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Doing Computer Art - Getting Started
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domain. Please feel free to redistribute and post freely.
Table of Contents
1. Get a computer
2. Get a drawing program
3. Choose a way to enter your
graphics
3a. Art Tablets
3b. Scanners
Get Drawing!
Web Site summary of all websites
mentioned in the tutorial
Author's Contact Information
1. Get a Computer
First, you'll need a decent computer - Apple,
Windows, Amiga..doesn't matter. All have access to wonderful drawing
programs. I will use Windows PC systems for my examples because they're
most common, and that's what I use myself.
For a windows PC, you should probagbly have at least a 486dx50 or above
with 8 megs ram at the very least, that's capable of running either
PC Paintbrush (Comes with Windows 95 and Windows) or one of the other
drawing programs. You'll be happiest if you have the fastest machine
and the most ram you can get, but of course, this is true for any kind
of computer work. I used to use a Pentium 100 with 64 megs of ram for
my web stuff. Now, to do 300 dpi print quality stuff I use a Dell Dimension
XPS T600. Here's a picture of my setup:
 
2. Get a Drawing Program
I use Photoshop,
but it's VERY expensive - $550. And, it's not actually the best program
to use for drawing. Adobe also makes Illustrator, but I've never figured
that program out. It's supposed to be a bit better than Photoshop for
drawing freehand, though.
The one I've heard the most rave reviews about
is called Fractal
Painter. It can do just about anything you can do on paper...watercolors,
charcoals, oils, all kinds of brush styles and strokes. I've tried it
a few times but haven't gotten around to ordering a copy for myself.
It was excellent.
Another good program for drawing which I don't
think is sold anymore, mores the pity, is Imagestar. I got it with my
drawing tablet (more on that next).
Other drawing programs
Paint
Shop Pro < - Very good price, and all the features you need.
$99 - available for free trial.
http://www.corel.com
<- makers of CorelDraw
http://www.macromedia.com
<- Makes Freehand ($400 or so) and other drawing and computer graphics
software
3. Choose a way to get your art into the computer
- Tablet or Scanner
So, once you've got some kind of drawing software
and a computer that can handle it, you need to get your art into the
computer.
3a. Art Tablets
 For
drawing directly into the computer, I strongly recommend an art tablet.
Tablets are little square flat plastic boards that you cna write on
with a special pen,allowing you to draw right into the computer. I use
a Wacom Artpad...the cheapest they
make (4"x6") - got mine for $130, and I've had it for over
four years now. I couldn't do what I do without it. Drawing with a mouse
is just too difficult. Mouse work is fine for filling in drawings with
colors, but terrible for actually drawing outlines and forms.
The other great thing about Wacom and other artpad makers is that they
often include a drawing program in the software for the pad. As I remember,
a version of the Artpad by Wacom comes with Fractal
Painter, too! So, you kill two birds with one stone by buying a
Wacom tablet...you'll get the software you need too.
Other pad companies:
SummaFlex
by Summagraphics - about $600
Acecat by Acecad
- $99 (for macs)
U&C
Superpen
Jam Studio
(Search CNET for Graphics Tablet and see what
comes up. Also, EBAY is a great source
of tablets at a good price. I got 2 JamStudio tablets for around $20.)
3b. Scanners
What if you can't get a tablet? Well, find a
place where you can scan black and white line drawings. Kinkos copies,
or other graphics and copy shops often have scanners. If you're doing
web art, 72 dpi is all the resolution you'll need. (72 dpi = 72 Dots
Per Inch - how many pixels per inch you need for a good computer picture.)
For printing on paper with a regular printer after you've done your
computer coloring, though, I recommend at least 150 dpi or even 300
or above. But, these pictures are much harder for your computer to handle,
especially if you have a 486 or not a lot of ram.
http://www.microtekusa.com
<- affordable scanners - I got mine for about $300 four years ago.
Now they're about $150.
Hewlett Packard also makes some excellent
scanners.
http://www.scanshop.com/
<- A buyer's guide for scanners
Start Coloring!
Once you've got your picture either drawn into
the computer or scanned, you take your art program and color it in.
Use the tutorials in the programs to learn how to smudge, get watercolor
effects, etc. I'll try to post tutorials for various programs as soon
as I can. I've had a lot of Photoshop owners ask for specifics on the
tools I use. I'm hoping to get Fractal Painter again soon, so I can
write up some technique stuff on that too.
The biggest thing, though, that will lead you to success quickly, is
to Practice Every Day. Tutorials and lessons will help you move
along the learning curve quickly, but if you practice every day, you'll
just discover things on your own and be getting professional results
quickly.
I hope this has helped you get started.
Website Summary List
http://www.adobe.com
- Photoshop, Illustrator and other programs
http://www.corel.com
- makers of CorelDraw
http://www.fractal.com/products/painter/
- MetaCreations, makers of Fractal Painter software
http://www.macromedia.com
- Makes Freehand and other drawing and computer graphics software
http://www.wacom.com - Art Tablets
by Wacom, makers of the affordable Wacom ArtPad
SummaFlex
by Summagraphics - about $600
Acecat by Acecad
- $99 (for macs)
U&C
Superpen - makes a nice little pen pad.
http://www.microtekusa.com
- affordable scanners - I got mine for about $300.
Hewlett Packard
- also makes some excellent scanners.
http://www.scanshop.com/
- A buyer's guide for scanners
Contact Information
Email me if you have any suggestions for things
I should add to this document, or if you just want to saw a friendly
'hello'. No flames, please!! dragon@dreslough.com
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