NDA Art Critique Message Boards

Well hey guys!

Lately I've been growing a bit bored with the same old Photoshop I've always been using, so I'm looking around for new digital media to paint with. I'd like everyone to list the programs they paint or draw with, so that I (and others who are having the same issue) can have a look for them and test them! I will add every new program to this first post so that it's easier to keep track of.

You can click the blue dot in front of the name for more information about the program.


List of programs:

• Photoshop CS2
• GIMP
• CorelDraw
• Photoshop CS4
• SAI
• Oekaki
• Alchemy
• AutoCAD

Gimp is a pretty nice art program. It's free and compatible with windows and mac. I haven't taken the time to figure out exactly how everything works, just yet, but from what i have tried, it seems great. Definitely worth checking out.

There is also CorelDraw, which is absolutely fantastic, if i remember correctly. It's a good deal like photoshop, but it also features adobe illustrator-eque tools. It's a very professional program, and as such can be expensive, though.

Photoshop CS4 is much better than CS2. The palettes are replaced with panels and is much more interface friendly. Also, new things are nice, but mostly the interface is a vast improvement.

apperently, SAI is pretty awesome. I don't know though, I've never used it.
It looks quite similar to painter from what I see...but I've never used painter either.

Edit: BUT oekaki paint BBS will always hold a special place in my heart :[ <3

I use Photoshop CS4 for my OC's and various other drawings. But for my sword drawings I use AutoCAD and Raster to work on them. This is mostly because I would someday like for them to be made, so this way I can have all the dimensions accurately.

Otherwise I just use a good sheet of paper, pencil, and about 20 erasers.

I couldn't find any info about Raster, I've aded AutoCAD to the list though. Pretty useful program, I should probably learn to work with it too .

I will say that it isnt easy to get into AutoCAD. What I use it for isnt what it is normally used for. AutoCad as a 2d and 3d modeling software is used more often by Architects and engineers than by artists. But if you want to use it, i will be more than willing to help you figure it out. just understand that it is a very restrictive program for artwork and you need to know what you are doing before you go into it otherwise you will only become frustrated when the drawing doesnt come out like you envisioned it.


I also have a question for you Lhune. How does your Livestream work? What do you, or really anyone who uses it, do to get the screen as the image being recorded?

Hmmm I see, I'm trying to find a good 3D rendering program to start learning how it all works .

I use ManyCam to record my screen. It's free and not very big. Ustream or Livestream will automatically pick it up when you start broadcasting (if you have it on).

Corel essentials 4

Corel Painter is what I use...it's pretty simple and I think you can get pretty good results...there's a few versions(corel painter 3, 4, etc). (Sorry about my lack of knowledge on the program)