I noticed that a lot of you are asking about some drawing programs, better than MSpaint. So I decided to use some of my time to do a little research into it, not all from first hand experience. Remember, these are free! Here are my results:
Inkscape Pros: -Vector Manipulation -Similar to adobe products
Cons: -Sometimes "freezes" tablet for brief second -Difficult to choose color
Gimp Pros: -Very similar to Adobe programs -designed for web graphics -Small with all the features
Cons: -awkward to draw with a mouse -best with tablet
Dogwaffle Pros: -Can create custom brushes -Quick to download -good filters -a lot of tools
Cons: -Takes time to learn how to use -No cut and paste -Limited layers -Cannot undo many times
ArtRage Pros: -little effort to master -easy tools -good with tablet
Cons: -limited -buy for full use of tools
Paint.net Pros: -Good photo editing -Easy to learn -good features
Cons: No serious concerns.
Please post you're feedback. If you use a free art program not listed here, be sure to tell about it! ^^
Note that this is V1.1 and not the commercial V4.5.
Pros: -Super simple, intuitive interface -Emulates a range of paint and ink media quickly -Small filesize -Has event playing and networking ability -Tablet compatible, with adjustible pressure sensitivity
Cons: -Original is Japanese so Engrish translation can be confusing -Limited undo functionality (memory cache based) and no redo -No selection tool (BAD!!!) -Designed almost exclusively for tablet use. You can try the mouse but I don't recommend it
Additional feeback about GIMP:
Pros: -Pressure sensitive fuctions for tablet use
Cons: -Memory eating monster -Pressure sensitivity for brush sizes appears to be piecemeal/discrete, not gradated, which will result in a noticeably jagged line on smaller brushstrokes. Highly irritating...GIMP staff recommend "don't use brush then, use paths and stroke".
