Krita
An open-source programme that provides a variety of drawing tools. Like Photoshop, the programme supports layers, different layer blending modes, masks, and brush settings with different textures. You can work with raster and vector graphics, add and edit text, use RGB and CMYK colour spaces, and create simple animations.
What tasks is it suitable for? Creating raster and vector illustrations, working on GIFs with frame-by-frame animation, creating creatives with short captions for advertising banners or social networks.
Inkscape
This is a free vector editor similar to Illustrator. The programme allows you to draw objects using curves, add simple shapes and modify them using Boolean operations, work with text, trace photos, and apply filters and effects.
What it is suitable for. Creating vector illustrations, icons, patterns, logos, and corporate identity elements.
Beautiful games for relaxation and enjoyment – social casino no deposit usa
Alchemy
The best app for sketching. Alchemy does not have an eraser tool or the ability to undo actions, and the brush settings are limited — the line imitates ink. This programme cannot be used to create realistic digital paintings or neat vector illustrations, but professional artists can use it to draw beautiful sketches and concepts. For beginners, Alchemy is a good training tool or can be used for quick sketches of ideas.
What tasks is it suitable for? Drawing sketches, drafts, concepts, and roughs, practising precise drawing without erasing lines.
Affinity Designer
A professional editor from Serif Labs, primarily designed for creating vector graphics. It also has raster tools: over 100 brushes for drawing and retouching tools. The app can be used to create graphics for the web and layouts for print products. Among the programme’s features: the ability to zoom in to 1 million per cent to work out the smallest details, and an option to undo actions 8,000 times in a row. There is also an analogue of Photoshop’s smart layers: one element can be added to several working files, and when changed in one of them, it will change synchronously in the others.
What tasks it is suitable for. Creating illustrations, logos, lettering, working with text, layout of advertising materials, drawing sketches and concept art.
Paint.NET
A free programme for working with raster graphics. The editor has a simple interface and is conveniently organised: it has layers, like Photoshop, and you can work with several files at the same time. In addition to standard brushes and fills, text settings and image effects are available: you can add blur, perform colour correction, and apply texture to an image.
What tasks it is suitable for. Creating raster illustrations and design layouts, editing and drawing on top of photos.
FireAlpaca
The programme is designed for raster graphics and is considered beginner-friendly. The interface is fairly standard for a graphics editor — there is a layer panel and a tool menu. You can choose different brushes, erase objects, rotate and move them, fill and apply masks. There is a tool for working with text. FireAlpaca’s drawing capabilities are similar to Krita or Photoshop, but more limited — for example, there are no layer blending modes.
What it is suitable for. Creating raster illustrations, drawing comics — there is a ready-made template for them.
