Drawing programs - what to choose? List of the best free products. Draw on the computer. MyPaint program, a drawing tool for the computer

In the modern world, computerized technology is so developed that from an early age, we get used to gadgets and cannot imagine life without them. For example, paintings created using specialized programs will cause no less delight than those painted with brushes and paints on canvas. Advanced users, designers, artists, use specialized tablets to display graphics. But if you are new to this business and you have a desire to learn how to depict drawings using a computer, decide what exactly you want and what level of your computer knowledge. There are free graphic editors, with the help of their tools you can create spectacular drawings.

What drawing programs are there?

Remember, there are two types of files, vector and raster, their difference is in the set of programs and tools. Without going into a detailed analysis, we note that, in vector files, the image consists of curves, with shading functions. When you open this file, the editor program compiles everything from scratch. But in raster, the picture consists of a set of dots, it is the most universal, but the weight takes up more space.
Before you start studying graphics programs, decide what exactly you want and select the appropriate program:
Adobe Photoshop is a very difficult and powerful graphics editor for beginners. It is more suitable for professional photo processing, design, and websites. It is, of course, possible to learn how to draw using this program, but it will take a lot of time, you will spend a lot of effort, whether you need it.

The next option for your choice is a program called Corel Draw. This is also an advanced editor that helps to recreate images of unusual properties. It is usually used for processing logos and design purposes. Large selection of tools, multitasking.
And so, it is recommended for a beginner with basic computer knowledge to use the standard MS Paint program. Designed for those with little experience, helping to create a simple image. Packed with the usual functions that allow you to draw and edit images.

Introducing Paint

In every Windows, there are native, so to speak, programs that are added to the system initially and are considered standard. They do not require paid updates; among them there is a special Paint program. Of course, this is not a professional editor, its functions are limited, but for a beginner who wants to learn how to draw, this is enough. To get started, click the Start button and find the tab - All Programs. Then the list is Standard, and the Paint shortcut is hidden in it. After launching this program, draw something; on the left are the tools for use. You can select a brush of the desired shade in the palette panel located below. Point the cursor at a readable part of the sheet and use the left mouse button, holding it, to draw an object. Similar actions can be done with the rest of the proposed tools.

After completing the work, you can save the picture if you wish by going to Files, click – Save As, select the intended location, and give the file a name instead of “Untitled”. Please pay attention to the field below - File type, select the desired format, save the image.

Paint Tools

After an introductory acquaintance with the program, we can analyze the actions in detail and proceed to more complex drawings. The panel itself of this program is similar to the Word interface. You already know where the toolbar is, so let’s start to understand them, let’s start drawing and practicing.
A brush is a tool with which we draw something; its functionality allows you to choose a different shape and thickness. We point at the middle of the sheet, that is, our canvas, and according to the description above, draw any image.
A pencil, similar to a brush, allows you to freely draw thin lines.
The Spray tool paints with dots, just like the real thing. You can also change colors.
The next Paint function is Fill, which allows you to fill the entire host with the selected color, giving it a background, as well as individual elements of the picture.
The eraser, like real stationery, erases parts of the image if necessary.
Using the Text function, you can make an arbitrary inscription on the picture. At the same time, an additional panel will appear where you can select the font, size, style. You can also change the background of the text itself.
In addition to arbitrary lines, you have access to tools with ready-made shapes, such as a rectangle, circle, oval, stars and a lot of other geometric shapes. Their size, outline color and elongation can be adjusted as desired.

Drawing lessons in the Paint editor

Now, using the disassembled tools, let’s draw a banal and simple picture. We divide the canvas into two parts, drawing a horizontal line. In the middle of this line, use an eraser to make a small space and insert a rectangle, on top exactly along the contour, draw a triangle and you get a frame, the simplest image of a house. Using fill, we paint the lower part of the horizontal line with green color, this will be our grass, and the upper part can be made slightly blue - it will represent the sky. Using the Spray tool, white, we make clouds, and a black brush, we draw the ticks of birds. Next is the flight of your imagination - draw windows on the house, on the sides of it, tree bushes, also using either a brush or ready-made graphic shapes. And of course, don’t forget about the sun. You can add text, congratulations, making, for example, a postcard, all that remains is to save it.

Changing or adding an inscription on a picture, or inserting/cutting an element on a photo. You just need to go to the panel in File, Open, select an image and work with it. As you can see, this program has a wide range of capabilities, of course, there are also disadvantages. Lack of function, Autosave limits use, do not forget to save your work. And if you make a mistake, you can cancel actions only three steps back; the editor doesn’t remember more.

Graphics tablet

I want to say a little more about computer artistic capabilities. For the convenience of artists and designers, we invented such an interesting gadget. This tool facilitates hand-drawn images directly into the tablet. It consists of a pen (pen), a flat tablet and sometimes a special mouse. Using a special pen, you can draw like a drawing board. Graphic tablets are used, in particular, to create images, similar to working with a classic piece of paper, and are used to transfer finished images to a computer. Many tablets have a transparent, removable plastic cover, under which you can put a picture, a photograph, you can trace the image, copy it.

And the pen on one side is sharp, on the other it is like an eraser, available for erasing blots. In general, the thing is very interesting and multifunctional. But you need to prepare to master this difficult technique.

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Many people are mistaken that normal drawing on a computer requires a powerful processor. For optimal functioning, a processor frequency of 1.5-2 GHz will be enough for you. The choice between manufacturing companies is not fundamental; the amount of your funds is the decisive factor.

Main parameter your hardware for creating illustrations - quantity random access memory. Working applications, such as Photoshop, Painter, OpenCanvas, or even 3D graphics applications, require large amounts of RAM.

If your goal is to create complex, multi-layered sketches, then you need to purchase as much RAM as possible for your computer (you can work more or less optimally if you have from one gigabyte free RAM).

Video card You won’t need any of the latest current lines either. The manufacturer also does not play a special role, only your personal preferences. Among people involved in computer illustration, design, etc. There is an opinion that the best video cards for this are created by Matrox, but this, of course, is entirely subjective.

Drawing equipment

Next, we should move on to one of the most important aspects of this type of artistic art - the main equipment. It's worth starting with scanner, it performs one of the key roles, namely, it transfers the picture depicted on paper into digital form.

Let me give you a simple example: you have drawn a tree and you need to move this tree to the forest. You scan the illustration, do a little stylization to match the overall image of the picture and transfer it as a separate layer to it, everything is ready, now your tree is in the right place.

The next essential part of being a proper graphic artist or designer is tablet. Such equipment is created most often of two types - graphic And drafting. Let's talk a little more about this.

Graphics tablet– has a small working area, creates a point rougher than a drawing one and reacts to the force of pressure on the pen, which greatly facilitates the work. Using professional software like Adobe Photoshop, it is more convenient to handle chiaroscuro and brushes on such a tablet.

Drawing tablet– created for CAD programs such as AutoCAD, 3DMAXStudio, etc. Such a gadget does not feel pressure on the pen; the dot is either there or it is not. It is often distinguished by very pleasant and high resolution and positioning accuracy.

In the case we are talking about, a graphics tablet is more suitable. Of course, it is better to buy more expensive ones, since they have a wider range of capabilities compared to cheap ones, but an ordinary one can also cope with its functions.

Another important, but not mandatory gadget is uninterruptable power source. None of us are protected from power outages, and we don’t want to lose our many hours of work. That is why it would be better to buy yourself such an assistant, so as not to grieve over the lost hours later.

How to draw with a mouse

You can realize your creative urges without special gadgets, using only with the mouse. This option is quite economical and simple, but then the task becomes hundreds of times more complicated, the lines become less even, and the operating time increases significantly.

This option only takes place if you set yourself the task of fulfilling simple drawings, or you are unable to purchase the required equipment. Or you just need to correct the scanned drawings.

As you can already understand, you cannot become a good artist on a computer with only a mouse, except in rare cases. People involved in graphics usually say: “You can draw with a mouse, but you don’t need to.”

But for working with a tablet, it is also useful, here are the requirements for it standard– it should fit well in the hand and be comfortable; it would be nice to have a third button on the side, but this, one might say, is already redundant.

Drawing apps

There are many specialized software packages, from the simplest, such as standard Paint in Windows, to complex ones, such as Adobe Photoshop. We will tell you about several of the most popular ones.

Painter– one of the most functional. It quite simply imitates all known and currently required materials for art, which allows you to expand the range of its capabilities. Is paid.

Adobe Photoshop– software created more for editing and processing photographs than for artistic art. But it has a huge storehouse of functions and materials. It has a huge number of filters, brushes and other add-ons. Also paid.

Corel Draw– a vector editor, less functional than the last two reviewed, but it is free and has normal, no frills, functionality.

Open Canvas– an editor similar to the leading programs in its field, but greatly simplified. It is recommended to begin your acquaintance with computer drawing here. Quite a lot inferior“flagship” in its field, but still has good functions and is completely free.

Computer graphics kits

Minimum set– mouse, computer, scanner, sheet of paper, pencil and graphics editor.

A very labor-intensive set, but it allows you to create relatively high-quality work. A sketch is created on paper, scanned, and processed. The end result, with enough diligence, is good work.

Comfortable set– mouse, scanner, computer, good graphics/vector editor and drawing kit.

Using a vector editor, any curved lines can be drawn correctly. Also, with normal ability to use drawing packages, you can create quite good works. Mostly relevant only for vector editors.

Good set– a normal computer, a high-quality mouse (can be a trackball) with a mouse pad, a scanner, a graphics tablet and paid programs (at least one, preferably Photoshop)

With such a set you can reach a fairly high level, the restrictions are only on your skill.

Even in ancient times, people began to draw. First they carved designs on stones, then on parchments. Over the years, a large number of drawing tools have appeared. Nowadays, this tool is the computer. There are a large number of programs for working with graphics. This article will tell you how to draw on a computer.

Each Windows operating system has built-in ones. Typically, this is Paint. If you don’t know how to find it, then you should go to the “Start” menu, and in the “Find programs” field write the word “Paint”. Next, for the program to open, just click on its name. Paint has all the necessary tools: eraser, pencil, fill, etc. If your Internet is turned off, or you are simply bored, then you can pass the time by drawing various pictures.

If you are in the mood to create serious landscapes or other paintings, then the Paint program is not suitable. More serious tools need to be used.

Computer graphics can be divided into two types: vector and raster. The latter is a grid of pixels of a certain size. How to draw on a computer using this You can do this using the image editor Adobe Photoshop. This program is rightfully considered one of the most popular and effective for drawing. In addition, many professionals use Photoshop to work with graphic elements.

There are also programs that are not as advanced as Adobe Photoshop, such as Gimp. Despite its simplicity, it has a large number of functions, many argue that it is a very good alternative to Adobe. With Gimp you can easily understand how to draw on the computer.

Vector graphics are based on the use of geometric objects: points, polygons and lines. Its advantage is that you can enlarge the image without deteriorating the picture quality.

The best option for processing vector graphics is the graphics editor Adobe Illustrator. These programs are considered the best. When you are wondering how to draw on a computer and which program to choose, these are the ones you should pay attention to because they are used by professional designers, artists and other specialists in this field.

You can also use Inkscape for vector graphics. This graphics editor is not as popular as the programs described above, but it is good for drawing.

You can also draw using graphics tablets. Are they designed to create images on a computer using a graphics tablet? This tool comes with a pen that you use to move across its surface, and your touches from the pen are translated onto the computer screen. The best program for drawing using a graphics tablet is Paint tool SAI. It simulates drawing on real paper. Drawing on a tablet is much more convenient than on a PC, since using a mouse does not produce very straight lines and your hand constantly shakes. Using a pen, you can draw smooth and clear lines. True, a high-quality graphics tablet costs a lot of money (from

So you have found out the answer to the question of how to draw on a computer. To do this, you just need a drawing program and desire. To ensure that the result does not disappoint, you can buy a special graphics tablet.

Earlier I wrote that various actions on a computer are performed by using the corresponding programs. So you already know that text is written in a program - a text editor, the simplest of which is called Notepad. You can even draw on a computer using a program - a graphic editor. A text document with a name is a text file. Similarly, a graphic document, such as a photograph, drawing or drawing, is a graphic file.
Work with this type of documents is carried out in graphic editor.

There are different graphic editors, just like text editors. One of the well-known programs is a graphic editor Photoshop with great potential. This program is paid, again far from cheap, sometimes it can be installed on a computer when you purchase it and, of course, is included in the price. There are other free graphic editors that are not inferior in capabilities to the Photoshop editor.

The simplest program - a graphic editor, supplied with the Windows operating system and installed on your computer, is called Paint. For all its simplicity graphic editor Paint knows how to do many useful, interesting and beautiful things. Having mastered this editor, you will later be able to easily use other “cooler” graphic editors.

Using a graphic editor Paint you can view photos, copy them, cut out part of the photo, inscribe, and also create your own multi-colored drawing or a painting (if you have artistic abilities), design a personalized greeting card, draw a garden plan, etc.

Place the cursor on the "Start" button in the lower left corner of the monitor screen, move the cursor higher until the inscription "All programs", the inscription will be highlighted in blue.
A column with a list of programs will appear on the right. Move the cursor to the right in this column and select the inscription “Standard” from the list; the inscription will be highlighted in blue.
Another column with a list will appear on the right.
Move the cursor to the right in this column and select the inscription " Paint", the inscription will be highlighted in blue. Click on this inscription.

Attention!

This tutorial was previously written for a previous version of the Paint program included with the Windows XP operating system. Currently, the Windows 10 operating system includes a new version of the Paint graphics editor. The interface (appearance) of the editor has changed, the layout of the panels and some inscriptions have changed. The principle of operation of the program remains the same.
I will show some changes for Windows 10 here in red text, accompanied by new pictures. Read everything else from the previous text.

A window will open, at the top of which there is the inscription “Untitled - Paint”. In order to expand this window to full screen, select “View” in the top line, select “Zoom” in the drop-down menu, and click “Large”. A large white field appeared in front of us - a space for work. When you zoomed in, not the entire field fit on the screen; scroll engines appeared at the bottom and right. By clicking on them with the left button and holding, you can drag the sliders one to the right, the other down to view the entire image. If this seems inconvenient to you, return the previous scale.

A window will open, at the top of which there is the inscription “Untitled – Paint”. In order to expand this window to full screen, select “View” in the top line, select “Zoom” in the drop-down menu, and click “Enlarge”.
When you zoomed in, not the entire field fit on the screen; scroll engines appeared at the bottom and right. By clicking on them with the left button and holding, you can drag the sliders one to the right, the other down to view the entire image. If this seems inconvenient to you, return the previous scale.
Next, click “Home”.

In the upper left corner you see toolbar, and at the bottom left is a color palette. Your cursor on the white field has taken the shape of a pencil, and the button with the image of a pencil is pressed on the toolbar.
Select any color from the palette by clicking the mouse and move the cursor across the field. The pencil will draw a line with the selected color.

A color palette appeared at the top right, the “Tools” panel appeared at the top left, and the cursor took the shape of a cross.
Click on the pencil in “Tools”.
Select any color from the palette by clicking the mouse and move the cursor across the field. The pencil will draw a line with the selected color.
Choose a brush instead of a pencil, change the color from the palette.

Select a brush instead of a pencil, change the color from the palette, select the brush size at the bottom of the toolbar (try different ones), move the brush across the field.

Below the pencil there is a button with a spray icon. Click on it and change the color. Briefly click on the white field, another time click and hold longer.
Depending on the duration, the spray will be less or more filled. The spot size is also selectable at the bottom of the toolbar.

Click on the arrow in the “Brushes” tool, a panel with different options will open, one of them is “Sprayer”.
Briefly click on the white field, another time click and hold longer.
Depending on the duration, the spray will be less or more filled.

If you select one of the lines in the Thickness panel, it will determine the size of the spray spot.
The thickness of the brush is also selected.

In the "Shapes" panel, select the "Line", "Rectangle" buttons, at the bottom of the toolbar, set the line thickness in the "Thickness" panel. To draw a line, place the cursor, click and, without releasing, drag further. To view an enlarged picture, click on the magnifying glass on the toolbar and click on the image. At the top of the toolbar there is an "Eraser" button, click on it, then drag along the drawn lines to erase them. You can also select the eraser size in the Weight panel by selecting the line thickness.

To draw a rectangle, place the cursor, click and, without releasing, drag along the diagonal of the rectangle. Using the "Ellipse" button you can draw both an ellipse and a circle, practice.
There is also a "Rectangle with rounded corners" button. When you hover over the buttons, read the tooltips. The polygon is drawn like this. Click the Polygon button. Place the cursor on the field, click and, without releasing, drag to the next corner of the future polygon, release, click again in the same place and drag to another corner, etc.
The resulting closed polygon (any closed contour) can be filled inside with color. Click on the Fill paint can in the toolbar, having previously selected a color, and click inside the outline.
There is also a "Curve" button. Select it. Place the cursor, click and, without releasing, drag, for example, vertically from top to bottom, release, you get a vertical straight line. Move the cursor to the line, for example, in the middle, click and, without releasing, drag, for example, to the left. Let go, you get a concave blue line.

It's time to save our experimental drawing. Click "File, Save As", double click open the "My Documents" folder, there is a "My Pictures" folder in it, open it.
Place the cursor in the "File name" line and enter the name, for example, "Figure_1", do not put quotation marks, do not put a space, instead of a space put an underscore (at the top of the keyboard while simultaneously pressing the Shift key with your left hand) or a dash.
Click "Save". The file name “drawing_1.bmp” will appear at the top above the white work field; the computer has added a dot and the extension “bmp”, which is used for this drawing file in this graphic editor.

To view an enlarged picture, click on the magnifying glass on the toolbar and at the bottom of the panel, click on the desired magnification scale. At the top of the toolbar there is an "Eraser" button, click on it, then drag along the drawn lines to erase them. You can also select the eraser size at the bottom of the panel. After you have erased something, click “Edit, Undo” in the top line, everything will appear again. Thus the program allows you to undo the last three actions.

You can delete everything drawn in another way. Click Edit, Select All, then click "Del" key on the keyboard. Try it, then return the drawing using the "Edit, Undo" method. Click “Edit, Select All” again, the cursor changes to a cross. Place a cross on the picture, press the left mouse button and, without releasing it, drag the entire picture to the free field. To remove the selection (the dotted line around the picture), click on the free field outside the dotted line.

After you have erased something, click the “Undo” arrow in the top line, everything will appear again. Thus, the program allows you to undo the last three actions.

You can delete everything drawn in another way. In the top line, open the “Select” arrow and select “Select All”.

You can return the drawing using the “Return” arrow.

To delete one of the shapes, open the “Select” button at the top and select “Rectangular Area”.

To delete one of the shapes, click the “Selection” rectangle on the toolbar, place the cursor in the upper left corner above the shape and drag it to the lower right corner, release. The figure is highlighted with a dotted line, press the "Del" key. Undo the last two actions: deleting and moving the picture. Save the document: "File, Save".
Now click the "View, View Picture" button. To return to the previous state, left-click on the picture field.

It's time to save our experimental drawing. Click "File, Save As". In the previous version it was possible to select only the BMP format. In the new version of the Paint editor, other saving formats have appeared, with other extensions. You can use any of them, there are some differences that are not significant for you. The most commonly used JPEG format, providing a small file size.

Windows 10 doesn't have the same My Pictures folder, so click Pictures and create a new Pictures folder, double-click it and save the picture.

If you have artistic abilities and skills, you can draw a portrait of yourself, or an animal, or a flower, and then use it as an avatar, for example in a real-time communication program. To create your own avatar (if you don’t have a photo on your computer), you can draw some geometric pattern or symbol.

Select your pattern using a rectangular selection, click "Edit, Copy to File", your "My Pictures" folder will open, give the file a name, for example "avatar_1", click "Save".
The system will add a dot and the letters "bmp" to the name. You already know that these letters are called extensions and are used to help the computer understand which program should open a given file. The "bmp" extension corresponds to the Paint graphics editor.
The file "avatar_1.bmp" is in the folder. To see how it turned out, click "File, Open", click on the avatar image, then "Open". Read how to insert an avatar in lesson No. 10.

Select your pattern using a rectangular selection, click on the “Crop” button at the top, then: File, Save As, Image in JPG format, your “Pictures” folder will open, give the file a name, for example “avatar_1”, click “Save”. The system will add a dot and the letters "jpg" to the name.

If you want to paint a picture or draw a sketch of the layout of your garden plot, but in the process of work you are afraid that you will spoil everything that has already been drawn, I recommend that from time to time you save intermediate versions of the work under different names, for example, “plan_1, plan_2, plan_3” etc. The final result of the site plan can be called "plan_done", and after reviewing, when you are sure that the sketch is complete and correct, delete all intermediate options.
To delete an unnecessary intermediate file, go to the “My Documents, My Pictures” folder, select the file, click on it, then press the “Del” key.

Throughout its existence, the computer has repeatedly changed its role, gradually developing and turning from a simple calculator into a powerful multimedia center. Using a computer you can play, watch movies, listen to music, communicate and, of course, draw. Sometimes the term “drawing on a computer” is understood in general. This is not entirely true. Creating collages, retouching, adding effects - all this belongs to the field of editing; drawing means creating graphic images from scratch.

There are a lot of programs that allow you to create graphic drawings, but only a small part of them can really be useful to an artist who decides to test his talent on a virtual canvas.

One such program is MyPaint- a simple and free graphic editor, or better said (it would be more correct) a program for artistic drawing.

Drawings made in this program are almost no different in appearance from those drawn with pencil and paint on paper or canvas. You can download the program from official website

The main advantage of MyPaint over other graphic editors is its simplicity and support for peripheral devices, in particular, drawing on a computer using digitizers (usually called tablets in everyday life).

Another distinctive feature of MyPaint is a huge, almost dimensionless canvas, which can be navigated using arrows and replaceable mosaic backgrounds.

The external interface of the program is somewhat reminiscent of GIMP - the palette, brushes and layers panels are presented in the form of freely movable windows, which can always be fixed if desired.

Another feature of MyPaint is its incredibly simple interface, and, as it may seem at first glance, its functionality is terribly limited.

Users with experience in Photoshop will most likely even be confused, not knowing what to do.

The tools that are so familiar to other graphic editors are simply missing in MyPaint.

But there are many brushes for painting, and all the brushes are fully editable.

Even an eraser is just one of the types of brushes. And in addition, it is possible to download and load additional brushes or create your own.

The easiest way to control the few tools in MyPaint is with hotkeys.

This way you can change the size of brushes, the level of lightening, opacity, change the blending mode or expand the canvas without making unnecessary mouse movements and without being distracted from the drawing process.

For example, on the control panel you will not find tools for drawing straight lines or an eyedropper for taking a color sample, but nevertheless they exist and to use them you will again need to press the desired key.

Pictures created in MyPaint can be saved in PNG, JPG, and OpenRaster format, which allows you to open and edit multilayer images in the Gimp graphic editor. Overall, MyPaint is quite unique.

The program is lightweight and runs on most versions of OS Windows; there are also versions for Mac and Linux.

Of course, this program cannot be called professional; this product is more suitable for beginning artists; to some extent, MyPaint can be considered as a preparatory step to working in the more powerful and functional Corel Painter.