@The-N-U-T-Cracker
A lot of people don't know where to start so I figured I'd make a chat for it ^.^
forum
Sooo, you want to try digital art...
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@The-N-U-T-Cracker
tune
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@sheyna
Take advantage of the fact that you have layers!!! i cannot stress this enough. its the key to keeping everything in its own area and completely removes the risk of ruining parts you're happy with!
Deleted user
This is the chat I need. How the heck does one draw well on a computer with only the keys and that touch-thingy on the keyboard??
@sheyna
This is the chat I need. How the heck does one draw well on a computer with only the keys and that touch-thingy on the keyboard??
i assume you mean a trackpad on laptops? what are your biggest issues?
@saor_illust school
Probably the fact that the difference with a drawing tablet is that it feel more natural, and is mostly easier for people to draw on tablets, than to use the trackpad. Plus, when drawing lines or curves of any kind, they have a bigger tendency to be shaky. That's my experience, and also I don't do digital art that much tho.
@ninja_violinist
I think the main issue with the trackpad is that there's no pen pressure, which makes natural/smooth linework really difficult. One of my friends does amazing artwork with her fingers on her phone (she literally does commissions for 20-30 dollars each) but she also can't work with the trackpad.
Unless the art is very geometric, I guess that might work. And idk how vector art works so I can't say if that might be an option
@The-N-U-T-Cracker
This is the chat I need. How the heck does one draw well on a computer with only the keys and that touch-thingy on the keyboard??
Oh boy… Well, I'll just be honest here, it's quite difficult and I definitely don't have the skills to do it. although, then again, I've never tried
However, if you want to try, it is possible and I'm sure you could figure it out with enough practice.
My first tip is to create your initial sketches on paper, It makes the whole process a loteasier. Then, you can scan your drawing onto your computer, adjust the image so you can work with it better, and continue from there.
(note, you don't have to use a colored pencil for sketching, despite what the tutorial suggests)
And if you can't use a scanner for some reason, don't worry! Just take a photo of the sketch with a phone camera or something similar, send it to your computer, edit it, and continue with your drawing process.
If you like to use clean, sharp, thicc, or varied lines, I'd recommend downloading a vector-based program such as Inkscape, Gravit Designer, Adobe Illustrator, or Serif Drawplus, because they allow you to edit each stroke after you make it, giving the effect of smoothing/pressure sensitivity/clean linework.
Some flaws with vector programs that I've noticed are that they tend to have really outdated interfaces, not a lot of brush customization (if any), they're extremely confusing, and they tend to limit your styles of shading, linework, coloring, etc.
If you prefer a softer look, more freedom, or you just don't care enough to bother figuring out how vector programs work like me, then a bitmap/raster-based program such as Krita or Photoshop will work just fine, it'll take more time and effort though.
Here are a few things I found on the internet that might help~
Now, if you happen to have an iPad/similar tablet as well, you can completely ignore all of the above because there are ways to sync your iPad with your computer using certain apps and then use it as a graphics tablet instead of bothering with all the complicated settings.
https://creativemarket.com/blog/10-apps-to-turn-your-ipad-into-a-bad-ass-drawing-tablet
https://www.digitalartsonline.co.uk/news/creative-hardware/this-amazing-app-turns-your-ipad-pro-into-cintiq/
However, most of those apps can cost you quite a bit, and you'd have to have a stylus which would cost even more, so they might not work for you.
Well, anyways, I hope this helped! :D
Deleted user
This is the chat I need. How the heck does one draw well on a computer with only the keys and that touch-thingy on the keyboard??
i assume you mean a trackpad on laptops? what are your biggest issues?
Yeah, those things. sorry I'm Swedish so my English is a bit limited… 'trackpad' is'nt a word that I use often in english lol
And my biggest issues are mostly the ones that everyone else has already described in the chat. The lines are shaky and they just… don't look like what they would look like if I did a pencil sketch or if I had some kind of pencil for touch screen or something like that.
@sheyna
And my biggest issues are mostly the ones that everyone else has already described in the chat. The lines are shaky and they just… don't look like what they would look like if I did a pencil sketch or if I had some kind of pencil for touch screen or something like that.
in most drawing programs, shaky lines can be fixed by a setting in your brushes called smoothing. the higher the percentage of smoothing, the less shaky your lines will be. i find anywhere from 50-75% smoothing feels natural :)
if you don't like the way any of the brushes are working for you, you always have the option of downloading brushes by people happy to share their creations. you can find a lot of good, free content online.
as for digital sketches looking like pencil work, i doubt you'll have much luck without some sort of pressure-sensitive tablet - which is a hecking big pain because they can be really expensive. you may just have to adopt a different style of art, and if I'm being honest there's lineless art out there that makes me weak at the knees.
id say keep experimenting for now, and if any more issues pop up just chuck us a yell. I hope this was helpful!
Deleted user
And my biggest issues are mostly the ones that everyone else has already described in the chat. The lines are shaky and they just… don't look like what they would look like if I did a pencil sketch or if I had some kind of pencil for touch screen or something like that.
in most drawing programs, shaky lines can be fixed by a setting in your brushes called smoothing. the higher the percentage of smoothing, the less shaky your lines will be. i find anywhere from 50-75% smoothing feels natural :)
if you don't like the way any of the brushes are working for you, you always have the option of downloading brushes by people happy to share their creations. you can find a lot of good, free content online.
as for digital sketches looking like pencil work, i doubt you'll have much luck without some sort of pressure-sensitive tablet - which is a hecking big pain because they can be really expensive. you may just have to adopt a different style of art, and if I'm being honest there's lineless art out there that makes me weak at the knees.
id say keep experimenting for now, and if any more issues pop up just chuck us a yell. I hope this was helpful!
Thanks, it really was helpful!