In digital art, the tools you use can make a big difference in your creative process and the quality of your work. Whether you're an experienced illustrator or just starting out, having the right knowledge and software is essential for streamlining your workflow and opening new creative possibilities.
In this post, we'll take a closer look at some of the key software and tools that every digital artist and illustrator should consider mastering, along with the pros and cons of digital illustration, featuring insight from local digital artist, Jorden Prussing.
Pros and Cons of Digital Art
Let’s start by acknowledging some of the benefits and drawbacks of digital artwork.
Pros
- Flexibility and undo function: One of the biggest advantages of digital art is the ability to easily correct mistakes. The undo function lets you revert changes instantly, unlike traditional mediums where mistakes can be difficult or even impossible to fix. Jorden shares, “The undo button (ctrl z) is your best friend!”
- Infinite colors, tools, & effects: Digital platforms offer a wide range of colors, tools, brushes, and effects that mimic traditional media like paint, pencil, and ink. You also have access to features like blending modes, filters, and layer effects that aren't possible with physical media.
- Non-destructive editing: With layers and masks, digital artists can make changes without permanently altering the original artwork. This non-destructive approach allows for easy revisions and experimentation.
- Cost effective in the long run: Once you have the necessary hardware and software, digital art can be more affordable compared to traditional media, as there are no recurring costs for paint, canvases, brushes, or paper.
- Scalability & resolution: Digital illustrations can be resized and adapted for various formats without the quality issues often faced in traditional art. Vector art, in particular, can be scaled infinitely.
- Easy sharing & reproduction: Digital art can be shared instantly online, reproduced without loss of quality, and easily stored on digital platforms or cloud services.
Cons
- High upfront cost: Getting started with digital art requires an upfront investment in hardware (like tablets or computers) and software, which can be expensive. Many tools also require recurring subscription costs.
- Learning curve: Mastering digital tools can take time, especially if you're used to traditional mediums. Software like Photoshop and Illustrator have many advanced features, which can be overwhelming for beginners.
- Lack of tangibility: Digital art lacks the tactile experience of working with traditional materials, which some artists find less satisfying. There’s also no "original" piece in the same sense as traditional art, which can affect the value of a piece in certain contexts, like fine art sales. Jorden says, “It can feel weird to have a disconnect between the art and yourself. I enjoy holding my prints so they feel real!”
- Overreliance on technology: Digital art requires access to hardware and software, and technical issues like software crashes or hardware malfunctions can disrupt your workflow. Without backups, you also risk losing your work.
- File management: “Sometimes keeping track of your files (or layers) can feel tedious and stressful if you aren’t careful with organization. There are a lot of different file types to learn too.”
- Color matching: Color matching from screen to print can be tricky. Jorden warns, “Oftentimes, colors look a little different depending on your monitor and the quality of your printer.”
- Screen fatigue: Spending long hours staring at a screen can cause eye strain, fatigue, and discomfort, which is a downside compared to the more hands-on, physical engagement of traditional art.
Despite some drawbacks and limitations, Jorden shares his love and appreciation for digital illustration. “I love digital art because of the convenience and wide array of tools that are at my disposal. The ability to work on separate layers, flip my canvas, and have an undo button really helps me with my workflow and lets me experiment with my art. I’m able to efficiently create my work or try something new with no stress. I’m always learning and figuring out new interactions or techniques to improve.”
Now that we've covered the advantages and challenges of digital art, let’s explore the essential tools that will help you navigate this creative field.
Essential Tools & Software for Digital Illustration
Adobe Photoshop
Adobe Photoshop is a staple in the creative industry, known for its versatility and powerful features. It’s a go-to for digital painting, photo manipulation, and graphic design. Photoshop’s raster-based approach makes it ideal for creating detailed, high-resolution artwork.
The key features of Photoshop are the brush engine, layer management, and smart objects.
- Photoshop’s brush engine is one of its standout features. With customizable brushes, you can create anything from delicate pencil strokes to organic, painterly textures.
- Layers are crucial in Photoshop’s non-destructive editing process. By using layers, you can separate different elements of your artwork, making it easier to make changes without affecting the entire composition.
- Smart Objects in Photoshop let you create reusable elements that can be scaled and edited without losing quality. This is especially useful for complex compositions where you might need to tweak details without starting from scratch.
Staying organized in Photoshop is key. Use groups and clear titles to keep your layers manageable. Remember to save your work often!
Adobe Illustrator
Adobe Illustrator is the industry standard for vector-based illustration and design. It’s perfect for creating scalable artwork like logos, icons, and intricate illustrations.
The key features of Illustrator are the pen tool, shape builder, and artboards.
- The pen tool is central to Illustrator’s functionality, enabling precise path creation. Mastering this tool is crucial for creating clean, scalable vector graphics.
- Illustrator’s shape builder tool simplifies the process of creating complex shapes by letting you merge, subtract, or intersect multiple paths. This tool is intuitive, making it easier to bring your designs to life without complicated steps.
- One of Illustrator’s strengths is its ability to manage multiple artboards within a single document. This is particularly helpful when you need to handle different versions of an illustration or export assets for various purposes, like web or print.
For a smooth workflow, consider integrating Illustrator with other Adobe tools like Photoshop. This allows you to leverage the strengths of each program, whether you’re working on branding projects or detailed illustrations.
Procreate
Procreate has become a favorite among digital painters, especially those who prefer working on the iPad. It’s known for its user-friendly interface, powerful features, and high-quality output. Procreate’s portability makes it ideal for illustrators who like the freedom to create anywhere.
Procreate’s key features are brush customization, gesture controls, and time-lapse recordings.
- Procreate’s brush customization options are extensive, allowing you to create or modify brushes to fit your style. Whether you’re aiming to replicate traditional media or develop something unique, Procreate’s brush library offers the tools you need.
- Procreate’s gesture controls are designed to enhance your workflow. Multi-touch gestures let you quickly navigate your canvas, undo actions, or access tools. Customizing these gestures can significantly speed up your creative process.
- Procreate’s automatic time-lapse recording feature is great for documenting your drawing process. It’s perfect for sharing on social media or adding dynamic content to your portfolio!
Managing layers effectively in Procreate is essential for creating complex illustrations. Use clipping masks and alpha locks to control details without affecting the entire layer. Backing up your Procreate files regularly, whether to the cloud or an external drive, helps protect your work.
Adobe Fresco
Adobe Fresco is designed for artists who love to draw and paint, combining the power of Photoshop with the natural feel of traditional media. Available on both iPad and desktop, Fresco integrates seamlessly with other Adobe Creative Cloud apps, making it a versatile tool for illustrators.
The key features of Adobe Fresco include live brushes, vector and raster illustration, and the multicolor eyedropper.
- Fresco’s live brushes replicate real-world media, offering realistic watercolor and oil painting effects. The blending and layering capabilities provide a tactile experience, giving your digital artwork a rich, organic feel.
- Fresco allows you to work with both vector and raster brushes in the same project, providing flexibility to create detailed, scalable graphics alongside richly textured elements. This integration is ideal for artists who need both precision and expressiveness.
- The multicolor eyedropper in Fresco lets you capture multiple colors in a single brushstroke, allowing for smooth gradients and complex color transitions. It’s particularly useful for creating vibrant, dynamic artwork.
Sync your Fresco projects with Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to take advantage of their advanced editing features. Use Adobe Creative Cloud to manage your projects across devices, ensuring you can work on your art anytime, anywhere.
Blender
Blender is a free, open-source 3D creation suite that’s essential for digital artists interested in 3D modeling, sculpting, and animation. Its powerful features make it suitable for everything from concept art to fully rendered scenes.
Blender’s key features are 3D modeling and sculpting, texturing and shading, and animation and rigging.
- Blender provides robust tools for 3D modeling and sculpting, allowing you to create detailed characters, environments, and objects. Whether you’re building from scratch or sculpting high-resolution models, Blender offers the flexibility you need.
- Blender’s texturing and shading tools let you apply both procedural and hand-painted textures to your models. You can create realistic materials and shaders, adding depth and realism to your 3D scenes.
- Blender also excels in animation and rigging, offering tools for keyframe animation, character rigging, and physics simulations. Whether you’re creating short animations or complex visual effects, Blender’s animation capabilities are comprehensive.
To optimize your workflow in Blender, customize the interface to suit your needs and make use of its powerful keyboard shortcuts. Regularly saving your projects at different stages is a good habit, and exploring Blender’s extensive plugin library can help you expand its functionality. When your project is complete, you can integrate Blender files with other software like Photoshop to bring your artwork to life in new ways.
Tips for Beginners
Before we wrap up, Jorden shares his top 3 tips for digital art beginners:
- It’s worth acknowledging that while the plethora of tools can help you, it is still important to learn foundational art skills. I recommend drawing traditionally as well, especially if you’re new to art in general. Learning a program and learning to draw at the same time might be too much to process at once
- The digital interface might feel weird, foreign, or overwhelming. Initially you may feel uncomfortable with it, but it will become more intuitive as you practice. Getting used to a screen and a stylus might take a bit of time.
- Start simple! Draw scribbles or your favorite comfort subjects with the brush and eraser before trying to master the program. In time, try adding layers, then blend modes, then color balancing, etc.
Mahalo nui to Jorden Prussing for sharing his insight and wisdom with us! When you’re ready to bring your digital illustrations to life on paper, be sure to stop by our studio, connect with us on Instagram, or send an email. We work with digital artists and illustrators of all kinds and can help you choose the right paper, sizes, and finishing materials for your art. We look forward to working with you!