What you need to start making digital art

Digital art means creating images on a computer using software instead of pencil and paper. You do not need expensive equipment — most people start with software that costs nothing and a mouse or trackpad they already own. A graphics tablet (a flat pad you draw on with a stylus) makes certain work easier, but it is not required to begin.

The core setup is three things: a computer running Windows, Mac, or Linux; free or paid art software; and a way to input your work — either a mouse, trackpad, or graphics tablet if you want one later. Your computer does not need to be new or powerful for basic digital art, though newer machines handle large files and complex effects faster.

Key Takeaways

  • Free software like Krita, GIMP, and Photopea can do professional-quality work and run on older computers.
  • A mouse or trackpad works fine to start; a graphics tablet is optional and costs $30 to $300 depending on features.
  • Raster software (Photoshop, Krita, GIMP) works with pixels and suits painting and photo editing; vector software (Illustrator, Inkscape) works with shapes and suits logos and clean lines.
  • Most artists learn by doing small projects first — a single character, a landscape, a portrait — rather than jumping to finished pieces.
  • Your file size and the number of layers you use depend on your computer's memory, so start with fewer layers and combine them as you work.

Raster versus vector: which type of software to choose

Raster software creates images from colored dots called pixels. When you paint in Photoshop, Krita, or GIMP, you are filling pixels with color. Raster work looks natural and painterly because each brushstroke blends smoothly into the next. The downside is that raster images get blurry when you enlarge them — the pixels just get bigger.

Vector software creates images from mathematical shapes — lines, curves, and fills. When you draw in Illustrator or Inkscape, you are placing and editing shapes. Vector images stay sharp at any size because the software recalculates the shapes to fit. Vector work is best for logos, icons, lettering, and anything that needs clean, precise edges.

Most people starting out choose raster software because it feels more like traditional drawing. If you want to paint, sketch, or blend colors, use Krita (free), GIMP (free), or Photoshop (paid subscription). If you want to design logos, posters with text, or illustrations with flat colors and hard edges, use Inkscape (free) or Illustrator (paid subscription).

Free software that works for real projects

Krita is a free raster program built for digital painting. It has brushes that mimic real media — pencils, charcoal, watercolor — and layers so you can work non-destructively. Krita runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux. The interface is clean and the learning curve is gentler than GIMP.

GIMP is a free raster program that does photo editing and digital art. It has been around for decades and handles complex work, but the interface is less intuitive than Krita. GIMP runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux and works well once you learn where things are.

Inkscape is a free vector program. It is the closest free equivalent to Adobe Illustrator and handles logos, icons, and line-based work. Inkscape runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Photopea is a free web-based editor that works like Photoshop. You open it in your browser, upload an image or start a new one, and edit without installing anything. Photopea handles both raster and some vector work and saves to your computer as a file.

Graphics tablets: what they do and whether you need one

A graphics tablet is a flat pad with a stylus (pen) that connects to your computer. When you move the stylus over the pad, a cursor moves on your screen. Pressure-sensitive tablets detect how hard you press, so a light touch makes a thin line and a heavy press makes a thick one — just like real drawing.

Graphics tablets range from $30 for basic models to $300 for professional ones. Entry-level tablets like the Wacom One or Huion Pen Tablet work fine for learning. You do not need a display tablet (one with a screen built in) to start — those cost much more and are not necessary until you know you want one.

You can make good digital art with a mouse or trackpad. A tablet makes certain work — painting, sketching, hand lettering — feel more natural because you hold the stylus like a real pen. But many artists use mice for years and produce professional work. Buy a tablet only after you have tried digital art and know you want one.

Setting up your workspace and understanding layers

When you open Krita, GIMP, or Photoshop, you see a canvas in the center, a toolbar on the left with brushes and selection tools, and panels on the right showing layers, colors, and other options. Customize this layout by moving panels around — put the layers panel where you can see it easily because you will use it constantly.

Layers are transparent sheets stacked on top of each other. You draw on one layer, then add another layer above it for details, then another for text or effects. If you make a mistake on one layer, you erase or delete just that layer without touching the work below. Most projects use 5 to 20 layers depending on complexity.

Start with a new document at 72 DPI (dots per inch) if you are making art for screens, or 300 DPI if you plan to print it. A typical screen size is 1920 by 1080 pixels. A typical print size at 300 DPI is 8 by 10 inches. Larger canvases and higher DPI use more memory, so start small and increase size as your computer handles it.

Basic techniques: brushes, selection, and color

Every art program has a brush tool. Click the brush icon, choose a brush from the list, pick a color, and paint on the canvas. Most programs come with dozens of brushes — hard round, soft round, textured, chalky, and so on. Experiment with different brushes to see how they feel. You can also download free brushes online and import them into your software.

The selection tool lets you select a part of your canvas and work only inside that area. You can select a rectangle, a circle, or draw a freehand shape. Once you have a selection, anything you paint, fill, or delete happens only inside the selection. This prevents accidents and keeps your work organized.

The eraser tool removes pixels from the current layer. The fill tool floods an area with solid color. The color picker (eyedropper) samples a color from your canvas so you can match it elsewhere. These four tools — brush, selection, eraser, and fill — handle most of the work in a typical project.

Color in digital art works in RGB (red, green, blue) for screens and CMYK (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) for print. When you start, use RGB. Most programs show a color picker where you click to choose a color, or you can type in a hex code (a six-character code like #FF5733 that represents a specific color). Websites like Coolors.co generate color palettes you can copy into your work.

Saving your work in the right format

Save your working file in your software's native format — PSD for Photoshop, XCF for GIMP, KRA for Krita, SVG for Inkscape. These formats preserve layers so you can edit them later. When you are done and ready to share, export the file as JPG (for photos and complex images), PNG (for images with transparency), or SVG (for vector art).

JPG compresses the file to a smaller size but loses some detail — good for photos and finished paintings. PNG keeps all detail and supports transparency (see-through areas) — good for illustrations and graphics. SVG is a text-based format that stays sharp at any size — good for logos and icons.

Always keep your working file (PSD, XCF, KRA, or SVG) so you can edit it later. Export a copy as JPG or PNG to share online or print. If you lose the working file, you cannot edit the exported version without starting over.

Learning by doing small projects first

Do not start by trying to paint a photorealistic portrait or a complex fantasy scene. Start with a single object — an apple, a mug, a simple character head. Spend an hour on it, finish it, and move to the next one. After ten small projects, you will understand how your software works and what your own style looks like.

Follow along with tutorials on YouTube or on sites like Skillshare and Domestika. Search for "digital painting for beginners" or "how to draw [subject] in Krita" and watch someone else work through a project step by step. Pause, try the same steps on your own canvas, and rewind if you get stuck. This is how most digital artists learn.

Join communities like Reddit's r/DigitalArt or r/Krita, or Discord servers for your software. Post your work, ask questions, and look at what others are making. Seeing other people's progress and mistakes helps you understand what is normal and what takes practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Mac or Windows computer to make digital art?

Either works. Most art software runs on both. Krita, GIMP, and Inkscape also run on Linux. Your computer does not need to be new — a five-year-old machine handles basic digital art fine. Newer computers with more RAM (memory) handle large files and many layers faster, but you can learn on what you have.

Can I use my phone or iPad instead of a computer?

Yes, but with limits. iPads run Procreate and Clip Studio Paint, which are professional-quality apps. Android tablets run Ibis Paint and Clip Studio Paint. These apps cost $10 to $50 one-time or by subscription. Phones have smaller screens and are harder to work on for long sessions, but they work for sketching and simple projects.

How much does a graphics tablet cost and which one should I buy?

Entry-level tablets cost $30 to $80 and work fine to start. Mid-range tablets cost $100 to $200 and have better pressure sensitivity. Professional tablets cost $300 and up. Wacom, Huion, and XP-Pen are the main brands. Buy a $50 tablet first — if you use it regularly for three months, you know a better one is worth the money.

What if I want to sell my digital art?

You can sell digital art as prints through sites like Redbubble or Printful, which handle printing and shipping. You can sell original digital files on Gumroad or your own website. You can license your work to stock art sites. You can take commissions and deliver files to clients. The software and skills are the same — the difference is how you distribute and price your work.

How long does it take to get good at digital art?

You can make something you are proud of in a few weeks of regular practice. Becoming confident takes a few months. Developing a recognizable style takes a year or more. The speed depends on how often you practice and whether you study other artists' work. Most people improve fastest by making one small piece every day rather than one large piece every month.