What free drawing programs are there for your computer? Art creation program: description and capabilities Gimp is a functional application.

So, you bought a graphics tablet. In addition to the fact that you still have to get used to it and get better at it, you need to immediately decide on a graphic editor that will maximize all the capabilities of your new device. And if you think that you can only draw in Adobe Photoshop or Illustrator, then you are very mistaken.

In addition to the internationally recognized and undoubtedly cool products of Adobe, there are many graphic editors that offer the same functionality, but for less money, and sometimes even for free. In addition, some programs boast a unique interface with many interesting features; designers and illustrators will definitely appreciate them.

We have compiled a list of programs where you can fully draw using a graphics tablet, simulating various artistic techniques, make sketches, create raster and vector images, and also practice lettering and calligraphy.

Corel Painter X3

Painter X3 simulates traditional brushes, textures, dry and wet effects with incredible accuracy. Thanks to this, there is an almost complete immersion in a real artist’s studio, where there is no computer or monitor, only an easel and canvas.

Painter Lite

A lighter, cheaper version of Painter offers all the painting tools you need, but at a lower price. An excellent option for those who are just starting to draw and are not ready to spend a lot of money.

Clip Paint Studio PRO

Despite the fact that this program was developed specifically for drawing manga, Clip Paint Studio has gone quite far and can be used with the same success in industry-standard digital painting. The program has incredibly convenient features, for example, ready-made shapes that can be used as a model for drawing poses.

Autodesk Sketchbook Pro 7

SketchBook Pro is a professional drawing application optimized specifically for tablet devices. Drawing in it is easy and pleasant, which novice users will undoubtedly appreciate.

ArtRage 4

A program with incredible tools and the most attractive interface. Drawing in it is easy and pleasant. Focused on creating realistic images.

Xara Photo and Graphic Designer 9

Photo editing, drawing, unusual effects are not all the capabilities of Xara Photo. Users will appreciate the compatibility of file formats and the low price of the product.

Affinity Designer

The program supports working with layers, import\export of different file formats, a convenient navigator and all the tools for working with vector graphics that you can think of. Affinity Designer is something of an Adobe Illustrator killer. The only drawback of this program may be that it is only available for MAC. But the price is more than reasonable.

Inkscape

A free and convenient vector illustrator, which is essentially a symbiosis of Corel DRAW and Adobe Illustrator. Remarkable support for pen pressure sensitivity—a big deficiency in the vector illustration world—makes Inkscape a powerful tool for those serious about calligraphy.

By the way, Inkscape has an excellent resource in seven languages, including Russian, which is very rare even for commercial graphics programs. On the Inkscape website you can not only download the program, but also read articles, study lessons, participate in discussions and much more. There is also the opportunity to become one of the developers and testers of the product and bring useful features to it.

Artweaver

A raster graphics program that looks like a symbiosis of Painter and Photoshop. Compared to GIMP, it is slower in processing, but with a much larger set of brushes. Wide support for Wacom tablet.

GIMP

A colorful and functional raster program for drawing and illustrating. The interface appearance and capabilities are similar to Corel Painter. Wide support for Wacom tablet.

MyPaint

An undemanding and easy-to-use open-source program for digital artists. Allows you to concentrate on creativity, not the program interface. Tablet support is well implemented.

SmoothDraw

And here is another drawing program worth attention - ten thousand beginner and professional artists managed to download this wonderful development for free. You don't have to waste time learning menus and tools - just open a new file and show off your talents using clearly visualized functions.

Users have access to blending modes, layers, virtual canvas rotation, and sub-pixel anti-aliasing levels. In addition to standard painting tools, the application contains special tools, such as graffiti, water drops, stars, grass. Synchronization with tablets is also implemented.

Paint Tool SAI

Don't be intimidated by SAI's clean interface, as this is the de facto standard program for most Japanese anime artists. It also comes with a line correction feature to create sharper contours.

Serif DrawPlus (starter edition)

Serif DrawPlus offers all the tools for working with raster and vector graphics. Here you can create interesting prints, make logos, edit photos or draw using a lot of custom effects, including 3D. Truly a godsend for beginning illustrators and designers, and completely free!

All the programs on the list will be excellent alternatives to Adobe products, even if you are not ready to admit it yet. It’s enough to give them a chance, and who knows, maybe in a couple of weeks you won’t even remember about Photoshop! Moreover, you don’t have to pay for some products at all. Don't be afraid to try new things, push boundaries and improve!

The modern world is changing everything, and anyone can become anything, even an artist. In order to draw, it is not necessary to work in some special place; it is enough to simply have programs for drawing art on your computer. This article shows the most famous of these programs.

Any graphic editor can be called a program for drawing art, although not every such editor is able to satisfy your desires. It is for this reason that this list will contain a variety of programs with different functionality. The most important thing is that each of the programs can become either a separate tool in your hands or be included in your set, which you can use in different ways.

This graphic editor is not intended for drawing art. More precisely, it was not designed for this. When it was created, the programmers were inspired by children, and the fact that it is in childhood that we become who we are now. This children's program has musical accompaniment and many instruments, but is not very suitable for drawing high-quality art.

Artweaver

This art creation program is very similar to Adobe Photoshop. It has everything that Photoshop has - layers, corrections, the same tools. But not all tools are available in the free version, and this is an important disadvantage.

ArtRage

ArtRage is the most unique program in this collection. The fact is that the program has a set of tools that are great for drawing not only with a pencil, but also with paints, both oil and watercolor. Moreover, the image drawn with these tools is very similar to the real one. The program also includes layers, stickers, stencils and even tracing paper. The main advantage is that each tool can be configured and saved as a separate template, thereby expanding the capabilities of the program.

Paint.NET

If Artweaver was similar to Photoshop, then this program is more like standard Paint with Photoshop capabilities. It has tools from Paint, layers, corrections, effects, and even getting an image from a camera or scanner. Plus to all this, it is completely free. The only downside is that sometimes it works much slower with 3D images.

Inkscape

This art drawing program is quite a powerful tool in the hands of an experienced user. It has very wide functionality and a lot of possibilities. The most notable feature is the conversion of a raster image to a vector image. There are also tools for working with layers, text and paths.

GIMP

This graphics editor is another copy of Adobe Photoshop, but it has a few differences. True, these differences are rather superficial. There is also work with layers, image correction and filters, but there is also image transformation, and access to it is quite easy.

Paint Tool Sai

A huge number of different instrument settings allow you to create an almost new instrument, which is an advantage of the program. Plus, you can directly customize the toolbar. But, unfortunately, all this is available for only one day, and then you have to pay.

In our modern times, it is not necessary to be able to draw to create art; it is enough just to have one of the programs presented in this list. They all have one common goal, but almost each of them approaches this goal in different ways, however, with the help of these programs you can create truly beautiful and unique art. What software do you use to create art?

To paint a picture it is not at all necessary to enroll in art courses and buy and buy expensive supplies. Just turn on your computer and launch the appropriate software. In this article we will look at the best programs for creating digital paintings.

To draw on a computer, you need to select a brush and move it around the virtual canvas using a mouse, keyboard, or special devices such as graphics tablets.

The tool can be a pen, pencil or an art brush with paints. When pressed for a long time, the thickness of the lines changes, mixing colors is allowed.

There are special panels for working with the palette. You can apply various effects to finished objects.

The benefits of digital painting include items such as:

• Cancel unsuccessful actions;
• Unlimited color range;

Let's start with the top 15 drawing applications on a personal computer.

You can use all their functionality completely free of charge for an unlimited amount of time.

Table: comparison of characteristics

Application	Graphics tablet support	Purpose	Plugins
Graffiti Studio	–	amateur	–
Autodesk SketchBook Pro	+	pro	+
Corel Painter	–	amateur	+
Pix Builder Studio	+	amateur	+
Affinity Designer	+	specialist	–
Paint tool Sai	+	pro	+
The Gimp	+	pro	+
	+	pro	+
Livebrush	+	amateur	–
Tux paint	–	amateur	–
Paint.net	–	amateur	+
	+	pro	+
SmoothDraw	+	amateur	+
Artweaver	+	pro	+
	+	amateur	+

Tux paint

Read also: Graphic tablet with screen for drawing: Choosing the TOP 10 Best!

The educational program Tux paint was created for the youngest personal computer users, but it may also appeal to adult novice artists. It has a relatively small set of tools and does not have a lot of palettes.

The highlight of this application is its simplicity, large buttons in the interface, the presence of basic models, a large number of stamps, an integrated assistant in the form of a funny penguin Tuxie.

All this greatly simplifies the process of creating works.

By the way, it is possible to make a slide show. 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.

The attractive and colorful interface with funny sound effects offers clear large 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.

Among the disadvantages of tux paint, we highlight the lengthy processing of the applied effects.

Paint.net

Paint.NET for Windows

Version: 4.2.10

Developer: dotPDN LLC

License: free

Verified. No viruses found

Download 8 Mb

Read also: TOP 12 Best tablets with a keyboard on the Windows 10 operating system | Review of current models in 2019

At first glance, it may seem that this program is no different from the standard application called Paint, which comes bundled with the operating system.

This is partly the trick of paint.net. The interface is familiar to all Windows operating system users.

But the functionality of the paint.net application stands out significantly compared to the integrated editor.

In it you can create three-dimensional models, draw transparent objects, moving objects and other complex structures. Let's note a very convenient selection tool.

In paint.net it is called by the magic wand.

The program contains a number of integrated tools and also supports plugins, among which you can find a large number of useful tools.

Inscape

Read also: TOP 11 Best Applications for Learning English | 2019 +Reviews

Inscape is a popular vector . It is often used for drawing graphic systems, as well as for creating business cards, booklets and other promotional products.

Using this application it is very convenient to draw geometric shapes and objects, which are based on several small particles of the correct shape.

A special block is available for working with text and footnotes.

This program is primarily based on its own rendering engine, which means that with proper performance of the personal computer, the process of adding new strokes will be carried out at lightning speed.

SmoothDraw

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A program called SmoothDraw is more versatile than the previous editor. There are various types of pencils, as well as convenient pens, sprayers, and markers.

With this entire set you will add personality to your painting.

This program contains a convenient layering algorithm, including an integrated collection of Elios effects. Pixel technology allows you to create high quality drawings.

In this case, the principle of selecting a brush type is very conveniently implemented, that is, depending on pressing a number on the keyboard, the corresponding drawing tool is selected.

It should be noted that the application is compatible with . The downside of this utility is its poor localized interface.

Artweaver

Artweaver for Windows

Version: 7.0.2

Developer: Artweaver

License: free

Verified. No viruses found

Download 11.9 Mb

Read also: Photoshop online in Russian for free: TOP 5 best services to replace Photoshop

A program called Artweaver is a good raster editor with a large set of customizable brushes.

The application is distinguished by the presence of impasto, which is a unique drawing tool that imitates relief paint. A similar function allows you to create oil masks on canvas.

A program called My Paint is an art editor that includes high-quality visualization of each painting. Large icons help you select a tool.

The user clearly sees what each brush is capable of. In addition, all brushes are divided into three main blocks:

• Classic;
• Experimental;
• Favorites.

The last section is initially empty. If desired, it can be filled in manually by simply dragging and dropping.

Another trick May paint is the presence of a notepad that performs the function of a paper instrument.

If you are unsure whether you should try using this program, first take a look at the gallery of user work from around the world. You can find interesting works there.

Livebrush

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An application called Livebrush is a beautiful graphic editor that is loved by many users from different parts of the world.

The program has a very convenient feature for creating brushes.

The application allows you to generate tools based on your own pattern. It’s not for nothing that the name of the application is translated as a living brush.

Among the features of the program, we note such functions as:

• decorating the line along which the brush runs;
• It is also worth highlighting the presence of fractal brushes.

Livebrush is based on the Etoubieir platform. To run the program, you must initially install this environment, although this installation method cannot be called convenient.

Krita

Krita for Windows

Version: 4.2.8

Developer: The Krita Team

License: free

Verified. No viruses found

Download 100 Mb

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The next program, called “Krita”, is considered one of the best in the industry. This application selects a large number of artists from different parts of the globe.

Key Features:

• Unlimited canvas size;
• Imitation of canvas materials;
• Emulation of real drawing tools;
• A huge number of artistic effects.

This entire set is successfully contained in a laconic Russified interface.

Add to this a high level of detail, a good implementation of the layering function, many post-processing tools and a large number of other useful functions.

Of course, the Krita app supports most modern graphics tablets.

The Gimp

The GIMP for Windows

Version: 2.10.14.3

Developer: gimp.team

License: free

Verified. No viruses found

Download 217 Mb

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The developers produced an application called Gimp initially as a competitor to the well-known photo editor.

Over time, this application has acquired enough functions to be considered a full-fledged drawing software.

• Editable hard and soft brushes;
• layer-by-layer processing; Smoothing functions;
• Built-in effects;
• A large number of tools that allow you to change the size and other characteristics of an element;
• And so on.

Thus, we have a fairly good editor for creating high-quality works.

There is one significant drawback that you should pay attention to.

Since the program has a very large number of options, to use it you will need a fairly powerful personal computer.

Paint tool Sai

Paint Tool SAI 2 Windows

Version: 2.0 beta Technical Preview

Developer: SYSTEMAX Software Development

License: free

Download 12.8 Mb

Read also: Create a collage from photos online - TOP 15 services

A program called Paint Tool Sai was created by Japanese developers.

This application has recently gained popularity among users living in the Russian Federation. The program has two drawing modes:

• The first of which is raster;
• The second is vector.

It is worth noting that each of the brushes belongs to a different mode. The application boasts a high-tech rendering engine, full support for graphics tablets, and its own pen smoothing algorithm.

As with most other solutions, the application interface resembles a menu from the program

However, the developers of this application went even further. Thus, the hotkeys are completely identical to Adobe Photoshop.

This editor can be installed on any Windows operating system, including Windows ninety-eight.

Unfortunately, the application is not adapted for the Russian Federation and the CIS as a whole; the menu is only available in English.

It is necessary to understand that the program is paid, but there is time to use it in a trial period of one calendar month.

The application can be purchased forever for seventy-seven United States dollars.

Affinity Designer

Another paid product called Affinity Designer is notable for having three modes of operation:

• Drawing;
• Pixel editing;
• Export.

Each of the modes has an interesting name - Person. It is logical that Affinity Designer can work with raster and vector graphics.

The program is based on a fairly fast engine. Its interface also has a Photoshop-like design, although the application would be more accurately compared to Adobe Illustrator than to Photoshop.

The set of brushes is standard. It is possible to create your own drawing tools.

An interesting fact is that the developers initially produced this application for an operating system called . And only very recently the program appeared on the Windows operating system.

The program is paid, but there is a trial period of ten calendar days. The license fee is fifty United States dollars.

It should be noted that the Affinity Designer developers did not take care of the Russification of the menu and the presence of such an important option as plug-in support.

Pix Builder Studio

PixBuilder Studio is a fairly high-quality free raster graphics editor that allows you to create web graphics as well.

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.

Corel Painter

Version: 2020

Developer: Corel Corporation

License: trialware

Verified. No viruses found

Download 614.4 Kb

We reviewed the most common applications that act as full-fledged complexes for drawing, as well as processing a variety of images.

Which drawing program on a graphics tablet or editor on a PC you choose depends on your specific goals.

Corel Painter will be highly appreciated by digital graphics specialists. This is the best choice when you want to download a drawing program to your computer to work with your tablet. The famous developer offers a developed but rather complex product. To learn how to use all the benefits of the package, you will have to spend a lot of time. And if you also want to learn how to work in vector, you will have to switch to a more functional tool from the same developer - CorelDRAW.

Autodesk SketchBook Pro is a high-quality drawing creation program for all categories of users. Allows you to both process graphics and create cool art, comics, and sketches from scratch. An accessible interface in Russian will be a pleasant bonus, but in order to work with the utility at the highest level, it is advisable to think about purchasing a professional monitor with good color reproduction.

Krita is no less functional. Artists draw both posters and entire comics in it. The application is free, open source and suitable for all modern operating systems. However, it will be a little difficult for beginners to master it. If you are not afraid of difficulties and are willing to spend time, try it and you will get a truly functional tool.

Adobe Photoshop allows you to apply a wide range of different effects and filters. Creating images will seem very comfortable and quite simple. You will be able to enjoy an accessible Russian-language interface and a large number of educational video lessons and materials on the Internet.

Working with Tux Paint is aimed at quality training for inexperienced users. The utility's interface will be convenient for any user, and the presence of sound and animation effects will attract the attention of children's audiences whose parents want to teach their child the skill of drawing on a computer.

Paint.NET will bring a lot of positive impressions; the program engine is able to remember all user activity and return more than a dozen completed actions, excluding any errors made during the editing process and applying various effects. Using Paint, vector graphics can be edited effectively.

Pixbuilder Studio is distinguished by high performance indicators, while the rest of the utilities from the above selection demonstrate lower launch and image opening speeds. The program contains rich professional-level functionality and is available for download absolutely free.

Fans of a variety of brushes will appreciate the Artweaver Free program, which has a lot of useful filters and effects. It is worth noting that the application allows you to create your own brushes, which will be difficult for competitors.

Paint Tool SAI is a serious utility designed for professional artists and designers, allowing you to create stunning illustrations and digital paintings. The utility supports tablets, providing creative people with all the necessary resources for artistic activities. Moreover, some studios use SAI as a program for drawing cartoons. Its functions are really good.

Graffiti Studio is difficult to compare with full-fledged painters and even drawing games for children, since the purpose of this application is to entertain the user. You can fulfill your teenage dream and feel like a master of street graffiti. True, the range of tools is meager - only a marker and spray cans, but a huge selection of colors and shades, line thicknesses will be a significant plus.

Also not included in the review are the wonderful programs MyPaint, Medibang Paint, SmoothDraw, Affinity Designer, the built-in Windows graphics editor Paint, and the raster graphics editor Inkscape. You can always find their detailed descriptions on our website.

In today's world, computers are increasingly penetrating our lives. Many areas are simply unthinkable without the use of a PC: complex mathematical calculations, design, modeling, Internet communications, etc. Finally, it came to drawing!

Now not only artists, but also ordinary amateurs can easily try to draw some “masterpiece” using special programs. It is these special programs for drawing on a computer that I would like to talk about in this article.

*Please note that only free programs will be considered.

1. Paint is the default program...

It is with Paint that I would like to begin the review of drawing programs, because... it is included in Windows XP, 7, 8, Vista, etc., which means you don’t need to download anything to start drawing!

To open it, go to the menu " start/programs/standard", and then click the "Paint" icon.

The program itself is extremely simple and even a complete beginner who has recently turned on a PC can understand it.

Among the main functions: changing the size of pictures, cutting out a certain part of the image, the ability to draw with a pencil or brush, filling the area with the selected color, etc.

For those who do not professionally deal with images, for those who sometimes need to correct something small in pictures - the program’s capabilities are more than enough. That is why I recommend starting your acquaintance with drawing on a PC with it!

2. Gimp - a powerful graph. editor

Gimp is a powerful graphics editor that can work with graphics tablets* (see below) and many other input devices.

Main functions:

Improve photos, make them brighter, enhance color rendition;

Easily and quickly remove unnecessary elements from photographs;

Cut website layouts;

Drawing pictures using graphics tablets;

Own file storage format “.xcf”, which is capable of storing texts, textures, layers, etc.;

Convenient ability to work with the clipboard - you can instantly insert a picture into the program and start editing it;

Gimp will allow you to archive images almost on the fly;

Ability to open files in “.psd” format;

Creating your own plugins (if you have programming skills, of course).

3. MyPaint - artistic drawing

Website: http://mypaint.intilinux.com/?page_id=6

MyPaint is a graphics editor aimed at beginner artists. The program has a simple interface coupled with unlimited canvas sizes. There is also an excellent set of brushes, thanks to which, using this program, you can draw pictures on your computer, just like on canvas!

Main functions:

Possibility of quick commands using assigned buttons;

A huge selection of brushes, their customization, the ability to create and import them;

Excellent support for the tablet; by the way, the program was generally designed for it;

Unlimited canvas size - thus nothing limits your creativity;

Ability to work on Windows, Linux and Mac OS.

4. Graffiti Studio - for graffiti fans

This program will appeal to all graffiti lovers (in principle, you can guess the direction of the program from the name).

The program is captivating with its simplicity and realism - the paintings come out of the pen almost like the best hits on the walls of professionals.

In the program you can choose canvases, for example, carriages, walls, buses, on which you can then work your creative miracles.

The panel provides a choice of a huge number of colors - more than 100 pieces! It is possible to make smudges, change the distance to the surface, use markers, etc. In general, a whole arsenal of a graffiti artist!

5. Artweaver - replacement for Adobe Photoshop

A free graphics editor that claims to be Adobe Photoshop itself. This program simulates drawing with oil, paint, pencil, chalk, brush, etc.

It is possible to work with layers, convert images into various formats, compression, etc. Judging by the screenshot below, you can’t even tell it from Adobe Photoshop!

Website: http://www.smoothdraw.com/

SmoothDraw is an excellent graphic editor, with a lot of possibilities for processing and creating images. The program is mainly focused on creating pictures from scratch, from a white and blank canvas.

You will have a large number of design and artistic tools in your arsenal: brushes, pencils, pens, pens, etc.

The work with tablets is also quite good, coupled with the user-friendly interface of the program - it can be safely recommended to most users.

7. PixBuilder Studio - mini Photoshop

Many users on the Internet have already dubbed this program mini Photoshop. It has most of the popular functions and capabilities of the paid Adobe Photoshop program: a brightness and contrast editor, there are tools for cutting and transforming images, you can create complex shapes and objects.

Good implementation of several types of picture blur, sharpening effects, etc.

It’s probably not worth talking about such features as changing the size of the picture, rotating, reversing, etc. Overall, PixBuilder Studio is an excellent drawing and editing program on your computer.

8. Inkscape - analogue of Corel Draw (vector graphics)

This is a free vector image editor similar to Corel Draw. This program for drawing with vectors - i.e. directed segments. Unlike bitmap images, vector images can easily be resized without losing quality! Typically, such a program is used in printing.

It’s worth mentioning Flash here - it also uses vector graphics, which allows you to significantly reduce the size of the video!

By the way, it’s worth adding that the program has support for the Russian language!

9. Livebrush - painting with a brush

Website: http://www.livebrush.com/GetLivebrush.aspx

A very simple drawing program with good image editing capabilities. One of the main features of this editor is that you will draw here brush! There are no other tools!

On the one hand, this is limiting, but on the other, the program allows you to implement a lot of things that you can’t do in any other!

A huge number of brushes, settings for them, strokes, etc. Moreover, you can create brushes yourself and download them from the Internet.

By the way, by “brush” in livebrush we mean not “just a simple” line, but also models of complex geometric shapes... In general, it is recommended for all fans of working with graphics to become familiar with it.

10. Graphics tablets

A graphics tablet is a special device for drawing on a computer. Connects to a computer via standard USB. Using a pen, you can drag across an electronic sheet, and you can immediately see your painting online on the computer screen. Great!

Who needs a tablet for what?

The tablet can be useful not only for professional designers, but also for ordinary schoolchildren and children. Using it, you can edit photos and images, draw graffiti on social networks, and easily and quickly add manuscripts to graphic documents. In addition, when using a pen (tablet pen), your hand and wrist do not get tired during long-term work, such as when using a mouse.

For professionals, this is an opportunity to edit photographs: create masks, retouch, edit and make corrections to complex contours of images (hair, eyes, etc.).

In general, you get used to the tablet very quickly and if you often work with graphics, the device becomes simply irreplaceable! Recommended for all graphics lovers.

This concludes the review of programs. Good luck with your choice and beautiful drawings!