CGing for non-tablet users.

[Azariah]

So you see, I myself don't have a graphics tablet because I don't have money, simple as that, and I was wondering, what do you think are the best programs in creating a CG without a tablet except for GIMP, Manga Studio, Photoshop and SAI?

Thanks for some suggestions, I really would appreciate it ;D

ALSO, what do you suggest for me to use when making BG art? (Except for Google SketchUp?)

[Sharm]

Okay, so what your asking is what are the best programs for doing these things except the ones that are the best? I'm curious, what exactly are you after? Is there something wrong with GIMP or Sketchup that makes them not work for you? Are you looking for a program that's obscure and oft overlooked?

[100puro]

Even though you say 'except' those are the most popular art programs and can be also used well with a mouse. Photoshop for example has a pen tool where you can vector effectively with a mouse, it makes no difference whether you have a tablet or not. There are other programs where it doesn't really make too much difference with tablet or mouse like facebook grafitti, oekaki, paintchat interface, and tegaki E.

Programs for backgrounds.. Erm it doesn't matter if you're drawing a sprite, an animal, or a background I think you can do it on any program. If though you are using photo manipulation to make backgrounds photoshop is king.

However though I say this, I think you should really get a tablet. Maybe you're not looking in the right places? There are great tablets like Monoprice tablet going for $20-$30. That's basically a night at the movie theatre and I would say affordable to most anyone.

[CosmicKitty]

it's on your except list, but before I had a tablet I used SAI. It has a pressure tool for lineart so it can mimic lines from a pressure sensitive tablet. Besides that there's no magical tool that will make your art better if you use it. If you're looking for free use gimp. Sketchup for backgrounds, or manipulate photos with gimp.

[myapple]

The only possible other programs that I can think of that would come even close to the ones you mentioned are Painter and OpenCanvas. However, like PS and SAI, they aren't free unless you're a pirate :p And unlike PS, they are aimed more towards people with tablets, and i'm pretty sure the pen tool (if it even exists in those programs) wouldn't have the same level of functionality. (I would also actually heavily dissuade you from using Manga Studio ever, unless it's for... manga. You know.)

Go with GIMP, if you don't have any other options. It's free, and really not a bad program for editing images for BGs, and for colouring and such if you know how to use it! Here is a tutorial/walkthrough that you might find helpful.

Sketching images traditionally and scanning/photographing them to get them on your computer can help you avoid some of the problem sketching stages that can happen without a tablet. It's also quicker.

[dramspringfeald]

Well that depends. Look up "Vectoring" which allows you to get high quality lineart/effects with just a mouse. I use Paint tool sai when my tablet pen runs away from me but really it's not to hard once you get the had of it

Tutorials
Sai - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMQKmPfLqTk
http://infitima.deviantart.com/art/Pain ... -104492561
http://shattered-earth.deviantart.com/a ... -286164038
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kTzjpTsCogQ

[Deji]

When I didn't have a tablet, many many years ago, I used Photoshop with lots of lasso tool and pen tool for coloring.
Cel shading is super easy like that! You can ue the pen tool to create selection areas a lot more precise than the ones you can with lasso tool, imo.

I drew everything on paper, inked on paper (mostly, because the pen tool linearts I did felt lifeless - though cleaner - compared to the ones I could do by hand), and then scanned, cleaned and used a ton of layers (:

[nyaatrap]

If it's cheaper for you to spend 10 days to complete 1 work, use vectors. Though isn't it far cheaper to do a part-time job one day, then buy a tablet and paint in 2 days?

I seriously suggest if you can't buy a tablet, just give up any CG works and keep doing only traditional pencil & paper drawing. It's better for your art learning.

[fioricca]

Digital art has always been a lot cheaper than traditional art to me, because paints/paper/markers all cost money lol ;; I second Nyaatrap -- digital art is a whopping lot more efficient if you have a tablet. I'm not saying that you can't do digital art without a tablet, but a tablet really enables you to do that much more.

[TsukiShima]

While I don't think it's impossible to do CGs without tablet, I think the programs that you yourself stated are the common programs that are used by even professionals.

Sketching traditionally is often easier and more smooth than digital to me. You can ink it later on SAI or PS and put on other details later. But I guess tablet helps and more advance technique can be use, along with the fancy tricks to cover up your arts.
That is why it's often said that if you are already good in traditional arts, you won't have a problem when entering digital arts.

[zankizuna]

from experience: I think it's great to use photoshop, OR adobe illustrator.
I use line tool to sketch,coz it's easy, some brush, then pen tool coloring and layer layer stuff
It's not impossible of course, You Just Need Lots Of Time. YJNLO lol
If you're also good at traditional art, you can scan then color on your computer, I heard gimp was also nice,
SAI as well, but I haven't tried those.

[TheGuraGuraMan]

I usually use Photoshop with a mouse, and it's not a problem. Once you discover the pen tool, everything seem so easier.

[Azariah]

I see now >.< Thanks for the suggestion guys, I guess the best programs are already on my side, maybe what I need to do now is to improve my skills. But then again, every tip you guys gave me are VERY HELPFUL. Thank you guys so much for laying thise ideas.

From now on...I should really start saving up for a tablet if I want to have a much better CG. >.< Thanks for the help guys!!