What digital art software should I use?

[MostlyButts]

I could really use some suggestions, any info is welcome! I'm pretty new to Tapastic, and even newer to trying to make webcomics. I have no clue what works well for digital drawing. Thanks for any help you can offer!

[joannekwan]

Best bet is to download free trials of the ones people normally use and try them out to see which one you like the most.

[scythe]

Definitely try out Clip Studio Paint / Manga studio.

[YoungAdventurer]

If you are new to digital art and do not want to spend money, try Gimp (Google it and it should come up) it is a free open source software and it's working well for me so far.

[LTyler]

Before anything, you'll want to get yourself a digital drawing tablet (Wacom is pretty much the brand-of-choice, from my understanding. Though there may be some other more affordable off-brand tablets on the market, depending on your budget). It's pretty much impossible to draw anything decent with a mouse.
After that, Paint Tool Sai (if I recall correctly) offers a 1-month free trial, and it's a pretty solid piece of software (if I recall correctly, it costs around 40$). If you don't want to commit to anything that's going to cost money, GIMP is a pretty decent freeware program. Those two programs are what I started off with, and I think they're pretty good. (GIMP can be a little bit of a pain, though. Since it is freeware, it can be a bit glitchy at times.) By all means look up online tutorials regarding your program to help you get a hang of the ropes.

That being said, it is possible to make a web comic using traditional media, if traditional is your medium of choice. It is by no means required that you make webcomics digitally... To upload online, you just have to get yourself a scanner.

Best of luck!

[rainbowolfe]

Well, well, there's a lot of stuff you can use. How and what you get is up to you.

Free Stuff:
Krita
GIMP
FireAlpaca

Stuff that's free if you're a student:
Autodesk Sketchbook

Paid for Stuff:
Manga Studio/Clip Studio
Illustrator

Paid for Stuff that doesn't necessarily need to be paid for:
Photoshop
Corel Paint
Paint Tool SAi (a very popular one)

[MostlyButts]

Clip Studio Paint / Manga studio.

Thanks! I actually already own a Wacom tablet. I'll probably try Gimp first since... well its free and i'm utterly broke.

[Vikiro_Hop]

I actually use sai, but that is mostly because I'm a creature of habit, it isn't the best to do comics in per se (the biggest problem I have with it is that it doesn't have a text editor) but I have found some cool things in it that work with my drawing style. For me gimps UI gives me freaking headaches.

As mentioned above (cough cough) sai is pretty popular among those who just bought a tablet and don't necessarily have the cash to buy a program to illustrate. Far be it for me to suggest anything ethically questionable, but ya know...economy or whatever.

[carloswebcomic]

MS Paint on Windows 95.

But seriously, anything that allows you to draw a line will do the job. There's no software that will magically turn you into a comic god.
Start off with some free packages like Gimp so you can get a feel for making comics. Use this time to figure out if you are going to actually follow through with the comic (Way more people start making comics than those who stick with it).
Once you're comfortable and are happy making comics, you may like to consider some proper software like Manga Studio (Clip Studio).

[AnnaLandin]

Like other people have said - try out free trials! They cost you nothing, and will let you get the feel for what you're comfortable with.

For example, GIMP is totally free and a nice option - it can do loads of things! - but I never felt comfortable with it.

Paint Tool SAI is pretty nice, and I used to use it almost exclusively, but now I've switched over to Manga Studio/Clip Studio, and am 100% in love with that - and it's geared specifically towards making comics.

[martharpearson]

My best suggestion would be, lots of research. While Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator and Fireworks are the mainstream three, they can be extremely expensive. A cheap program can cost 187 dollars. The mainstream three I've seen go for at least $400.00 to $600.00.

Also freeware is my best friend right now. I'd been using Paint Tool Sai but since it's now starting to be where it has to be bought to do updates. My piggy bank went to weight watchers and has not returned. I'd been doing Fire Alpaca which is great since it can do brushes, layers, and ode to joy the inking is nice and crisp after the next try or ten.

Every person has a different set of tools to fit their own particular art style especially when lots of those tools overlap. One of the animators at Cartoon Network does beautiful work with copic markers and scans them in as fully rendered j-pegs. While Rhandi-dhandi has admitted to using Manga Maker for his webcomic Pride of Life. My only tip is try the stuff out, see what works, and find a happy balance between the need and the comfort.

[YoungAdventurer]

Just found out about mediband paint pro from this forum: http://forums.tapastic.com/t/medibang-paint-pro-all-devices/7818/2 Just got it and so far it looks better than Gimp and is also free. It has better fonts for comics and also has textures and perspective tools.

[auds]

photoshop all the way! It's great for animation too.

[yosarian13]

I prefer Manga Studio/Clip Studio Paint since they're geared more towards making comics.

[DynamoToon]

I use Paint Tool SAI, although it may not be newbie friendly, I'd be glad to show you how to properly use it. Of course, I'm sort of a newbie myself. But I assure you it is WELL worth it.

[Aspie_Gamer]

Manga Studio 5 imo is the way to go if you just want to make comics.