Digital painting

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See also: Vector graphics

Digital painting

Digital painting is an emerging artform in which traditional painting techniques such as watercolor, oils, impasto, etc. are applied using digital tools by means of a computer, a digitizing tablet and stylus, and software. Digital painting differs from other forms of digital art and computer-generated art, in particular, in that it does not involve the computer rendering from a model. The artist uses painting techniques to create the digital painting directly on the computer.

Digital painting, Fall Sundance (1879 IV)

The main difference between digital and traditional painting is the non-linear process. That is, an artist can often arrange their painting in layers that can be edited independently. Also, the ability to undo and redo strokes frees the artist from a linear process. But digital painting is limited in how it employs the techniques and study of a traditional painter because of the surface differences and lack of physicality. The digital artist has at their disposal several tools not available to the traditional painter. Some of these include: a virtual palette consisting of millions of colors, almost any size canvas or media, the ability to take back mistakes, erasures, pencils, spray cans, brushes, combs, and a variety of 2D and 3D effect tools. A graphics tablet allows the artist to have very precise hand movement simulating a real pen and drawing surface.

Digital painting, The Woman of Rock (section)

Digital painting thrives mostly in production art. It's most widely used in conceptual design for film, television and video games.

Digital painting software such as Corel Painter, Studio Artist, Adobe Photoshop, Jasc Paint Shop Pro, ArtRage, and openCanvas give artists a similar environment to a physical painter: a canvas, painting tools, mixing palettes, and a multitude of color options.

There are various types of digital painting, including impressionism, realism, and watercolor.