What I Think About ArtRage

[Michael Luna]

I'd like to complain about it, really I would. After using Adobe for so long, it's pretty easy to look at something else with my nose pointed upward.

My ArtRage came in a software bundle when I bought a Wacom drawing pad. First off, the drawing pad is absolutely incredible just by itself. It works perfectly with both Adobe and ArtRage. I illustrate my wife's books solely with ArtRage, because it has exceptional "paper-like" quality when used with the Wacom. I really didn't expect much out of ArtRage because I'd never heard of it. When it loaded, I still wasn't convinced, because it doesn't have a professional* look to it. I figured it was just another child's play toy. Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised. The drawing pad is touch sensitive, and so is ArtRage, so the harder I draw, the harder the line. That's perfect when I'm sketching, because I can shade and outline without changing the pencil size. I'm 110% satisfied.

* According to my college programming years, a professional look for Windows is your standard menu bar with small icons in their own panes, like Photoshop uses.

[D Akey]

Adobe Suite programs are sort of modular and boxy. The format works alright, but other than the tool bar, it feels more text dependent because there's little to differentiate one to the next at a glance. You get used to it but it's not particularly inspiring.

I like the ArtRage interface because it feels more like an art set up with taborets and palettes and all that.

Glad you like AR. I think I first found out about it by tripping over it when surfing the web way back when. Been a fan ever since.

[copespeak]

I find accessing the text fonts and all my large selection of brushes a nightmare in Photoshop. Art Rage is simple and the new text system in the upgrade before last is brilliant.

What I would LOVE in Art Rage is to be able to use the brushes as Erasers like in PS. I know there's a way to do it with Multiply and Layers, but that's a bit cumbersome.

[Rondo]

some simple word that where spoken way back in history when a warlord named Caesar conquered what is now know as the "Low countries" in his battle against the Galliers whom he describes as " The bravest under the bravest";)

I saw it,i used it,it conquered me ;)

Sorry for the little "history" lol

[Frisch]

Canvas - Check
Oil paint - Check
Brush - Check
Knife - Check


Contribution from owner
PC - Check
Mouse - Check

Accessories from owner

Music

It has wasted thousands of hours from my life - and I will sue Artrage just after a couple of paintings more (maybe ten - but no more than ten - I think)

[copespeak]

With your beautiful work, those thousands of hours haven't been wasted Frisch!

[Boxy]

I find it very easy to compare everything negatively against Photoshop because it was the first app I learned and the most comprehensive image manipulator going. But over the years I've learned that in order to get the most from any app, you have to embrace what each offers. Of all humans, developers are one group you can categorically say are not stupid. The tools they present are meticulously researched, planned and implemented and the starting point of that long, arduous development pipeline is a strong vision in what they're trying to achieve. For example, Photoshop can't replicate the experience I get from ArtRage's Oil Brush. It can't even effectively replicate my favourite settings for the humble pastel tool. Yes I do still love using Photoshop for certain things, but AR is my painting app precisely because of it's stripped down interface and elegant solutions to complex tools, especially compared with the other main natural media app, Painter. In my opinion it's well worth exploring, though of course the latest version is always going to be better than anything else.
Cheers