#doing gradients in ms paint only using the pencil tool is NOT EASY

[bondilluns]

FRANK IT UP!!!!!!!

my commissions are open if you want to see your fav mcr pic drawn in my style!! ^^

[ID: A digital painting of Frank Iero in 2007, during projekt revolution. He's sitting on the floor and playing guitar. The instrument covers half his face, and only one eye is visible. He's looking up, frowning, in a way that resembles The Fallen Angel by Cabanel. End ID.]

[creationinprogress]

Typography; Result for Project 3

Hi  guys! This post is about the third project “Information Design Advocacy (IDA)” in Typography class. As a recap, my topic is “Earthquakes in Japan.” Below are the process materials for the project with some updated versions.

(Updated style tile)

(Sketches)

Then, below is the final work of poster.

(Final design)

First of all, as for the typefaces, I used Teko Semibold for titles and Trebuchet MS for main texts. This is to distinguish titles and main texts significantly. I think this use of typefaces worked well according to my intention. In the text, I made footnotes to indicate the source of information. I initially put asterisk (*) and a number next to it to do that, but from suggestion during critique session that the numbers resemble the numbers on the second section, I utilized the footnote function in Adobe Illustrator’s text tool which I did not notice before.

In the first section’s catchphrase “Prepare, they are always sudden,” I put white outline to make it stand out more than each section’s title. I once put the black underline for this phrase, but I thought at one point that it would be too heavy visually, so I removed the underline. In terms of graphic, I used RGB triad color scheme (red = boundaries of tectonic plates, green = land of Japan, and blue = ocean). For the blue, I used gradient tool to indicate the natural continuity from blue ocean in the first section to cyan sky in the second and third sections as the background of poster. In regards to the text, I put it on the left side with light gray background so that the black text will be easy to read. For the text on ocean, I colored it white to make it easy to read.

In terms of the second section which writes about the buildings made to resist earthquakes, I put the text section on the right side which is the opposite of the first section. This is to make the poster visually balanced. I think that this method of layout went successful and made the overall image visually pleasing. For the bar chart, used the graphic of buildings as the bars. I applied tetradic color scheme (green, pink, orange, and blue) for these buildings and sky. By making the text color same as the buildings, I think it is easy for the viewers to gain the information quickly from the chart. For the outline of texts, I initially set it as 0.5, but from the suggestion in critique that the green text is difficult to read, I put it up to 1.0. Then, to add some breathing space, I made some white clouds so that the graphic will not be too overwhelming.

For the third section, I put the text on left side once more to balance it out with the upper section’s text on right side. As for the graphic, I traced the Great Wave off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai as a template layer to add Japanese taste, since I am talking about earthquakes in Japan. I tried to balance out the visual weight to make the tsunami on right side bigger and detailed compared to the graphics and simple texts on the left. Even though it is detailed, I did not feel that challenging making the graphic, because I used paint brush tool and pencil tool for the white dots. In all the sections, I was putting lines and boxes between the houses, around the texts, and between the sections to distinguish them. However, based on the opinion in critique that there are too much lines and boxes, I got rid of almost all the lines in the poster (I left a line only for between the third and citation sections). Overall, I believe that my infographic advocates my topic successfully and effectively with unity.

[lyliche]

Top 7 Linux Tools For Digital Artists

Top 7 Linux Tools For Digital Artists

Linux has no dearth of graphic design software: 7 Best Linux Tools For Digital Artists

Brief: In the list, you'll see the best Linux graphic design software.

There are plenty of Linux graphic applications which help digital artists enhance their work or build something interesting from scratch. Well, maybe, the applications that do exist with Linux are not commercially popular, but they do offer powerful features to act as a perfect companion for a digital artist.

In this article, we would be specifically concentrating our focus on the tools that deal with digital drawings/sketches and image editors.

- Best Graphic Design Software for Linux

- Linux Graphic design softwares

Let us move on to check out 7 of the best Linux tools for digital artists.

1. GIMP

GIMP: linux-tools digital artists

GIMP stands for GNU Image Manipulation Program. GIMP is one of the best free tools for a digital artist to have installed on Ubuntu or any other Linux distributions.

It is a completely free Linux tool for a digital artist irrelevant to the level of expertise. It is meant for everyone. Even if you are an expert, you can make use of it, or if you are a novice, you can utilize it well. GIMP has a lot to offer than just editing a photo or redesigning it. Several plugins and extensions make GIMP a fortune to have on one's system. Moreover, without spending a penny, you get to do all the basic designing or editing stuff and some of the complex image manipulation tasks as well.

If you are running on Ubuntu, you can find it listed on Ubuntu Software Center. You can directly install it from there and if you are on a different Linux distribution, you can head to their installation help page for further information.

2. Krita

Krita: linux-tool digital artists

Yet another impressive Linux tool for digital artists. Krita was meant as an add-on with KOffice to facilitate image editing within the suite of office tools. However, it turned out to have a lot more potential to be an independent desktop application competing with programs like GIMP.

To our surprise, it still is not like GIMP. However, more focused for use by illustrators, cartoonists, and concept drawing artists. It definitely offers a range of features and is constantly developing as we talk. Also, you could argue that Krita provides a better user interface compared to GIMP.

Recently, it introduced render animation capability, full support for OSX, enhanced color picker and more. It is similarly extensible with the use of plugins or extensions. It brings in a good collection of filters to choose from and also provides the ability to control layers in an image just like Adobe Photoshop. It can import a lot of files, but it has discontinued support for PSD files.

Features and usability are the strong point of Krita. No wonder this French university dumped Adobe Photoshop for Krita.

You can grab the snap from Ubuntu's software center, or you could download an AppImage and make it executable to install further. For more info, you can try heading to Krita's download page.

3. Inkscape

Inkscape

It is an open source vector graphics editor. You can have it installed on your Linux system as an alternative to Adobe Illustrator. The user interface offered here may not be much of attraction, but it is simply darn good with the powerful features and tools offered.

It is obviously one of the best Linux tools for digital artists around that are actively developed. If you find it easier to work with but still you prefer Adobe Illustrator, then you can easily export your file in Illustrator file format and import it on Illustrator later. You can export to SVG format, SVGZ, LaTeX, and POV-Ray file format as well. There are extensions which let you save files as PDFs, EPS, and so on.

Inkscape-digital artist

Inkscape may not be the one if you are a leading expert because it lacks certain features available on popular commercial vector graphics editor. However, if you are an artist who prefers a free and an easy-to-use tool over an expensive one, you can definitely make use of it.

You can get this directly from Ubuntu Software Center. In either case, if you are running a different Linux distribution, you can try installing it through the terminal by entering the following command: sudo apt install inkscape.

4. Karbon

Karbon-best linux tools digital artist

An open source vector drawing program. Karbon is also recognized as Karbon 14, Kontour, and KIllustrator. It lets you edit and create vector drawings. It is one of the most suitable Linux tools for digital artists who deal with vector graphics. It does include gradient tool, path shape tool, pencil tool, calligraphy tool, and so on.

It brings in support for shapes as well as texts. You can import SVG images and edit it with great ease. Karbon provides a great user interface which is customizable. In addition, it offers advanced path editing tool. Also, it is extensible for a variety of use by utilizing the plugins compatible with it.

You can directly install it from Ubuntu's Software center. In either case, you can type in the following command in the terminal to install it: sudo apt install karbon.

5. Vectr

Vectr graphic tool for Linux

Vectr graphic tool for Linux

Like the above two graphic tools in the list and as the name indicates, Vectr is a tool for vector graphics. It is slightly different than the regular desktop software.

You can use Vectr in your web browser as well. It also has the real time collaboration feature. You can provide the URL of your design and others can watch you editing an image in real time.

Vectr graphic tool

The user interface is another plus point. The modern UI and aesthetic looks certainly sets the mood for creative designs. It also has a set of documentation for new users to get started with creating vector design.

The desktop app is available for Linux, Windows and MacOS. It is not an open source software, however, you can download it for free.

6. Pinta

Pinta: best-linux-tools digital artists

Just like any other image editing software utilities, Pinta came out of nowhere to become one of the favorite Linux tools for digital artists. It is an open source software utility that brings in a lot of features.

If you previously used Paint.Net software, it is pretty much the same. In other words, you can keep it as an alternative to Paint. Net for Linux/Ubuntu. You will find a variety of drawing tools that include – paintbrush, freehand drawing tool, pencil, shapes, and so on. It is not just an ordinary paint tool but also brings in support to let you control the layers of an image. Also, you get the ability to add extensions for experimental abilities.

In addition, it offers a lot of filters and effects (motion blur, red-eye removal, glow, warp) to help enhance the image. You can easily adjust the toolbar to the required position (Either as a floating window or as a docked toolbar). It incorporates a dock-style adjustment feature, with which you can configure various pads to dock or undock according to your work style. It does come with support for file formats such as OpenRaster and others.

7. MyPaint

best-linux-tools digital artists

Yet another open source Linux tool for digital artists. MyPaint focuses on drawing sketches. If you have a touchscreen enabled display, you will be able to make the most out of it. The user interface is quite simple and easy to use.

It is definitely a worthy alternative to MS Paint on Linux with some advanced features. It brings in a basic layer support and unlimited canvas. You do not have to resize the canvas again (or tweak it). You get extensive brush options which you can try on a scratch pad attached to the dock.

If you are an artist, you can digitally make anything out of something using this tool. I would even call it the best Linux drawing software.

If you want to install it, you can find it on the Ubuntu Software Center. In either case, you can install it using the commands mentioned below: sudo apt install mypaint

Conclusion:

Finally, you came to know about some of the best Linux tools for digital artists. Of course, the list we compiled contained only the popular and loved choices for almost everyone using Linux.

Personally, I prefer using an online tool like Canva for easily creating stunning graphics. But you cannot be online all the time and this is why you can install software to create graphics whenever you want.

In reality, there are tons of tools for digital artists out there but most of them are for Windows and MacOS.

Apart from that, did we miss any of your favorite Linux tools tailored for digital artists? If you are a digital artist, which one of the above would be willing to choose as the best for your use?

Ohne richtiges Werkzeug kann auch der beste Handwerker auf der Welt keine guten Ergebnisse erzielen. Der Grundbaustein um das digitale Zeichnen zu erlernen ist das passende Grafiktablett.