Application for drawing art. LiveBrush – application for graphics tablets

Text: Victor Bespaly

The computer has changed its role more than once during its evolution. If earlier it was bought in order to create, now it has turned into a center for multimedia entertainment. You can watch movies, listen to music, play games on your computer - and that’s enough for most people. But not for those who want to create. Today we will talk about how you can draw on a computer - and at the same time draw beautifully.

A real designer is unthinkable without an artistic education; he must have excellent command of the techniques of drawing (pencil, charcoal), graphics (watercolor, gouache, pencil, ink, etc.), painting (gouache, watercolor, tempera, acrylic, oil). But everyone can master computer graphics. Computer in hands ordinary person can turn into an obedient instrument for the embodiment of his artistic thought - the very one that he cannot translate on paper.

The first thing to remember is that there are two types of graphic files: vector and raster. The set of tools and programs you need will depend on which graphics you prefer. In vector files, an image is formed by a set of curves and shading functions. Each time you open this image, the editor program draws the image from scratch. IN raster files the picture is a set of dots with a color parameter, and the picture is universal, but takes up more space.

USEFUL IRON

One of the most important parameters of a computer is volume RAM.

Contrary to many claims, very fast processor You don't need it for drawing on a computer. A real frequency of 1.5-2 GHz is quite enough, it will be Intel or AMD - it makes no difference, it all depends on the means and preferences you have. Most important parameter computer working with graphics - the amount of RAM; the more of it, the better. Our work applications, such as Photoshop, Painter, OpenCanvas (or even 3DS MAX), love it when there is a lot of RAM. And if you are going to create complex multi-layer compositions (and you definitely are?), then you can’t get away with the standard 512 MB DDR. We recommend installing at least 1 GB; The speed of RAM affects performance less noticeably.

You don’t need a cutting-edge video card for drawing, and the brand doesn’t really matter either. However, there is a well-established opinion that best cards for drawing and graphics is produced by Matrox.

Now the main thing: the periphery. And we'll start with the good old scanner- without it, the artist will have a very difficult time, but he is needed, first of all, to enter background blanks into the computer. For example, you drew a palm tree and now you need to place it on an island by the sea. Take a similar illustration on paper, scan it, stylize it as a painting and place it as a layer under a palm tree. Can compensate for the lack of a scanner digital camera, but in this application he will cope with the task with a C grade. You can make sketches by hand on plain paper, and then correct them on the computer after scanning them. A decent scanner will cost you 2 – 2.5 thousand rubles.

And finally, most importantly peripheral device for a computer artist - digitizer or tablet. They come in two main types - drawing and graphic. Drawing tablet created for CAD applications such as AutoCAD, 3DStudioMAX and their analogues. Similar tablets They have a pen without a degree of pressure - it is either pressed or not, there are no details provided here. The main advantages of these tablets are high resolution and positioning accuracy; an old model with a large area will cost approximately 1,800 rubles.

Graphics tablet differs in the following: a small area (graphics have small areas compared to drawings); It positions the point more roughly, but it feels pressure on the pen, and this is a big plus. If you are using Adobe Photoshop, then working with chiaroscuro and brushes of different thicknesses will be much easier. Additionally, you can use a function that makes the stroke brighter or paler depending on the pressure applied - as a result, we get the opportunity to draw a lighter or darker “spot” without changing the brush.

For our case, graphics tablets are best suited. Prices for non-professional models start from 800 rubles; As you understand, the more expensive the tablet, the better it is and the more convenient it is to work on it. However, even on a small A6 matrix everything can look quite tolerable.

One more thing useful device - source uninterruptible power supply . It's better to play it safe than to later grieve over the loss of the brilliant creation you've been poring over for a week. The estimated price depends on the desired capacity and the number of connected devices. In order to have time to save the drawing at the right time and turn off the computer correctly, a UPS costing 1,000 rubles is quite enough.

Common mice

A rather exotic input method is trackball- an inverted mouse with a large ball. The user rotates this ball with his fingers. The advantage of a trackball over a mouse is high precision moving the cursor at low speeds. The trackball is inconvenient for everyday use.

In choice mice everything is quite simple: does it fit comfortably in the hand, is there scrolling or a 3rd button, etc., all this is entirely up to your taste. A separate conversation about rugs; rugs should be purchased specifically, and not used as a bonus for a new computer.

Mat for mechanical mouse must be both slippery and grippy. This means that the mouse should not stick to the carpet, but the ball should literally bite into it. For optics, it is better to choose a mat so that the mouse does not move the cursor while standing still. The size of the mat should also be optimal - too large ones take up a lot of space on the table, and too small ones force the user to frequently move the mouse away from the edge of the mat.

You can also draw with a regular mouse. But it's not necessary.

PROGRAMS FOR ARTISTS

There is a whole spectrum software- from simple tools for drawing on a computer to professional packages. The Windows shell includes one of the most simple packages- Paint. Using the example of working with this package, you can get an initial idea of ​​​​the techniques for creating graphic files. There are also more serious packages, for example, Adobe Photoshop. Let's try to briefly go through the main programs and highlight their advantages and disadvantages.

Painter is one of the best drawing programs.

Adobe Photoshop- a package focused more on photo processing than on drawing. However, it contains many essential tools for an artist. Painting in it is not very convenient, but coloring comic book pictures is great, and applying different styles and filters to them is even better. The great advantage of Photoshop is that a huge number of filters, brushes and other add-ons have been created for it. You can easily convert all your sketches into a single gallery with a recognizable style. Photoshop is paid and expensive, but it's worth it.

Photoshop is the most powerful graphic editor for all occasions.

OpenCanvas is free and functional - that's what's great about it.

Ambient Design ArtRage was created specifically for tablet computers.

Corel Draw is a powerful vector editor.

By combining these editors with each other, you can achieve almost any result. The only thing worth remembering is that the vector editor is always primary, and the raster editor is secondary. That is, having edited a file in a raster editor, it can no longer be converted to vector format, you can only apply the next layer.

Let's summarize. A must-have kit for a computer artist is Painter or Photoshop. Optional - Flash, Corel Draw, OpenCanvas. A vector editor allows you to create an image from scratch, while a raster editor works better with blanks. This, of course, does not mean that you can’t draw something decent, or even even brilliant, in Photoshop. But it’s more convenient to draw in vector programs.

Options for practical use

Budget. Mouse, pad, raster editor.

If you have invested a little more than the standard 10 dollars in a mouse pad and a mouse, and even if you have a lot of patience and at least as much time, then, of course, you will draw something. Unfortunately, drawing with a regular mouse is very difficult. IN best case scenario The resulting drawings are in the style of children's primitivism.

Minimum. Scanner, sheet of paper, pencil, mouse, raster or vector editor.

This method is quite labor-intensive, but allows you to get good results. The idea is simple - you make a sketch on paper, scan it and process it in a graphics editor. The better software, the better the quality of the drawing.

Comfortable. Mouse, scanner, Corel Draw, high-quality mouse pad.

It is very convenient if the mouse polling frequency is high, and using vector editors You can draw any curved lines correctly. But this method is only good for vector editors.

As it should. Graphics tablet, scanner, trackball, Corel Draw and Adobe Photoshop.

With this set you can draw on high level, you are limited only by your skills and imagination.

Graphics tablet

A tablet is an ideal device for drawing.

Probably, almost everyone who has ever picked up an electronic pen and tried to draw something on a graphics tablet has experienced bewilderment and disappointment. It looks so much like a regular pen, but the feeling of drawing is completely different. And the results, frankly speaking, are not brilliant. Perhaps the result will be better if you understand the principle of operation of these miracle plates.

A special mesh is installed inside the tablet. These are conductors made from the thinnest copper strips. Each of them can be compared to a receiving antenna that receives a signal from electronic pen. They allow special chips to track the position of the pen on the tablet and transmit its coordinates to the chip. Then the driver and drawing program are turned on.

When we move the pen over the active area of ​​the tablet, a trace remains on the screen, if we have a graphics editor loaded and a drawing tool is selected. Many tablets have a transparent plastic cover that can be removed so you can put a picture or photo underneath it. This way you can trace the image, copying it. The pen itself has one end for drawing and the other for erasing. The design and principle of operation of all tablets are almost the same.

Good luck!

IN this review presents the best computer drawing programs for experienced artists and ordinary users. The diverse functionality of the applications allows you to draw portraits, landscapes, comics or create design designs. A wide variety of tools, processing effects and modes will allow you to create a unique masterpiece.

Our selection of free drawing programs will help you get acquainted with the capabilities of each software and choose the best one.

GIMP - free editor for creating screen and web graphics, high-quality processing and rendering with a large set of tools and a variety of effects. The application supports all popular formats, has batch processing and working with layers. The interface is multi-window and customizable for the user.

PicPick is a free application for creating screenshots by capturing the screen and further editing it. Using the “scrolling” function, you can create a screenshot of web pages and documents in the form of a single image. The software has Russian-language interface and a wide selection of editing tools.

Paint.NET is a free application that functions as a graphics editor with the ability to work with layers, noise reduction, stylization and artistic processing. The main options of the program are focused on working with photo editing and vector graphics.

Inkscape is a free graphical utility for creating vector technical drawings with a set of tools for easy and quick editing. It runs on a custom engine, exports and imports into various graphics formats, opens and saves in gzip compressed format, and also has a multilingual menu.

PaintTool SAI is a free application for creating beautiful digital paintings and high-quality illustrations using a variety of tools and effects. The utility works with an unlimited number of layers, edits files various formats and saves it in its own “.sai”. Implemented work with a graphics tablet.

Krita is a free program that allows you to create, process and correct raster images. graphic images using a large set of tools and filters. The cross-platform utility simulates canvas material, emulates real tools and supports photo import.

Adobe Photoshop is a popular, powerful utility for high-quality editing and working with photos and images using a wide range of tools. Graphic editor supports various modes and layers, adds effects and text entries, creates raster graphics, while having a clear interface.

Hello everyone, my dear friends and guests of my blog. Due to the fact that many PC users today want to draw on a computer, it makes sense to discuss the most interesting graphics programs for drawing on a computer. To make it easier for the user to decide which program to bet on, the material below will illustrate the features of each editor and outline the obvious advantages of each of the downloaded applications.

Corel Painter is a convenient special program that allows a person to draw cute comics, art and other drawings with the mouse on a laptop or computer. In addition to creating images, this program allows you to decorate finished images with certain elements. It can be the ideal tool for digital artists, as it has a number of differences from analogues. The differences lie in uncompromising quality and a more serious set of tools.

To create masterpieces, you will have to study videos where professional bloggers teach digital art skills. But the result of the effort expended will certainly be worth it.

The advantages of Corel Painter include:

• the ability to draw on a PC using several dozen brushes with different parameters;
• the ability to install this utility on most models graphics tablets;
• the presence of the “magnetic lasso” option, which is present in Photoshop;
• built-in stamps, availability large quantity geometric shapes, as well as various effects;
• availability of drawing options;
• possibility of import all kinds of files with pictures;

Autodesk SketchBook Pro

An interesting program for semi-professionals for creating ornaments, portraits, and comics

This program may be of interest to anyone who is partial to drawing and is involved in art at a semi-professional level. To some extent, Autodesk SketchBook Pro is inferior to special products from Corel and Adobe, but this disadvantage is negated by its convenience. This program will give you the opportunity to use a wide variety of brushes. The advantage is that the license price does not go beyond 5 US dollars per month.

Strengths of Autodesk SketchBook Pro:

• intuitive controls for both novice and professional users;
• excellent operating speed, regardless of the working manipulator (it doesn’t matter whether it’s a mouse or a panel);
• a huge set of special tools for those who want to become an artist;
• the ability to work with layers and special tools to create a background;
• the “symmetrical drawing” option, which allows you to get a picture on the screen on the opposite side of the center line;
• rich archive color ranges and shades (they can be selected from the Copic library);
• The software can be distributed through an inexpensive subscription.

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is not out of the top three because of wealth various instruments, filters, special effects. This powerful and professional program allows the user to process uploaded photos in highest quality. For many users, Adobe Photoshop is the benchmark program that all other drawing programs should be like. This utility attracts artists with a simple and understandable interface and a wealth of special image processing tools. The good thing about the program is that it is distributed free of charge, but after the month-long trial period, the utility will require you to buy a license.

The advantages of Adobe Photoshop are that:

• the user gets the opportunity to edit graphics of different formats;
• it is possible to add text strings to any photos;
• it is possible to correct color and shades in auto mode;
• available are CMYK, RGB;
• can use the program without any problems Russian users, since the Russian-language interface is well presented;
• there is a special set of elementary tools that will allow you to create beautiful pictures any user;
• it is possible to create raster special graphics;
• there is a delete option background mode in pictures;
• It is possible to save graphics in the optimal way for the user for further posting on social networks.
• there is a possibility
• addition that expands the functionality of the graphic editor
• Possibility for various purposes

Of course, this is not all. The possibilities and advantages of Photoshop can be listed endlessly. Yes, you yourself probably know what a cool thing this is.

Personally, I think that this is generally the best program for drawing on a computer, and not only that. It has all the necessary resources to create a truly high-quality image. Therefore, if you want to really learn how to draw in Photoshop, then I highly recommend that you take the training, after which you will make really cool designs.

But if you want to start with something simpler, then study this course. Going through it is a pleasure, the material is absorbed simply perfectly, and most importantly, everything is chewed in understandable human language.

Paint.NET

Paint.NET attracts many creative users with its artistic processing and styling capabilities. This utility supports the Russian language and has a clear and basic interface. A nice bonus is the abundance of tools, as well as the zoom function.

Benefits include:

• support huge amount graphics formats;
• correction of brightness, shades;
• ability to work with different layers;
• possibility of use modern instruments processing photos and pictures;
• function of returning incorrect steps;
• there is a history of actions, as well as the ability to track it;
• built-in convenient vector editor;
• In addition to scaling, it is also possible to clone some sections of images.

PixBuilder Studio

The advantage of this free program is that it is a powerful graphic editor that can be easily compared with popular paid analogues. New updated version differs in the ability to generate web graphics, as well as manage layers.

The advantages of this program are that it has:

• built-in multifunctional editor;
• option to create pictures;
• the ability to work with interesting layers;
• “hot keys” function, which can be configured as convenient;
• support for various graphic extensions;
• launch efficiency;
• a set of tools for adjusting brightness, contrast levels and balance.

Artweaver

Artweaver is a progressive free painting program for PC with an impressive set of brushes. The program will be appreciated by everyone who likes to draw with pencil, charcoal, chalk, as well as acrylic paints. The good thing about the program is that it allows you to work with all kinds of graphic files. Animators often use this program to create excellent comics.

The advantages of this program include:

• user-friendly interface, rich in filters;
• Tablet PC drawing tablet support;
• option to correct text layers;
• a wide range of brushes for subsequently processing pictures;
• the presence of a reverse function (if an incorrect action was performed);
• many useful extras;
• It is distributed completely free of charge, downloading does not oblige you to register or send SMS messages.

PaintTool SAI

PaintTool SAI will be highly appreciated by those who already have some experience in photo processing. The program will appeal to those who have already used Photoshop or Corel Draw before. This utility can be installed on a graphics tablet. The progressive, state-of-the-art image smoothing technology will be appreciated by artists as well as designers. The no-payment version allows you to use the utility for only 4 weeks. After this period, the user will need to think about purchasing a license to use the program.

Strengths of the utility:

• Edit various image formats possible;
• the texture of the canvas can always be adjusted;
• can be installed on various graphics tablets for drawing;
• the resulting image can be saved in various formats;
• basic capabilities involve editing pictures using a special set of 25 special tools that can be customized;
• hot keys are very conveniently located;
• You can process several open documents at once;
• availability of a convenient Russian-language menu;
• entered the category of the best “drawing” animations and skins.

Tux Paint

This simple graphic editor, thanks to its elementary interface and interesting animation, is loved today by both adults and teenagers. It is rich in a system of tips that will help a beginner quickly turn into a professional artist. The user will definitely like the “Magic” section, which includes all kinds of effects, as well as ready-made objects for exciting sketching.

The list of advantages of the utility includes:

• a set of brushes that will allow you to choose the most suitable tool for a particular drawing;
• good hint system;
• the prospect of creating your own unique stamps;
• perspective on customizing drawing tools;
• ability to work with 60 effects;
• the ability to present edited pictures in slide show mode;
• interface, which is presented in Russian format.

The downside of this program is that finished drawn projects are saved only in two formats - PNG and JPG.

Livebrush

Livebrush is a modern “drawing tool” that may be of interest to anyone who is not indifferent to art. With its help you can create stunning paintings. The downside of the program is its narrow tool set, which is represented only by brushes. But even this minus can turn into a plus if you understand the settings that will allow you to change the thickness of the selected brush, its color and the transparency of the line.

The advantages of this utility include:

• a huge range of brushes;
• wealth of settings;
• ability to save created templates;
• the ability to import ready-made brush sets;
• simple, easy to understand interface.

Graffiti Studio is a great utility for street artists

This program will be highly appreciated by those who consider themselves to be street artists. The program was created for drawing images on train cars and all kinds of truck trailers. The user needs to select a background, a tool to work with (you can even select a spray can, for example). Negative side utilities - lack of other auxiliary options and a meager set of tools, but these tools will be enough for true street artists.

Possible advantages include:

• extensive color palette;
• the ability to select the desired color palette;
• unusual backgrounds included in the kit;
• an interface that is understandable for every user.

Gimp

Another great and free program for drawing and processing images on a computer. It is often called, and for good reason, since it has a fairly similar set of tools. In addition, she has a number of positive qualities:

• Ability to work not only in Windows, but also in Linux.
• Ability to work with layers
• Resource efficiency. Whatever one may say, it works faster than photoshop, so it will be comfortable to interact with even on old machines.
• Ability to work with all known graphic formats, including original Photoshop PSD files.
• Great possibilities for working with brushes.

The most common utilities that can be called full-fledged programs for graphics and working with graphic images of various formats were listed above.

Which utility to choose is up to you, based on your specific goals.

Well, this is where I end my article for today. I hope that you liked it and you will certainly choose what suits you best. Don't forget to subscribe to my blog, as well as my public pages in social networks. Good luck to you. Bye bye!

Best regards, Dmitry Kostin

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This collection presents the 10 best free programs for Windows, with which you can draw whatever you want on your computer - from portraits and landscapes to design and comics. Choose software that suits you 100%.

Today, paintings created on a computer cause no less delight than those painted on paper canvases. After all, moving the cursor across the screen is no easier than moving a brush or pencil across the canvas.

A number of artists who create electronic paintings resort to graphics tablets, eliminating the need to use a mouse. But even in this case it is necessary special software. We invite you to familiarize yourself with the best, in our opinion, free graphic editors, the tools of which will allow you to create gorgeous drawings.

TOP 10. Computer drawing programs

Paint.net

A standard drawing program found in almost every Windows. It has tools known to everyone: pencil, eraser, brush, fill. Offers nine brush varieties and seven fills.

For virtual paintings in the style of cubism and abstractionism, the following figures are provided: a stretching ellipse, a triangle, a rectangle, a curved polyhedron, a “thinking” cloud for comics. Supports all used graphic formats.

The GIMP

A powerful graphic editor whose functionality is close to the legendary Photoshop. Includes many effects for processing finished images, as well as a variety of tools for creating drawings. Moreover, the application allows you to prepare a website design or a layout of a product.

Gimp supports working with layers, customizing tools, and fine-tuning colors and shades. In addition, it is capable of working with graphics tablets.

Inkscape

Another example of a well-designed drawing program for a PC. With this software you can perform complex operations with contours, change the type of nodes, work with layers, edit the gradient, copy and paste the style. In a word, everything is provided in order to create professional electronic masterpieces. Also in the menu you will find many shapes that can be enlarged or reduced.

The application supports hotkeys and export to popular formats, including non-graphic ones, for example, XML.

SmoothDraw

And here’s another drawing program worth your attention—ten thousand beginning and professional artists managed to download this wonderful development for free. You don't have to waste time studying menus and tools - just open new file and showcase your talents with clearly visualized features.

At your service are blending modes, layers, virtual canvas rotation, and sub-pixel anti-aliasing levels. Except standard means for painting application contains special tools, such as graffiti, water drops, stars, grass. Synchronization with tablets is also implemented.

Artweaver

For this computer drawing app, a huge set of brushes and creating gradients are not key characteristics. Surely you will be more interested in support for layers, adjusting transparency and multi-level repetitions or undos. How do you like recording actions while creating a drawing? If you intend to demonstrate the process of painting to viewers or students, this is what you need.

Artweaver also suggests teamwork— you can register on the developer’s server and work in the “cloud” together with colleagues on the same image. However, in this mode you can simply watch what is happening on another computer and correspond with the artist.

PixBuilder Studio

PixBuilder Studio is a fairly high-quality free editor raster graphics, which also allows you to create web graphics. Its functionality, in addition to the basic components, includes managing layers, adjusting levels and curves, multi-stage undo of operations, as well as high-quality sharpening and blur effects.

With all this, the user is given the opportunity to customize the interface - pin frequently used or important options to the main toolbar.

MyPaint

The application allows you to turn the screen into a full-fledged artist’s canvas - you can remove all menu items, including Windows. Thus, the monitor will completely turn into a canvas, and a limitless one at that. That is, you will be able to move the canvas on the screen, forgetting about any frames and drawing something grandiose and large-scale.

And if you are not satisfied with the brushes presented to choose from, you can develop your own version using a special generator.

Livebrush

Livebrush is an example of a great drawing tool for kids. Although the program is often used by established and well-known artists in certain circles. Distinctive feature applications - vector patterns, thanks to which you can apply images of certain shapes and sizes. You can easily draw oriental and Slavic ornaments, Gothic patterns, symmetrical grids and much more. A huge set of brushes can be diversified with your own hybrids, or you can download brushes from the developer’s website, where users themselves save the tools they have developed. The application works perfectly with a graphics tablet, tracking not only the pressure applied, but also the tilt of the brush or pen.

PaintTool SAI

This graphic editor has become popular among fans of Japanese comics. With its help you will quickly learn how to draw manga characters. However, it is also excellent for creating landscapes or portraits in the hyperrealism style. The user is invited to realize his talent through dozens of brushes, pencils of different softness, ballpoint pen, ink, pen, pastel, watercolor. Moreover, the parameters of each tool can be customized.

You can work with several drawings in parallel, and, if desired, combine them using layers.

Tux Paint

If you are interested in drawing games for kids, then pay attention to Tux Paint. The program was developed specifically for children from 3 to 12 years old and is even used in a number of preschool institutions in Europe. Attractive and colorful interface with funny sound effects offers clear big buttons with tools and colors, and Tux the penguin will show you how to draw correctly. Tux Paint will help your child develop creative abilities and teach him the basics of computer literacy.

As you can see, despite the similarity in purpose and functionality, each of the presented programs has its own characteristics, writes the softobase website. Be sure to take them into account before you start creating your next masterpiece, which users of social networks and forums will subsequently admire.

Kindly provided a graphics tablet for this article.

Background

It was evening, there was nothing to do, and suddenly I remembered my old, already half-forgotten hobby - drawing. I never studied this activity anywhere, I just loved to draw from an early age: first with felt-tip pens on wallpaper, for which I received nuts from my parents; then with a pen and pencil in the margins of the notebooks, which the school teachers were no longer happy about. Unfortunately, I did not become a skilled artist, but I did learn how to draw more or less nice sketches and caricatures.

That same evening, moving the pencil a little across album sheet, I thought that it would be cool not to scan paper drawings every time, but to create them directly on the PC. No sooner said than done: having tried dozens of Windows programs for artists, I finally found the only one in which you can draw good sketches even with a mouse. And after a couple of days, I had the opportunity to draw using a graphics tablet and a pen, using much more functional software. There are a lot of impressions, but first things first.

Drawing with a mouse

There are two problems when drawing with a mouse: you can draw a straight line on the tenth attempt, which leads to the second problem - your hand gets terribly tired. That's why most free art programs(Artweaver Free, MyPaint, Inkscape) are not the best for drawing with a mouse.

And the “hand curvature” is eliminated by a free application called LiveBrush Lite, which automatically transforms the drawn “broken line” into a beautiful stroke. The official website of the program www.livebrush.com was not working at the time of writing (development may have been suspended), but the installer can be easily found in software catalogs, for example on the website www.softpedia.com.

LiveBrush Lite requires a set of Adobe AIR libraries. Every stroke is saved in the program separate layer, so complex drawings “eat up” half a gigabyte or more of RAM.

By default, LiveBrush Lite uses a canvas that imitates slightly yellowed paper from time to time, and a working tool that is a cross between a thin brush and an ink pen. Both look extremely realistic, and one can already remember the acrid smell of ink, familiar from drawing classes.

As mentioned above, LiveBrush Lite converts curved strokes made with the mouse into smooth ones. This operation, however, takes some time: after drawing a couple of twisted lines, sometimes you have to wait before the drawing appears on the virtual canvas. Once you practice a little, drawings with a mouse start to turn out quite decent.

Graphics tablet

Using a mouse limited me to essentially one single drawing program. Therefore, I soon wanted to try drawing with a pen on a graphics tablet. Came to me for testing inexpensive model Wacom Intuos Pen&Touch S, a review of which was previously published on our website.

With the transition from a mouse to a tablet, drawings in the aforementioned LiveBrush Lite program, unfortunately, did not improve - the “auto-alignment” of strokes had a negative impact on small details. Fortunately, on the official Wacom website I accidentally came across a mention of two applications for artists: Autodesk Sketchbook Express and ArtRage. Without hesitation, I downloaded and installed both of these programs (in the case of Artrage Studio, the trial version).

To be honest, I couldn’t make friends with the first program, Autodesk Sketchbook Express, even though it processed correctly different degrees pen presses. The lines still turned out crooked, there was a delay (you may need to pre-setting). I already thought that the problem was my lack of experience and the experiment failed, but still I launched the second application - ArtRage...

I ran the pen across the tablet and a line instantly appeared on the ArtRage canvas, exactly the same as what I would have gotten on paper. Joyful notes began to play in my soul. I drew the pen a few more times and new “correct” lines appeared on the PC screen. And off we go! I stopped only after a couple of minutes, when the first completed sketch was displayed in the ArtRage window.

And while drawing the second sketch in ArtRage, I got used to another function of the pen - the eraser at its opposite end (I still couldn’t draw the same horns on the knight’s helmet). In a word, I haven’t received so much for a long time positive emotions from getting to know the gadget and software.

Bottom line

As practice has shown, drawing on a PC is fun and interesting, and in some aspects easier than on paper. For example, to remove a bad stroke, just press the key combination Ctrl+Z. If you don't want to buy a graphics tablet, you can trust an ordinary mouse and the LiveBrush Lite application.

When paired with a tablet, it is better to use the ArtRage program or others professional solutions. There is certainly no question of choosing a tablet brand, since Wacom is the undisputed leader in the industry. But remember that miracles don’t happen: if you don’t know how to draw even with a pencil on paper, then computer programs, no graphic tablet with a pen will make you Leonardo da Vinci or Michelangelo.