I’ve always been a huge advocate of using software to create art on a computer. But even though I know the importance of it, sometimes it is hard to transition from professional artists who use an airbrush or T-shirt on canvas to someone trying to draw with just a mouse and keyboard. There are definitely some programs out there that are better than others, so below are my list of the top drawing tablet software you can use.
Having the best drawing tablet will not be enough for your unleash your creative self. You would also require the best and the right software for drawing tablet. You might be wondering which are the best software available and which is the best for you. Then all you have to do is read the below list of software prepared for you.
- Autodesk Sketchbook: This sketching tool is free for personal use, which is a recent update by the Company, but a paid one for commercial purposes. The Autodesk Sketchbook is perfect for beginners as well as intermediate users as it comes with a lot of customization option. The exceptional interface helps in maximizing the drawing space of every device. The drawing engine of the sketchbook can handle 100 mpx canvas while maintaining the zoomed-in feeling you get when you work on traditional canvas. Professional artist choose Autodesk Sketchbook because it is fast and precise.
- Affinity Designer: A vector graphic design software that is precise, fast and smooth. With the help of precision engineered pen tool you can have great control over your curves and the latest wide gamut displays will ensure that your color stands out and eye-catching for sure. Affinity Designer has a lot of customizable live shapes, which can be used to different geometric patterns which will form elements of your design. It has also the ability to switch to pixel environment. This means that vector and pixel work together smoothly. When you work on Affinity Designer you work in a responsive way where items can be moved and scaled automatically for different devices.
Corel Painter 2022
Painter’s annual update brings plenty of improvements
SPECIFICATIONS
Platform: Windows, MacCost: $429/£359.99TODAY’S BEST DEALS
$89VIEW AT AMAZON$156.86View at Amazon£359.99View at Corel Corporation
REASONS TO BUY
+Streamlined interface+Lots of brush options+Runs better than previous versions
REASONS TO AVOID
-Expensive up-front priceAdvertisementhttps://b05457b43cee87be66b830ae63bea575.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
Corel Painter 2022, as the name implies, is especially good for those who want to do digital painting. The latest update adds a new stamp-type brush customisation, providing fine control over the dab effects of your favourite brushes. Like many digital painting effects, the whole purpose is to make your work look as “real” and un-digital as possible, and it’s very effective.
Elsewhere, the update to Corel Painter has overhauled the brush library with a top-to-bottom reorganisation, which may be unpleasant news for those who are accustomed to the old system, but actually provides a lot of useful functionality. Brushes are alphabetised in categories that are easy to remember, and there’s a filter search system that makes it much easier to quickly find the type of brush you need. For individual favourite brushes, there’s also a ‘like’ button that lets you create a custom palette.
Previous versions of Corel have been known to be a bit taxing on computer hardware, so GPU acceleration has been tweaked. The program will also examine your system on startup, and recommend optimisations to make itself run as smoothly as possible on your system.
It’s another up-front cost, though this time considerably greater than Affinity Photo. Corel Painter 2022 costs $429/£359.99 new, or $229/£180 if you’re upgrading. This is a fair chunk of change, though there are no ongoing subscription fees, and Corel does offer discounts every so often.
To get an idea of what’s on offer, see our Corel Painter 2022 review.
04. Rebelle 4
Create realistic watercolour, acrylic, wet and dry media artwork
SPECIFICATIONS
Platform: Windows 8 or Mac OS X 10.13 or newerCost: $89.99/£71TODAY’S BEST DEALSBUY HERE
REASONS TO BUY
+A wealth of new features+Authentic painting experience+Affordable, with free trial available
REASONS TO AVOID
-Uses a lot of memoryAdvertisement
If Painter 2022’s price is just a little too steep for you, Rebelle 4 couple be just the alternative you’re looking for. It features over 170 brush presets and is designed to mimic the way that paint behaves in the real world, so if you’re looking to create realistic-looking watercolours or oils with plenty of thick impasto effects, it’s well worth checking out.
Rebelle 4’s an impressive natural media painting app with plenty of useful upgrades from the previous version, including new stabilisation and texture features, natural RYB colour mixing, layer groups and colour management. If you need an affordable alternative to Painter that doesn’t cut corners and feels authentic, be sure to take a look.
05. Procreate
A powerful iPad drawing tool
SPECIFICATIONS
Platforms: iPad (iOS 11.1+)Cost: $9.99/£9.99TODAY’S BEST DEALSBUY HERE
REASONS TO BUY
+Natural drawing experience+Impressive capabilities+Wide range of brushes
REASONS TO AVOID
-iPad-onlyAdvertisement
Want to draw and paint on your iPad? There’s only one game in town, and that’s Procreate. It’s a seriously impressive drawing tool that’s the go-to for a multitude of artists, and it’s packed with powerful tools that make it a joy to use. You can work with hundred of layers if you need to, there are masks, blend modes and groups as well as over130 customisable Procreate brushes to play with, and its typography tools add a whole extra layer of creative functionality.
Procreate 5.2 should be along before too long and it ought to be worth the wait, with support for the M1 iPad Pro as well as 3D painting tools and AR previews, plus an improved interface and audio feedback for a better all-round experience.
06. Clip Studio Paint Pro
This drawing and painting tool is aimed at manga and comic artists
SPECIFICATIONS
Platforms: Windows, macOS, iPad, iPhone, Android, ChromebookCost: $49.99/£39 (PRO); $219/£168 (EX)TODAY’S BEST DEALS
$59.99View at AmazonSee all prices (4 found)
REASONS TO BUY
+Affordable+Cross-platform+Free trial available
REASONS TO AVOID
-Confusing interfaceAdvertisementhttps://b05457b43cee87be66b830ae63bea575.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
For manga art and comic creation, Clip Studio Paint is a strong option with plenty of satisfied users. It delivers a natural, traditional feel, complete with pen pressure detection to give you realistic-looking pen strokes if you’re working on a graphics tablet.
Clip Studio Paint comes in two versions: PRO and EX. If you need all the features and don’t mind paying for them, EX is the way to go, but if you just want to see what it’s all about you can get started with PRO. Both are available in 30-day trial versions; take a look at the best Clip Studio Paint tutorials to help you get started.
07. Artweaver 7
Full-featured painting tool, great for beginners
SPECIFICATIONS
Platform: WindowsCost: Free (basic); $41.16/£34.14 (Plus)TODAY’S BEST DEALSVISIT SITE
REASONS TO BUY
+Customisable interface+Large brush selection+Free version available
REASONS TO AVOID
-Some stability issues
If you don’t have much of a budget when you’re looking for the best digital art software, Artweaver 7 is an attractive option. It features loads of customisable brushes for a real-world look, and it’s easy to get to grips with, with a straightforward interface that you can customise to suit your needs.Advertisementhttps://b05457b43cee87be66b830ae63bea575.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
Artweaver 7 comes in two versions: Artweaver Free and Artweaver Plus. Take a look at the comparison chart to help you decide which is right for you.
08. ArtRage 6
A cross-platform digital painting with realistic tools
SPECIFICATIONS
Platforms: Windows, macOSCost: $79TODAY’S BEST DEALSVISIT SITE
REASONS TO BUY
+Realistic-looking paint+Great for digital painters+Well priced
REASONS TO AVOID
-Slow for larger canvases
ArtRage has been around for quite some time and has built up a firm following among artists and illustrators, and it’s easy to see why. It’s another app that offers realistic paint texture and colour, at a price that’s a lot easier to swallow than Corel Painter’s.
Although ArtRage is primarily focused on natural media and painting, it’s flexible enough that digital artists who are used to Photoshop will find it useful too. With ArtRage 6, you can do everything you’d expect from a digital art tool: customise brushes, record your own actions, customise the look of your canvas and more.Advertisement
09. Krita
A free and open source painting program
SPECIFICATIONS
Platforms: Windows, macOS, LinuxCost: FreeTODAY’S BEST DEALSDOWNLOAD HERE
REASONS TO BUY
+Intuitive interface+Customisable+Free
REASONS TO AVOID
-Not a lot of support
Krita has been quietly doing its thing since 2004, and it’s one of the best-kept secrets in the digital art world. Free and open source, it has a great set of tools as well as an intuitive and customisable interface that you can set up in the best way to work with your style of painting. Its semi-guerrilla mature means there isn’t much in the way of customer support, so you may need to consult some online tutorials to get the most out of it.
The tool offers over 100 professionally made, preloaded brushes and nine unique brush engines, including a Colour Smudge engine, Shape engine and Particle engine. You can also import brushes and texture packs or create and share your own. As an added bonus, you can use a brush stabiliser to help you get perfectly smooth lines.
COnclusion
Software for decent drawing tablet under £100. After many months of research, this is my pick of the best drawing tablet software available in the UK.