to use 

 

i currently have Inkscpae, PaintTool SAI, PonyScape and photoshop 

 

should i invest my time learning a new program or stick with PhotoShop? 

 

please give some advice below ( what program you use and is it any good for vectors) 

 

Photoshop CS6 is exellent! That's what i'm using right now. And they have completly reworked the pen tool to make it easier to use. Buybuybuybuy!

 

Or do it the naughty way.

 

srsly. don't.

[decoherence 183]

I *hate* Photoshop with a passion. Still, it is the program I use most for this stuff because there's no denying it's the most sophisticated bitmap editor going. I've been using it since version 2, before they even had layers (you could do the same thing using alpha channels, it just took a few more steps.) Even after using it for nearly 20 years, I still feel like the interface is fighting me every step of the way. I know the damn thing like the back of my hand and it is NOT how a program should work, imho.

I seriously, seriously hate photoshop.

 

OK, now you're might think me really weird, but my favourite program for making just about any kind of art -- short of music -- is Blender. That is how a program should work. Once you learn it, it's like mind control. None of this horrible "we'll try to make it accessible but fail miserably because it's a sophisticated program, and in doing so make life that much harder for the people who actually put in the time to learn it" that Photoshop is guilty of.

 

Sure, Blender is a stone-cold b**** to learn (though it's much nicer than it was) but go and look at some tutorials on youtube. The guys who have it down are working so quickly, it seriously looks like mind control. And it feels like mind control, too -- frequently used operations just get mapped to your muscle memory and by the time you decide you want to do something, your fingers have already done it. The whole program is tailored around that kind of workflow. Fast fast fast fast!

 

My avatar was done with Blender exclusively. It took about five minutes. Really just messing around with the new renderer and the compositor and I liked this result. I may go back and tweak it some more when I get home. Thicker lines, maybe. That's about one second of work -- same as adjusting line width in illustrator or inkscape -- and all the lyra-ish colours and blurring will stay intact.

 

One thing Blender isn't, is a bitmap editor, and that's why I still find myself grudgingly running photoshop. If you need to edit a bitmap directly, rather than render one as you would in blender or illustrator or inkscape or whatever, then you still need photoshop. That's why it is a necessary evil.

Edited October 3, 2013 by decoherence

[Messershmitt 289]

im thinking of starting some sort of art hobbie thing sometime this year and i was wandering if there was somesort of art program that i could use that is similar to Ps or Flash?

[Hansel 1,512]

Photoshop and Flash are two very different pieces of software.

 

Photoshop is bitmap based, meaning any artwork you do it will be done in pixels. It's very good for digital painting, sketching, and photo editing. If you're after a similar piece of software, I suggest Paint Tool SAI or Manga Studio.

 

Flash, on the other hand, is vector based, so you'll be using "objects" to create your art work as opposed to pixels. It's more limiting stylistically then working in bitmap, but it's much better for design work and graphics because it's far easier to edit and manipulate your work without distorting the quality.

Flash is primarily used for animating, you can also use Toonboom and TV Paint for that, both of which are arguably more advanced then Flash, but it all depends on what form of animation you're trying to create. 

If you want to work in vector, but aren't too fussed about animation, then Adobe Illustrator is your best bet. It's a hell of a lot better for creating still art work then Flash, but's it's quite expensive. Inkscape is a free alternative.

 

Edited October 7, 2013 by Hansel

[DustJacket 213]

Adobe Illustrator is best at making vectors and logos.

And there's GIMP, it's like Adobe Photoshop, only GIMP is free.

Adobe After Effects lets you make real-life effects, similar to the ones in movies, but it needs some time to master.

And don't forget Adobe Photoshop Lightroom, it helps the most on editing images (drawings, photos, any kind of image). So if you're not happy with the color, for example; if you thought that it's too bright, you could use Lightroom to decrease the brightness and stuff.

[Hansel 1,512]

Adobe After Effects lets you make real-life effects, similar to the ones in movies, but it needs some time to master.

 

After Effects is a fantastic piece of post-production software, but it's worth noting that's much for effective for 2D animated work then live-action or 3D animated stuff. It's fine for editing live-action footage and putting it together, but when it comes to composting and effects animation, it works a lot better as a post-production tool for 2D animation. Final Cut Pro or Premiere are more efficient for live-action, and Nuke is your best bet for VFX and 3D.  

Edited October 7, 2013 by Hansel