Not everyone knows how difficult it is for artists to create paintings. Thinning paints, preparing the canvas, a whole bunch of other tools. For some, such preparation discourages any desire to seriously engage in artistic drawing. Today this is no longer a problem. With the current development of technology, drawing has become much easier and more convenient. Any computer or laptop is suitable for this, but it is better to use a special graphics tablet for these purposes. Today in the article, I will tell you about the best programs that you can use for drawing on a graphics tablet.
Girl draws on a graphics tablet
Gimp is a program that can replace Photoshop
The Gimp program is a free analogue of Adobe Photoshop. It has almost all the tools that its paid counterpart has. The graphics editor Gimp is one of the most powerful, multifunctional programs for a graphics tablet. It is perfect for experienced users who have already dealt with other graphic editors. You can download the software with a Russian version on the website https://gimp.org; there are versions of the program for Mac OS and Linux. There is also documentation for working with the editor, which you can also install on your PC after installing the main program.
Drawing on a graphics tablet in the Gimp editor
Working in the drawing editor is quite convenient; the difference between Gimp and other graphic editors is its separate windows. When launched, 3 windows open on the desktop - a working window in the middle, a block with tools on the left, and an auxiliary panel on the right, which contains modes, filters, layers, etc. The size of each block can be reduced or increased.
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Writing a graphical program in Python with tkinter
In my work with students and students, I noticed that when learning any programming language, working with graphics is of great interest. Even those students who were bored with assignments about Fibonacci numbers, and who seemed to have lost interest in learning the language, became more active on topics related to graphics. Therefore, I propose to practice writing a small graphical program in Python using tkinter (a cross-platform library for developing a graphical interface in Python).
The code in this article is written for Python 3.5.
Exercise
: writing a program to draw arbitrarily sized circles of different colors on a canvas.
It’s not difficult, perhaps a “children’s” program, but I think it’s a clear illustration of what tkinter can do.
I want to tell you first about how to specify a color. Of course, in a computer-friendly way. To do this, tkinter has a special tool that can be launched like this:
from tkinter import * window = Tk() colorchooser.askcolor()
Code explanations:
- rom tkinter import * - import of the library, or rather all its methods, as indicated by the asterisk (*);
- window = Tk() - creating a tkinter window;
- colorchooser.askcolor() - Opens a color picker and returns a tuple of two values: a tuple of three elements, the intensity of each RGB color, and a string. color in hexadecimal system.
Note: as stated in the comments below, the asterisk does not import everything, it would be more reliable to write
from tkinter import colorchooser
You can use the English names of colors to determine the color of the drawing. Here I would like to note that not all of them are supported. It says that you can use the colors “white”, “black”, “red”, “green”, “blue”, “cyan”, “yellow”, “magenta” without any problems. But I still experimented, and you will see further what came out of it.
In order to draw in Python you need to create a canvas. x coordinate system is used for drawing
and
y
, where the point (0, 0) is in the upper left corner.
In general, enough introductions - let's get started.
from random import * from tkinter import * size = 600 root = Tk() canvas = Canvas(root, width=size, height=size) canvas.pack() diapason = 0
Explanations for the code:
- from random import * — imports all methods of the random module;
- from tkinter import * - you already know this;
- the size variable will be needed later;
- root = Tk() - create a window;
- canvas = Canvas(root, width=size, height=size) — create a canvas using the value of the size variable (that’s what we needed);
- canvas.pack() - instructions to place the canvas inside the window;
- the diapason variable will be needed later for use in the loop condition.
Next we create a loop: while diapason < 1000: colors = choice(['aqua', 'blue', 'fuchsia', 'green', 'maroon', 'orange', 'pink', 'purple', 'red', 'yellow', 'violet', 'indigo', 'chartreuse', 'lime', "#f55c4b"]) x0 = randint(0, size) y0 = randint(0, size) d = randint(0, size/ 5) canvas.create_oval(x0, y0, x0+d, y0+d, fill=colors) root.update() diapason += 1 Explanations for the code:
- while diapason < 1000: - with a precondition that says that the loop will be repeated until the diapason variable reaches 1000.
colors = choice(['aqua', 'blue', 'fuchsia', 'green', 'maroon', 'orange', 'pink', 'purple', 'red', 'yellow', 'violet', ' indigo', 'chartreuse', 'lime', "#f55c4b"]) We create a list for supposedly random selection of the color of the circles.
Notice that one of the colors is written in the format "#f55c4b" - the color code in hexadecimal. Here I want to dwell on the choice of color. I wanted to add as many color options as possible, so I used a table of color names in English. But I soon realized that many English titles were not supported - the program stopped working. Therefore, defining color in hexadecimal will be a more suitable option for these purposes.
x0 = randint(0, size) and y0 = randint(0, size) - random selection of x
and
within
the canvas size size. d randint(0, size/5) — arbitrary choice of circle size, limited by size/5.
canvas.create_oval(x0, y0, x0+d, y0+d, fill=colors) - in fact, we draw circles at points with coordinates x0 and y0, vertical and horizontal dimensions x0+d and y0+d, filled with color, which is selected randomly from the colors list.
root.update() - update() - processes all queued tasks. Typically, this function is used during “heavy” calculations, when it is necessary for the application to remain responsive to user actions.
Without this, the circles will eventually appear, but the process of their appearance will not be visible to you. And this is precisely what gives this program its charm.
diapason += 1 — cycle step, counter.
The result is the following picture:
I didn’t like that some empty spaces were formed on the right and at the top, so I slightly changed the condition of the loop while diapason < 2000 or 3000. This made the canvas more filled.
You can also make the loop endless:
while True: colors = choicecolors = choice(['aqua', 'blue', 'fuchsia', 'green', 'maroon', 'orange', 'pink', 'purple', 'red', 'yellow', 'violet', 'indigo', 'chartreuse', 'lime']) x0 = randint(0, size) y0 = randint(0, size) d = randint(0, size/5) canvas.create_oval(x0, y0 , x0+d, y0+d, fill=colors ) root.update() This is how it happens: instagram.com/p/8fcGynPlEc
I think we could also play around with the speed at which the circles are drawn or how they move across the canvas. The color options could have been increased. Set a condition to stop an endless loop, for example, by pressing the spacebar. These are all tasks for future programs.
Students also asked, is it possible to run this as a screensaver on the Windows desktop? I have not yet found how to do this.
Sources: Python documentation https://www.ilnurgi1.ru/docs/python/modules/tkinter/colorchooser.html Course on the Tkinter library of the Python language
Helpers: Introduction to Tkinter https://habrahabr.ru/post/133337 Creating a GUI in Python using the Tkinter library. Programming for beginners https://younglinux.info/book/export/html/48 Table of color names in English https://www.falsefriends.ru/english-colors.htm
Clip Paint Studio Pro - graphic comics editor
This graphics software was originally specially developed for drawing Japanese comics (manga). But over time, Clip Paint Studio gained great popularity and the program began to be used in many other areas of fine art. One of the features of this editor is the presence of special human figures that are depicted in a certain pose.
Clip paint studio pro - a program for creating colorful drawings
To try your hand at drawing comics on a graphics tablet, download the program from the link https://www.clipstudio.net/en/dl and click the yellow “Download” button.
How to learn to draw on a graphics tablet: basic tips
Drawing landscapes, portraits, anime, comics, or whatever you want, on a digitizer (for example, Intuos S) is much faster and more convenient than on plain paper or with a mouse on a computer. Especially in the first case, speed helps, especially if the gadget is used for work.
How to start drawing with a graphics tablet? Here are 3 main tips:
- Learn to draw traditionally first. If you don’t know how to draw pictures on paper, then even a “sophisticated” gadget will not help you draw beautifully. The more skillful the images are on paper, the easier it will be on digital.
- Exercise regularly. You can watch various training videos online on how to draw correctly on a graphics tablet. The most difficult thing is to get used to the fact that the drawing is applied with strokes, and not by moving your hand along the surface of the device. To begin with, you should practice drawing simple shapes (triangle, square, etc.), shading them, writing the alphabet, then you can print the pictures on paper, put it on the tablet and trace the contours. The hand must get used to the force of pressing the stylus pen.
- Choose a drawing program that suits your needs. A convenient and understandable program is one of the main elements of drawing. Adobe Photoshop is ideal for complex graphic designs. But you can also use lighter and simpler software: GIMP, Paint Tool SAI or another utility. The program should be tested for usability first on a computer, clicking the interface with the mouse to find out all the capabilities of the software.
You shouldn’t immediately jump into complex technologies and learn how to draw anime or comics on a graphics tablet. All this requires skill and practice. Here you need to follow the principle “from simple to complex.”
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Corel Painter X3 - raster graphics editor for working with digital painting
Corel Painter X3 was designed for painting with a brush. She can simulate dry and wet brushes, textures and other elements in detail. All this makes the process of creating a picture similar to an artist drawing with real paints. For the creator, there are over a hundred tools that are easy to set up and use. There is a search by brush name. If you are great with canvas in real life, then this program is a must try.
Corel Painter X3 - graphics editor
Working in the editor is similar to other professional programs. On the left in the panel are the main tools, on the right are layers, settings, functions. Corel Painter X3 can only be purchased, there is no free version. The official developer page is located at https://www.corel.com/ru/.
Livebrush - drawing app for graphics tablets
The Livebrush graphic editor was designed for painting with brushes. Some users may be confused by the fact that it runs on the notoriously unstable Adobe Air engine. But this program is an exception to the rule. Works great, consumes little RAM. The editor's set includes a huge number of different shapes and types of brushes. Drawing graphics on a tablet will delight you with pressure and tilt functions. Each pattern can be easily modified by choosing a pencil.
Graphic editor Livebrush
Livebrush is more suitable for beginners and intermediate users. Although the application has many tools and functions, it is not capable of everything.
Art Flow - with the program painting or drawing becomes more accessible
Art Flow is an editor that you can use to draw on Android devices. This program has more than 80 different brushes in its arsenal. All the basic tools are under your control - fill, blots, eraser, text, etc. The editor has absorbed the most necessary tools and functions from the rest. The application understands the pressure you press, you can undo up to 6 last actions. It is very comfortable. Moreover, all this can be available on your graphics tablet or even on your mobile phone!
Editor for Android Art Flow
The application is distributed free of charge, but there is also a paid version that offers more advanced features. You can download this application in the Play Market store upon request with the name of the editor.
Drawing lessons on a tablet
How to draw a Flamingo step by step The pink flamingo is an exceptionally graceful and beautiful bird. Let's try to draw a flamingo bird step by step.
Drawing a cow step by step with a pencil We will do the drawing of a cow step by step with a simple pencil. If you managed to draw a cow correctly, you can color the drawing with paints or pencils.
Learning to draw a Ballerina step by step Drawing a ballerina is quite difficult, since you need to accurately reflect the plasticity and grace of ballet. But, if you draw step by step with a simple pencil, then it is quite possible to cope with this task, even for a novice artist. Try it!
How to draw a sailing ship with a pencil You have to draw sailboats from pictures, since it is almost impossible to see them in our time. Even in the picture, the sailboat conveys the spirit of romance and courage of sailors. And those who have seen the sailboat “live” know how captivating its appearance is, as if transporting us to distant, courageous times.
Drawing in Manga style on a tablet Every girl tried to draw a picture in Manga style. If you weren't good at it, try drawing manga again. Perhaps this lesson, done step by step on a graphics tablet, will help you do it correctly.
How to draw a Bullfinch step by step The Bullfinch is a small, but very beautiful and colorful bird. Try to draw this bird step by step, first with a pencil, and then color the drawing with paints or colored pencils.
How to draw a Girl The lesson on how to draw a girl, unlike other lessons, I rewrote several times. I hope you like this picture of a girl drawn on a graphics tablet more.
Drawing a Hare step by step on a tablet The Hare in this picture is gray, but you can change its color. At the last step of this lesson, it is enough not to paint the hare at all. Just so that the drawing does not get lost on the white background of the paper, draw a winter forest landscape.
How to draw a Hockey Player step by step Let's try to draw a hockey player in motion, with a stick and puck, step by step. You might even be able to draw your favorite hockey player or goalie.
Drawing of a Beaver step by step on a tablet This picture of a beaver was made on a graphics tablet, but you can use it to color the resulting drawing of a beaver with paints at the last stage of the lesson. But first, let's draw a beaver step by step with a simple pencil.
Learning to Draw a Tiger Drawing a tiger is fun, try it. Step by step you can draw the rarest and most beautiful representative of our taiga.
How to draw a Cat with a pencil step by step The site has another drawing lesson dedicated to a cat. This lesson is designed for beginners and children who want to draw a cat with a pencil step by step.
Drawing of a Mandarin on a tablet Drawings on a graphics tablet turn out no worse than photos. But don’t rush to buy a tablet; first learn to draw with a simple pencil. In addition, to draw even a tangerine on a tablet, you will need to spend a lot of time and patience.
How to draw a Giraffe It is convenient to draw a giraffe drawing with a simple pencil step by step. If you need to make a picture of a giraffe in color, you can use this drawing of a giraffe made on a graphics tablet or find a suitable photo on the Internet.
How to draw the Snow Maiden The Snow Maiden's drawing was done on a graphics tablet step by step. You can use this lesson to draw the Snow Maiden with a regular pencil.
Picture of a King Cobra on a tablet A king cobra with its head raised, ready to strike, will look especially impressive in the picture. The flattened section of the neck, fangs in the open mouth and a forked sting only enhance this effect.
How to Draw a Reindeer A deer has a lot in common with a horse. If you have already drawn a horse, then drawing a deer will not be difficult for you.
Drawing a Lion step by step Drawing a lion is a rather difficult task. You can first “practice” on your cat. Draw some pictures of your favorite cat and you can then easily draw a lion. You can color the picture of a lion with colored pencils using my drawing on the tablet.
Picture of Kangaroo step by step Kangaroo lives in Australia, and you can only draw this animal from a picture. This drawing lesson will help you draw a kangaroo step by step.
How to draw a Cat step by step Try to draw a cat step by step with a simple pencil. Many animals, such as jaguar, tiger, lion, etc., have the same structure and proportions of the body and paws. Learn to draw a cat and you will be able to draw other animals beautifully.
Learning to Draw a Wolf The grin of a wolf can express the character of a wild animal in your drawing. Wild animals are always dangerous for people, and realistic pictures of animals need to take this into account. In this lesson we will learn how to draw a wolf step by step with a pencil.
How to Draw a Toucan Bird Drawing a toucan bird is easy to do. The toucan has several very noticeable differences, thanks to which it cannot be confused with other birds.
How to draw a Duck The drawing of a duck was done step by step on a graphics tablet. But you don't have to have a tablet to do this. Take a piece of paper and a sharp pencil, and you are sure to get a beautiful picture of a duck.
How to draw a Rose step by step Rose is the most beautiful and delicate flower. Drawing it is not difficult, it is only important to correctly draw the contours of the bud. But only an experienced artist can convey the delicate and elusive shade of rose petals.
How to draw a Lily flower Just like other lessons in this section, the drawing of a lily was made on a graphics tablet. But the steps of the lesson can be used for drawing in any way, including pencils, felt-tip pens, and paints.
How to draw an Apple Agree, you would rather not draw such an apple, but rather bite it. Try to draw an apple like this too. You cannot achieve this effect with colored pencils, but with oil paints you can get an even better picture.
Drawing of a Chamomile in pencil Everyone is sure that drawing a chamomile is not at all difficult. Perhaps, but if you can’t draw a daisy beautifully and neatly, you may remember that on my website there is a lesson on how to draw this simple flower.
How to draw a Sunflower This is a very simple lesson and even a novice young artist can draw a sunflower. To make it easier for you to draw, I suggest drawing a sunflower step by step with a simple pencil. At the last step, the picture can be colored. Perhaps then the sunflower drawing will be the same as in my drawing made on a graphics tablet.
Drawing of an Angel Everyone represents an angel in their own way. Some see him as a child with wings, others imagine him as a girl. I suggest drawing a girl with wings. The color scheme of the picture made on a graphics tablet creates the effect of weightlessness.
How to draw a Banana step by step It is not at all difficult to draw a banana. It is enough to make the initial marking in the form of a rectangle and divide it into two parts. The main thing is to be able to paint the banana correctly.
How to draw a Tulip flower A tulip flower is not difficult to draw, especially if you draw it step by step. It is much more difficult to paint a tulip drawing with paints and accurately convey all shades of color.
How to draw a Snowman step by step, for children All children love to sculpt snowmen in winter. Now try to draw a snowman, recording your impressions on a piece of paper.
How to draw a Birch tree step by step There is no need to observe any special “geometry” in the drawing of a birch tree, it is only important to draw the trunk and branches correctly so that they do not turn out to be the same thickness and taper towards the edge.
How to draw a Woodpecker step by step In this lesson I will help you draw a woodpecker correctly step by step. This is a drawing of a woodpecker living in our forests, look what a beautiful bird lives next to us.
How to draw a Hippopotamus The hippopotamus drawing was done on a tablet step by step. This lesson can also be used for drawing with a simple pencil.
Learn to draw a Shark realistically Drawing a shark with a pencil step by step. Try to draw a shark realistically, adding new strokes with a pencil step by step.
How to draw an Ostrich step by step Have you never seen an ostrich, but want to draw one? In this lesson I will help you draw a realistic ostrich step by step.
How to draw a Pear step by step I made the drawing of the pear on a graphics tablet, but you can draw a pear step by step with an ordinary pencil.
How to draw a Raccoon step by step In this lesson we will draw a raccoon step by step. The raccoon drawing was made by me on a graphics tablet, but you can draw with a pencil.
How to draw a Peach step by step In this lesson you will learn how to draw a peach with a simple pencil step by step. The peach drawing will need to be colored with paints or colored pencils.
How to draw a Chameleon step by step The Chameleon is a unique animal that rarely anyone gets to see. However, let's try to draw a chameleon step by step with a pencil.
How to draw a Pokemon step by step This drawing is dedicated to the famous Pokemon cartoon character - Pikachu. Let's try to draw a Pokemon with a simple pencil step by step.
Graffiti Studio - free application for drawing graffiti
The Graffiti Studio program is a highly focused software that was created for lovers of the youth art direction - graffiti. When drawing on a graphics tablet, you can choose different backgrounds on which to create your stylish creations. You can choose the backgrounds yourself; there are many of them in the program. You can decorate a bus, a building wall, a railway carriage and many other objects with your imagination. Although the volume of the installation package is small, the editor has many settings; create drips, use all kinds of markers, change the distance to the object, do everything that a writer does in real life.
Drawing on a graphics tablet in Graffiti Studio
How to set up a drawing tablet on your computer
Beginners are unlikely to be able to connect a new device and immediately start drawing on it: they will first need to customize it for themselves. How to start drawing on a graphics tablet (such as One by Wacom medium)? It is clear that you need to connect the gadget to your computer or laptop. This is done using a standard USB cord, which is supplied in the kit. Let’s look at what to do next in detail point by point.
Step-by-step instruction
So, the setup steps:
| Installing drivers | You can install drivers using the disk that comes in the kit. If it is not there, you need to go to the official website of the manufacturer and download the necessary software (section “Support” - “Drivers”), run the installation program and, following simple instructions, install the drivers. |
| For further settings, you need to run the appropriate program on your computer. For graphics, this is Wacom, this is Wacom Tablet (on a computer: Menu - Start - Programs). | |
| Setting the orientation | By default, the settings are geared towards right-handers, but you can change the orientation of the digitizer controls for left-handers. |
| Pen customization | In this section, you can change the eraser pressure and pen sensitivity by moving the slider from a “soft” level to a “hard” level. Here you can change the operating mode from mouse to pen, if this was not set by default. |
| Setting up touches | In this tab, you can adjust the settings of the touch surface: its touch sensitivity, scrolling and pointer speed (slower/faster). |
| Touch functions | This section contains settings for interaction when touching a surface. For example, one finger – dragging; three fingers – swipe right/left. |
You should adapt the settings to your preferences, changing the indicators until they become as convenient as possible for work.
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Inkscape - a simple vector graphics editor
Simple and intuitive, Inkscape differs from other drawing programs in that even a child can understand it. Another advantage can be considered its Russian-language interface. Despite its simplicity, it has many tools - pencils, brushes, pens. You can even create your own animation in it. The top panel contains parameters for all tools, and the palette is located at the bottom. This vector graphics editor is available for free download at https://inkscape.org/ru/release/0.92.2/, you only need to select your platform.
MAXON Bodypaint 3D - program for three-dimensional graphics
A new level tool – MAXON Bodypaint 3D. This editor is capable of creating 3D graphics, Matte Painting, UV layout, animations, digital sculpting, rendering and much more.
Painting objects in MAXON Bodypaint 3D
The purpose of this program is to create bright textures and special sculptures, which are later used for animated cartoons and computer games. Here you will find a lot of tools for designing spatial images. It is possible to connect most plugins from Adobe Photoshop and other professional raster editors to MAXON.
The program is paid. Available in Russian. Before downloading, you will have to fill out a user questionnaire so that the system can determine whether the software is suitable for your device.
Paint is a feature-rich editor from Microsoft
The most common editor on which you can draw anything on a graphics tablet. This is one of the entire list of drawing programs that doesn’t really need any introduction.
Smiley drawn in Paint
The Paint editor comes bundled with the most popular Windows operating system to this day. It has all the standard tools - brush, eyedropper, pencil, eraser, fill, etc. In it you can cut, copy, paste, trim and much more. If you use Windows OS, you don't even have to download it, open the Start menu, select Accessories from the list and launch the Paint editor.
Connection features
Different graphics tablet models may require different data transfer methods. The tablet most often needs to be connected to the computer with a USB cable. This method can be used both on simple models and quite advanced products.
To use a tablet with a screen, you will most likely have to connect it to your computer with two cables at once . One will transmit data about the nature of the work with the pen, and the other will transmit video information. For example, you will need this connection method to use a Wacom graphics tablet with an interactive display.
People who want complete freedom of movement will prefer to buy a device with wireless data transmission mechanics. Such tablets are really convenient if you don’t forget to change the batteries on time or keep a new set of them at the ready at all times. The modern standard wireless interface is capable of not only providing a stable data transmission channel, but also allows you to freely draw at a distance of up to 10 m from the PC (provided there are no obstacles between the transceivers).
To connect your tablet via Bluetooth, just insert a small transmitter block into any of the free USB ports. The device can be detected automatically, and the program and drivers for its operation will be downloaded from the operating system update center. However, it is recommended to use a more complex method described below.
