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Be The Ultimate Open Source Artist

August 12, 2007 in Artist, Tools | 8 comments

This was something I was brooding over for some time now. But I have taken more than a few steps towards becoming the ultimate Open Source artist.

Please note that the stress here is on Open Source and to be an ultimate artist, the only way is by practice.

Here is the setup of the ultimate Open Source artist.

Hardware

  • A PC with as much number crunching power and as much memory you can afford. Note that though the choice of most artists is Mac, I do not know if we can go an Open Source approach with it.
  • A Tablet – Wacom or other but it helps in focusing more on the art and less on how you are going to do what is in your head. The argument of the necessity of a tablet and stylus can go quite long – so I would say that do consider buying a tablet if you can afford it.

Software

  • OS – Ubuntu Feisty Fawn. You may choose other distribution, but this one is my personal choice.
  • GIMP – This usually is packaged with the Linux, but ensure that you got the latest version.
  • Inkscape – GIMP+Inkscape forms a good combination that forms a considerable combo against Photoshop.
  • Scribus – This is a software that is usually meant for layout designing, but sometimes a artist is called upon to work on it. If nothing else, it would let you make cool looking portfolios of your digital artworks.

That is about it, and you are all set on the path to become the ultimate Open Source artist.

If you have bought a tablet and stylus, then you might want to ensure that you are able to configure its pressure sensitivy. It requires proper installation of the drivers and setting up of the configurations in the GIMP and Inkscape preferences. There is no much point in having a tablet if you are not going to harness the pressure sensitivity.

ArtRage

July 22, 2007 in Digital Painting, Tools | No comments

ArtRage2 Logo

ArtRage is a raster graphics editor, and in that sense, is similar to GIMP. But the similarity quite ends there, because ArtRage is a traditional media simulator.

ArtRage is a software designed by Ambient Design Ltd.

As I said it is a real world simulator in terms of art. It provides tools like pencils, paints and real world dynamics, using which art can be created. It though heavily depends on the use of tablets.

Some of the features of ArtRage are:

  • Real world tools like pencils, pens, acrylic, oil paints, erasers, smudge knife
  • Zoom in, zoom out, rotate
  • Different canvases for simulating texture
  • Ability to attach other images as tracing images
  • Export facilities to other formats like PNG and PSD other than the native format

ArtRage2 comes in two versions. The free version and the paid version.

The free version can be downloaded here.

One of the good thing about ArtRage2′s paid version is that it is quite affordable. At $20, the paid version packs quite a few extra features.

The price cannot be a reason for digital painting hobbyists to pirate some other costly software now. :)

Top 3 Reasons To Pirate Photoshop

July 19, 2007 in Tools | 46 comments

As a response to the No More Photoshop – Use GIMP, in the comment section and also through other mediums, I think I can sum up the top three reasons why Photoshop is pirated.

  1. There are features in Photoshop that are not available in Open Source alternatives. Adobe has invested a lot of research and filled features into its products that make life much easier to do many tasks for the professionals in the field. Open Source alternatives like GIMP lack built in features like CMYK support (which is quite important for print) or more basic things like grouping layers.
  2. Adobe has priced Photoshop too high – it is impossible to use it for hobbyists. Shelling out a $600 on Adobe Photoshop is far away from being thrift when the use is for minor touch ups of photos or creating banners for use in forums and other social websites. If they had priced it lower, many would have considered buying it and using it legally.
  3. Who cares if it is piracy? After all, Adobe can not come after each and every one of us for running priated version of Photoshop on our PCs. Running legal versions of software is something corporations and companies need to worry about.

In spite of these reasons, I am going to stand by my word. I do not condone pirating software – be it Photoshop or something else. I will try to give my views on each of these ‘justifications’ for using pirated Photoshop.

  1. It is true that Photoshop has features that is not present in another Open Source software. But most of the features can be found in a number of softwares put together. You might not be able to get all features – but you sure can get the features that is really necessary. For example, CMYK support can be got into GIMP by using a plugin. If you need to use a lot of vectors in an artwork – move it over to Inkscape. If you need to do digital painting – ArtRage should be sufficient for most of the work.
  2. Adobe has put a rather heavy price tag on Photoshop. But that does not mean it is legal for us to pirate the software. There are many things that are costly and getting them with out paying for them is considered stealing. And if you are just using it for honing your skills or doodling, why do you need Photoshop. As a member of one of the forums I frequent, (Kyle) said:

    3. If someone is doodling for fun, why doodle with Photoshop? Its like learning to drive in a Ferrari?

  3. There is no real arguing with this. It is just ones conscience that can answer that. I can not create an artwork with a pirated software and display it as my creation.

Use the software you can afford – open source or other wise and improve your skills. Once you get ‘pro’, you can afford Photoshop. Priacy is not the way to go.

No More Photoshop – Use GIMP

July 5, 2007 in Artist, Tools | 18 comments

Fox With Blue-Green Feather In Mouth

Actually, throw the pirated Photoshop out, and download GIMP.

Here are some reasons why you should and can do it.

Using pirated software is illegal. That is right – it is not legitimate to use pirated software. Be it Adobe Photoshop, or anything else. It is legal to use GIMP, and produce artworks (even for commercial purposes). GIMP is an Open Source software.

It is unethical to use pirated software. Yes, I put this separately. Some times, things may be with in the law, but still be immoral. This is a case where it is illegitimate and unethical to use pirated software. You may justify saying that you are not using it to sell your works. You are not making money out of it. But, the use for hobby purposes does not justify piracy. If you are using it just for hobby, then it does not need to be Photoshop. There is GIMP. There are other softwares out there which you can download and use.

Features of GIMP is a standard of its own. Many who want to switch to GIMP have the complaint that the user interface of GIMP is hard to use. It actually is not hard to use. It is just different. It would be wrong to expect it to have a user interface of Photoshop. Just use it and you will learn. A human brain is designed to learn.

Adobe Photoshop is a good software – there is no question about it. But it is costly, and it is justified to use it provided you pay for it, or the company that hired you pays for it. If you are a professional who has income based on the work done on the image editor, then it makes sense to buy it.

But if you are just a hobbyist, and it provides no revenue for you – then you might as well use GIMP or one of the other Open Source editors. It is illegal and immoral to use a pirated version of any software.

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