A collection of the best computer programs for drawing art. Computer drawing programs Inkscape - drawing vector graphics

Today, paintings or art created using a computer are no less interesting than ordinary canvases painted on paper. Controlling the mouse cursor is no easier than moving a pencil or brush across the canvas. Some artists who are professionally involved in the electronic art of drawing resort to the help of special devices such as graphics tablets, which eliminates the need for a mouse, but in this case special software is required.

Let's look at the best programs for creating art on a personal computer for both amateur and professional environments. Let us outline the key capabilities of the software, ease of use and accessibility of products for different users. We won’t mention the venerable “Photoshop”, because literally all PC artists already know about its existence and its widespread dominance in our computers, but we’ll look at lesser-known and smart drawing utilities.

Paint.NET

This is a basic art creation program that is included in almost every copy of the Windows platform. She has at her disposal all the tools necessary for basic drawing: brush, pencil, eraser and fill. Moreover, each instrument has a dozen varieties: thickness, saturation, handicap, etc.

For connoisseurs of virtual art in the style of abstractionism and cubism, the art creation program includes triangle, rectangle, stretching ellipse, polyhedra and conversation clouds for comics. There are also no problems with support for graphic formats. On the official Microsoft resource and on amateur sites you can find some additional plugins and add-ons that significantly expand the capabilities of the program for creating art, turning it into a real monster of art.

We can recommend the utility to any novice artist, as they say, for testing the pen. You can’t count on creating any serious paintings using this program, but it’s quite possible to get your hands on it.

The GIMP

This is a fairly powerful program for creating pixel art, and in its functionality it is as close as possible to the legendary Photoshop. The utility's capabilities allow you not only to draw a picture from scratch, but also to apply many effects to ready-made images. In addition, the program’s functionality easily copes with the initial layout of websites or some other design layouts.

The program for GIMP supports multi-layered work with images, detailed customization of tools, the most accurate color calibration, etc. The utility also supports professional graphics tablets, so it can be recommended to both experienced artists and novice amateurs.

Inkscape

Another well-developed program for creating pop art and complex drawing. The utility allows you to perform any operations with contours, edit the gradient, change the style and type of nodes. In general, the software provides almost everything to draw professional masterpieces of art.

In addition, in the settings you can find a large number of preset shapes that can be changed as you wish. The program supports convenient hotkeys and export not only to all popular graphic formats, but also specific ones, such as XML. Professional painters have plenty of room to explore in Inkscape, but amateurs will find it difficult to understand all the nuances and specifics of the utility, so it’s better for them to choose something simpler or study the manual thoroughly.

SmoothDraw

This is a great program for creating art from photos. The utility has been adopted by tens of thousands of users, including professional artists and amateur beginners. There is no need, as in previous programs, to thoroughly study the menu and available tools - just open a new file and give free rein to your imagination using intuitive and well-visualized functionality.

At your disposal are multi-layered objects, canvas rotation along all axes, blending modes and sub-pixel anti-aliasing levels. In addition to the standard set of tools for painting on ready-made photos or from a blank sheet of paper, the utility includes rare ready-made brushes like graffiti, stars, grass or water drops. The program also fully supports graphics tablets, which is a clear plus for such software.

PixBuilder Studio

Another program for editing and creating pixel art, that is, raster graphics. The software's capabilities also allow you to easily work on website design, which is why the utility is enviably popular among webmasters, competing with the famous Photoshop.

In addition to the already familiar basic set of tools, there is work with layers, multi-stage undoing of operations, adjusting curve lines and levels, as well as adjusting the popular Bloom (blur) and sharpening effects. The user also has the opportunity to customize the interface at his own discretion: pin tools, display important options as separate elements, etc. Working with the program is quite comfortable for both professionals and amateur beginners.

Manga Studio

This is a special program for creating anime art. The user has access to a chic set of tools for drawing manga and comics. Those who have thoroughly studied the manual and have a good understanding of the menu branches as well as hot keys consider the utility the most convenient for sculpting anime.

All the tools, which are customizable, are always at your fingertips: screentone, coloring, black outline, brightener, etc. If you are unfamiliar with software of this kind, but really want to draw anime, then an extended version of the program with step-by-step instructions is at your service your choice of illustrations or videos, which explain in detail all the nuances of this event - from the basics to the creation of professional manga paintings.

Livebrush

This utility can be called a shining example of what a high-quality drawing program for children should look like. Despite its specificity, the program enjoys enviable popularity among established artists.

One of the distinctive features of this software is vector patterns, where the user can apply a drawing of specified shapes and sizes. Here you can easily decorate with Slavic or oriental ornaments, some symmetrical grids or Gothic patterns. The already huge selection of brushes can be expanded with your own settings, or you can download an even larger assortment both from the developer’s official resource and from other amateur resources.

The software has proven itself to work well with graphics tablets and fully supports all stylus protocols. Moreover, the program monitors not only the pressure applied to the pen, but also its tilt, which for many artists is a critical point when choosing such utilities.

PaintTool SAI

This utility, along with Manga Studio, has become popular among fans of Japanese comics. In addition, many users called it a program for creating art on Minecraft because of its specific and convenient tools for this task. The utility is also perfect for those who like to draw landscapes and portraits in the style of hyperrealism or pop art.

The user has access to a wide range of tools: ballpoint pens, ink, dozens of brushes, pencils of different softnesses, pastels, watercolors, etc. Moreover, each individual tool can be customized to suit your specific needs. There is also the possibility of parallel work with several canvases and support for multi-layering of objects. This software is used by both professional artists and novice amateurs, and as mentioned above, it is an almost ideal program for creating art for Minecraft.

Affinity Designer

This is a good software for creating art with a classic design and a familiar set of tools. Here you will find a large assortment of brushes, gradients and other auxiliary modes. Among other similar utilities, this program stands out because it copes well with vector objects and can easily process raster images. Many people use this software not so much for drawing from scratch, but for retouching photos and further processing them into a work of art.

One of the obvious disadvantages of the program is the lack of support for third-party plugins. All that is available to the user is a small list of add-ons on the developer’s official resource. The latter, by the way, promised to correct this defect in the very near future. But even without additional plugins, the utility is capable of a lot and will delight you with intuitive functionality with good artistic capabilities.

To sum it up

Drawing is a specific matter. Some people like to sculpt landscapes, some prefer to paint faces, and for others, don’t feed them bread - let them turn all of reality into Japanese manga. Despite the similarity of all the above products and functionality, each utility has some distinctive features.

Before you start creating the next masterpiece that your friends will admire, be sure to take into account the focus and set of tools of a particular art program. It’s better to spend a couple of hours studying the manual of the software you like than to then port your work to another utility with loss of data due to the lack of some kind of brush.

In addition to the well-known graphic editor Photoshop and standard Paint, there are various free drawing programs for PC. And they are no worse than the same Photoshop. And some drawing programs for computers even surpass it. For example, in ease of use.

Which program is better to draw in? It's up to you to decide. And to simplify this task, below are the best drawing software for PC.

The list is divided into two parts. The first contains simple drawing programs that are suitable for amateurs and even for children 5-6 years old. And in the second - professional software in which you can draw graffiti, anime, and artistic paintings with a brush (it is also suitable for graphics tablets).

List of the Best Drawing Software for PC for Hobbyists

Let's start with simple applications that you can use to draw on your PC. They are easy to use, making them suitable for children and beginners who want to try their hand at this activity.

I remind you once again that all applications are free, and you can easily find them at the office. websites (links below).

Paint.NET is a simple drawing program. Despite the similar name, this is not the default Paint in Windows. Although very similar.

Paint.NET has a simple and informative panel, so understanding it is not difficult at all. There are also floating windows that perform additional functions. They are translucent and do not interfere with image editing.

The main advantages of this software:

• layer support;
• import external files;
• support for hot keys (standard buttons are listed in the “Window” item);
• good functionality;
• takes up little space;
• completely in Russian.

Simple and free, this drawing program is perfect for kids. At first, there will be more than enough possibilities.

SmoothDraw – drawing from scratch

SmoothDraw – allows you to edit images or create your own, fortunately the functionality allows this. Great for those who like to draw from scratch - that's what it's designed for.

Its main advantages:

• huge toolkit (virtual canvas rotation, anti-aliasing, various blending modes);
• painting tools: grass, raindrops, stars, graffiti;
• synchronization with tablets.

Thanks to this functionality, it is suitable even for experienced artists. The only negative is that there is no Russian language. But the SmoothDraw interface is so simple that even children can figure it out.

By the way, this program does not require installation, since it is a portable version. That is, you can save it to a flash drive and then use it on any PC or laptop.

MyPaint – application for tablets

MyPaint is a free graphics drawing program. Designed for tablets, but can also be used on PCs.

MyPaint app is designed for beginners and hobbyists. Turns your tablet or computer screen into a real artistic canvas (hiding all elements). Thanks to this, you can draw whatever your heart desires.

Its main advantages:

• a large selection of brushes (+ it is possible to create your own, as well as import ready-made ones);
• support for quick commands;
• works on Windows, Linux, Mac OS.

So, if you are looking for brush painting software for kids, try MyPaint app. It is quite possible that your child will really like it. Link to office MyPaint website.

LiveBrush – application for graphics tablets

Its main feature: the presence of only one tool - a brush.

On the one hand, this seems inconvenient, but on the other, you can realize any of your ideas. Just grab a brush and go!

LiveBrush is a great drawing app for kids. Among its main advantages are:

• vector patterns;
• a large set of brushes (you can combine them, create your own, or find ready-made ones on the Internet);
• Full compatibility with the tablet (the application recognizes the tilt of the brush and the force of pressing the display).

In short, this is an ideal drawing program for children. Especially if you have a graphics tablet. Link to office website .

Tux Paint – drawing game for kids

If you need a simple drawing program for kids, try Tux Paint. This drawing game was created for children aged 3 years and older and is used in many preschool institutions to teach computer literacy.

Its main advantages:

• bright interface that kids will love;
• cool sound effects;
• support for Windows XP, Vista, 7, Linux and Mac OS.

There is also a funny little penguin called Tux, a virtual assistant who will teach you how to draw correctly. The application is completely free (link to the official website).

Professional drawing programs

This concludes the list of amateur and children's drawing programs. Now let's look at the top drawing programs designed for professionals.

Gimp is a functional application

Gimp is a powerful drawing program for your computer. In terms of functionality, it has almost caught up with Photoshop, but unlike it, it is free.

Main advantages:

• a huge number of effects for image editing;
• Wide functionality for creating drawings from scratch;
• it is possible to create a web resource design;
• on-the-fly image archiving;
• support for graphics tablets.

Inkscape – drawing vector graphics

Inkscape is a program for drawing with vectors.

The main advantage of vector graphics: the ability to resize the image while maintaining quality. Therefore, this application is often used in the printing industry.

This program supports:

• various operations with contours;
• copying styles;
• editing gradient;
• working with layers.

There is also a list of hot keys and a function for exporting pictures to any format. Another plus is the presence of the Russian language. Link to office Inkscape website.

Artweaver - a free analogue of Photoshop

Artweaver is a professional drawing program that is in no way inferior in functionality to Photoshop. Moreover, it even surpasses it in some functions.

For example, this application can:

• record video while drawing (ideal for creating video tutorials);
• work in the “cloud” (allows you to draw an image together with other artists online);
• imitate drawing with a brush, oil, paint, pencil and other tools.

Of course, all the standard options are in place. Therefore, if you need a free professional drawing program, go to the office. website .

PixBuilder Studio - the second analogue of Photoshop

Another professional program for drawing on a computer is PixBuilder Studio. Also similar to Photoshop, but unlike the previous version, it supports the Russian language.

Its main functions:

• creation of raster and web graphics;
• high-quality blur and sharpening effects;
• multi-stage cancellation of operations.

Graffiti Studio – for graffiti lovers

This is a unique program for drawing graffiti. Designed more for fun, but fans of street drawings will definitely like it.

Its main features:

• selection of background (cars, buses, walls, etc.);
• huge color palette (more than 100 colors);
• realistic options (adding smudges, using markers, etc.).

And most importantly, the drawings look like real ones. This is what makes this application captivating. Graffiti Studio download link.

Paint Tool SAI – for anime fans

And the last one on this list is an anime drawing program. If you've always dreamed of drawing manga characters, you can try your hand at Paint Tool SAI. Although this application is also suitable for creating portraits and landscapes.

Main features of the anime drawing program:

• many brushes;
• pencils of varying softness;
• a set of useful tools (each of them can be fine-tuned).

It also supports working with several drawings at once and combining them through layers. Link to site

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, compress, 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 for your computer.

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

This is a free vector image editor similar to Corel Draw. This program is 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!

Do you want to paint beautiful pictures, but don’t want to spend money on materials? This is no longer a problem! Today, paints and canvases have been replaced by digital technologies, which have made painting an incredibly convenient and exciting activity.

Mouse or graphics tablet?

This choice depends on your drawing skills. If you studied at an art school or are simply confident in using a pencil and brush, then you will find it more convenient to work with a graphics tablet. If you don’t know how to draw yet, then you can easily start with a computer mouse.

As with any art form, drawing requires a certain skill. The more confident you are in using the tool, the more accurate the picture becomes. Someone creates second-rate drawings on a cool graphics tablet, while others write masterpieces using a regular computer mouse.

Choose a tool based on your capabilities and skills, and special programs will help you turn your ideas into reality.

What program to draw in?