What are the best digital painting programs out there?

**F-inked** · August 30th, 2012, 08:23 PM

Ive been using Photoshop elements 3 for about, three years now and its kind of glitchy. I wanted something to upgrade to that I could use for a long time and have good graphics, and be a program made for illustration.

Most people ive talked to use Photoshop CS 5 or 6, but that costs a lot and Im still in school, so I cant afford it...( Also cant torrent because I have a mac, and not that tech savvy to use parallels/bootcamp)

So is there anything legal that is good? Painter x? or is there a sai for mac?
I dont know what im doing, so any tips would be helpful!

**joeparis** · August 31st, 2012, 04:13 AM

The best are Photoshop and Painter. Both of these are available as Student Versions and can be puchased at a fraction of the normal retail price. Otherwise, Artrage and Sketchbook Pro are excellent smaller programs but of professional standard.

**-Tragedy-** · September 19th, 2012, 04:24 AM

Artrage is pretty sweet and cheap as chips.

Check out Gimp, I'm pretty sure it's Mac compatible and freeware. Probs the best of the freeware bunch, SAI is sick, but only Windows to my knowledge.

Maybe start saving for PS.
If you're a student, it's cheaper.
http://www.google.com.au/products/ca...ed=0CEYQ8wIwAg

**rono** · September 20th, 2012, 11:04 PM

SketchBook Designer 2013 now replaces SketchBook Pro (sort of).
When you purchase SketchBook Designer, it comes with the latest version of SketchBook pro and you can decide which one to work when you launch it.
Designer adds some pretty sweet new features.

**joeparis** · September 21st, 2012, 02:17 AM

Originally Posted by rono

When you purchase SketchBook Designer, it comes with the latest version of SketchBook pro

Well, not exactly. Designer 2013 is packaged with SBPro 5.5, not the latest version, SBPro 6. But I agree, it's a very nice program indeed.

**Star Eater** · September 21st, 2012, 06:49 AM

Originally Posted by TheWalkingGhost

Artrage is pretty sweet and cheap as chips.

Giving a shout out for Artrage as well. I use it almost exclusively. Best comparable to a
more stable version of painter, but with less features and brushes. Fantastic user interface.