21 replies to this topic

[thomascgty]

Have been drawing since childhood but drawing on paper and scanning it does not look good.

I have been wondering how to people draw those digital Ragnarok Online artworks.

Any software that a digital artwork noob can handle and use?

Thanks.

[Rutana]

No matter what program you gonna use, you will need practise and even better: an Graphic Tablet.
Most of them even come with cheaper programs themselfs.
For drawing only, Sai is a very good program for some, others can't handle Sai.
Most people will using Photoshop, but Photoshop, in most cases, is really expensive.
Then there are Gimp, which is a free Program as far as I know, or Painter. Coral Draw also.

Regarding the Tablet, I highly reccommend a Wacom

[Kitten]

You're going to need to look up a lot of different digital art tutorials. You can find them all over the internet, but Deviant Art's are easy to sort though. YouTube has nice ones, too. They can show you the basics of getting a scanned image ready for digital work, and how to underpaint it for a richer effect and the like. Those are just examples, there's obviously a lot more.

It doesn't matter what program you use, if you don't know where to start you're not going to get the effects you want.

And Gimp sucks. Don't use Gimp. It has a terrible interface and it's just a very frustrating program to use. Also, when I tried it out it seemed more like it was meant for casual edits, not really from scratch art.

If you want something to play around with without having to download a huge file or buy anything, try Deviant Art's Muro. It's like a basic Paint Tool Sai but it's browser based. The free one has limited features, but I've seen some nice work come out of it.

[Inubashiri]

Most people I know that are mangaka use Open Canvus or SAI. Mostly SAI.

[Mayhem]

Art Programs.
Only going to right a lil about this because I could go all day about these, Ultimately the program falls under two reasons to get it.
1. How much you are willing to pay (unless pirateing) And
2. How many tutorials are out there.

Open Canvas has a ton of uses and the best thing it has it the ability from the main site to watch user videos of them doing thier drawing, which sometimes leads to you learning new tricks.

Sai, Cheap!!! and emulates a lot of functions of other art programs.

If you really want to use something good that a lot of artists are moving towards go for either:
Photoshop: Has a lot of functions and a good ammount of tutorials for it.
or
Corel Painter X: Personally if you are starting out and love art I suggest this one. It has millions of uses and there are a ton of tutorials out there now. It also emulates most real worl media which can had fun and interesting aspects to your art.

There are also things like ArtRage which is another new one and I believe there are others.

Dont listen to anyone that tells you "Most artists use this" or anything like that.
I have been in the art scene for a while as a hobby and know a lot of people who are in artistic scene as a pro.
Most artists learn a program and just stick with it. Sometimes you will see that one program just doesnt make do everything you want. So like most artists they use multi programs. I know a ton of artist that like using photoshop for lineart and then use corel painter to finish.

Tablet:
Dont let anyone tell you that you have to have one, but understand that mastery of a tablet leads to so many awesome digital artworks.

Things to know,
Do you use Brood long strokes when you draw?
This mean you really need a larger tablet compared to your hand so that you wont have to get over any change in HOW you draw. This mean starting out you have to buy a larger surface area tablet.
Do you use Short little strokes when you draw?
Oh cool then, that means you can get away with a cheaper version and smaller one.

Dont let anyone scrub the small ones. (personally I hate them) But I know some american comic book artists that use the cheap Bamboo (65$) one from best buy. Larger area ones will cost you roughly 200$ for a good one.

Now note there are many more out there than just from the company Wacom. So shop around.
A lot of them now come with tons of functions too, like extra buttons to quickkey brushes and actions.

Do you have a heavy hand?
That means do yo push down hard with the tip of your pen or pencil when you draw.
With the pen that comes with the tablet it has a little nib at the end, if you are heavy handed you are going to have to learn to not push down hard, you will just either wear down the tib or break the pen.

Now say you are really amped about getting into the art scene, and you want to take it to the next step.
The debate begins now of if you should one up all these tablet users.
There are things out there that are kinda like the Ipad. But they are dedicated for art, Have just as much sensitivity as a real tablet, but you are drawing directly onto the screen and artwork. It would be like drawing on your monitor directly.
The cheapest (and best for price) one of these cost around 700$. Which is much less than the BEST tablet at wacom.

Ok now to even throw in something new that I just found out about this week. This thing BLEW MY MIND. But i should have seen it coming.
http://www.wacom.com...ts/Inkling.aspx The Wacom Inkling. Basically you clip the monitor to your page and then use the pen just like normal. Then you can transfer your normal drawing style right to the computer!!! What a way to do lineart.

Edited by Mayhem, 15 December 2011 - 06:15 AM.

[Rutana]

I can agree to the whole post basically, except for the Tablet.
Wacom Tablets are not expensive, at least not much more than other tablets.
You can be lucky with the tablet of another company, but honestly, go with Wacom. The quality is just better.
Take a look if you prefer the Bamboo Series or the Intous Series.
I for myself have a small DinA 5 Bamboo and couldn't ask for anything more... (well, except for a cintq, but I draw way to less for such an expensive tablet XD)

[Kitten]

I know a lot of people who use the Bamboo series and I haven't really heard anything negative about the product. A lot of them are pretty popular artists who actively sell commissions. The tablet or program doesn't make the artist.

If you have ability, experience and patience you can do more with the "basic" tools than someone lacking in those qualities could with the "professional" ones.

[Mayhem]

Yes Yes I have seen very good drawing with crayons.

But still talent can be brought out more given the right tools.

I personally use a graphire3 wacom table, 6x8 from back in 2001!!! yep you read that year right. Still going strong with my 400$ tabled from wacom.

Only problem I have ever had is recently windows 7 makes me reinstall the driver everytime I want to use it. But thats cus its old.

Small tablets from wacom are cheaply priced, but when you start getting into the bigger ones, the price starts to go up dramatically. Thats why I know a lot of artists that prefer bigger tablets ussually shop around.
Then again to anyone reading this and thinking about buying one, you have to RESEARCH the other ones. There some tablets out there that are crap.

For anyone who doesnt want to look around, Your right Wacom has always came out with good products. Although I think the nibs on the newer models are crap. I have had the same pen and nib for mine since the begining. My friend bought hers and as most tell me, they wear out very fast.


Now I guess I should have went more into the fact of maybe not needing a tablet.
Back before all this began I used to scan all my stuff into photoshop then use a mouse to clean up and color it.
thomascgty- what kind of process are you using to scan yours? what dpi and program? and are you using blue sketch pencils then inking on top of it?

[thomascgty]

thomascgty- what kind of process are you using to scan yours? what dpi and program? and are you using blue sketch pencils then inking on top of it?

I use the one that came with the scanner. I usually am light in handling pencils during drawing time. I use the scanning function of the Canon MP210 to be specific.

I only use the regular no.2 pencil. Have not tried the blue sketch pencils. But I did use those blue sketch pencils and inking way back when I was studying engineering drafting. It is messy and expensive to use on drawings.

Have tried all DPI during scanning but the paper grain tends to show up on the scanned image. It's been awhile since I scanned drawings so I don't clearly remember which DPI setting shows those paper grains.

I thought of getting a better standalone scanner when I save enough $$$.

[thomascgty]

I know a lot of people who use the Bamboo series and I haven't really heard anything negative about the product. A lot of them are pretty popular artists who actively sell commissions. The tablet or program doesn't make the artist.

If you have ability, experience and patience you can do more with the "basic" tools than someone lacking in those qualities could with the "professional" ones.

I think I have seen that Bamboo series bundle with Corel products; rarely with Adobe products.

[Kitten]

I use the one that came with the scanner. I usually am light in handling pencils during drawing time. I use the scanning function of the Canon MP210 to be specific.

I only use the regular no.2 pencil. Have not tried the blue sketch pencils. But I did use those blue sketch pencils and inking way back when I was studying engineering drafting. It is messy and expensive to use on drawings.

Have tried all DPI during scanning but the paper grain tends to show up on the scanned image. It's been awhile since I scanned drawings so I don't clearly remember which DPI setting shows those paper grains.

I thought of getting a better standalone scanner when I save enough $$.

That's the scanner I use.

When I want to clean up a scan I usually take it into Photoshop and adjust the levels, it's a process similar to playing with the contrast except that it offers you a lot more control. That way I can bright the white areas, darken the lines and just get rid of a lot of the smudgy grey stuff just by changing a few settings.

I haven't had any issues with this scanner, personally. I think you just need to get used to using a program to clean the scans.

[thomascgty]

No matter what program you gonna use, you will need practise and even better: an Graphic Tablet.
Most of them even come with cheaper programs themselfs.
For drawing only, Sai is a very good program for some, others can't handle Sai.
Most people will using Photoshop, but Photoshop, in most cases, is really expensive.
Then there are Gimp, which is a free Program as far as I know, or Painter. Coral Draw also.

Regarding the Tablet, I highly reccommend a Wacom

Thanks for the response. I have tried Gimp before... and did not like it. Confusion with the UI.

[Rutana]

Sometimes, a mix between programs is nice as well btw.
For example...
I draw and do the linearts in Sai, but I color in Photoshop.
The reason is fairly simple:
I can't draw out of the scratch in Photoshop.
The Vector Program of Sai is super easy to understand and handle.
I can't color in Sai, because I simply can't find the right colors with the color weel, I need the quadric .... color-thingy XD that is in Photoshop.
I also often have problems to find the correct brushes in Sai.

Then again, I'm far away from beeing a good/professional artist XD


My Bamboo came with Photoshop Elements btw, but I'm using another, older version of PS, Photoshop CS. Got it cheap with buying a bundle-version of Photoshop 6 (which was cheap as hell because it was a bundle version) and CS Upgrade, that required at least PS 6 as the oldest version. Since it became a bundle, and the Upgrades are cheaper also, I got it for a loooow price at eBay, really lucky XD

[Mayhem]

Created a new thread cus of you http://forums.warppo...n-starting-out/

I suggest inking whatever you really want to to draw. Since you draw lightly anyways it will work out. Then of course after it dries lightly erase everything.

Scan at 300dpi in color mode.

Most programs that have a black and white scan mode mess up your drawing because it has a simplified brain for figuring what to drop.

Most these programs have a Levels control, soon as you open it and and try adjusting you will see how it works.

Save it then start clearning it up with eraser.

Thats "basically" the process I used back in the day.

[morphine]

More than the nibs themselves, I think the texture on some of the Wacom tablets seems to make them wear out faster. Spare nibs aren't prohibitively expensive though (the last Bamboo model I bought came with extra nibs actually). Purely digital from start to finish art with a mouse is very possible, but I find that the pen is much more comfortable for long periods of time, outside of the increased control once you adjust to it. If you plan to be drawing or colouring on the computer for a long time every day, it's a good investment.


For digital drawing and inking, I find Manga Studio (a.k.a. Comic Studio) is quite nice.

For general use, Photoshop tends to be a good all-around choice, price aside.

The Gimp is actually fairly good free alternative, but I probably wouldn't recommend it for a beginner. Think of it like playing RO, but you're limited to 1st class characters pre-renewal with exp and drop rates halved. XD


Really though, a lot of it is personal preference. Try a bunch of different programs and see what you like the best. :0

[Onisukka]

3DSMAX. *gets shot.*

bamboo-series is good for a starter (and basically for anyone). They cost about 100$ and your wrist will thank you later. As for programs;

Artistic ones;
Corel Painter (don't know much. nifty brushes)
Art Rage (^same as above, but usually more liked than corel painter)
Open Canvas (not good at all for line-art, very Simple)
Alias Sketchbook Pro (not very good at coloring)
Open Canvas 1 (free! ... but not very good)

Clean-styled CGI's;
Photoshop (semi-good at everything, annoyingly much buttons, expensive)
painttool Sai (Much Loved by Everyone, but the developers dropped developing it, apparently)
Gimp (free! equilevant to photoshop, less intuitive though)

I'd say you should get Open Canvas 1 and Gimp. After a while you'll notice what you hate about them and then you can try out some others that you believe are better at line-art, more intuitive or something.

[Mayhem]

Lol you didnt read any one else comments, but its sweet that your helpful.

[thomascgty]

Lol you didnt read any one else comments, but its sweet that your helpful.

??? What do you mean?

Edited by thomascgty, 23 December 2011 - 09:48 AM.

[thomascgty]

Created a new thread cus of you http://forums.warppo...n-starting-out/

I suggest inking whatever you really want to to draw. Since you draw lightly anyways it will work out. Then of course after it dries lightly erase everything.

Scan at 300dpi in color mode.

Most programs that have a black and white scan mode mess up your drawing because it has a simplified brain for figuring what to drop.

Most these programs have a Levels control, soon as you open it and and try adjusting you will see how it works.

Save it then start clearning it up with eraser.

Thats "basically" the process I used back in the day.

Nice and informative link. Have tried searching it... but did not noticed it in the sticky/pinned top section of the forum. When was it became sticky/pinned?

Edited by thomascgty, 23 December 2011 - 09:55 AM.

[Mayhem]

lol I got it stickied right after I made it. Hopefully later it will be come helpful to everyone.

[Onis]

Lol you didnt read any one else comments, but its sweet that your helpful.

If I was part of the reason that you posted that comment, I pretty much always read previous posts~
It's just my list of what I know about art programs and how I would categorize them (also I wanted to add +1 to bamboo series -fandom). It's a forum after all (which gives a freedom to post own views), not a round-table conversation.

Add alias sketchbook pro to your list~ (good thread btw)

Edited by Onis, 25 December 2011 - 07:40 AM.

[thomascgty]

Thanks to everyone who posted their response on this thread.