Thread by @iamscicomm

Another sunny day in Tucson!

I'm ready to share and learn. How about you? (Don't need a poll to know the answer is YES)

What's most important to you in a new tool?

Price, learning curve, availability of tutorials are all important things to consider when starting with a new tool.

I also look at things like extendability, how much is open source, how popular a tool is, and how many resources are available online when someone has an issue.

I love to try new tools, but the first question I always ask is what am I going to use this tool for?

This question is pivotal bc it defines the class of tools you will need.

For example, I've been exploring alternative painting programs. I've drawn in Photoshop for a long time (in addition to other programs), but wanted to try something free.

I found @MediBangPaint_e and @Krita_Painting , which are both amazing painting programs!

@MediBangPaint_e @Krita_Painting @MediBangPaint_e is a free painting and drawing program that works across multiple devices (something Photoshop hasn't quite gotten right yet. There are mobile apps, but I don't like them.)

@MediBangPaint_e @Krita_Painting @Krita_Painting is a free & open source program that is really intuitive. I've only used a Desktop version and thought it was easy to pick up.

Every program has it's pros and cons, and you should give these both a try to see which works best for you.

@MediBangPaint_e @Krita_Painting I've stuck with the Adobe suite for 3 reasons:
1) I've gotten heavy discounts or free thru my university
2) I've been using them for >15 years and its hard to change
3) Integration of different programs that work together

@MediBangPaint_e @Krita_Painting I'm able to get it free through my Uni right now (check with your uni or employer).

I can draw in Photoshop or Illustrator, animate in After Effects and Character Animator, edit in Premiere Pro, and integrate edited audio from Audition.

@MediBangPaint_e @Krita_Painting But that doesn't mean they're perfect.

There are lots of fantastic programs, some that I think are actually better than some of the Adobe suite.

I think both Krita & Medibang have great advantages over Photoshop!

@MediBangPaint_e @Krita_Painting When I went to art uni, I was told to get certain brands.

But after I left, I couldn't afford that, and started getting cheaper brands.

I noticed quality differences, but those diffs just meant using the tools differently.

@MediBangPaint_e @Krita_Painting Maybe I had to mix colors differently, or put them down in a different order.

But I quickly realized that a good artist (or #SciArt-ist) doesn't need the fanciest tools. Amazing artists can make masterpieces out of nothing.

@MediBangPaint_e @Krita_Painting So while we're going to dig more into tools in a bit, I think it's important to know that a tool isn't going to make you a better artist. A tool might make it EASIER for you to make art, but just like science and writing, practice makes perfect.

Learn and practice! 😊