Searching for free programs to make pony art.

[Kind Claw 407]

Hi Everypony I and I'm assuming Otherponies are looking for free and or affordable programs/apps for making art content related to MLP or anything in general.

if you know of any app or program that a newbie can use to start their Ponyart please comment below, you would be helping me and Anypony interested in creating their own masterpieces. 

also any YouTube content related to learning about said apps or programs would be going the extra mile  

and now for random some Emojis  

 

Edited May 31, 2018 by Kind Claw
Not properly worded.

[Guest]

Paint Tool SAI has always been my go-to suggestion for beginners. It's relatively easy to learn to use and comes with a free version. 

 

[age3rcm 101]

digital art:
Krita
image manipulation:
GIMP
2D animation:
opentoonz
3D works:

Blender

@Kind Claw you  cutey

[A French Derpy full of Salt 404]

There's also SFM, but it's pretty hard and there's a lot of limit (if you don't know how to program and use Blender).

[碇 シンジン 27,431]

Yep Paint Tool SAI is my favorite too, simple easy and efficient. Can be utilized from simpler projects to professional level projects.

2 hours ago, Sunset Rose said:

and comes with a free version. 

There is actual free functioning version and not only the free trial?

[Rikifive 24,123]

Personally I use GIMP for most of things, but it seems to not perform that great when it comes to digital art on bigger canvas. And it doesn't really support drawing tablets nicely.

For more professional approaches, I tried Photoshop, but only the trial. It was great, but for my needs its subscription is hilarious. Some fellow devs suggested me Firealpaca or whatever it was called. It's free and seems to be nice, as it supports drawing tablets. However, I haven't worked with it much by far, so that's all I can tell at the moment. I'm still about to see how well (or not) it performs.  For pixel art or just typical tasks though, I still prefer GIMP, even over Photoshop.

Edited May 31, 2018 by Rikifive
Typos // typing on mobile

[Guest]

18 minutes ago, Manaka Hitomi said:

Yep Paint Tool SAI is my favorite too, simple easy and efficient. Can be utilized from simpler projects to professional level projects.

There is actual free functioning version and not only the free trial?

It's only the trial, but when I was using it it seemed there was no real limit on the trial. Has that changed?

[碇 シンジン 27,431]

3 minutes ago, Sunset Rose said:

It's only the trial, but when I was using it it seemed there was no real limit on the trial. Has that changed?

Limit is or was when i used it that you cannot save the work or export it so if you are fine using print screen as a save method it doesnt really have any other drawbacks IIRC

[Rikifive 24,123]

6 minutes ago, Manaka Hitomi said:

Limit is or was when i used it that you cannot save the work or export it so if you are fine using print screen as a save method it doesnt really have any other drawbacks IIRC

I got curious about SAI, but now I can forget about it; it's a layer wrecker.

Also, I've heard it doesn't support transparency, is that true?

[碇 シンジン 27,431]

Just now, Rikifive said:

I got curious about SAI, but now I can forget about it; it's a layer wrecker.

Also, I've heard it doesn't support transparency, is that true?

The transparency works fine for me.  what you mean by layer wrecker? Only thing that i would say that is missing that i would like to have is more effects and filters, i mean If you compare to photoshop or gimp the selection isn't very rich on sai IMO. 

[Guest]

11 minutes ago, Manaka Hitomi said:

Limit is or was when i used it that you cannot save the work or export it so if you are fine using print screen as a save method it doesnt really have any other drawbacks IIRC

Huh, it let me export SAI files. There's a good chance that's changed though, I was using the trial maybe 7 years ago. 

 

2 minutes ago, Rikifive said:

I got curious about SAI, but now I can forget about it; it's a layer wrecker.

Also, I've heard it doesn't support transparency, is that true?

That is easier to do in GIMP by my understanding.

[碇 シンジン 27,431]

Just now, Sunset Rose said:

Huh, it let me export SAI files. There's a good chance that's changed though, I was using the trial maybe 7 years ago. 

 

That is easier to do in GIMP by my understanding.

yeah it might've been I used like 3-4 years ago i think, the developer released SAI2 like couple years back which improves some features.

 

just checked the site it says

"You can download "PaintTool SAI" from below links. This software has 31 days trial period. You can use this software with full function without fee during the first 31 days. (CAUTION: This software disable the file open/save functions immediately when 31 days trial period expired. It means that you lose painting since the saved point.)"

[Rikifive 24,123]

8 minutes ago, Manaka Hitomi said:

The transparency works fine for me.  what you mean by layer wrecker? Only thing that i would say that is missing that i would like to have is more effects and filters, i mean If you compare to photoshop or gimp the selection isn't very rich on sai IMO. 

Oh, then perhaps I confused it with some other soft. As for layer wrecker, I was referring to lack of save in trial. Saving through screenshot will not save layering.

Oh and also it will not save transparency; nor images bigger than screen resolution properly.

Either way I think SAI wouldn't be for my needs.

Edited May 31, 2018 by Rikifive

[SparkleSan79 91]

I use Paint.net and the GIMP for my art.  I personally recommend both programs. 

[Total Lunar Eclipse 516]

GIMP is similar to Photoshop and pretty popular.

[CypherHoof 26,482]

Was recommended to try FireAlpaca because it supported my pen screen?

 

[Rikifive 24,123]

5 hours ago, Total Lunar Eclipse said:

GIMP is similar to Photoshop and pretty popular.

And it looks like one when you want to.  

Spoiler

(yeah, there could be preview/navigation/history/color palette and stuff, but I prefer minimalistic layout, because I often work in a small window, due to working on multiple things at once.  - that's why I have only tabs I often use)

 

[Kind Claw 407]

wow this is a whole bushel of information to look into thanks Everypony! 

I now have Gimp and Opentoonz both look really good. when I make my first ponyart you all will be the first to see it. 

Also major question does anypony know of any free audio programs for making music or adding to animations?

 

I found this video on how to use opentoonz its an hour long so enjoy lol 

 

[SparkleSan79 91]

9 hours ago, Kind Claw said:

wow this is a whole bushel of information to look into thanks Everypony! 

I now have Gimp and Opentoonz both look really good. when I make my first ponyart you all will be the first to see it. 

Also major question does anypony know of any free audio programs for making music or adding to animations?

 

I found this video on how to use opentoonz its an hour long so enjoy lol 

 

Uh, what's Opentoons?  

[Kind Claw 407]

I believe its an animation making program even used by Studio Ghibli ( probably spelled that wrong lol)

anyway feel free to check the site here is the link https://opentoonz.github.io/

[sprinkle nostrils 62]

Yo. My 5 cents into this discussion: Weird that nopony named MedibangPaint. It's free and here's my last doodle was done with it: https://mlpforums.com/topic/177199-s8-every-ep-challenge/

Also Autodesk Sketchbook became free not so long time ago. Great brushes, but too few hotkeys in my taste. https://sketchbook.com/

And pretty famous MyPaint is one of the best forever-free apps. Great brushes and simple interface, but when I tried it last time couple years ago there was no layers. BOOMER!

Hey, @Kind Claw, do you have any tablet for drawing? Cuz if you don't you can make vector arts with very free Inkscape. Great program but difficult for understanding. It's not actually drawing or painting, but sort of composing image from shapes. FYI ponies in the show are vector images and Inkscape is the easiest way to make original style ponies/

 

 

[Kind Claw 407]

@sprinkle nostrils Cool Smoulder drawing  and thank you for the info on apps I don't have a tablet only a laptop and its not easy for me but ill figure something out 

thanks again 

[sprinkle nostrils 62]

@Kind Claw,I'm glad that info was useful. ^-^ You may try to start from this tutorials: https://oceanbreezebrony.deviantart.com/gallery/31848185/Inkscape-Tutorials

They're really nice for the beginning ^-^

[Shadow Nightwing 24]

Try Autodesk sketchbook.

[Kevin Tang 2,426]

I use Ms. paint for drawing because I am familiar with it and it's easy to use. 

And I use GIMP to give the colours.