In recent years digital advancements have designers leaving pen and paper behind, allowing them to create visual image files using their computer mouse or electronic sketchpads.
This drawing software comes with various features like clipart, fill effects, filters, vectors, design layers, and templates that help users produce original digital artwork for marketing, advertising, and graphic design projects.
Inkscape
is likely the more widely used vector-based drawing software since its introduction in 2003. Thirteen years later, it’s still in a “preview” release, but a great free professional-grade alternative to Adobe Illustrator nonetheless. It’s backed by an international community who can get you started, and will help with any problems you may encounter with the open-source software.
Just like Illustrator, Inkscape has everything a digital artist needs to create near-photo quality illustrations. Your basic toolset includes creating straight lines, freehand lines, shapes, 3D boxes, Bezier curves, spirals, and so much more. You can add layers, color fills, and even effects to your drawing such as blurs, bevels, shadows, textures, glows, and so on.
There are plenty of text and video-based tutorials out there, and you also have access to manuals and quick references, including information about keyboard shortcuts and command line instructions. All that—and with no monthly fee required.
SketchBook
SketchBook is a drawing software built to help designers, engineers, visual artists, and students design and create what comes to their imagination.
Some key features:
Sketchbook offers access to 3D designs and fabrication technology – which users particularly in the design, engineering, and entertainment industries are benefitting from. Sketchbook gives a professional look with a quality user experience.
SketchBook offers a free trial for 30 days.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wc_mQ83UfWk
Krita
Krita is professional-quality painting software created by a team of artists with the noble aim of putting top-notch creative tools within reach of everyone.
You can use Krita for any kind of drawing and illustration, but it’s particularly great for comics and manga. There are panel templates, halftone filters, and perspective tools in addition to the usual brushes, fills and pens. Each brush is totally customizable, and you can save your bespoke brushes to use again later.
Right-clicking anywhere on the canvas in Krita will bring up a selection wheel that lets you pick a new tool and select a colour in seconds – a system that’s much easier than trawling through menus and settings
Krita was created by artists for artists, and it shows in the dozens of thoughtful little touches that make it easier to create great paintings. There are handy drawing aids for creating straight lines, vanishing points and smooth shapes. You also get layers, masks, various transform tools, HDR support, and advanced selection functions.
Krita is an incredibly powerful painting program, and it’s yours to download and use completely free.
Artweaver Free
Artweaver Free enables you to create beautifully realistic digital paintings by taking input – from your mouse, a stylus or, if you have a touchscreen PC, from whatever you feel like tapping the screen with – and applying ultra-realistic brush effects.
In addition to familiar brushes such as conte brushes, calligraphy pens and airbrushes you also get a huge range of patterns and pens, enabling you to produce very complex images with the minimum of effort. It’s layer-based too, so you can build up your masterpiece in layers without losing the ability to change anything.
Artweaver Free designed for artists of all ages, but we’ve found it particularly useful for children. Kids love experimenting with all the different brushes, and we love not having to clean up any mess afterwards.
Mischief
Mischief is a digital drawing application that lets designers create beautiful, eye-catching digital art with digital brushes.
Some key features:
The full version of Mischief with additional presets, layers, and a full color palette costs $25, but users still get plenty of features with the free version.
A 15-day free trial is also available to test out the full version. This include three brushes, window opacity, and the ability to import image files.
Users can post their finished artwork on Mischief’s online gallery or on a number of Tumblr pages that are dedicated to the drawing program.
MyPaint
MyPaint is a free, open-source drawing program with digital tools that replicate the look of pencils, paints, and charcoal.
Some key features:
Users can get creative with layers, a color wheel, and a brush library. Other features include blending, ink brushes, and full-screen mode. The software also supports pressure-sensitive drawing, which allows users to create designs on their smartphone or tablet.
A number of artists have used MyPaint, including David Revoy, a concept artist from France. This software is available on Windows, Mac, and Linux.
