Arts Digital Art
Beginner
30 mins
Teacher/Student led
60 points
What you need:
Chromebook/Laptop/PC or iPad/Tablet

Overview of digital art software and tools

Embark on a journey to explore the world of digital art. Learn about the various forms of digital art, popular software like Adobe Photoshop and Procreate, and the difference between raster and vector software. Discover essential tools such as drawing tablets and stylus pens, understand their benefits, and delve into different stylus pen tips. Finally, familiarise yourself with common file formats used in digital art.
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    1 - Introduction

    Digital art refers to any form of visual art created using digital tools and techniques. Unlike traditional art forms, digital art allows artists to create and edit their work on a computer or mobile device, offering a wide range of creative possibilities. Digital art can take many forms, including digital paintings, illustrations, animations, and graphic design.

    Digital paintings are created using software that mimics the look and feel of traditional painting tools, such as oil paints, watercolors, or acrylics. Illustrations can range from cartoon-style drawings to more detailed, realistic images. Animations are created by stringing together a sequence of images to create the illusion of movement. Graphic design involves creating visual elements for a variety of media, such as websites, logos, and advertising.


    2 - Popular Digital Art Software

    Digital art software is an essential tool for creating digital art. There are various types of software available, each with its own unique features and capabilities. Some of the most popular digital art software include Adobe Photoshop, Procreate, Photopea, and Corel Painter.

    • Adobe Photoshop is a well-known software used for digital art creation. It provides a wide range of tools for image editing, painting, and graphic design. Its features include layers, selection tools, filters, and effects.
    • Procreate, on the other hand, is a popular digital painting app for iPads. It features a variety of brushes, textures, and color palettes to choose from.
    • Photopea is a web-based application that provides similar functionality as Photoshop. It's easy to use and allows users to edit PSD files without requiring them to install any software.
    • Corel Painter is another popular software that provides a range of painting tools and techniques. It offers realistic brush strokes and allows artists to create digital paintings that resemble traditional paintings.




    3 - Types of Digital Art Software

    There are two main types of digital art software: raster and vector software

    • Raster software is used for creating images made up of pixels, which are small squares that make up the image. This type of software is ideal for creating digital paintings and illustrations. Examples of raster software include Adobe Photoshop and Procreate.

    • On the other hand, vector software is used for creating images made up of mathematical equations and lines. This type of software is best suited for creating logos, icons, and other graphic design work. Vector images can be scaled up or down without losing quality, which makes them ideal for printing. Examples of vector software include Adobe Illustrator and CorelDRAW.


    4 - Digital Art Tools

    Digital art tools are an essential part of the creative process, and they include drawing tablets, stylus pens, and computer mice. These tools help artists to create digital art with precision and control, as well as providing a more natural and traditional feel to the creative process.

    • Drawing tablets are specialized input devices that allow artists to draw directly onto a surface using a stylus pen. These tablets usually come with pressure-sensitive technology that detects the pressure of the stylus on the tablet, providing a more natural drawing experience. Some popular brands of drawing tablets include Wacom, Huion, and XP-Pen.
    • Stylus pens are used in conjunction with drawing tablets, allowing artists to draw, sketch, and paint on the screen. These pens come with different types of tips, such as brush tips or fine-point tips, to provide different effects in the artwork.
    • The computer mouse is another tool used in digital art creation. While it's not as precise as drawing tablets and stylus pens, it can be used for basic tasks like selecting colors and tools or moving layers.



    5 - Benefits and Working of Drawing Tablets in Digital Art

    Drawing tablets are an essential tool for professional digital artists, and they can greatly improve the quality of your artwork. Drawing tablets are similar to traditional pen and paper, but they allow you to draw directly onto the screen of your computer or tablet.

    One of the primary benefits of using a drawing tablet is that it offers more precise and natural drawing control. Drawing tablets have pressure sensitivity that allows you to control the thickness and opacity of your strokes. They also come with different types of styluses that offer different levels of sensitivity and resistance, making them feel like you're working with a real pencil or brush.

    Additionally, drawing tablets offer increased speed and efficiency when working on digital art. Unlike using a mouse, a drawing tablet offers more natural hand movements, which translates to faster and more efficient work.


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