How can I make fan art?

[DonutJane 3]

I'm looking to make a few OC drawings but have nooo idea what software to use.  Right now, I have ms paint and it's really low quality.  I'd like to get rid of the pixelization look...any advice on how to make ms paint files less blocky?  Is there another program I can use to make my OC stuff?  I've already tried general zoi but I want to tilt the head and body.

[~Rule 63~ Lyeco 527]

I recommend you use Photooshop or adobe flash

It's one of the tools professional fan artist use

[Rascal~ 657]

Paint tool Sai is a free program and download and it's pretty profesional. 
Though Photoshop is more used, but it costs. 

[Pineapple Bloom 511]

I think Sai costs money. I use Manga Studio 5 for my art but it costs a lot.

Some free programs are Gimp, FireAlpaca, and the trial for OpenCanvas.

 

Coloring in on these types of oftware isn't as simple as on MS Paint. When you fill in non-pixelated lines, you may get lots of ugly white specks left over (depending on the program). So, you might want to use layers.

 

Here's what you need to do:

1. Draw your lineart

2. Make a new layer underneath

3. Color in the layer manually using a drawing tool (not the fill tool)

 

OR

 

1. Draw your lineart

2. Duplicate the layer

3. Hide the top layer

4. Fill in the bottom layer and make sure the fill tool has a high threshold. If white specks are left over, Draw over them with the pen tool

5. Opacity-lock the bottom later

6. Unhide the top layer

7. Make sure the bottom layer is selected and you can now color in the drawing easily. Because of the opacity lock, you don't have to worry about going over the edges.

 

The bottom method sounds really complicated but it doesn't take long at all and it's worth it to color in your drawing in a fun and easy way.

 

You can't really get rid of the pixelation look of MS Paint.

[Ragland Tiger 3,488]

First, go here: http://mlpforums.com/topic/56189-pony-artist-resources/

 

Second, there are lots of good, inexpensive, and even free art programs that you can use.  There are two types:

Raster programs (like MS Paint) are very easy to use, but the images they make are not scalable. Good ones have the advantage of being able to use a wide variety of colors and textures.  Here's a good example of an artist who uses a raster program (Paint Tool SAI): 

 

http://whitediamondsltd.deviantart.com/art/Shine-Like-Rarity-324609663

 

The other type is called a vector program.  It's great for line work, but has a steeper learning curve and less in the color and texture department. Example of vectoring:

 

 

Good vectoring program: Inkscape

 

I hope this helps.

RT

 

 

 

Edited May 4, 2014 by Ragland Tiger

[Adorkable 2,737]

There's an easy Photoshop-like program called "GIMP" that's free to use, if that helps you any. I used it all the time, but finally upgraded to Photoshop, which thanks to GIMP, was pretty easy to get the hang of.

 

As I said, it's free to use if you'd like to download and try it out, here's a link!

 

Hope this helps you out!

[Applejohn 108]

If you have an ipad or an ipad mini, you can download an app called "procreate" it costs money tho, but is really cool and once you learn all the things you can do with it is even better

[Fox 5,331]

I suggest investing in a tablet. Cheap bamboo ones to get a feel for it. It also take a bit to get familiar with drawing with a tablet. It truly is different when you start with it. 

[Your Nightly Spectre 1,061]

I'm looking to make a few OC drawings but have nooo idea what software to use.  Right now, I have ms paint and it's really low quality.  I'd like to get rid of the pixelization look...any advice on how to make ms paint files less blocky?  Is there another program I can use to make my OC stuff?  I've already tried general zoi but I want to tilt the head and body.

Well, there is a thing called a pencil and paper. I use those. Then there is paint.net but it is not easy to master. 

Edited May 3, 2014 by Lowca21

[nami438 90]

I assume you are pretty comfortable using pencil and paper? They are very cheap and easy to use, don't feel pressured into doing digital art just because it seems like everyone else is!

 

As for digital, I would also recommend that you invest in a tablet. If you are not sure if you want to pursue art seriously, then I think the medium or large sized entry level Wacom Intuos (formerly known as the Bamboo) is best, so you can see if digital art is right for you without burning a big hole in your wallet. But if you are already sure you want to paint like the masters in Photoshop and SAI, definitely skip the Intuos and go straight to Intuos Pro (formerly known as just Intuos), if you can afford it. The extra pressure levels, touch controlled shortcuts, and different mediums' nibs are worth the extra money, and if you play your cards right it will become a money making tool for you. If you're really rich, you could also just get a Cintiq, lol!

 

Either way, skip the small Intuos for drawing art, unless you're really strapped for cash and want to start ASAP. They're still a whole lot better than a mouse. Take this from an artist who is constantly hitting the limits on my small Bamboo/not-pro Intuos, the drawing area is a lot tinier than the tablet itself and drawing good lineart into the computer is almost impossible.

 

For programs, most people I know use Photoshop and SAI for painting. SAI is relatively cheap, only about $85 for a perpetual license with all rights to artwork, and very very powerful, so drop some $$$ on that if you can. To make FiM show-accurate drawings, SAI can work, but Adobe Illustrator and Flash are better (both are expensive though). If you need to stay free, the GIMP and Inkscape are great for raster paintings and vector work like the show, respectively.

 

If you are a high school or college student, look into getting Adobe products at a deep discount, like 75% off.

[DonutJane 3]

Well, there is a thing called a pencil and paper. I use those. Then there is paint.net but it is not easy to master. 

I'm actually decent at drawing and the design isn't an issue.  I'm looking to maybe start a youtube channel and a digital oc would be the easiest to use.

  Unfortunately, affording a tablet isn't looking like it will happen in the near future...

Thanks everyone who responded!!!  This is helpful!  I was kind of expecting more...trolls...