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SKYLAB CHAT
- Thread starter skylab
- Start date
skylab
Esteemed
Hey Terre 
The GIMP has also been recently updated to version 2.10.8
Also, Krita 4.1.5 update was released last month (Krita is Swedish for "draw" or "to chalk"). This free painting program has an outstanding set of blending tools, seven different types in all, found on the 12th and 13th rows of the right side panel tools section (shown in highlighted red box in screen capture below). The only other painting program that I know of (that's affordable) that comes close to this type of blending capability is Rebelle (which I love...great watercolor and painting effects).
The GIMP has also been recently updated to version 2.10.8
Also, Krita 4.1.5 update was released last month (Krita is Swedish for "draw" or "to chalk"). This free painting program has an outstanding set of blending tools, seven different types in all, found on the 12th and 13th rows of the right side panel tools section (shown in highlighted red box in screen capture below). The only other painting program that I know of (that's affordable) that comes close to this type of blending capability is Rebelle (which I love...great watercolor and painting effects).
skylab
Esteemed
Some of these are well worth it Terre. It's not just that they are freeware. I've gotten rather disgusted with Corel's Paint Shop Pro (was great when it was JASC) because if you get another hard drive, or want it on a laptop and maybe a workstation, their software is so tied to the computer that the licenses run out and they become useless, and other companies are doing the same type of thing. I like the way Howler 11's author put it....I sell my software to the artist, not the computer, and he puts no computer locking on his PD Howler or PD Artist, which by the way is still only $2.99 at DAZ.
What I look for in painting and imaging software is realistic drawing and painting tools, and good blending or smudging tools. So far the best has been Rebelle 3 (I got in on that deal when it first was in beta, so for a minimal cost, I have a great painting program now), and Krita. So far I've not been able to locate blending tools in PD Howler or PD Artist, but it has wonderful effects. ArtRage has a fun interface, but again, haven't found any blending tools. PhotoFiltre is more of an imaging program, but even it has a good blending feature. Artweaver 6 is free and does at least have one smear tool, and nice painting tools (including calligraphy). And finally, the GIMP has a smudge tool, with capabilities similar to Photoshop, while being free.
I've been researching these lately since someone in my family is interested in trying to learn how to draw and paint on their computer...so I'm testing all the free and affordable choices out there to find the best way, or ways, to go with it.
So, have fun Terre...and if you create something nice, post it for us. We're not limited to just 3D.
One fun way of testing was, I imported an apple that I had drawn awhile back, and then applied painting techniques to it but mostly used blending tools, like in Rebelle or Krita...and in about 10 minutes, had transformed it from a crayon drawing to a painted image...just by blending, and occasionally applying color (see below). This is far from perfect, but you get the idea how it could be used with imported images, rather than always starting from a blank screen...and can at least be good practice handling the mouse, if you don't own a tablet. If you want to try it, just download the crayon drawing of the apple below, and try it with one of the programs that have blending tools. Have fun
What I look for in painting and imaging software is realistic drawing and painting tools, and good blending or smudging tools. So far the best has been Rebelle 3 (I got in on that deal when it first was in beta, so for a minimal cost, I have a great painting program now), and Krita. So far I've not been able to locate blending tools in PD Howler or PD Artist, but it has wonderful effects. ArtRage has a fun interface, but again, haven't found any blending tools. PhotoFiltre is more of an imaging program, but even it has a good blending feature. Artweaver 6 is free and does at least have one smear tool, and nice painting tools (including calligraphy). And finally, the GIMP has a smudge tool, with capabilities similar to Photoshop, while being free.
I've been researching these lately since someone in my family is interested in trying to learn how to draw and paint on their computer...so I'm testing all the free and affordable choices out there to find the best way, or ways, to go with it.
So, have fun Terre...and if you create something nice, post it for us. We're not limited to just 3D.
One fun way of testing was, I imported an apple that I had drawn awhile back, and then applied painting techniques to it but mostly used blending tools, like in Rebelle or Krita...and in about 10 minutes, had transformed it from a crayon drawing to a painted image...just by blending, and occasionally applying color (see below). This is far from perfect, but you get the idea how it could be used with imported images, rather than always starting from a blank screen...and can at least be good practice handling the mouse, if you don't own a tablet. If you want to try it, just download the crayon drawing of the apple below, and try it with one of the programs that have blending tools. Have fun
I also preferred when JASC owned it. My favorite version is PSP7, though I did upgrade to PSP8 and then PSP9, but PSP7 is the only one I still use for quick screenshots and such, because my PS CS2 takes too long to start up when I need something quick. I think my first version was PSP6.
skylab
Esteemed
Me too Miss B I started with PSP6 and then PSP7, then version 8 and finally PSP9 is what I have loaded now. Corel's versions are too heavily laden with what could be called photo thumb nails and albums, and loading all that stuff, plus online ties to other things, has made the program so slow. They were aiming for inexperienced users, grandmas doing photo collages of their grandkids...and left the original users of PSP behind. It had been the "poor man's Photoshop" back in the day....now the GIMP has slid into that place by default.
My first digital drawing was in 1992 on an IBM 286 with a color monitor...I used a little $15 DOS imaging program called SPLASH and created the picture below pixel by pixel (took awhile...haha), then later animated his mouth in order for him to "speak"...haha. I chose that program because it could override the 16 color limitation, and give 256 "true color". With the difference in resolution then vs now, back then 640 x 480 was super duper full screen. So I was pushing the capabilities even back then
I started with PSP6 and then PSP7, then version 8 and finally PSP9 is what I have loaded now. Corel's versions are too heavily laden with what could be called photo thumb nails and albums, and loading all that stuff, plus online ties to other things, has made the program so slow. They were aiming for inexperienced users, grandmas doing photo collages of their grandkids...and left the original users of PSP behind. It had been the "poor man's Photoshop" back in the day....now the GIMP has slid into that place by default.My first digital drawing was in 1992 on an IBM 286 with a color monitor...I used a little $15 DOS imaging program called SPLASH and created the picture below pixel by pixel (took awhile...haha), then later animated his mouth in order for him to "speak"...haha. I chose that program because it could override the 16 color limitation, and give 256 "true color". With the difference in resolution then vs now, back then 640 x 480 was super duper full screen. So I was pushing the capabilities even back then
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skylab
Esteemed
Wow Terre, PSP5 was released back in 1998. I can remember it was being used when our department first upgraded from using DOS WordPerfect 5 to using Windows 3.1, and Word for Windows...so it was just a step up from my DOS paint program, Splash. I can remember saying the same thing about PSP5...that Splash did all that I needed to do at the time...haha. I finally came out of my comfort zone and tried PSP6 after meeting several members of graphics groups online, and everybody...I mean everybody back then...was using version 6. So I let go of my DOS programs when I moved up to Windows 98 at home, and learned PSP6...then I was JASC's most loyal customer. I was so disappointed when they announced selling out to Corel. JASC sent me a letter announcing the changes, and a disc of version 8...and I hung on to that and continued to use it for years, until I saw something on the forum here about there being a JASC PSP9, and then found it on Amazon. I still prefer it for layers and transparency work. But by it being a bit dated, it lacks the realistic painting tools that are available now in newer software, and even freeware.
I switched to PSP when a 2D graphic company (unfortunately I don't recall the name) who produced the software I was using back then announced they were going to be bundling all their software together, and wouldn't be offering separate software apps any more. Disappointed a good many folks on a forum for that software back then, so I went looking for something else, and found PSP.
Eventually I started playing with Photoshop 5.5, and still have version CS2. I didn't update it every time there was a new version, but my current version does everything I want it to, and I don't like the way some companies have gone the "subscription" route. Just annoys me to no end.
Eventually I started playing with Photoshop 5.5, and still have version CS2. I didn't update it every time there was a new version, but my current version does everything I want it to, and I don't like the way some companies have gone the "subscription" route. Just annoys me to no end.
Terre
Renowned
He got the lifetime upgrade for Filter Forge too. He uses it so much that the initial expense was worth it.I was going to get PSP5, but by the time I went to purchase it, PSP6 and come out, so that wound up being my first version.
As for Filter Forge, I've been using that since version 1, and even switched to a Lifetime license with version 5.
Subscriptions annoy quite a few people I know when it comes to art programs. Several got the latest Adobe stuff on purpose just before the subscription versions came out and have no intention of ever "upgrading" to not owning the programs. They'll find something else to do the same job if they need to.
I bought the first 4 versions of FF when it would go on a good sale just before the next version came out but I, too, also thought I might as well, because if I added up the cost of the next few versions, even at a deep discount, it would be cheaper in the long run to just go for it.
skylab
Esteemed
I'm with you there...I just don't go for paying a subscription fee to access software. Have never done it...and never will, I feel fairly certain. Lots of reasons...one obvious...we've been discussing a favorite software company of ours that went out of business...but we still have the software to use. With subscriptions, if the company sells out or changes their service, no more software...and all investment in it is gone. And sometimes folks don't honor legal agreements. We all know of a situation...but I won't mention the name out of respect to the original main owner of that business...where "lifetime" subscriptions were sold in good faith, and folks bought in to it...so did I....but the wind of circumstances began to blow in a different direction, then the one time, lifetime subscription customers were emailed with arm-twisting notices and threats of termination of the service. Falling upon unfortunate circumstances were repeatedly given as the "reason" for paving the way toward closing down the service. I was far more panic-stricken when health and life-threatening circumstances fell upon me, on a fixed income, with "wealth-care" insurance becoming increasingly useless right before my eyes...but it never once entered my mind to blame my friends, arm-twist anyone, or even mention that I was having a problem to those who were powerless to help (I sent my pleas for help up to the Only One who could help). Having been through all that drama, I can say that it's never okay to use those excuses to dishonor one's customers or break an agreement in such an inflaming way. If changes are necessary, break the news to once-respected customers in an appropriate, respectful way, then at least they can find the grace to accept it in good faith. Now it seems the winds of circumstances are blowing in yet another, possibly advantageous, direction...and now all those lifetime subscribers may be realizing that they've been had, as their "lifetime subscription" fees go sailing off into the sunset. So...any pay-in-advance subscriptions to software, or services, sounds kind of like the same old same old...and when you've been there and done that, nothing can entice you to repeat the dance.
I like the way the author of PD Howler puts it in his software agreement...he says that he sells his software to artists, not computers. That's an indication that he still respects his customers. I know that software piracy is one of the reasons being given for all the changes in marketing...but, for crying out loud, we're in a time where hackers are breaking into the websites of financial and insurance institutions...and we have to wake up and realize, if you make a conscious decision to do business on the internet, you have to automatically factor in piracy losses the same way a brick-and-mortar store has to factor in theft of merchandise as part of operating overhead. Gone are the days of honest dealing (and remember, American society wanted it this way when we decided to pitch out the idea of right and wrong...you can't have it both ways...either there are standards...or not, and we all suffer living in a world where there are none). Watch the local news sometime....where people are having to install security cameras at their door because folks are stealing packages this time of year daily, in broad daylight...they roam the neighborhoods like they are on a regular route, doing their "shopping"....since customers have fled to online shopping, the pirates have followed the money. Subscription software services will surely invite hackers, the way the packages on a porch invite "shoppers". On a lighter note, there are some rather amusing gadgets being sold now to frighten unwelcome porch package pirate intruders...and those videos are shown on the local news as well...would-be thieves running for their lives to the sound of guard dogs, or gun fire, or some other deterrent...haha...so far, it seems to be working
I like the way the author of PD Howler puts it in his software agreement...he says that he sells his software to artists, not computers. That's an indication that he still respects his customers. I know that software piracy is one of the reasons being given for all the changes in marketing...but, for crying out loud, we're in a time where hackers are breaking into the websites of financial and insurance institutions...and we have to wake up and realize, if you make a conscious decision to do business on the internet, you have to automatically factor in piracy losses the same way a brick-and-mortar store has to factor in theft of merchandise as part of operating overhead. Gone are the days of honest dealing (and remember, American society wanted it this way when we decided to pitch out the idea of right and wrong...you can't have it both ways...either there are standards...or not, and we all suffer living in a world where there are none). Watch the local news sometime....where people are having to install security cameras at their door because folks are stealing packages this time of year daily, in broad daylight...they roam the neighborhoods like they are on a regular route, doing their "shopping"....since customers have fled to online shopping, the pirates have followed the money. Subscription software services will surely invite hackers, the way the packages on a porch invite "shoppers". On a lighter note, there are some rather amusing gadgets being sold now to frighten unwelcome porch package pirate intruders...and those videos are shown on the local news as well...would-be thieves running for their lives to the sound of guard dogs, or gun fire, or some other deterrent...haha...so far, it seems to be working
skylab
Esteemed
I noticed that one of the features of Filter Forge Basic is seamless tiling. I use a neat little freeware utility called AMP Tile Viewer. It's great for doing huge star fields, to check for and eliminate any indication of obvious repeating patterns. And I use a small, stand alone program called Universe Image Creator. When I first started web building, I did a lot of space themes on my website, so I was always searching for tools for that purpose (and still do, to some degree).
skylab
Esteemed
There is a freeware program called Spacescape that has a similar function to the older programs mentioned above, info and download here. It's used to create starfield images for sky domes or sky boxes.