They’re arguably the two best open-source graphics apps available, and they’re both free, but Inkscape focuses on vector graphics instead of raster graphics. Inkscape almost feels like a companion app to GIMP, even though there’s no official connection between the two. Formerly Autodesk Sketchbook, this app originally started as a free program, which was then purchased by Autodesk, who eventually turned it back into a separate company once again.ĭespite this confusion, it’s definitely worth a look thanks to its unique interface and responsive drawing engine. Sketchbook is another great free drawing/painting/illustration app, although it also has a paid service tier available. Since it was designed for painting and drawing from the start, it offers a number of helpful features that aren’t readily available in GIMP. While it’s nice to have them available to GIMP users, using them with the original app is a much more enjoyable experience. MyPaintĪs you might have guessed, MyPaint is the source of the MyPaint brushes in GIMP that I mentioned earlier. There are other drawing apps that can work better than drawing in GIMP. The Fill Path options don’t let you apply paint tools, so it might be better to fill any shapes by hand if you want to use MyPaint brushes for drawing. Once you’re satisfied with the shape of your path, simply click the Stroke Path button and GIMP will allow you to choose from the same set of options: to apply a solid color, a pattern, or a paint tool along with the shape of the path. The Tool Options panel shows the Paths tool You could also use selections created by the Fuzzy Select tool (Magic Wand) or any of the other selection tools, but only if you’re drawing on an image that has something in the background for them to work on. Selections are best used for drawing the simple shapes that you can make using the Rectangle Select and Elliptical Select tools. Selections are quick and easy, but using paths allows you to create more flowing, freeform shapes with relative ease. To get started, create your shape template using one of the selection tools or the Paths tool. The stroke system allows you to create a selection or a path and then have GIMP trace the outline with a solid color, a pattern, or even one of the many brush-based tools such as the MyPaint brush. If freehand drawing isn’t your style (or within your ability, like yours truly), you can use a different method to draw in GIMP: strokes. If you want a more detailed explanation of the MyPaint system, check out my article on how to paint in GIMP. There are a huge number of brushes that recreate all kinds of drawing media, from pencils to charcoal to pastels, and even blending tools. The MyPaint brush uses the open-source MyPaint library created by the app of the same name, but it’s not just for painting. You can use the Paintbrush tool, the Pencil tool, and the Ink tool, but the really impressive visuals come from using the MyPaint brush, which is stacked in the same section as the other three. Once that’s out of the way, the only secret is to learn to use the various brushes. Your tablet might not work instantly with GIMP, so I’ve prepared a different guide on how to use pressure sensitivity in GIMP. You don’t need to spend a huge amount of money on a fancy one since even a small cheap drawing tablet will give you better results than trying to do serious brushwork with a mouse. If you’re serious about digital sketching, drawing, or painting, I strongly recommend that you buy yourself a graphics tablet.Ī drawing tablet transforms the whole process of interacting with GIMP, and they usually come with a pressure-sensitive stylus and handy shortcut buttons. This is certainly the simplest method for drawing in GIMP, although it can be hard to do with a mouse.
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