As an artist wanting to take your designs into the digital arena, it can be frustrating if you aren't sure where to start. Chances are the old school method of drawing in ink or another real world medium and then trying to scan it in has let you down in the past, due to the loss of crisp lines and true colors. Fortunately, you can take your skills online and create directly in a digital medium. The following tools can help you get started.
Basic setup
If you want to try out a digital medium without investing a lot of cash upfront, this is the setup for you. It also works well as a portable digital sketchbook for when you can't take a full kit with you. You will need the following:
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A tablet device
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A basic stylus with interchangeable nibs
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A drawing app
You can start with a tablet you already own and then simply shop around for the app that has all the features you want. If you are in the market for a new tablet, though, you may first want to look at the available apps for both Apple and Android devices. Then, you can choose a tablet to fit your preferred app.
The second most important aspect is the stylus. Shopping for an art stylus is no different than shopping for the perfect pen or watercolor set. You will find the best selection of art stylus at art supply stores or from dealers that specialize in digital art. Consider spending extra for a wireless model, as well, since you don't want wires interrupting your flow.
Advanced setup
Once you are sure that digital art is a medium you want to work in, it's time to upgrade from the basic kit. You will need to add the following to your kit:
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A graphics tablet
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A graphics program for your desktop
Don't confuse graphics tablets with a tablet device. A graphics tablet plugs into your desktop computer as a peripheral. What you draw on the tablet with your stylus then appears in your graphics program. At the most basic end of graphics tablets are simple pads that sit on your desk. You draw on the pad and the lines appear on the computer monitor. There are also more advanced models with screens. These allow you to see what you are drawing and have more of the feel of traditional pen and paper art.
As for graphics programs, Photoshop is the standard for many artists, but there are other programs available. The one you choose depends on your own familiarity with the programs, as well as what type of digital art you are planning to pursue.
Contact a digital art hardware dealer for more help. For more information, contact a business such as Computer Art Tools.
