Comic Artists, What Art Program Do You Use, And Why?

[Puck]

True that, "it´s probably just a matter of which program you´re more familiar with"
The weird thing is that photoshop is very easy for me to use, but that´s because I been
using programs which are similiar since the 80s like deluxe paint. I find Photoshop very
logical

[RosesnWater]

Yah, agrees, desktop is WAY better, but upside is I personally think the one for the phone is pretty good! (I get a lot of drawing done when I’m working ^^’)

[Legendofgenii]

Photoshop is all I know. I’ve used it since PS5 (1999?) I was very smoll and it came with the PC, so I gave it a go. I only drew with a mouse too (don’t miss that), and used a scanner to import my drawings.

I eventually got a tiny old school Wacom, which was much smoother and quicker that using a mouse, but it still didn’t feel as good as traditional drawing (No drawing directly on the screen or anything), so I’d still draw on paper and scan.

These days I use a Cintiq, which cost more than my car at the time but aaaaah it’s just like drawing on paper - only better because you have layers, can move things about and the undo button Of course. ️

I don’t use paper at all now, which I guess has saved me a few pennies on notebooks, pencils, pens and storage space.

Lately I am experimenting with painting in photoshop (for backgrounds) and I’ve purchased a few brushes from other artists - which are amazing.

I’m still using CS5.5 as I don’t really want to pay a monthly subscription for CC. 🤨

[CursedBeasts]

I do some basic sketches and panels in Medibang and the rest in Procreate, both on an iPad with the apple pencil. Like, the only reason I still have an Apple product lol.

[MissEljebel]

I use Clip Studio Paint! Before I was using GIMP. My boyfriend got me a new drawing tablet last year for Christmas, and it came with 2 years free of Clip Studio Paint. I tried it out, and I find it suits all my needs! When it comes time to renew the license, I'm definitely gonna do it!

[Siromany]

Aaa sorry I was gone for a bit so I was unable to check the thread but reading through all your responses, it's amazing how different and similar peoples processes are! I can completely understand like, for those of us who just had the software at the time to just keep moving alone with what we have, and for those of your trying new stuff out and finding what you like.

I forgot to mention that Paint.Net is actually also used for my comic, but I don't personally use it myself because my editor is the one who uses it to resize and put the fonts on. You won't be finding any of those fonts on MS Paint of course ^^"

[CarltonIsaac]

Adobe Photoshop CS6
(started using from 1996, it was Photoshop.2 back then)

MS Paint / Pencil and Paper for layouts and drafts.

[nekocoa]

I use Krita for all of my work because it's free and has a lot of good features for different types of projects. I've grown to really love using it, but it is a bit of a problem to make comics on because I can't figure out how to easily use the text tool so I have to hand letter all the words in my comic. Though I think having handwritten text can look cool sometimes.

[jgreene2433]

I have a version of clip studio paint on my phone, that is mind blowingly fantastic, but I can't really use it, because it's this weird trial version that can only be used for either 1 hour a day, or 6 months free followed by a monthly subscription fee. I hate that, because I get such a great drawing experience from this app.

[AkaneHayashi]

I have Clip Studio Paint since last year and it's the best software I ever bought. The default brushes are really nice and they also have a huge library of free assets to use on comics and illustration in general. It was really worth the price, specially bc I bought it during a sale.

[kkaawmics]

This was such an interesting thread to go through! It still blows my mind people can get so good with a mouse. However, I'm starting to think if I got a left-handed mouse I'd probably be able to drawing too...

Like many of us, I also use Clip Studio Paint (switched to it like 6 months ago after using Krita for 2 years). I think I got sold on it after I discovered their materials feature. I can create my backgrounds, tattoos, logos, accessories-- you name it-- and then save them as a material, and then drag and drop it into my comic panels anytime. I also LOVE their assets store. It's such a brilliant community effort and so useful.

CSP just has a way of surprising you with new, neat comic features as well. I don't know how many times I've hopped on twitter and seen the official CSP account posting a new tutorial for a tool that I never knew existed

[likhoradka]

I set up my files in Photoshop CS6, then move into Corel Painter for all my sketching, inking, and freehand text. Then I move back into Photoshop for coloring, shading, borders, text, and final layout. I also have some speech bubble resources I made in Illustrator to save me from going crazy from freehanding or just using circle bubbles.

I keep looking into CSP, but keep putting it off. If it gets down in price again, I'll probably get it. The more I see/hear about it, the more convenient it sounds, but I'd definitely need to be at point where I'd have the time to learn a new program and get into the swing of things. Maybe for my next project!

[allenT]

I use Photoshop for 95% of image editing, photo editing, pixel arts etc. In case of webcomic: I use it for cleaning/retouching scan images, adding screentones, texts etc, keeping .psd master files, outputing web versions.

I use Krita mostly for inking, filling flats, or retouching linearts, occationally i do color sketches and that's it. I still haven't get to try its other features.

[Shanny8]

CSP is on sale again this weekend- you can get the Pro version for $25, and the EX version for $109. Sale ends on Tuesday...

[Siromany]

One of my friends has been begging me to try it out, and I am still kind of on the fence about it only because I'd have to learn a whole new program. But I really am considering using it just for easy access. Also so I don't have to resort to gimp for any extra stuff i can't do in Paint.

[AHaplessFool]

Well, call me cheap, but I've tried out for over a month (all of them free) Sketchbook, Paintstorm Lite, Krita, and Firealpaca, and I gotta say, Krita is where it's at. While sketchbook and Firealpaca are nice to learn how to draw online (easier software) (doesn't look like the cockpit of an airplane) (less confusing buttons) and Krita is like, seriously hard to learn how to do (,,, at least for me), Krita has the combination of useful brushes plus tactical software that I really needed.

[Tanako]

I use photoshop because I refuse to learn any other program. the amount of work I have invested to learn photoshop is not worth abandoning unfortunately. I do hate the fact that I have to pay monthly for it but yea... sometimes they give discounts. anyway, I like it a lot so that's why I'm still using it.

[Shanny8]

@Tanako I have Photoshop as well, but I mainly mostly use it for coloring and other FX...I do the main art(pencils, inks) in Clip Studio...I have been pushing myself this year to get used to coloring in CSP.

Add the update this month that will allow you to use Photoshop brushes in CSP, and I think this may start to pull me away from PS. I may keep it to see what new brushes that [Kyle] Webster comes up with, but I'm not sure how long- especially if Clip Studio gets better with its lettering capabilities and if I find a capable/viable alternative to Acrobat as well.

[Tanako]

@Shanny8 I don't blame you. I thought about gradually gearing away from Acrobat just due to all their bullshit. I mean, the program is expense in a long run. don't get me wrong I don't mind paying for a program but its ridiculous and the yearly one time payment isn't any better. this is a hobby so it defeats the purpose. if I was using it for work understand. however, I do like PS a lot which is one of the reasons why I;m still around and they occasionally give you discount if you decided to deactivate your membership however I'm not sure how long that's gonna last.

[krissyhalo]

When I was first starting out, I used Krita because it was free and I really enjoy it as a way of starting out. However, recently I've been using Clip Studio Paint and I absolutely love it! The vector tool is my absolute favorite of that program, and also the models that they provide but I need more time to actually get a grip on them. XD