Paid tools for digital painting have set the industry standard for what is possible with these programs, right? Not necessary. There is so much great free drawing software available today. Tired of subscription slavery and the epidemic of bloatware, professional artists are even switching from the paid apps they've been using for years.
The Drawing App You Already Have: Notes. It's a free app on every iPad. Change the stroke weight. Google SketchUp: With this innovative piece of program sitting in your PC, you'll be able to unleash.
The question is – where can we find these tools? Travel no further. We have handpicked the best free drawing programs that you can use to create compelling artworks without paying a single penny.
Krita
Platforms: Linux, Windows, macOS
Download link: krita.org
Krita is an open source painting program made by artists for artists. The tool is completely free and the only way you can support its creator is by donating. Its main focus is on the artistic painting for cartoons, anime or canvas art, meaning that some features that you may need for photo editing or image manipulation were not prioritized in development.
One of the main strengths of Krita is its brush engine. You can tweak and create brushes for ages, and Krita comes with more than nine brush engines. The customization process is versatile and one can create an almost infinite amount of brushes specific to the task. However, the default set of brushes is more than enough to start creating art – and you can always find more packs on the internet, free of charge.
Another advantage that Krita offers is its layers mechanics. The layering system resembles that of Photoshop and allows all standard operations: merging, blending, grouping etc. There is a variety of layer types that you can create: paint layers, vector layers, fill & file layers.
Krita supports layered PSD files, so you can open Photoshop files or export your work using that format.
Artwork made with Krita by David Revoy
Pros:
- Profound brush engine
- Strong focus on digital painting
- PSD export
- Open-source community with constant updates and new features
Cons:
- Users (rarely) report performance issues on some platforms
- Some photo-editing tools are lacking
- Working with text (exported as bitmap)
- Not all features are extensively documented
Gimp
Platform: Linux, macOS, Windows
Download link: gimp.org
Gimp is one of the oldest raster graphic editors that's free to use since it's early release in 1996. It has a wide and devoted user base with many tutorials and documentation available online.
Up until the last year many new users were skeptical towards adopting the program, since for years it has had issues such as outdated UI, jagged brush work and poor performance on new PC's. However, the recent big April update addressed all of these, being the result of six years of work (the previous version of Gimp was released in 2012).
Gimp was always more of an image editing program than a drawing one. With all the latest updates, its functionality is almost on par with Photoshop's. Gimp has filters, adjustments modes, color management, and all the tools professional photo editors (photographers, designers etc.) might use in their daily work. Developers also polished PSD import, and added new image formats (OpenEXR, RGBE, WebP, HGT).
However, Gimp has a lot to offer digital painters as well. The newest version includes long-awaited updates for the brush work (symmetry painting, hardware pixel processing) and canvas management (rotating, flipping, previewing).
One particular advantage of Gimp is the highly customizable UI. With all the features it offers, Gimp is the closest alternative to Photoshop in terms of the number of things you are able to do with it, and the latest update brought it even closer.
Pros:
- Multi-functional image editing
- Highly customizable (You can even make it look and work like Photoshop)
- Offers extended functionality with custom plugins
Cons:
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- Linux's first development may rarely cause some performance issues on Windows
- UI can be a bit overwhelming when first starting
- Pen pressure might need to be reconfigured, especially on Windows
Autodesk's SketchBook Pro
Platform: macOS, Windows, Android, iOS
Download link:sketchbook.com
In April 2018, Autodesk made the SketchBook Pro drawing program absolutely free. I erased my macbook air hard drive. No hidden costs, no subscription fees — all you have to do in order to use this drawing software with all its premium features is simply create an Autodesk account. But even then, you don't have to do it for the first seven days.
This has completely changed the dynamic of the free drawing software market, because the number of features this program offers for free is simply amazing.
Here's a video with commentary and some valuable SketchBook Pro tips for artists:
Audio sound editing software, free download. Sketchbook is a part of the Autodesk software suite, a heavily engineering-oriented company. Engineers and industrial designers have been using Sketchbook for years in order to create accurate, yet simple and visually appealing sketches.
That's why sketchbook offers wonderful perspective features: grids, dynamic vanishing point alignment, vanishing point managements, etc. It allows you to quickly build perspective grids for your art, which is valuable for concept artists, industrial designers, and architects.
French curves is another feature you won't find in many painting programs. They allow you to trace smooth curves, a feature that is also widely used in industrial design.
The UI is simple, yet very effective. You can easily turn on only those sections of UI that you're currently using, so that your work area is not swamped by a large amount of tools.
You can download additional brushes without having to browse the Internet — whole packs can be downloaded from the main menu of the program. This drawing program supports PSD files and all the common graphic formats you might need. https://heremfiles971.weebly.com/cleanusbdrive-1-1.html.
SketchBook also has a mobile version available on Android and iOS. Mac cleaner freeware. So you can, for example, take a photo of something and then instantly start drawing over it.
Pros:
- Elegant, simple UI
- Advanced perspective tools
- Desktop and Mobile versions
Animation Mode
Cons:
- No filters
- No advanced editing options
MyPaint
Platform: Linux, Windows
Download link:mypaint.org
MyPaint has been around since 2008 and it's development model is contribution based, with the latest stable version released in 2016. The app is open-source, simple and stable.
It's well optimized for working with tablets, so the brush flow is smooth and glitch-free, which is great given that the program is not developed by a corporation, but by a number of volunteer developers.
Unlike trying to install heavier drawing solutions, MyPaint is easy on computer resources, so using it on old laptops and PC's is a great option.
The UI is pretty up-to-date and feels more modern than, for example, Paint.net.
MyPaint supports layers and basic color adjustments. It also has cool features, like symmetry mode, connected lines, and curves. It comes with a set of brushes that have this almost organic feel to them. However, some advanced features are not there, e.g it has no animation tools.
Overall, MyPaint is a perfect choice for light sketching work, if you don't need advanced features and want to rationally use system resources.
Pros:
- Actively updated by a community
- Modern, minimalistic UI
- Simple and resource-efficient
Cons:
- No animation tools
- No desktop version
FireAlpaca
Platforms: macOS, Windows
Download link: firealpaca.com
Despite the simple looking interface, FireAlpaca is a surprisingly workable free tool beloved by many artists. It supports all the core features digital artists need: brushes, layers, multiple image tabs and editing tools.
A simple UI allows you to focus on the primary goal: painting, and it makes this program very intuitive from the start. The brush control is no worse than paid software analogues; FireAlpaca supports multiple pressure levels and has an adjustable smoothing feature that aids the line work.
Unexpectedly elaborated are FireAlpaca's perspective tools. Snap feature allows you to easily create perspective grids with multiple vanishing points, both linear and radial. This is especially useful for creating comics and storyboards with often uncommon perspective angles.
Artwork made in FireAlpaca by Manga-omega. Watch Speedpaint video here.
It's also worth mentioning that FireAlpaca has a built-in basic animation toolset (though you might want to find a tutorial for that) and supports PSD file format.
Pros:
- Simple & intuitive UI
- Smooth brush flow
- Excellent comic perspective features
- Basic animation tools
Cons:
- Overly simplistic, not suitable for complex editing tasks
MediBang Paint Pro
Platforms: Windows, macOS, iPad, iPhone, Android
Download link: medibangpaint.com
The key advantage of MediBang Paint Pro is its ubiquity – the program has a counterpart for almost every device you might have. With cloud storage you can effortlessly transfer your art between different devices. For example, you might start drawing something on your Kindle, and then later finish the drawing on your Mac.
The trick is, MediBang Paint and FireAlpaca are made by the same company. That explains why many features between these programs are quite similar, and why the brush workflow is great in both of them. It's hard to point out differences between them, except for Medi's cross-platformity and cloud tools. This, in turn, leads to MediBang Pro being compatible with a larger number of tablets, while FireAlpaca is mostly optimized for brand names like Wacom.
Artwork made with MediBang Paint by たく
Some specific features (e.g. materials) that are available in desktop versions may not be available on mobile versions, but then again, cloud sharing addresses that.
Overall, MediBang Paint Pro is one of these good free drawing programs that are surprisingly resourceful.
Pros:
- Supports multiple platforms and tablets
- Amazing brush presets
Cons:
- Requires a MediBang account
- A large number of tutorials are in the Japanese language (however, there are English articles)
Paint.Net
Platform: Windows
Download link: getpaint.net
Paint.Net is a simple alternative to GIMP. It is a perfect match for those looking for quick photo and image editing, without skimming through pages of tutorials and additional menus.
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But don't let its simplicity fool you – the tool supports all the features one may need for all-around editing of images: layers, adjustment modes, and special effects. You can get rid of red eyes, blend images or adjust color as effectively as with any other feature-loaded analogue. Paint.NET also supports extensions, if you want to expand its capabilities.
The user interface resembles that of a Photoshop, so if you have had any experience with the program, using Paint.NET will feel even more intuitive. The app also features automatic updates, including bug fixes and new features.
Pros:
- Easy to use, working image-editing solution
- Simple and neat UI
- Extensions & updates
Cons:
- Simplicity is a double-edged sword – advanced features may be missing
- No macOS version
Afterword
Just a decade ago we didn't really have a choice: There was one paid program and one free. Nowadays there are so many great apps, it's hard to pick one even among the free ones available.
There are no clear winners, and the only question that can really narrow down the choice is whether you are planning to use these programs for digital painting (Krita, FireAlpaca, MebiBang Paint Pro), or for photo & image editing (GIMP, Paint.NET).
Fascinating art can be created with any of these programs (yes, even with Paint.NET). So the question is how comfortable you are with the tools you are using, and there's only one person who can answer that question.
Check the handy list of free software for vector drawing Adobe photoshop cc and cs6.
Read useful tips on how to become a graphic designer and check 6 temptations of a graphic designer creating icons.
Try tools for creators by the Icons8 team
Creating designs can be a tedious task for engineers and students as a lot of precision and attention should go into making the drawing perfect. It can be done easily by using a simple 2D drawing software. With this 2D drawing software download you will be able to create accurate designs and use the tools to get the best results. There are many 2D drawing software, free download or 2D drawing freeware are available online.
Design Drafting Software
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Auto CAD LT
This premium software can be used to create 2D design across different platforms with precision. It will provide a very attractive visual experience and the PDFs used are more responsive. Dimensioning will be easier with the tools and the work can be done on cloud or intranet. The monitor can be used to prevent any unwanted changes to the system preferences and it runs on a TrustedDWG technology.
QCAD – 2D CAD
This freeware and open source software can be used for CAD in 2D. You will be able to create drawing for various purposes like plans for buildings, mechanical parts, schematics, interiors and other such diagrams. It works across different platforms and has many features like layers, blocks, TrueType fonts, DXF & DWG inputs, etc. More than 35 CAD tools are included and many constructions and modification tools are provided.
Cadlogic-2D Drawing
This freeware can be used to create 2D drawings and it can be used for printing or saving. It has many powerful drawing tools that can be used to create professional level diagrams with accurate measurements. The measurement units can be set based upon the requirement. It is very easy to use and has many tools like linear, radial, angular, diameter, arrow, etc.
Kedi CAD for Linux
This freeware is compatible with the Linux platform and can be used as a 2D CAD software. It is very easy to use and can be used to perform the hydraulic analysis. CAD, CAM, FEA, etc. are available and a standard parts library can be used. It is easy to create the sketches and the community can be used to collaborate.
Eazy Draw for Mac
This premium software is compatible on the Mac platform and can be used as a vector drawing application. It was designed mainly for Mac OS X to create logos, illustrations, web graphics, flow charts, elevations and much more. Though it is very simple to use, it is a very powerful tool.
2D Drafting Software for Windows
This premium Windows software can be used for creating 2D diagrams with more than 1000 drafting symbols on a user-friendly interface. It can be used to create and edit the technical drawing and also to annotate the designs. It will serve as a multi-purpose software that can be used to provide vector graphics results.
Auto Cad – Most Popular Software
This premium software is very popular for creating, uploading, opening and editing DWG drawing from the mobile tools. The drawings can be drawn using gestures and a stylus of the objects can be edited. When you tap the images the measurements will be displayed. It is possible to view the drawing from different angles. You can also see 2D CAD Software
How to Install 2D Drawing Software?
This software is available in both free version and as a premium version. If it is a freeware, you will be able to download the software directly from the manufacturer and install it on the system. If it is a premium version, then the login credentials will have to be purchased from the supplier before the software could be downloaded. As it works alongside CAD sometimes, you have to check all the system requirements prior to installation. You can also see Drawing Animation Software
This software can be used to draw the diagrams easily and mark it. The final images can be shared to others or exported. You will be able to sketch the diagrams freely and even work offline. Split screens can be used for multi-tasking and pressure-sensitive tools like Apple Pencil can be used on some software.
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