Types of Computer Painting Tools

Digital painting has come a long way from the days of pixel creations constructed in Microsoft Paint. Today, digital painting tools have the ability to match and mimic traditional painting media such as oils, acrylics and watercolors. Digital painting should not be confused with computer generated art, as digital painting does not involve the rendering of a computer generated model. Rather, the artist paints with digital brushes to create art.

Corel Painter 12:

Considered the absolute master and industry leader in its ability to mimic and recreate the effects of natural media, Corel Painter provides an artist's environment that includes the use of layers, artist brushes and the ability to change out media on the fly. Unparalleled as an artistic digital media, many digital artists refuse to use anything else.

Adobe Photoshop:

The original flagship of digital art creation, Adobe Photoshop began its career as a Mac-only application in 1988. By November of 1992, it was available for standard PCs and on its way to becoming the premier photo editing and digital painting tool, now well into its 12th version with a 13th on the way.

Photoshop can honestly claim the crown for being the first to offer the use of layers in its workflow, thereby changing the face of digital art forever. Photoshop’s native paint tools tend to lean towards an airbrushed look, yet they have made many improvements in their tool developments that promise a shift into natural media mimicry akin to what is available in Painter 12.

Paint.Net:

Originally developed by a pair of college students, Paint.Net has grown in popularity so swiftly that it has ultimately replaced MS Paint within Microsoft applications. Providing the same layer functionality and traditionally media mimicry as its high dollar cousins, Paint.Net has the additional bonus of being completely free and customizable through a plethora of user created plug-ins.