Best Free Paint Program
Although they overlap in function, paint programs are really a different class of product from digital editors such as Photoshop and The Gimp. Paint programs are specifically designed to facilitate freehand drawing. They are ideal for sketching, painting, creating animations and special effects.
Most folks have dabbled with Microsoft Paint (aka Paintbrush for Windows), which comes free with most versions of the operating system. In fact, MS Paint is probably responsible for the generally bad reputation of paint programs. Early versions could only produce crude two dimensional drawings with jagged edges and no color gradients. Its free availability also encouraged untalented amateurs to produce works that could only be described as abysmal. Past reputation aside, the latest XP version of Microsoft Paint is actually a very capable and resource-efficient product, and deserves to be more widely used. In the hands of a good pixel artist it can give excellent results.
However, my favorite free paint program is not Microsoft Paint, but Project DogWaffle. This is a commercial product, but the developer offers an older version (V1.2) as freeware.
The free version is surprisingly full featured. It has a comprehensive set of tools, including fully customizable brushes, lots of filters and effects, multiple color selection options, a good set of color gradients, animation aids and more.
On the downside the program runs slowly on older PCs, has limited layer support, has a clunky cut and paste mechanism and only handles BMP and Targa files.
Like all graphics editors, you will need to invest a bit of time to learn how best to use DogWaffle, but those with artistic skills will find the effort well rewarded.
This software category is maintained by volunteer editor Mike Norris. Registered site visitors can contact Mike by clicking here.
Product Details:
Project DogWaffle
Website: http://www.thebest3d.com/dogwaffle/free/index.html
Download link: http:http://www.thebest3d.com/dogwaffle/free/mirrors.html
Author: Dan Ritchie
Current version: 1.2
Version date: July 2004
License: Freeware
Download file size: 4.3 MB
Operating Systems Supported: 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP
Additional Software Required: None
64 Bit Capable: No
Portable Version Available: No
Non-English languages supported: None
Other relevant information: None
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Is there any free painting software for kids? My little boy currently try Creative Painter. It works pretty fine and completely compatible with Vista.
Tux Paint is an free, open source program designed for children 3-12 that has received many good reviews:
http://www.tuxpaint.org/
Another great program is Pencil which is allows to draw vector images, exports to Macromedia Flash SWF format and create cartoon animation. It worth a try. Here is the URL:
http://www.les-stooges.org/pascal/pencil/
Hi, im another supporter of Artweaver, it is really fantastic. I wonder how it can not be listed here, please add it. It is very much like the commercial program Painter, but free and very intuitive. /Troken, Sweden
Have you looked at ArtRage as a drawing tool, and what about Xara?
in reply to the orginal 'tip' for dogwaffle, im sorry but i think that's fairly aptly named. only deals w targa and bmp format and crashed the first time i used it. at least its free! paint shop pro used to be free and its v good but of course its not free now. photoshop are going to or have done a lite version thats free, try that.
baz
xara isn't freeware.
Paint.NET ftw. absolutely. it is an AMAZING program, completely free, and it is still being improved upon. the users have a well-maintained forum where they upload tutorials; and best of all: they make their own add ons. these vastly improve upon the original program. please add Paint.NET to this site!
paint.net is reviewed here Best Free Digital Editor, and I agree a very good free program.
You can add it yourself.
http://www.techsupportalert.com/content-contribution
PhotoFiltre
http://photofiltre.free.fr/frames_en.htm
Niefer
I love Paint.NET. It loads super fast, and has all the features of Photoshop - or at least all the features i used. Plus it's free, and bug free.
Thanks for this!
Just what I've been looking for!!!
Appreciate the distinction you're making Mike, but it might be useful to add a link to:
http://www.techsupportalert.com/dr/best-free-digital-editor.htm
What about the GIMP?
http://www.gimp.org/
As reviewed by me in the 'Best Free Digital Editor' category...
http://www.techsupportalert.com/dr/best-free-digital-editor.htm
M.
Artweaver, I say!
Mario from Bavaria, Germany
http://www.artweaver.de/index.php?en_version
It's a "yes" from me for Artweaver.
Bruce from Nowra, Australia
Another yes for Artweaver here...
you can mail me - if serious - at:
www dot arphaxat at t-online dot de
I am by no means involved this product... I'm just in love with Artweaver! You really should recommend it at your site, Gizmo!
Cheers!
Plz, Gizmo, make this one notorious (in a positive way...!)
Cheers from Germany
Oh, I forgot to say, my name is Mario.
(Even if being German).
Try Tux Paint:
"Tux Paint is a free, award-winning drawing program for children ages 3 to 12 (for example, preschool and K-6 in the US, key stages 1 & 2 in the UK). It combines an easy-to-use interface, fun sound effects, and an encouraging cartoon mascot who guides children as they use the program. "
http://www.tuxpaint.org
Thank you so much for this. My daughter just loves it!
Try Paint.NET:
"It started development as an undergraduate college senior design project mentored by Microsoft, and is currently being maintained by some of the alumni that originally worked on it. Originally intended as a free replacement for the Microsoft Paint software that comes with Windows, it has grown into a powerful yet simple image and photo editor tool. It has been compared to other digital photo editing software packages such as Adobe® Photoshop®, Corel® Paint Shop Pro®, Microsoft Photo Editor, and The GIMP."
http://www.getpaint.net/
I use Paint.NET regularly, I even have it on my quicklauch bar! I really like this program, very useful for doing fast changes to an image, it loads very fast and its very powerful. Haveing tried the others, this is definitely No. 1 on my list.
I heartily agree that paint.net is a fine program. They've clearly paid a lot of attention to the User Interface. I'm not a heavy user since I love a commercial product (Canvas), but I recommend paint.net to my students regularly.
Ultimate Paint is worth checking out.,
http://46best.com/dr/best-free-paint-program.htm
IMHO, the German freeware proggie ARTWEAVER is BY FAR the best free painting software around these days.
(It has some dogwaffle friendly plugins)...
It is not THAT new, so WHY has no one mentioned it yet here? (it is available in many languages)...
http://www.artweaver.de/index.php?en_version
A big cheers from good ol' Germany.
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