Intro to Digital Art

Jasmine T. DubeckiJune 2020

When She Was Six – AquaSixio

ArtTower

Just Like a Woman – Joe-MaccerAbiogenesis – Hybridgothica

Wirestyle Cursed King – Hgjart

Prometheus – Radojavor

Similar to digitization of music

Technology

● Many translations● Sampling frequency produces

different quality audio● Hardware physically affects

how it can interpret the signal

● Software affects how the digital signal is interpreted to create the image (or music)

The digitizer in The tablet reads the shape of lines drawn from a grid. the pen reads the pressure and angle.

History

The first electronic handwriting device was the Telautograph, patented by Elisha Gray in 1888.

“By my invention you can sit down in your office in Chicago, take a pencil in your hand, write a message to me, and as your pencil moves, a pencil here in my laboratory moves simultaneously, and forms the same letters and words in the same way. What you write in Chicago is instantly reproduced here in fac-simile. You may write in any language, use a code or cipher, no matter, a fac-simile is produced here. If you want to draw a picture it is the same, the picture is reproduced here. The artist of your newspaper can, by this device, telegraph his pictures of a railway wreck or other occurrences just as a reporter telegraphs his description in words.”

Wacom

In the last decade competition in the digital art world exploded.

While Summagraphics Corp. popularized digitizers first starting in the 1970’s, Wacom absolutely dominated the market for three decades. Wacom tablets patented technology "Electro Magnetic Resonance" allowed for no wires or batteries in the pen. This reduced bulk and cost significantly. Wacom was and is still known for their device quality. With this their development, features, and prices soared.

As tech production got cheaper and easier, Wacom got greedy. China began competition again through both ignoring patents and by reverse engineering the devices they were manufacturing. Then Microsoft bought NTrig and developed their own in an effort to reduce costs in the Surface. HP just began their own process with the Synaptics device pens.

Digitizer + PC Digitizer Display + PC

Device Types:

Product Line Device TypePen

Angle Comments$CADNew

Buy Used?

Wacom Intuos Digitizer (Needs PC)

Yes Great for a beginner as well. Comes with wireless options. As long as it works, it’s typically not risky to buy used.

$105 to$700 YES!

Cintiq Screen Digitizer(Needs PC)

Yes This is the highest end option. Absolutely best experience. Buttery smooth. Retain their value.

$1,000 to $4,000 YES!

Samsung(Wacom)

Note Phone No Phones aren’t designed to last very long and don’t have a lot of hardware power behind them, but is the ultimate mobile doodle. ~$1200 NO

Tab S Screen Tablet No? If all you need is a tablet, this is a nice budget doodle option. Samsung makes excellent devices and you’re getting the same pen/digitizer technology from the cintiq.

$430 to $1000 MAYBE

Huion Inspiroy Digitizer (Needs PC)

Some Depending on which model, pen requires charging. Great for a beginner. Can add ~$100 to add wireless. Budget pick HS64 for beginners at $60.

$31 to $312 No?

Kamvas Screen Digitizer(Needs PC)

Some Depending on which model, pen requires charging. Would absolutely $400 to $1,400 No?

Apple iPad Pro +Pen

High end Tablet v2 Pen requires charging. Software is limited. Hardware is limited. Nib is fat which limits accuracy. ~$1,600 No?

Microsoft Surface Pro +Pen

Laptop/Tablet v5+ Pen requires AAAA battery. Comes with full windows so no software limitations and the hardware is very flexible with the price. ~$2,100 Yes v5+

Some current devices worth their salt

Wacom’s Cintiq technology is in sometimes in other companies devices: Samsung, HP, Dell, Lenovo, VAIO, Toshiba, Fujitsu, ASUS, and Acer. Check compatibility and features!

Buying a computer is a lot like buying a car. They lose value over time and you get what you pay for. Higher quality devices will last you longer and provide a more enjoyable experience.

I wouldn’t buy a laptop under $700 for digital art and would recommend at least around $1500. Your hardware impacts how your software runs. For example, sketching with a lot of little line strokes is impossible on lower end devices.

8GB+ of ram, SSD 256GB+, andCPU: Low End: Rizen 3500u

Mid end: Rizen w/Dedicated graphicsHigh End: i7 HQ series

Computer Hardware

ComputerSoftware

Pro’s

● Undo button● Layers (Isolated)● Opacity (How see through) ● Brushes: Community supported and

unlimited imagination.● Masking● Some automation● Freedom to waste ‘paint’● Skills tend to translate across

programs● Easy duplication and experimentation● Can print to physical copies● Typing for letters● Always get a clean finish--no

smearing● Can use computer randomization for

inspiration

Con’s

● Takes time to learn● Technology is always changing● Getting the right print

quality can be difficult● Can feel sterile or like

lacking texture.● Crashes● Losing files● Tied to a screen● Buying hardware and software● Bad hardware is slow● Art appropriation and theft

online is rampant!

Photoshop

● Expensive @ $21/mo USD subscription only

● Was the default for a long time

● Steep learning curve● LOTS of features● Ugly interface● Better alternatives● Best for Photo-Manipulations

still

CorelDRAWGraphics Suite

● Expensive $325/yr or $630● Steep learning curve● Designed around mimicking

traditional mediums● Difficult interface● LOTS of features

If I was looking for a traditional medium, just physically painting is easier, but I haven’t used it in 5+ years. Looks like there’s been tons of updates

● $89.99 USD● Traditional painting experience● Impressed with my initial use● Established developers of

Flamepainter & Amberlight

ArtRage● $106.76 CAD (I bought v4 for $25)● Lightweight ● Simple intuitive interface that

maximizes screen space for your work● Not as complex or full featured as

others● More based on traditional art tools ● My personal favourite for doodling

Clip Studio Paint EX

● $220 USD● Steep learning curve and complex

interface● My personal favourite● Previous called Manga Studio● Designed around making comics● Extremely full featured for time

saving features, textures, prebuilt chat bubbles, etc

● Don’t feel Pro -lower level- version is worth it.

● Use for painting as well

If I had to choose only one piece of software.

A nity Designer● $70 CAD● Vector support● Confusing interface

InkscapeUgly and free

vector and SVG art

KritaFree (Open Source)

Surprising amount of features

Procreate$10

iPad iOS 11.1+ only Great for sketching

ResourcesDigital Resources:

● Stock Images:https://www.facebook.com/groups/FreeRefsForArtistshttps://www.deviantart.com/topic/resources

● Reverse Image Searching: https://tineye.com/ https://images.google.com/

● Website Builders:https://www.wix.com/ https://wordpress.com/

● Please share your resources with the group!

Copyrights: Different artists and different communities have different rules. For example some will let you use their stock photos for free, but only if you credit them. Some art galleries will not allow you to present work that is based on anyone else’s photography.

Speaking of copyright, I strongly recommend against using Instagram for sharing your art. While they don't steal your art directly, then enable others to and do nothing to protect your photos. Facebook is similar, but depends on your privacy settings and a lot more complicated details.

How To Reverse Image Search:Do your due diligence!

1. Download the stock photo or the photo you want to check on the internet.

2. Go to the reverse image search site.

3. Either drag and drop the image into the search bar OR upload the image from your computer.

4. Search5. View results!

I recommend reading through the image searching guide by TinEye.

Autodesk

Sketchbook

● Free● Exceptional intuitive and

minimal layout● Available on all devices● Good for sketching● Fast● Reputable developer● Beginners start here!

Credits and References...● https://docs.google.com/presentation/ Slide Show creator.● http://www.webdesignmash.com/art/digital/20-amazing-examples-of-digital-art-for-2012/● https://pixabay.com/ Stock photos for slide show.● https://www.nutaq.com/blog/analog-digital-%E2%80%93-part-2-conversion-process Audio Analog signal● https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wacom ● https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphics_tablet● https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Surface● https://www.wacom.com/en-us/comp Wacom Compatability● https://www.creativebloq.com/features/digital-painting-with-photoshop-cc-for-beginners● https://www.creativebloq.com/advice/the-best-software-for-digital-artists● https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/asus-vivobook-15-6-laptop-slate-grey-amd-quad-core-r5-3500u-512gb-ssd-12gb

-ram-windows-10/14497497Great low price laptop

● https://blog.tineye.com/find-copyright-owner-using-tineye/● NOTE: ClipStudio, AffinityDesigner, PhotoShop, and ProCreate interface images are not my own and I lost the sites to credit them.