Something better than Paint?

[Stormthorn]

My new computer has MS Paint. I was used to using someone elses computer; they had Photoshop.

Is their some program i can download for free that is better than paint, because im having trouble adjusting to being forced to work with a much more limited program.

[Collin152]

I think you can get paintshop pro for free?
The older versions? Maybe?

[BRC]

My new computer has MS Paint. I was used to using someone elses computer; they had Photoshop.

Is their some program i can download for free that is better than paint, because im having trouble adjusting to being forced to work with a much more limited program.

Do you want a Photosho-esque program, a general art program, a vector based art program. Specifics Plz.

[Leper_Kahn]

www.gimp.org
www.inkscape.org

You reminded me to update my versions.

[Stormthorn]

Do you want a Photosho-esque program, a general art program, a vector based art program. Specifics Plz

Photoshop style.

The concept of vector art sounds interesting but beyond my small capacity.

I mostly do actualy photo-editing and stitching. Sometimes i doodle with sprites and OOTS style stuff, but odviously im no artist or i would have made myself an avatar.

[Lord Tataraus]

www.gimp.org
www.inkscape.org

I was going to say the exact same thing...

[reorith]

www.gimp.org
www.inkscape.org

You reminded me to update my versions.
beaten to it :(

[tyckspoon]

There's also paint.net (http://www.getpaint.net/).

[Don Julio Anejo]

There's also bit-torrents.

[Bronathair]

There's nothing wrong with MS Paint... you just need to learn how to use it to it's full potential.

Behold this

http://photos-b.ak.facebook.com/photos-ak-snc1/v274/150/2/502710933/n502710933_1168801_8237.jpg

[Collin152]

I use MS paint for individual pixel work.
Because it's so much easier.
But those thigns don't come up often.

[Stormthorn]

Thanks dudes.

[Groundhog]

You can also try OpenCanvas.

[Bryn]

First of all, this is really a discussion for the Arts and Crafts (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=27) section. A moderator will probably move it there, making this little note redundant, but just for future reference, here's a quick note :smallwink:

Apart from that, a quick search of wikipedia often gets you the information you need on many subjects (but check that there are no [citation needed] tags in the article!). Usually when faced with this question, I link to these two lists: raster graphics editors (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_raster_graphics_editors), like Photoshop, the GIMP and Paint, and vector graphics editors (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_vector_graphics_editors), like Illustrator, Inkscape and Flash.

Those lists give some nice comparisons between types of editor. Out of all of them, I second the reccomendations of the GIMP (http://www.gimp.org) and Inkscape (http://www.inkscape.org). However, it should be noted that the GIMP has a steep learning curve. Inkscape is easier to learn (there are some excellent guides on this forum) although it has more limited use, being vector software. Both of these are open source, so they won't cost you anything, and if you feel like doing some programming you can even mess around with the source code and contribute to the program.

In addition to those two, I must also reccomend Blender (http://www.blender.org). Blender is 3D as opposed to 2D, and if the GIMP has a steep learning curve the Blender has an even steeper one. Stick with it though, and it's worth it: observe these two movies made in Blender: Big Buck Bunny (http://www.bigbuckbunny.org/) and Elephants Dream (http://www.elephantsdream.org/). Blender has a very active and supporting community, tolerant of new users.

On the subject of Microsoft Paint, and whether or not it should be abandonded, it must be admitted that extremely good things can be achieved in Paint. That said, however, almost every other program has extra features that Paint does not. Using Paint is a self-imposed challenge, and while it can yield great results the artist can probably get better results still using a program with more options available. Anti-aliasing in Paint alone is all but impossible, and it is necessary to get Irfanview or the GIMP to scale it down and remove the jagged edges. The main useful aspect of Paint is for precise pixel art, but even that can be better performed in a program like the GIMP. While some of the best artists on this forum use Paint, I would reccomend something else.

Lengthy answer to a short question, but I hope there's something useful inside all of that.

[Dallas-Dakota]

*note that the latest version of Inkscape make 3d drawing way easier...