Professional drawing program. What free drawing programs are there for your computer?

Krita is such an advanced and functional drawing program that it’s hard to believe that this is not a commercial product, but an open source development. This editor has support for layers, a huge number of brushes and tools, a bunch of different filters and effects.

Krita can be used to create digital paintings, sketches, paintings, comics, and even hand-drawn stop-motion animation. The interface is conveniently customizable. Plus, Krita works great with graphics tablets.

GIMP

• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.

Powerful, flexible, customizable open source raster editor. True, the interface and hotkeys here are unique - artists accustomed to Photoshop will have to relearn.

GIMP has most of the tools available in Photoshop: layers, masks, color correction, smart selections, brushes, filters and a ton of other features. Some of the missing ones can be added using third-party extensions.

• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.

But this is already a tool for creating vector graphics - a free and open-source analogue of Adobe Illustrator. It is well suited for creating logos, icons, web graphics, vector illustrations and other design products.

Inkscape contains everything for comfortable creation and editing of vector images: color and texture management tools, layers, smart placement and alignment of objects, as well as the ability to vectorize raster images.

• Platforms: Windows.

This, of course, is not a full-fledged analogue of Photoshop, but rather good old Paint on steroids, but it’s enough for amateur drawing.

Its simplicity makes Paint.NET well suited for beginning artists. Plus, it can work quickly even on devices.

Paint.NET supports working with layers and has a large number of effects. There are tools for blurring, stylizing, sharpening and noise reduction, and if desired, the program’s capabilities can be expanded using plugins.

• Platforms: Windows, macOS.

• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, web.

Gravit Designer is a fairly powerful and advanced, but free vector graphics editor. With it, you can easily create icons, logos, banners and other images. The application has many tools: curves, layers, shapes, selecting and transforming objects, working with text and fonts.

In addition, it has a built-in library of vector objects created by users. You can freely use them in your own works. Another feature of the application: if desired, you can launch it without installation, directly in the browser through the native Gravit web service.

Paid programs for drawing on a computer

• Platforms: Windows, macOS.
• Price:‎$49.99.

The editor is impressive with its capabilities. Customizable panels and key combinations, a convenient canvas rotation system that makes it seem like you are drawing on real paper, compatibility with graphics tablets, shadow effects, glow, contour, bevel - you can’t list it all.

Affinity Designer is definitely worth a try for those who are professional graphics and design professionals and don't want to overpay for Photoshop.

• Platforms: Windows.
• Price:$59.99.

A very unique drawing program that differs from others presented here. BlackInk will allow you to draw incredible pictures with a rather unusual style. What can I say, just look at the images created in the editor and you will understand that it allows you to create art.

Instead of traditional approaches to creating raster images, BlackInk uses its own mechanism. The so-called Controller opens up unprecedented possibilities for customizing brushes. It's not easy to master, but the results will impress you.

• Platforms: Windows, macOS.
• Price: subscription from 644 rubles per month.

Photoshop is the de facto standard in the world of computer graphics, the most popular program for artists, designers and photographers. There is no point in talking about possibilities: if something can be done with an image, then it will do it.

Because Photoshop is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud, you can easily share your brushes, colors, and presets across your devices—settings synced on the fly. In addition, a ton of plugins have been created for Photoshop due to its popularity.

The only thing wrong with Adobe's creation is the subscription price. However, this was to be expected, because Photoshop is the most powerful and advanced of all raster editors in the world.

• Platforms: Windows, macOS.
• Price:$429.

Everyone knows Corel Draw - the most powerful professional vector graphics editor. But Corel has another brainchild - the Corel Painter raster editor, perfect for drawing. This editor has many convenient tools for working with color, synthesizing textures and cloning objects, as well as brushes, canvases and layers.

This expensive but effective editor for sophisticated artists is definitely worth the money.

Convenient and easy-to-use programs for drawing on a graphics tablet have become widespread.

This is due to the fact that more and more artists are starting to work digitally, abandoning classical materials to create illustrations or paintings.

However, both the convenience of work and the quality of its implementation largely depend on what software the author uses to work on the tablet.

Peculiarities

Most artists working on tablets currently use software or Illustrator.

This is high-quality, functional software, however, it is not the only one. It is worth choosing a program based on functionality and ease of working with it.

The extent to which they will open will depend on which program you choose.

Therefore, you need to choose software taking into account the technical data of the device. In addition, there are universal programs suitable.

Paint

This application is suitable for artists who are just starting to master working on a graphics tablet.

It has general functionality, a simple and familiar menu, and therefore you will not need to spend additional time getting used to it (although a novice author will still have to get used to the tablet).

Having a certain level of skill and getting good at it, with the help of such software you can create quite high-quality works. The advantages of such an application include:

1. Its presence by default in standard assemblies (although it is recommended to work with those included in XP assemblies 7, 8, 8.1, 10);
2. An extremely simple interface and menu - almost every user;
3. Quite wide (for a basic program) functionality.

Among the functional features of the program, we can highlight drawing with a pencil with lines of various thicknesses and densities, drawing with a brush at different transparency and stroke widths, filling the selected area with one color, and working in several layers.

You can also act with the finished image - select and copy zones, cut out areas, enlarge, stretch and flip selected zones.

Saves pictures in several formats.

You should start getting acquainted with the functionality of a drawing tablet with this software. Moreover, it can be basic for those who do not draw professionally, as well as for those who periodically make minor edits in graphic files.

<Рис. 2 Работа в Пейнт>

Gimp

This software for creating drawings has wide functionality and significant power. You can download it from the official website www.gimp.org.

Works with all types of graphics tablets, and also with some other input devices.

The disadvantages of such software include the following:

1. Quite a significant load on both the hardware of the computer and tablet;
2. The interface is quite complex, it takes time to get used to it.

<Рис. 3 Работа в Gimp>

However, it is still considered that the application is intended for beginners. It has quite a wide range of functionality:

• Working with photos - brightness, color correction, adjusting levels, contrast, etc.;
• Photo editing - removing unnecessary elements, cropping, etc.;
• Suitable for web designers, as it allows you to create and edit layouts for websites;
• Drawing pictures – equipped with the functions “brush”, “pencil”, “filling an area with color”, etc., and in several types;
• It has an individual format for saving pictures.xcf, which can save data with a picture, text insert, layers, textures, etc.;
• Simple integration with the clipboard – pictures and photos can be opened in the program by simply copying them;
• Opens files from others intended for editing, for example, .psd;
• The developer's open code allows you to create and install your own plugins, add-ons and extensions for this software;
• Allows you to quickly archive files.

This software is very versatile. It is suitable for both beginners and non-professionals, as well as professional illustrators.

MyPaint

The program is intended primarily for artists working in classical genres.

It is not so much designed for drawing simple illustrations, but for creating works of art, paintings in the classical style.

For this reason, it has quite broad and complex functionality, and a not very simple menu.

It takes most artists some time to get used to it.

However, it is believed that the interface of this program is simpler than most similar ones with similar functionality. You can download the application at .

<Рис. 4 Работа в MyPaint>

The main advantages of this application are:

• Unlimited canvas sizes;
• The ability to customize the contents of the menu bar, include assignable buttons, etc., resulting in the function of quickly switching between commands and easy access to frequently used functions;
• A very wide selection of brush types with the ability to fine-tune each;
• Function for importing strokes and brushes, generating, customizing and editing them;
• Works with many types of devices and supports them well;
• Unlike most similar programs - it works in a variety of operating systems - , Mac OS, Windows, .

Drawing in this software should be fast after the user gets used to its interface.

However, non-professional artists, as well as illustrators and comic book creators, can make do with other, simpler applications (both in terms of interface and functionality).

Graffiti Studio

The program is designed for creating graffiti; its main functionality is designed for this style of drawing.

Can be successfully used by those who create comics, as well as illustrators working in a similar style. The program has a very simple and intuitive interface.

An interesting distinguishing feature is its relative realism. The whole process of work is reminiscent of applying graffiti “live”.

And as a canvas, you can choose surfaces familiar to a street artist - walls, asphalt, cars, buses, etc.

<Рис. 5 Работа в Graffiti Studio>

The features of this application include:

• Use of more than 100 color shades of paints, such as could be used in real painting;
• Creating drips and stains, applying to “dry paint”;
• Changing the specifics of application, depending on what surface you have chosen (as in reality);
• Changing the distance from the artist to the canvas (the distance from which virtual spray paint is applied to a vertical surface);
• The use of markers and other means that are actively used in real graffiti.

Although this style is not as popular now as it was a few years ago, it has not completely disappeared. Largely thanks to the emergence of such programs.

Artweaver

The program is a complete analogue of Photoshop. But, unlike it, it is sold completely free of charge. You can download it from the official website.

Has the following functionality:

• by parameters: brightness, contrast, color correction, shade enhancement, etc.;
• Cutting and transforming photos, stretching, compressing, reflecting, rotating, both the entire image and a selected area;
• Generating complex shapes, objects, etc.;
• Blur and sharpen functions, image stylization capabilities.

However, in general, the application is more designed for editing existing images than for creating new ones. For this reason, it is not suitable for professional artists.

Rather, it is suitable for those who edit photos and pictures, but sometimes make their own edits and additions to them.

<Рис. 8 Работа в PixBuilder Studio>

A computer drawing program is a very necessary thing both for creative people and for those who work with images for work.

Few people think that in addition to the standard Windows graphic editors, as well as, there are other drawing programs for the computer that are no worse, and in some places even outperform eminent competitors.

Another interesting free representative from the graphic category. Using the program, you can change and edit ready-made files or draw your own, fortunately, there are enough tools.

In addition to the standard tools that almost everyone has, they also have their own features.

It's no wonder why SmoothDraw has so many useful tools with a professional twist. The fact is that this project was originally intended to create files from scratch.

This computer drawing program for children is just right. There are no complicated elements, and the menu is intuitive even for a beginner.

The lack of Russian support for packages with files is a little overshadowed by the lack of Russian support for packages with files, but the interface itself is so simple that you can ignore this drawback.

In addition, SmoothDraw does not have an installation file, being a portable version. In other words, you can transfer the folder with the editor to your flash drive, and then activate the product anywhere.

The application opens with equal ease on both old Win98 and Win8 machines.

Paint.NET

The editor's workspace is quite archaic, which does not prevent it from being as informative as possible.

In addition to the classic panel, there are several floating windows that are configured in the menu and have informative and auxiliary functions.

In addition, they are translucent, which will not interfere with drawing or editing any object.

This editor, by the way, has good support for layers, as well as the ability to import external files.

At the same time, you can vary the transparency, data mixing, and also change the names of these layers. A useful feature, isn't it?

Work with hot keys is present. To view the full list of supported commands, just click on the “Window” menu.

In most cases, all functions are activated by pressing F1-F12, although alternatives are possible.

The main advantage of the editor lies in its accessibility and pleasant appearance. And “in the depths” lies some good functionality that will appeal to many.

ArtWeaver

Not a bad program, designed to compete with its famous competitor from Adobe. Of course, it cannot be called a full-fledged replacement for Photoshop, but the functionality here is no less interesting.

In addition, products are produced under an Open Source license, i.e. completely free (non-commercial version). It is somewhat reminiscent of Corel PhotoPaint in its capabilities.

If you look at the workspace interface, you will notice many similarities with the same competitor version 7 and below.

In this case, there are all the necessary windows required for a raster editor, be it a toolkit, navigation, a list of layers, or a sequence of actions.

The main tool is, oddly enough, a brush. Firstly, this is the most popular tool, and secondly, the developers have endowed this function with an abundance of settings and customization.

Even the framing was given attention, providing it with horizontal and vertical proportions.

For a free program, working with layers is excellent.

You are free to group them, set transparency, blending types, and even fix scaling and movement. But what is really useful is duplicating a separate layer.

It even has its own format - awd. Layers can only be saved in it, but the list of supported ones includes jpg, png, psd, tiff and more. Full set.

A good choice for those who have just decided to get comfortable.

A modern artist can easily do without an easel and without paints: special software for tablets on Android and iOS allows you to create digital works of any degree of complexity. The benefit of a mobile studio also lies in its compactness: carrying a heavy canvas everywhere is absurd, but the muse never warns of a visit in advance. The artist can “grab her by the tail” - make a sketch - anywhere: in line at the supermarket or in a minibus.

This article presents drawing applications that will be useful for both the professional illustrator and the self-taught hobbyist.

Price: Free

Art Flow is a canvas application: the artist has access to more than 70 brushes and other creative tools. A novice creator will definitely be captivated by the extensive functionality from the first minutes of using the program; a more experienced user will be impressed by the following advantages Art Flow:

1. All digital calculations within the application are performed on the video card built into the gadget. This technology is called GPU acceleration and guarantees excellent performance and “zero” brakes – something even professional PC programs cannot boast of.
2. You can export your “masterpiece” not only in JPEG format, but also in PNG and PSD (if further processing in Photoshop is required).
3. The artist is able to work with canvases of significant sizes (for example, 4096 by 4096).
4. Art Flow includes mode NVIDIA Direct Stylus, allowing you to draw without using a stylus or digital pen at all. In addition, the application is absolutely compatible with styluses S— PEN, which makes the program “number one” for all owners of Samsung Galaxy Note tablets.

Art Flow – « shareware" drawing application for Android: even the basic version pleasantly surprises with its functionality, but the paid version (costing about $5) allows you to use even more advanced options.

Sketch Book

Price: Free

Sketch Book– a family of convenient applications from the developer Autodesk, the company that gave the world the famous AutoCAD. Unlike Autodesk's flagship product Sketch Book Suitable not only for experienced designers, but also for beginners and even children. Three versions of the program are available for download:

1. Sketch Book Express – a free version that offers the artist 15 different brushes, 3 layers, and the ability to enlarge the image by 2500%! An additional advantage is synchronization with cloud storage Dropbox, thanks to which it is much easier to exchange sketches and exhibit finished paintings “for general judgment.”
2. Sketch Book Pro. The brush library of this program alone includes more than 100 items and customizable presets. But a rich set of tools is not the only advantage of the Pro version: the application allows you to experiment with layers, create large canvases, download files from Photoshop. This functionality will cost the user only $5.
3. Sketch Book Ink – The latest graphics application from Autodesk. Key features are an ascetic interface and simplicity. There are minimal settings: you cannot edit layers or customize brushes. Important advantage Sketch Book Ink – the ability to obtain a high-resolution image as an output (up to 101 megapixels when exporting to iTunes). Application Ink on Android, just like the Pro version, it is paid.

There is also a program Sketch Book Mobile, “tailored” specifically for the small screen of a smartphone: it is pointless to describe its functionality in detail, since the application is identical Express.

Pro Create

Price: 749 RUR +

Due to the minimalistic design, it may seem that the functionality of the application Pro Create for iPhone is poor compared to Sketch Book And Art Flow, however, this would be misleading. Developers Pro Create are of the opinion that a huge number of buttons on the screen distracts the artist from the creative process. Therefore, the application is partially controlled by gestures.

U Pro Create There are other unique features:

1. Tools for more realistic drawing – one of these tools is the “wet brush”. It is curious that all available brushes are user Pro Create can be adjusted - there is a special editor with a lot of settings.
2. Many ways to export - the image is “output” not only in iTunes: directly from the program it can be sent by email or Twitter.
3. Silica - a 64-bit engine for iOS ensures that even when using all 16 possible layers, the program will not slow down.
4. Quick Line is a simple but no less useful tool whose function is to straighten lines.

Just recently a “revolutionary” appeared in the AppStore Pro Create 3: Despite the hefty price (459 rubles), this application is recommended for every artist to buy - the abundance of various functions and adjustable parameters of the program can shock even a seasoned designer.

Price: Free

Application Sketch Master for smartphones on Android cannot boast of wide functionality and an abundance of various tools - there are only 7 brushes. However, this program has other advantages that more than compensate for the poor settings:

1. Unlimited number of layers that can be adjusted for visibility, transparency, copied and merged.
2. Ability to import photos from the gadget’s library.
3. Ultra-zoom – the image is enlarged by 3000%!
4. Availability – the application can be downloaded for free.

The fly in the ointment is that the program Sketch Master does not support the Russian language, however, judging by the huge number of positive reviews on Google Play, this does not pose a big problem.

Not everyone knows how difficult it is for artists to create paintings. Thinning paints, preparing the canvas, a whole bunch of other tools. For some, such preparation discourages any desire to seriously engage in artistic drawing. Today this is no longer a problem. With the current development of technology, drawing has become much easier and more convenient. Any computer or laptop is suitable for this, but it is better to use a special graphics tablet for these purposes. Today in the article, I will tell you about the best programs that you can use for drawing on a graphics tablet.

The Gimp program is a free analogue of Adobe Photoshop. It has almost all the tools that its paid counterpart has. The graphics editor Gimp is one of the most powerful, multifunctional programs for a graphics tablet. It is perfect for experienced users who have already dealt with other graphic editors. You can download the software with a Russian-language version on the website http://gimp.ru/download/gimp/, there are versions of the program for Mac OS and Linux. There is also documentation for working with the editor, which you can also install on your PC after installing the main program.

Working in the drawing editor is quite convenient; the difference between Gimp and other graphic editors is its separate windows. When launched, 3 windows open on the desktop - a working window in the middle, a block with tools on the left, and an auxiliary panel on the right, which contains modes, filters, layers, etc. The size of each block can be reduced or increased.

Clip Paint Studio Pro - graphic comics editor

This graphics software was originally specially developed for drawing Japanese comics (manga). But over time, Clip Paint Studio gained great popularity and the program began to be used in many other areas of fine art. One of the features of this editor is the presence of special human figures that are depicted in a certain pose.

To try your hand at drawing comics on a graphics tablet, download the program from the link https://www.clipstudio.net/en/dl and click the yellow “Download” button.

Corel Painter X3 - raster graphics editor for working with digital painting

Corel Painter X3 was designed for painting with a brush. She can simulate dry and wet brushes, textures and other elements in detail. All this makes the process of creating a picture similar to an artist drawing with real paints. For the creator, there are over a hundred tools that are easy to set up and use. There is a search by brush name. If you are great with canvas in real life, then this program is a must try.

Working in the editor is similar to other professional programs. On the left in the panel are the main tools, on the right are layers, settings, functions. Corel Painter X3 can only be purchased, there is no free version. The official developer page is located at http://www.corel.com/ru/.

Livebrush - drawing app for graphics tablets

The Livebrush graphic editor was designed for painting with brushes. Some users may be confused by the fact that it runs on the notoriously unstable Adobe Air engine. But this program is an exception to the rule. Works great, consumes little RAM. The editor's set includes a huge number of different shapes and types of brushes. Drawing graphics on a tablet will delight you with pressure and tilt functions. Each pattern can be easily modified by choosing a pencil.

Livebrush is more suitable for beginners and intermediate users. Although the application has many tools and functions, it is not capable of everything.

Art Flow - with the program painting or drawing becomes more accessible

Art Flow is an editor that you can use to draw on Android devices. This program has more than 80 different brushes in its arsenal. All the basic tools are under your control - fill, blots, eraser, text, etc. The editor has absorbed the most necessary tools and functions from the rest. The application understands the pressure you press, you can undo up to 6 last actions. It is very comfortable. Moreover, all this can be available on your graphics tablet or even on your mobile phone!

The application is distributed free of charge, but there is also a paid version that offers more advanced features. You can download this application in the Play Market store upon request with the name of the editor.

Graffiti Studio - free application for drawing graffiti

The Graffiti Studio program is a highly focused software that was created for fans of the youth genre - graffiti. When drawing on a graphics tablet, you can choose different backgrounds on which to create your stylish creations. You can choose the backgrounds yourself; there are many of them in the program. You can decorate a bus, a building wall, a railway carriage and many other objects with your imagination. Although the volume of the installation package is small, the editor has many settings; create drips, use all kinds of markers, change the distance to the object, do everything that a writer does in real life.

Inkscape - a simple vector graphics editor

Simple and intuitive, Inkscape differs from other drawing programs in that even a child can understand it. Another advantage can be considered its Russian-language interface. Despite its simplicity, it has many tools - pencils, brushes, pens. You can even create your own animation in it. The top panel contains parameters for all tools, and the palette is located at the bottom. This vector graphics editor is available for free download at https://inkscape.org/ru/release/0.92.2/, you only need to select your platform.

MAXON Bodypaint 3D - program for three-dimensional graphics

A new level tool – MAXON Bodypaint 3D. This editor is capable of creating 3D graphics, Matte Painting, UV layout, animations, digital sculpting, rendering and much more.

The purpose of this program is to create bright textures and special sculptures, which are later used for animated cartoons and computer games. Here you will find a lot of tools for designing spatial images. MAXON allows you to connect most plugins from Adobe Photoshop and other professional raster editors.

The program is paid. Available in Russian. To download the demo version, follow the link https://www.maxon.net/en/try/demo-download/. Before downloading, you will have to fill out a user questionnaire so that the system can determine whether the software is suitable for your device.

Paint is a feature-rich editor from Microsoft

The most common editor on which you can draw anything on a graphics tablet. This is one of the entire list of drawing programs that doesn’t really need any introduction.

The Paint editor comes bundled with the most popular Windows operating system to this day. It has all the standard tools - brush, eyedropper, pencil, eraser, fill, etc. In it you can cut, copy, paste, trim and much more. If you use Windows OS, you don't even have to download it, open the Start menu, select Accessories from the list and launch the Paint editor.