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.
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
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!
SmoothDraw is an excellent graphics 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 here about Flash - 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
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!
Even in ancient times, people began to draw. First they carved designs on stones, then on parchments. Over the years, a large number of drawing tools have appeared. Nowadays, this tool is the computer. There are a large number of programs for working with graphics. This article will tell you how to draw on a computer.
Each Windows operating system has built-in ones. Typically, this is Paint. If you don’t know how to find it, then you should go to the “Start” menu, and in the “Find programs” field write the word “Paint”. Next, for the program to open, just click on its name. Paint has all the necessary tools: eraser, pencil, fill, etc. If your Internet is turned off, or you are simply bored, then you can pass the time by drawing various pictures.
If you are in the mood to create serious landscapes or other paintings, then the Paint program is not suitable. More serious tools need to be used.
Computer graphics can be divided into two types: vector and raster. The latter is a grid of pixels of a certain size. How to draw on a computer using this You can do this using the image editor Adobe Photoshop. This program is rightfully considered one of the most popular and effective for drawing. In addition, many professionals use Photoshop to work with graphic elements.
There are also programs that are not as advanced as Adobe Photoshop, such as Gimp. Despite its simplicity, it has a large number of functions, many argue that it is a very good alternative to Adobe. With Gimp you can easily understand how to draw on the computer.
Vector graphics are based on the use of geometric objects: points, polygons and lines. Its advantage is that you can enlarge the image, but the picture quality does not deteriorate.
The best option for processing vector graphics is the graphics editor Adobe Illustrator. These programs are considered the best. When you are wondering how to draw on a computer and which program to choose, these are the ones you should pay attention to because they are used by professional designers, artists and other specialists in this field.
You can also use Inkscape for vector graphics. This graphics editor is not as popular as the programs described above, but it is good for drawing.
You can also draw using graphics tablets. Are they designed to create images on a computer using a graphics tablet? This tool comes with a pen that you use to move across its surface, and your touches from the pen are translated onto the computer screen. The best program for drawing using a graphics tablet is Paint tool SAI. It simulates drawing on real paper. Drawing on a tablet is much more convenient than on a PC, since using a mouse does not produce very straight lines and your hand constantly shakes. Using a pen, you can draw smooth and clear lines. True, a high-quality graphics tablet costs a lot of money (from
So you have found out the answer to the question of how to draw on a computer. To do this, you just need a drawing program and desire. To ensure that the result does not disappoint, you can buy a special graphics tablet.
17.3KThere are many free graphics programs and image editing tools that can be considered as an alternative to Photoshop. I have compiled a list of the best of them. Some of them are free online services, while others are available for free download and installation on your computer and mobile devices.
Vector graphics
1. SVG-Edit - developing vector graphics in the browser
If you need to programmatically render a drawing or vector graphic, you can do so using the Scalable Vector Graphics format ( also known as SVG). And the program for developing Scalable Vector Graphics is called SVG-Edit.
It is open source software. SVG-Edit is a powerful tool that allows you to create or edit SVG elements. The tool is built on top of CSS3, HTML5 and JavaScript. With its help you can quickly edit and process two-dimensional ( 2D) vector graphics:
2. DrawPlus Starter Edition by Serif - Free Graphic Design Software for Windows
Free graphic design software. This is a 2D vector graphics editor program that allows you to draw, edit and create professional designs.
DrawPlus also contains a number of features that allow you to create 3D objects using extrusion, apply a wide range of 3D styles with a huge collection of brushes:
With DrawPlus, you can easily develop graphic designs, logos, technical drawings, animations and more. There are various preset templates. Guides for beginners are also available to help you get started with the program.
3. Inkscape - vector graphics editor for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux
If you are looking for a replacement for Adobe Illustrator or CorelDraw, then InkScape is the tool that should suit you. It is an open source vector graphics editor with many powerful features:
It also supports SVG integration with advanced features for print and web design. This is a professional graphics editor with a simple and easy to use interface.
4. Skencil - vector graphics program for Unix / Linux
Free graphics software for running Linux/Unix. It is a flexible and powerful tool for creating illustrations, diagrams, etc.:
5. Ultimate Paint - an image processing tool for Windows
Functional 32-bit program for graphic drawing. The latest version supports a set of basic functions that can be used without any restrictions:
Ultimate Paint supports flexible brush controls that let you create creative designs. As well as PEG, GIF, PNG, BMP, PCX, AVI (read only), TGA, WMF / EMF, ICO (read only), IFF / LBM and WAP BMP formats, as well as Twain-compatible scanners.
6. SmoothDraw NX - free image processing tool for mobile devices
A simple touch-based freehand drawing tool that can be used to produce high-quality images. It supports many types of brushes ( pen, pencil, airbrush, natural brush, etc.), retouching tools, layers, etc.:
7. Fat Paint is the best drawing program
Fat Paint is known as the best software for graphic design, painting and logo creation. This is a free image editing program that allows you to create pages, vector illustrations, logos, photo editing and web design:
8. My Paint is an open source graphic design application for Windows and GNU/Linux
Graphic design software that lets you focus on creativity rather than interface management:
It is a fast and easy to use open source graphic design application that is available for both Windows and Linux users.
Image editing tools (pixel graphics)
9. Paint.net - Free image editing software for Windows
Paint.NET is a great alternative to the built-in graphics editor Paint. It is an easy-to-use image editing tool with a set of basic and advanced features:
Due to its powerful features, this editor is often compared to other digital photo editing packages such as Adobe Photoshop, Corel Paint Shop Pro, Microsoft photo editor and GIMP.
10. GIMP - GNU image processing program for Linux, Windows and Mac OS
Another powerful computer graphics program that is widely used for photo retouching, editing, image composition, etc.
It is a free and open source graphic design software that is widely known as an alternative to Photoshop. Although GIMP was originally created for Unix, it is now available for other operating systems: Windows, Mac OS X, etc.
11. Pixlr - photo editor for iPhone, iPad, Mac OS and Android
Powerful image editing application for IOS and Android. It can be downloaded for free from the App Store or Google Play Store. This is an interesting and powerful photo editor that allows you to quickly crop, rotate and adjust any image.
Pixlr offers over 2 million free effects combinations to make your images unique.
12. Sumo Paint - browser-based graphic design app
If you want to get started working with images in the browser, Sumo Paint can help. You can use it to edit photos online or install the program to access all features offline ( paid subscription):
With Sumo Paint you can edit your photos right in your browser. Although this requires Adobe Flash.
13. Image Magick - Bitmap image converter for Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, Android and iOS
A powerful tool for converting images from one format to another. For example, from .jpeg to .png. This is a graphical raster image editor program that allows you to create, edit and convert raster images to other formats.
The program contains useful functions such as cropping, rotating and transforming images, mirroring, etc. Which makes it a convenient tool for graphic designers.
2D/3D and animation
14. Daz Studio - 3D models, 3D animations for Windows and Mac
If you want to start learning 3D design and animation, install DAZ Studio. You will have at your disposal a sufficient number of tutorials that will make you a 3D animation ninja, no matter what your level is at the moment:
With DAZ Studio you can create your own 3D characters, avatars, and graphic design elements.
Create your own short films and animations, illustrations for books and magazines, etc. This free software will be quite useful when learning 3D.
15. Sculptris - 3D design software for Windows and Mac
If you want to unleash your potential in 3D sculpture, 3D painting, then Pixologic can help you do it.
It is a 3D modeling tool with powerful features that will help you get comfortable in the world of digital reality. If you're new to 3D sculpting and 3D painting, then Sculptris is the best place to start.
16. Blender - Free and open source 3D software for Windows, Mac and Linux
One of the best graphics programs for creating 3D projects. It is open source software that can be downloaded and installed for free on Windows, Mac OS X, Linux, etc.:
Blender contains many 3D tutorials and a gallery of previously created projects available for download. There is also an active community whose members are ready to answer your questions.
17. Google SketchUp - 3D for everyone on Windows and Mac
3D SketchUp is still the easiest way to draw in 3D. It is a powerful 3D modeling software that allows you to quickly create 3D objects. The program is very easy to use.
18. 3D Canvas - 3D modeling software for Windows
Provides intuitive software for real-time 3D modeling and 3D animation. It provides tools for easy 3D scene management with drag-and-drop functionality:
It is a graphic design program developed by Amabilis Software. It is available in three versions - 3D Crafter, 3D Crafter Plus and 3D Crafter Pro. The basic version is free, while Pro and Plus are paid. The program runs on Windows 7/8/Vista.
19. Art of Illusion - open source 3D modeling software in Java
Open source software for 3D modeling and visualization. It is written in Java, so it is a powerful 3D design program that can be used on many Java virtual machines.
On the project website you can find many manuals and galleries of works. In addition, active forum participants are always ready to help. Therefore, even if you are new to 3D modeling and just taking your first steps, Art of Illusion is perfect for you.
20. Anim8or - 3D modeling software for Windows
One of the oldest programs for 3D modeling, which was introduced back in 1999 and is still actively used all over the world. It is intended mainly for 3D modeling and character animation under Windows:
Anim8or includes many powerful features: a tool for creating and modifying 3D models, TrueType font support, a built-in 3D object browser, a Joint character editor and much more.
Data visualization
21. Google Developers - Google Chart Tool Web Apps
A powerful tool for creating and customizing charts with various data. An easy-to-use, free data visualization application that makes it easy to create interactive pie charts, line graphs, segmented charts, and more.
With this graphics program, you can create a visual representation of your data and get code to embed it in web pages, spreadsheets, etc.
22. Visual.ly - web application for creating interactive infographics
Infographics are a new way of visually presenting data that is growing at a rapid pace. Visual.ly is the best program for creating and publishing interactive infographics:
It is a social platform for creating and publishing infographics, allowing you to interact with other users and share interactive visual representations with them.
23. Infogr.am - creation of infographics and visual diagrams online
Another powerful interactive tool for creating stunning visuals and infographics. With Infog.am, you can create infographics, charts, and other visual representations in three simple steps: choose a template, visualize the data, and then publish it.
You can also choose free charts from a collection of over 30 interactive chart types.
24. Easel.ly - create and publish visual ideas online
Another powerful tool for creating infographics. Even if you don't know how infographics are created, all you have to do is go to the site, choose a template and get started:
This service provides a huge number of graphic forms and objects, as well as infographic templates, with which you can create and publish visual representations online.
25. Visualize.me - visualize your resume online
A personalized tool that allows you to create and visualize your resume in one click. All this is available for free.
With over 500,000 projects already created, Vizualize.me is the #1 resume creation service. It contains more powerful tools to help you create your resume.
Other graphic design programs
26. Favicon Generator - free Favicon generator
This tool is a free Favicon generator that allows you to create Favicons for your website. Just upload the file and click the "Generate" button.
27. ColorPic - color selection on a desktop computer
ColorPic is a free tool for capturing color from your monitor screen. It allows you to capture color palettes of up to 16 colors at a time. You can also use an advanced mixer to mix four colors.
28. Fast Stone Image Viewer - a tool for viewing, editing and batch converting photos
This graphics program for artists supports advanced features such as red-eye removal, color adjustment, photo viewing, emailing, cropping, etc.
Fast Stone Image Viewer is another powerful functional tool for viewing, editing and batch converting photos.
29. Pixel Toolbox - design development for Windows
Pixel Toolbox is a powerful tool designed to create impressive graphics for Windows. Create, edit and apply 1-bit patterns, wallpapers, icons and cursor icons - all with one tool.
30. Prezi - Free Presentation Software
Powerful, free software that lets you create, edit and use presentations remotely from anywhere. It is available for desktop PCs, smartphones and tablets. There is also integration with a cloud service that expands the functionality of the program.
Paid and free tools for experienced and beginner artists.
Free drawing programs for your computer
Krita
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Krita is such an advanced and functional drawing program that it’s hard to believe that this is not a commercial product, but an open source development. This editor has support for layers, a huge number of brushes and tools, a bunch of different filters and effects.
Krita can be used to create digital paintings, sketches, paintings, comics, and even hand-drawn stop-motion animation. The interface is conveniently customizable. Plus, Krita works great with graphics tablets.
GIMP
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
Powerful, flexible, customizable open source raster editor. True, the interface and hotkeys here are unique - artists accustomed to Photoshop will have to relearn.
GIMP has most of the tools available in Photoshop: layers, masks, color correction, smart selections, brushes, filters and a mountain of other features. Some of the missing ones can be added using third-party extensions.
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux.
But this is already a tool for creating vector graphics - a free and open-source analogue of Adobe Illustrator. It is well suited for creating logos, icons, web graphics, vector illustrations and other design products.
Inkscape contains everything for comfortable creation and editing of vector images: color and texture management tools, layers, smart placement and alignment of objects, as well as the ability to vectorize raster images.
- Platforms: Windows.
This, of course, is not a full-fledged analogue of Photoshop, but rather good old Paint on steroids, but it’s enough for amateur drawing.
Its simplicity makes Paint.NET well suited for beginning artists. Plus, it can work quickly even on devices.
Paint.NET supports working with layers and has a large number of effects. There are tools for blurring, stylizing, sharpening and noise reduction, and if desired, the program’s capabilities can be expanded using plugins.
- Platforms: Windows, macOS.
- Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, web.
Gravit Designer is a fairly powerful and advanced, but free vector graphics editor. With it, you can easily create icons, logos, banners and other images. The application has many tools: curves, layers, shapes, selecting and transforming objects, working with text and fonts.
In addition, it has a built-in library of vector objects created by users. You can freely use them in your own works. Another feature of the application: if desired, you can launch it without installation, directly in the browser through the native Gravit web service.
Paid programs for drawing on a computer
- Platforms: Windows, macOS.
- Price:$49.99.
The editor is impressive with its capabilities. Customizable panels and key combinations, a convenient canvas rotation system that makes it seem like you are drawing on real paper, compatibility with graphics tablets, shadow effects, glow, contour, bevel - you can’t list it all.
Affinity Designer is definitely worth a try for those who are professional graphics and design professionals and don't want to overpay for Photoshop.
- Platforms: Windows.
- Price:$59.99.
A very unique drawing program that differs from others presented here. BlackInk will allow you to draw incredible pictures with a rather unusual style. What can I say, just look at the images created in the editor and you will understand that it allows you to create art.
Instead of traditional approaches to creating raster images, BlackInk uses its own mechanism. The so-called Controller opens up unprecedented possibilities for customizing brushes. It's not easy to master, but the results will impress you.
- Platforms: Windows, macOS.
- Price: subscription from 644 rubles per month.
Photoshop is the de facto standard in the world of computer graphics, the most popular program for artists, designers and photographers. There is no point in talking about possibilities: if something can be done with an image, then it will do it.
Because Photoshop is part of the Adobe Creative Cloud, you can easily share your brushes, colors, and presets across your devices—settings synced on the fly. In addition, a ton of plugins have been created for Photoshop due to its popularity.
The only thing wrong with Adobe's creation is the subscription price. However, this was to be expected, because Photoshop is the most powerful and advanced of all raster editors in the world.
- Platforms: Windows, macOS.
- Price:$429.
Everyone knows Corel Draw - the most powerful professional vector graphics editor. But Corel has another brainchild - the Corel Painter raster editor, perfect for drawing. This editor has many convenient tools for working with color, synthesizing textures and cloning objects, as well as brushes, canvases and layers.
This expensive but effective editor for sophisticated artists is definitely worth the money.
Free drawing programs, like any software distributed under a freeware or shareware license, are becoming less and less different from their large-scale commercial counterparts every year.
Thanks to the extensive community of developers and enthusiasts, new versions of well-known free graphic editors are regularly released, as well as new original projects are created.
At the same time, various drawing software is becoming increasingly specialized, focusing on use by children, creating cartoons, designing designs, etc.
Therefore, if you do not want to pay a significant amount for the ability to crop a picture and fundamentally do not use pirated software, then this review will help you choose the most suitable option for you.
GIMP
GIMP is a free alternative to the popular Photoshop editor from IT giant Adobe.
This program is the default solution for creating and editing images on any Unix system, but there are also versions for Windows and Mac.
Tux Paint
As mentioned at the beginning of our article, many developers do not try to impress their users with the maximum range of functions or their greatest efficiency.
Instead, they are looking for their own philosophy and a niche market in which they will be pioneers.
The Tux Paint drawing program is aimed primarily at children aged 3 to 12 years, in order to develop in them a love of painting with the help of modern information technologies.
Therefore, the interface of this program is significantly different from other representatives of software of this class.
All the tools are extremely simple, and to configure them there is no need to understand manuals; the controls are large and immediately indicate their purpose.
Tux the penguin (symbol of the Linux community) helps take the first steps, introducing young creators to the basic capabilities of the program, which will allow them to draw their first picture within a few minutes after the first launch of Tux Paint.
This software is an example of an excellent implementation of an original idea in an area in which it would seem almost impossible to fight the hegemony of corporate giants.
Tux Paint is successfully used in many European educational institutions for preschool and primary school children.
ArtWaver
ArtWaver is another image management solution developed under an OpenSource license.
Like GIMP, it was created as a counterweight to Photoshop, and its appearance and tools are similar to older versions of the program from Adobe.
But this image editor does not simply copy its more successful competitors, but has its own unique approach to the issue of processing and creating various images.
In particular, much attention is paid to brushes: by default, the program has a large selection of brushes of various types that can be carefully customized to suit your needs.
This makes it possible to use ArtWeaver not only for editing finished images, but also for full-fledged digital painting classes.
This software also features a very sophisticated system for working with layers, probably the best among free graphic editors, which is very important for working with images at home on a computer.
The developers have also created their own AWD editor format, but the user can export their work to any popular format such as JPG, PSD, PNG, etc.
ArtWaver is a well-balanced software that can become an effective tool for both amateurs and semi-professionals in the field of processing or creating digital images.
Pix Builder Studio
Another free application designed for editing raster graphics.
Its interface, which adheres to the principles of older versions of Windows (by the way, there is a version in Russian on the official website), is as simple and concise as possible.
At the same time, it gives access to many advanced functions such as Blure effect creation, sharpening adjustment and advanced curve adjustment.
SmoothDraw
The creators of this drawing program decided to spare their users as much as possible from the nuances of working with the interface and, from the first seconds of working with the application, give everything they need to start the creative process.
SmoothDraw does not have switchable panels or tricky settings - all its tools are located on the top panel and have graphic icons that everyone can understand.
The application is aimed at installation on graphics tablets, and not for full editing of ready-made pictures.
Despite the fact that many basic functions of modern editors are available in it, it shows its full potential only in the process of drawing from scratch.
In addition to a large number of tools that have real prototypes, such as brushes, pencils, markers, pens, etc., SmoothDraw also offers original functions:
full imitation of an aerosol can for graffiti, creating visual effects of a cart, starry sky, grass, etc.
The best programs for photo processing on PC! | Photo editors
In this video I will tell you about the best photo processing programs! Leave a like if you liked it!
Read our material about updating the Microsoft Paint program for drawing on a computer.
