{"id":831,"date":"2019-03-06T00:28:38","date_gmt":"2019-03-06T01:28:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.yesicansucceed.com\/?p=831"},"modified":"2024-08-29T15:22:56","modified_gmt":"2024-08-29T15:22:56","slug":"digital-painting-the-ultimate-beginners-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.yesicansucceed.com\/index.php\/2019\/03\/06\/digital-painting-the-ultimate-beginners-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Digital Painting: The Ultimate Beginner\u2019s Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Do you want to be a digital artist, but don’t know where to start? Perhaps you’ve done a Google search before, but felt overwhelmed by all the information, or intimidated by what the authors assumed you already know.<\/p>\n
I’ve realized that there’s not enough beginner-friendly material out there for people who want to try digital painting. That’s why I’ve put together this comprehensive guide to explain everything you need to know to get started. From the tools, software, process, and features–this guide is everything you need to jumpstart your new hobby (or career) ASAP.<\/p>\n
Note: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links. That means if you buy something, I get a small commission at no extra cost to you, to help support the blog and allows me to continue to make free content. Thanks for your support! <\/i><\/p>\n
Also, I’ve created 28-Portrait Brushes that might help you paint better – you may want to opt-in and get them. They are free!<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n So you might already be familiar with traditional media, such as watercolor, oils, or acrylic – and now you\u2019re wondering.. \u201cwhat is digital painting?\u201d<\/p>\n Digital painting is a new medium that lets us create beautiful artwork, without the messiness of painting with inks or oils. It still requires many of the same skills and techniques as traditional painting (no, you can\u2019t just create art at the click of a button\u2026 yet), but it\u2019s also easier in many ways.<\/p>\n Instead of painting on canvas or paper, digital painting allows you to paint directly onto a computer, which has a number of amazing advantages:<\/strong><\/p>\n The only things you need to get started with digital painting are a graphics tablet, and painting software of your choice.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t worry if you\u2019re unsure where to begin – in this guide I\u2019ll walk you through it all step-by-step.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s begin\u2026<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n To get started with digital painting, you will need just two things: a tablet, and some painting software.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n There are three main categories of graphic tablets:<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n These are the cheapest models, and what most artists (myself included) start out with.<\/p>\n They generally have just two components: a touch-pad, and a stylus (a digital pen), though fancier models will also have a number of buttons and dials along the side. Because these tablets don’t have screens, you will need a laptop or computer to plug them into (usually via a USB cable)<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Pro-Tip:<\/strong> I would recommend you get a tablet that has a drawing area of at least 6″ x 3.7″. You\u2019ll need this to create fluid, dynamic strokes.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n Got a little extra budget? Consider investing in a display tablet!<\/p>\n Display tablets function like graphic tablets, but with a built-in monitor. You can draw directly onto a screen, which feels more intuitive (especially when you’re used to painting on paper or canvas).<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n10 ‘MUST HAVE’ BRUSHES <\/b> FOR PAINTING<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Free Download:<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFlowing & life-like hair\u200b\u200b<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFreckles & beauty spots\u200b<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStubbles & beards of all sizes\u200b\u200b<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRealistic skin textures\u200b\u200b<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tABR Brushes (Photoshop & Procreate)\u200b\u200b<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSUT Brushes (Clip Studio Paint)\u200b<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nDesigned to Paint Incredible Portrait Details!<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDownload Your Brushes<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\nWhat Is Digital Painting?<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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What tools do I need to get started with digital painting?<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Choosing Your Hardware<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Graphic Tablet<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Display Tablet<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
“All-In-One” Tablet<\/h4>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n
Graphic Tablets<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Pros:<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCheapest option, and totally good enough to get started with<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNo batteries or charging necessary<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNo screen to get damaged<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nCons:<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tYou have to keep your eyes on the computer screen, meaning you can’t watch your hands as you paint – this can take some getting used to<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRequire a computer<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\nMost popular models:<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWacom Intuos<\/a> (highly recommended beginner’s tablet!)<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHuion 1060<\/a> (also a good beginner’s tablet, larger but slightly less precise)<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tWacom Intuos Pro<\/a> (if you have the budget, invest in this – it’s the higher-end version of the Wacom Intuos)<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nDisplay Tablets<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
Pros:<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDrawing on a screen feels more natural than a touch-pad<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAllow you to work more accurately<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\nCons:<\/h3>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n