Today the Internet is full of all sorts of free applications for a personal computer. The range of capabilities of these programs is as wide as the interests of the entire Internet community are broad - from small plug-ins that extend the capabilities of existing applications to stand-alone programs in which you can create large, interesting projects in various fields.
The motivations for creating and distributing free apps can be very different. Someone creates them for personal use and then shares them with others. Someone is pursuing the goal of creating social projects, uniting people into communities, through a single hobby, etc. In this regard, such a direction as computer graphics and everything related to its creation was not spared interest.
It's no secret that computer artists have long chosen such a drawing and graphics tool as the Wacom tablet. And working (drawing) in a program for creating illustrations cannot be imagined without using a tablet.
Anyone with a passion for computer graphics is familiar with programs such as Corel® Painter®, Corel DRAW®, Adobe® Photoshop®, Adode® Illustrator, ArtRage® - all of these undoubtedly have high-level support for a Wacom graphics tablet, and all of them are a necessary tool for a computer artist, as it is in them that all the fruits of creativity in this field are created. But these programs exist only in commercial versions, and many cost a lot of money. Are there free solutions (programs) for drawing, creating illustrations, and generally doing computer graphics? ... The answer is yes, and everyone can choose a program for themselves according to various criteria: do raster or vector graphics, draw imitating classical artistic techniques, or work more with sketches, calligraphy, and so on.
Consider three different free programs that anyone can download from the Internet and use at their own pleasure - GIMP, Artweaver, Inkscape.
Gimp
(www.gimp.org)
A colorful and functional bitmap program for drawing, illustration. It is similar in appearance and functionality to Corel® Painter®. Wide support for Wacom tablet.
Artweaver
(www.artweaver.de)
No less functional raster graphics program, outwardly reminiscent of the symbiosis of Painter® and Photoshop®. Compared to GIMP, it is slower in processing brushes, but with a much larger set of brushes. Wide support for Wacom tablet.
Inkscape
(www.inkscape.org)
A very effective vector illustrator. Corel® DRAW® and Adobe® Illustrator® symbiosis. Wonderful support for pen pressure sensitivity, which is a big shortage in the vector illustration world, making Inkscape a powerful tool for serious calligraphy enthusiasts.
I would like to note the excellent Internet resource Inkscape (www.inkscape.org) in seven languages, including Russian, which is very rare even for commercial graphics programs. On the Inkscape website, you can not only download the program, but also read articles, study lessons, participate in discussions and much more. There is also an opportunity to become one of the developers and testers of the product and bring useful functions to it.
By the way, almost all interested users have the opportunity to become one of the developers and testers of many free programs. This is what unites people around their favorite graphic product.
