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Best Matte Painting Software

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These are the best interior paint brands that you can shop online. The words 'Business Insider'. Eggshell, matte, to flat result, with the gloss being the most light-reflecting and the flat. A matte painting is a painted representation of a landscape, set, or distant location that allows filmmakers to create the illusion of an environment that would otherwise be too expensive or impossible to build or visit.(source). Ages ago, extremely talented artists painted these realistic scenes on large sheets of glass. With the invention of Adobe Photoshop, things began to change.

Matte painting is one of the oldest techniques in the visual effects industry and one of the most widely applied techniques as well. The concept of matte painting is simple: 'Use one or few paintings to replace a background.' Although the concept is so simple, but the technique of matte painting is quite skillful and artistically demanding because the paintings used to replace background have to be realistic enough and support the film style so the audiences can think it's a real background.

Matte painting background This is one the most common vfx shots in film making. You shoot your actors in front of green or blue screen, then apply a single painting to the background. With this technique, you can make your film look like it was filmed anywhere around the world, even if the world doesn't exist.

A 2D matte painting replacing the blue screen

The challenge of matte painting is when the camera is moving it's position. After all, it's just a flat 2D painting. If it's a locked off shot then it's easy to just put the painting in the background with the right amount of focus blur and it'll look real. But when the camera starts moving, it will reveal that the environment is just a flat 2D painting. Even before vfx turned digital, there was a way to solve this problem. The artist (matte painter) will paint on layered glasses. The foreground of the painting will go on the glass that is in the front, the background will go on the glass in the back. This will provide parallax when the camera starts to move, making it feel 3D. Of course you still can't rotate or move the camera too much. But for most shots that need environments, this is enough.

matte painting on layered glasses. Image from: http://www.digitalmattepaintinghandbook.com

shooting with matte painting on glass. Image from http://forum.cfsl.net/

Matte painting Environment As VFX moved into the digital age, the abilities of matte painting expanded. With 3D programs' help, the camera movement can be more free. You can animate the camera flying through paintings in 3D software to create a helicopter fly-over shot with less trouble and cost. Instead of painting on glass, we can apply a technique called 'camera projection' or '3D projection'. This technique allows artists to put their paintings in 3D software and create simple 3D geometry to match the shape of the environment. You can create as many 3D objects with paintings as you want and position them any place or position as you need to create the right parallax.

Layered matte painting in 3D software. Image from: http://conceptartandmattepainting.blogspot.de/

What's the different between using a matte painting in 3D software than just building a full 3D scene for your environment? Well, think about a realistic looking environment for a moment. There are thousands and millions of details. There might be a thousands of leafs just on one tree positioned in different ways and receiving light in different ways, imagine how many are needed for an entire tree covered mountain. Every window on a building all have a lot of different faces and they all receive light causing shadows in a different way. If you try to build these in 3D software, you will have to make all those details and light them well in order to look realistic. Of course the 3D software nowadays has a lot of functions that can help you achieve this easier. But it still takes a lot more work than a matte painter who manipulates photos in Photoshop to get the same details. It's easier to control and fine tune the look, no endless render time, and you need only one matte painter rather than modelers, texture artists, lighting artists and render artists. This means faster, cheaper, and a better look for your film. Here are some video examples of applying matte painting to make digital environments. . For more examples please visit LightRay FX Catalina office 2016.

Drawing has gone advanced with a computer screen as its canvas. From artists to designers, every one into digital artistry needs some kind of tool to get the desired output. There are plenty of drawing tools (paid and free) available these days that not just help you draw sketches, diagrams or illustrations, they also enhance your drawing skills.

While there is premium drawing software like Adobe Photoshop, there are also many free alternatives that are no-less good in producing the desired results. The free drawing programs can either be downloaded or can be accessed online for free. These tools are equipped with professional-level editing tools, built-in effects, offer easy integration with other tools, and more.



So, if you are looking for the best free drawing software for your next project, here's a comprehensive list for you.

Microsoft Expression Design 4

Specially built for professionals and developers, Expression Design 4, helps you to create graphics for the web, user interfaces of applications, and for any other platform.

Features:

  • Responsive interface for easy to design vector graphics.
  • It offers a range of dynamic drawing tools for ultimate control while designing.
  • Seamless integration with other applications related to the Expression Studio Suite.
  • It helps you to manage the work environment easily.
  • Option to import PSD files designed using Photoshop.

It also allows you to export designs which can be later used in applications supported by Silverlight.

Price: Free

Microsoft Paint 3D

Paint 3D is an upgraded version of the classic paint that features more new brushes and tools to unleash your creativity. It allows you to make both 2D and 3D models offering a view from all angles.

Features:

  • Offers Magic Select tool that creates stickers for your 3D models by creating cut-outs from your favorite images.
  • Option to choose from realistic textures, filters, and lighting variances to adorn your creations in the best way.
  • It allows you to explore thousands of 3D models from the Remix 3D group, upload and showcase your work on Remix3D.com.
  • Option to use the 3D doodle tool to draw a sketch that transforms into 3D instantly.

Moreover, it also allows you to display your work of art to others by exporting a video of your work.

Price: Free

Adobe Spark

Matte Paintings Movies

Coming from the leader in digital graphics management, Adobe Spark allows you to create effective social images, web pages, and mini videos instantly.

Features:

  • It allows you to choose from a range of free and professionally designed fonts.
  • Option to explore images on the web or select from your own collections stored on Google Photos, Dropbox, Lightroom, and more.
  • Discover a wide range of high-quality fonts, colors, and layouts.
  • Lets you view your published work get views and likes from viewers.
  • Option to share your story on social media platforms or via email.
Best matte painting software free

Best of all, your creations are automatically synced on the web or the iOS apps to be viewed later.

Macbook equivalent of word. Price: Free version available; Plans start from $9.52.

Adobe Illustrator Draw

With Adobe Illustrator Draw, you can draw attractive free-form vector designs on your mobile device. The program allows you to create production-level drawings on the go.

Features:

  • Sports a straightforward yet advanced interface featuring a range of unique drawing tools.
  • It allows you to pick from five integrated vector brushes.
  • Lets you save your shapes and color themes from the new Capture app to the Creative Cloud Libraries for fast access.
  • Option to send your creations to your desktop and edit them as vector paths.
  • It makes it easy for you to draw a 3D environment into your 2D sketches using integrated graphs and perspective grids.
  • Option to publish an ongoing work in Behance and get immediate feedback inside Draw.
  • It allows you to record motivating shapes from any location using the Capture function on your mobile device.

In addition, it offers the option to draw using pressure-sensitive stylus devices like Apple Pencil, Wacom devices, Adobe Ink, and more.

Price: Free; $1.99/month for additional storage.

GIMP

GIMP is the best in the class, free and open-source graphics editor that's perfect for a graphic designer, photographer, or even a scientist. It's equipped with a set of advanced tools, 3rd party plugins and customization options that further boost your productivity.

Features:

  • It features a customizable user interface that's easy to use and can be used for various tasks.
  • Sports a full-screen editing mode to help you edit large photos, easily.
  • It offers a range of enhancement tools to correct any imperfections in the photos.
  • Supports a wide variety of hardware devices like input devices (scanners, etc.).
  • It helps you tweak the application's controls making it possible to initiate certain events as you move the mouse.

Moreover, it supports a wide range of formats that include JPEG, PNG, TIFF, and GIF.

Price: free and open-source.

Inkscape

If you are looking for a free professional vector graphics editor, then there could be no better choice than Inkscape. This free and open-source software works seamlessly with Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Features:

  • It allows you to create objects using drawing tools, shape tools, text tools, embedded bitmaps, and the cloning facility.
  • Lets you manipulate objects using the transformation functions, Z-order operations, by grouping objects, creating layers, and aligning and allotting commands.
  • It helps you fill and stroke your drawings using color selectors, color picker tools, copy/paste function, gradient editor, pattern fills, and more.
  • It offers you the option to edit nodes, convert to a path, simplify paths, traces, bitmaps, and more.

Support for text like the text on a path, text on the shape, etc., full anti-aliased display, alpha transparency for display, perfectly compatible SVG format file editing, or live to watch and edit the document, are some of its other major features.

Price: Free and open source.

Best Matte Painting Software

Best of all, your creations are automatically synced on the web or the iOS apps to be viewed later.

Macbook equivalent of word. Price: Free version available; Plans start from $9.52.

Adobe Illustrator Draw

With Adobe Illustrator Draw, you can draw attractive free-form vector designs on your mobile device. The program allows you to create production-level drawings on the go.

Features:

  • Sports a straightforward yet advanced interface featuring a range of unique drawing tools.
  • It allows you to pick from five integrated vector brushes.
  • Lets you save your shapes and color themes from the new Capture app to the Creative Cloud Libraries for fast access.
  • Option to send your creations to your desktop and edit them as vector paths.
  • It makes it easy for you to draw a 3D environment into your 2D sketches using integrated graphs and perspective grids.
  • Option to publish an ongoing work in Behance and get immediate feedback inside Draw.
  • It allows you to record motivating shapes from any location using the Capture function on your mobile device.

In addition, it offers the option to draw using pressure-sensitive stylus devices like Apple Pencil, Wacom devices, Adobe Ink, and more.

Price: Free; $1.99/month for additional storage.

GIMP

GIMP is the best in the class, free and open-source graphics editor that's perfect for a graphic designer, photographer, or even a scientist. It's equipped with a set of advanced tools, 3rd party plugins and customization options that further boost your productivity.

Features:

  • It features a customizable user interface that's easy to use and can be used for various tasks.
  • Sports a full-screen editing mode to help you edit large photos, easily.
  • It offers a range of enhancement tools to correct any imperfections in the photos.
  • Supports a wide variety of hardware devices like input devices (scanners, etc.).
  • It helps you tweak the application's controls making it possible to initiate certain events as you move the mouse.

Moreover, it supports a wide range of formats that include JPEG, PNG, TIFF, and GIF.

Price: free and open-source.

Inkscape

If you are looking for a free professional vector graphics editor, then there could be no better choice than Inkscape. This free and open-source software works seamlessly with Windows, macOS, and Linux.

Features:

  • It allows you to create objects using drawing tools, shape tools, text tools, embedded bitmaps, and the cloning facility.
  • Lets you manipulate objects using the transformation functions, Z-order operations, by grouping objects, creating layers, and aligning and allotting commands.
  • It helps you fill and stroke your drawings using color selectors, color picker tools, copy/paste function, gradient editor, pattern fills, and more.
  • It offers you the option to edit nodes, convert to a path, simplify paths, traces, bitmaps, and more.

Support for text like the text on a path, text on the shape, etc., full anti-aliased display, alpha transparency for display, perfectly compatible SVG format file editing, or live to watch and edit the document, are some of its other major features.

Price: Free and open source.

Clip Studio Paint

Clip Studio Paint takes a digital painting to a whole new level with its natural brush feel, compatibility with all devices, and with thousands of customizable brushes.

Features:

  • It offers a set of sophisticated and traditional tools that include customizable pen sensitivity for moderate strokes, integrated stabilizer for smoother lines, and more.
  • Includes unlimited customizable brushes such as watercolor, oil painting, etc.
  • Option to make your own brushes or simply download from a collection.
  • Supports a 64-bit OS and multi-core processor that makes the most your device for you to work on high-resolution files with as much as 10, 000 layers.
  • Helps you to create comics and manga using pencils, storyboarding, background, effects, inking, etc.
  • Lets you scan and print your work straight from the software.
  • It allows you to import and export files in a range of standard formats that includes, PSD, BMP, JPEG, TGA, PNG, and TIFF.

Option to publish your work on social media, export the creations in Kindle and EPUB format, use modern fill tools, range of advanced color palates, rulers for precise drawing, or pre-installed 3D models are some of its other significant features.

Price: Free trial available; plans start from $49.99.

Krita

A free and open-source drawing software, Krita's entire purpose is to offer affordable drawing tool to all. It offers tools for concept art, for painters into texture and matte painting, and for comics and illustrations.

Features:

  • It offers a clean and responsive user interface that allows you to move and customize the dockers and panels.
  • It allows you to create your own shortcuts for the frequently used tools.
  • Features more than 100 professionally designed and preloaded brushes.
  • Equipped with integrated vector tools to create comic panels.
  • Option to customize your brushes using more than 9 brush engines.
  • Lets you easily create smooth textures and patterns.
  • It allows you to import brushes and texture packs from other painters.

Moreover, it offers a drawing guide to help you with straight lines and vanishing points, loaded with filters, groups, vectors, etc., option to highlight a section of the drawing, support for full-color management, and more.

Price: Free and open source. Adding google chrome to macbook.

Vectr

If you are looking for a free graphics program, your search might well end here. It helps you to design vector graphics effortlessly. This cross-platform tool is straightforward yet dynamic that helps you to bring your designs into reality.

Features:

  • Fast and easy to learn as it requires no learning curve.
  • It allows you to share a Vectr document with anyone to collaborate in real-time.
  • Option to scale designs to any size with blur-free logos, cards, brochures, and presentations.

Best of all, the software is eternally free and can be used on the web, or can be downloaded on your desktop.

Price: Free

MediBang Paint Pro

With MediBang Paint Pro, you can draw anytime, anywhere and on virtually any device. This free software is lightweight that allows you to create digital paintings and comics, and comes with a range of tools like brushes, fonts, pre-designed backgrounds, etc.

Features:

  • It allows you to paint on your mobile phone, easily.
  • Option to transfer your creations across devices with ease.
  • No hassle of carrying a storage device or using the hard drive space.
  • It offers more than 800 tones/backgrounds, 50+ brushes, and 20 fonts.
  • Features all the MediBang created artwork in a library.

Best of all, you can use it the cloud to collaborate with writers, sketchers, colorist, and inkers as a team and even share your work with them.

Price: Free

Gravit

Gravit is a graphic design and drawing software that comes loaded with features and is compatible with all major platforms. It allows you to unleash your creativity with tools that are quick and adaptable, and are especially suited for professional designers.

Features:

  • It offers a range of precision vector tools that lets you play with lines and points, make shapes, and give structure to your creation.
  • It allows you to create mockups and wireframes for web and mobile with the help of anchors, symbols, shared styles, and more.
  • It helps you to create professional brand visuals.
  • Offers built-in templates and libraries to create flyers, banners, business cards, etc.
  • Option to design images for social media.
  • Offers editing options like filters, blending, color and light adjustments, and more.

Smart control points, precise Pen and Bezigon tools, option to add multiple fills, RGB, HSB and CMYK colors, complete control on your typography or varying import/export options are among many of its other big features.

Price: Free version available; Upgrade available at $51.15.

Corel Painter

Corel Painter 2020 is a digital art and painting program that's specially designed for professional artists. Known for its Natural-Media and exclusive digital art brushes in sync with stylus movements and canvas textures, is one of the best drawing software in the category.

Features:

  • Loaded with amazing brushes, dabs stencils, brush library, glowing brushes, thick paint and more.
  • It offers 900+ brushes, plenty of rush controls, and 36 brush categories.
  • It comes with 6 fresh color harmonies, enhanced contextual and high-standard menus, user guides and grids, flow maps, textures, and more as tools.
  • No experience required with the auto-painting panels.
  • Option to use image, textures, and patterns as clone sources.
  • It allows you to use Cloner brushes to photo paint.

Best of all, the software focuses on performance with automatic performance optimization, modified interface, tracking the brush strokes, compatibility with Photoshop, and more.

https://bertylpatriot677.weebly.com/nxpowerlite-8-0-8-x-8.html. Price: Free trial available; Upgrade available at $392.96.

Autodesk Sketchbook

Autodesk focuses primarily on creativity with sketching being the center point of the creative process. For that purpose, it offers a range of advanced drawing tools that help you with fast conceptual sketches or complete done artwork.

Features:

  • It offers a responsive user interface that stays incognito until you are ready to use your drawing tools.
  • Controls 100mpx engine while maintaining focus on traditional drawing.
  • It offers a Scan Sketch function that allows your camera to be used as a scanner.
  • Works across all devices making it easier for you to draw on the go.
  • Equipped with inks, markers, pencils, and more than 190 customizable brushes for adding shapes and textures.
  • It offers traditional rulers and ellipse guides for perfect lines.

Moreover, it also offers the option to export your drawings in all major formats such as PSD, JPG, TIFF, PNG, and BMP.

Price: Free version available; License priced at $85/Year. Free and easy video editing software.

Conclusion

While art requires skills and focus, it also requires the best tools to finish with perfection. Since there are plenty of drawing programs available out there, it may get overwhelming to choose the one best suited to your needs. Our comprehensive list features some of the best free drawing software for those looking for advanced tools at no cost. Make sure that you know your requirements before you choose a tool for your purpose. So, pick one tool of your choice and bring your design concepts to reality.

I find passion in writing Tech articles around Windows PC and softwares

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