Which is better? OpenCanvas 6 or Manga Studio 5?

[E U N O I A]

There's sales everywhere and I want to start making digital art a hobby (Anime Style) but I don't know what to buy. ~Beginner~ But I do have some experience with graphics design though. Also, I only have $160 in allowance and gifts.

I can't really compare the two since I DON'T have them...

Also, what's the best drawing table under $100? It'll be helpful if you answer this question too.

Thnx! (^_^)'/

[Fontes]

In terms of software, I guess it'll mostly boil down to preference. You can get both their trials from their respective sites, so it's a matter of trying both out.

openCanvas: http://www.portalgraphics.net/en/oc/
Clip Studio Paint: http://www.clipstudio.net/en

Yes, I said "Clip Studio Paint". "Manga Studio" is just a western rebranding. Look for CSP instead if you want to get updates faster. CSP in general it DOES feel more complete than openCanvas in terms of features, but I personally find OC's brush engine easier to mess around with.

Now, since you're a beginner, openCanvas has a nice feature, called Event Playback. with openCanvas, after you're done with a picture, you can save it as an Event file, so other people can load it up and see how you made the illustration, step by step. Consequently, YOU can use this feature to learn some nifty techniques from other artists. Just go to Portal Graphics' PGN Community (check OC's site) and browse around. You may need to register for it, but no biggie.

Now, as I said before, don't just take my word for it (I'm obviously biased towards OC). Download 'em both, and try them out before making a decision. But please, DON'T get 'em on Steam. You'll have a better experience getting those programs straight from the respective companies (faster updates, no need to depend on Steam if you need a reinstall, etc.).

In terms of hardware, check this out: http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-Writing-Drawing-Graphics-Board-Tablet-4x2-3-inch-Wireless-Digital-Pen-/200948814833?pt=AU_Input_Peripherals&hash=item2ec97b93f1

That's a Huion H420. It's kinda small, but for that price it'll work wonderfully for a beginner-level artist. I happen to have one, so I can personally guarantee that despite it's price, it works great. And it has 2048 levels of pen pressure, which is the same as high-end Wacom Tablets. I'm not joking.

If you're feeling weary of that, look for a Huion H610 instead. 50 bucks on ebay if you look hard enough.

[E U N O I A]

Originally posted by Fontes:

In terms of software, I guess it'll mostly boil down to preference. You can get both their trials from their respective sites, so it's a matter of trying both out.

openCanvas: http://www.portalgraphics.net/en/oc/
Clip Studio Paint: http://www.clipstudio.net/en

Yes, I said "Clip Studio Paint". "Manga Studio" is just a western rebranding. Look for CSP instead if you want to get updates faster. CSP in general it DOES feel more complete than openCanvas in terms of features, but I personally find OC's brush engine easier to mess around with.

Now, since you're a beginner, openCanvas has a nice feature, called Event Playback. with openCanvas, after you're done with a picture, you can save it as an Event file, so other people can load it up and see how you made the illustration, step by step. Consequently, YOU can use this feature to learn some nifty techniques from other artists. Just go to Portal Graphics' PGN Community (check OC's site) and browse around. You may need to register for it, but no biggie.

Now, as I said before, don't just take my word for it (I'm obviously biased towards OC). Download 'em both, and try them out before making a decision. But please, DON'T get 'em on Steam. You'll have a better experience getting those programs straight from the respective companies (faster updates, no need to depend on Steam if you need a reinstall, etc.).

In terms of hardware, check this out: http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-Writing-Drawing-Graphics-Board-Tablet-4x2-3-inch-Wireless-Digital-Pen-/200948814833?pt=AU_Input_Peripherals&hash=item2ec97b93f1

That's a Huion H420. It's kinda small, but for that price it'll work wonderfully for a beginner-level artist. I happen to have one, so I can personally guarantee that despite it's price, it works great. And it has 2048 levels of pen pressure, which is the same as high-end Wacom Tablets. I'm not joking.

If you're feeling weary of that, look for a Huion H610 instead. 50 bucks on ebay if you look hard enough.

Useful information, thnx! (^_^)'/

But problem is that OC is on sale on Steam... So... /(T_T)\

[Fontes]

That does sound tempting. I personally would STILL buy it from Portal Graphics directly (it's not THAT big a difference, it's 50 bucks on their site), since that's a better decision in the long run, but it's your wallet, not mine, so who am I to say anything. :P

[E U N O I A]

Ahhhh!!!! This is hard... I can't really choose...
Can you help me out with the differences and which of which is best for whatever task.

[Fontes]

Originally posted by XLS.Siriusly:

Ahhhh!!!! This is hard... I can't really choose...
Can you help me out with the differences and which of which is best for whatever task.

You mean between openCanvas 6 and Clip Studio Paint, or between the two versions of opencanvas (Steam, or straight from their site)?

[E U N O I A]

The two programs... I'm comparing both right now and the shape tools are different... To me, I think that openCanvas 6 is like drawing on paper with image enhancements. Clip Studio Paint is like drawing on paper as well but with more stuff. But still... I can't choose. Maybe questioning about my preferences would help cause right now, I'm comparing tools.

[Fontes]

If you are a begginer and want to like to learn through observing other people work, openCanvas is definately the one to go with.

Like I said, you can download Event files from the PGN community, and then see, step-by step, how a picture was created.

Here's an example of my own: http://www.portalgraphics.net/pg/illust/?image_id=88591

Not only you got the video in there, you can download the Event file to see what brush settings were used, what layer blending settings, what filters, etc.

Again, I'm biased about openCanvas since I've been litterally been using it for years (it's my primary software for work). So take my word for whatever it's worth.

[E U N O I A]

*Claps in amazement* Nice drawing!

Although, I already knew about the that feature though.

Question, have you used Clip Studio Paint before?

If you have, have you used Adobe Illustrator?

If you said yes to both, which is more like Adobe Illustrator?

If not... Ehhh, then I know why you're super duper bias for openCanvas. I'm more open to use as many tools as possible. For graphics design, I use Photoshop in school, but since I can't afford Photoshop, I use Pixlr and Gimp. But for Illustrator, I have Inkscape as an Alternative but the interface or UI is kinda messy. But I want a program that's like drawing on paper while having extra tools to take advantage of like drawing shapes and such.

I've checked out the tools and the drawing methods for both are different. Making shapes and connecting them is hard in Clip Studio Paint and the Curve tool in openCanvas cannot be continuous. (I don't have a pad yet but I'm tring both out with my mouse.)

Also, I would like to know which program is best for what job as well. I know Clip Studio Paint id dominant in making Manga for sure but I'm not interested in making manga. I'm more into just drawing pictures and doing some graphics design work at the same time.

I know both are for drawing with pads but I would also like to take advantage of using extra tools to get the job done.

So, if I don't end up deciding, well, I might as well have both and alternate when I need to (My money, so no complaining). Just like Gimp and Pixlr. Pixlr for fixing things up, Gimp for enhancing. But then again... That leads to another question... Which should I get first? (>.<)''' ~Sorry!!! <---Part of emoji.

[E U N O I A]

Also, one more thing... openCanvas updates are consistant with Steam's. I checked the update history for both and they're the same. I have auto-update on. All my games automatically updates when it needs too. Especially games with the EULA thing.

[xyzt]

Have you used:
Illustrator? yes
Photoshop? yes
Manga Studio 5? yes
Gimp? yes

Which is more like Adobe Illustrator... for say, $50 bucks? Haha!! Funny.

Illustrator has a large amount of vector tools. Digital painting programs have a large amount of bitmap tools.

So, none.

From a digital painting perspective, a large amount of vector tools including 3D wireframe imports for reference and a low price can be found in MangaLabo. MangaLabo is a rebranded software that was one of a few software made for professional comic artists. It's sold by portalgraphics, the same company who sells OpenCanvas. MangaLabo is known for it's inking features, as some people use it by sending exported photoshop work to MangaLabo for digital inking.

You can see a review from a comic artist at this link, http://forum.tabletpcreview.com/threads/making-manga-with-mangalabo-software-review.52301/.

Inkscape is also vector for a low price, and so is Microsoft Expression Design 4. However, of these three pieces of software, MangaLabo is the only software that is designed with tablet pressure sensitivity in mind.

[Fontes]

southpawami is correct. Illustrator is vector-based, while both openCanvas AND Clip Studio Paint are raster-based. Consider these as similar to GIMP, only with more workable interfaces (I never really got the hang of GIMP's GUI to be honest) and more refined brush engines. Check southpawami's suggestions for vector-like software.

OC and CSP are meant mostly for illustration or comics, and they're both pretty good at it. In the end, it'll boil down to which of the two you feel better working with.

Doesn't mean you can't do graphic design with them. I use openCanvas for almost ANYTHING I do, but that's mostly because I was stubborn enough to work around it's limitations. Don't be surprised if I someday find a haphazard way to make 3D animation WITH SOUND with that thing. XD

[xyzt]

Originally posted by Fontes:

Don't be surprised if I someday find a haphazard way to make 3D animation WITH SOUND with that thing. XD

Well, here's a fix to that pesky sound problem. http://www.nicolasfournel.com/audiopaint.htm

[Fontes]

Originally posted by southpawami:

Originally posted by Fontes:

Don't be surprised if I someday find a haphazard way to make 3D animation WITH SOUND with that thing. XD

Well, here's a fix to that pesky sound problem. http://www.nicolasfournel.com/audiopaint.htm

That looks like a fun way to make sountracks for horror movies. :P

[Throbbin Williams]

for me i started with oc 5.5 using a wacom tablet and because it seems like you dont have much to spend i would buy an intuos pen and touch small. or medeum. i have the pro because after only a day using the pen & touch i felt like i needed somthing more responsive. but that doesnt mean i didnt like the pen and touch infact i loved it but for the level i want to be at i needed a little more

[E U N O I A]

Well, I got the Huion 610 Pro and I got it like 2 days ago and it's awesome! Glad I didn't get the defective one cause I was worrying after reading the comments from people who ordered it. A lot of the comments say that this tablet is as good as a Wacom if you're lucky not getting a defective one.

You know what I hate about drawing tablets? They're all made for righties!!!! (>.<)''''' And I'm a leftie using the right hand set up...