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You get what you pay for, or so the saying goes. In the case of SmoothDraw, that particular truism isn't so true. This free painting and drawing software delivers features and quality that we'd only expect to find in something we'd have to pay for, and we think that anyone who likes to create digital art should check it out.
The program's interface is intuitive, with toolbars down the left side and across the top. SmoothDraw comes with a wide variety of tools, including various pencils, pens, airbrushes, paintbrushes, hatch brushes and so on. There are also grass and star stamps and an image hose, all of which are a lot of fun to use. Users can adjust the brush size and ink flow for each brush, and there are also settings for tablet pressure and hardness. Cloning and retouching tools, important parts of any image-editing arsenal, are present as well, and layering capabilities let users create complex images. Unfortunately, the program doesn't have a Help file, which would have been useful for those who don't have much experience with digital art. But even users who haven't tried anything more sophisticated than Microsoft Paint will have fun experimenting with SmoothDraw. Overall, we think that SmoothDraw is a great choice for users of all abilities; it's accessible enough that beginners can use it, but it packs enough advanced features to be useful to serious artists.
SmoothDraw installs a desktop icon without asking but uninstalls cleanly. We recommend this program to all users.
Publisher's Description
From Smoothdraw:
SmoothDraw is a natural painting and digital free-hand drawing software that can produce high quality pictures, with an intuitive UI. It supports many kinds of brushes (pen, pencil, dry media, airbrush, bristle brush, and image hose); retouch tools (burn, dodge, blur, shapen, and smudge). Works with tablets and Tablet PC.
It also supports image transform, adjustments and effects; Layers and Layer blend modes; Free canvas rotation. You can draw and paint in super quality, with special sub-pixel level smoothing for thin lines.
What's new in this version: Version 3.2.11 adds keyboard shortcut for Clear and adds bug fixes.
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All versions:
3.4 starsout of 27 votes
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Current version:
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My rating:
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"Installation intercepted by AVG..."
Version: SmoothDraw 3.2.10
Pros
No personal experience; didn't get that far.
Cons
AVG jumped out and asserted that a major component to be installed was a known adware and/or potentially-malware element (the component name in question contained "cnet2" and "exe.exe", for what it's worth).
Summary
I generally trust CNet downloads; apparently much more than my AVG watchdog does. No basis for comparison re (how to quantify and compare) "levels of concern" and risk involved.
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"A good software."
Version: SmoothDraw 3.2.10
Pros
Many. Particularly, those who wish to commence paining hobby.
Cons
Few standard pictures like Grass and star are given. Better if some more like flowers and leaves are also included for painting trees. Best enjoyed with a digital pen.
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"great little program for sketching and drawing"
Version: SmoothDraw 3.2.10
Pros
I like the quality of the strokes I can get (smooth lines, thin and thick or dark and light according to pressure).
All the tools are listed at the top of the working area, quick and easy to pick and customize.
Some of them I find very useful such as the blur tool (to be used selectively as a brush, not for the entire image as in other programs).
The rubber stamp(or whatever it is called) uses .png images, so you can load your own drawings and use them with the brush (e.g. tree leaves, the scales for a fish or the feathers of a bird)
It supports layers.
last but not least it is free.Cons
It has some minor faults one can put up with, considering it is free. Here's a list:
The magnifier has only preset values.
The fill tool works only in the first layer (background).
I avoid the smudge toll because I've found that it produces black holes in the picture once it has been saved.
Perhaps a little instability with very large files.Summary
I am a traditional artist and I needed a program to create unpretentious graphics for the web. After trying several I have decided for this one. It is intuitive and easy to use. I find it a pro the fact that it has a limited number of tools. They are well calibred and with a little practise one can get astoundig results. And I don't waste time in searching amongst a number of tools often useless or too similar one to the other.
In short this is a cheap and quick program for getting started with digital art.
If you need a car, this is not for you, because it has just two wheels, but if you need a bicycle this is perfect. -
"I could not download this program"
Version: SmoothDraw 3.2.10
Pros
Could not determine because I could not download the program
Cons
AVG prevented the installation due to adware/malware
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"Easy to install and use"
Version: SmoothDraw 3.2.10
Pros
Easy installation and even easier to use. Not the most detailed product but great for free
Cons
None I can think of
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"No zoom tool; no line/shape tools"
Version: SmoothDraw 3.2.7
Pros
None for me
Cons
There is no zoom tool, and without the ability to draw simple lines, curves, rectangles, shapes, etc, this is not useful to me.
Summary
I'm not sure who this program is targeted for. An artist (like me) would find the lack of zoom and line/shape tools wanting, and the more sophisticated CAD-style functions would leave most amateurs scratching their heads. It seems to have lots of features that other programs lack, such as preset brush styles, but, without the functions I listed in the "Cons", I have no use for this program.
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"Superb Freebie!"
Version: SmoothDraw 3.2.7
Pros
Non-pixellated line, clean paint, easy-to-use, user-friendly, neatly-organized interface, etc.
Cons
Haven't found any yet ;-)
Summary
A rightful replacement to any pricey drawing software, this is a simple but powerful FREEBIE for illustrators and digital painters. It has everything you need to sketch up and paint with layers and standard brushes, saving on art supplies forever. All you need is a talent ;-) See some art samples at http://scifialmanac.ning.com
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"limited number of functions"
Version: SmoothDraw 3.2.7
Pros
small and nice user interface
Cons
not enough functions
Summary
it is ok for a backup program that loads fast
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"Very Good with tablets and tabletsPC"
Version: SmoothDraw 3.2.7
Pros
Have a lot of future
Cons
none so far
Summary
If using with tablets can have a good quality drawing and painting like non-free software. It is freeware, and the user interface is so easy to understand even for beginner.
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"individual drawing pad"
Version: SmoothDraw 3.2.7
Pros
useful brushes and choice of canvas size, right types of drawing mediums to chose and functions wonderfully with my overseas USB drawing pad and pen
Cons
lack ability to change tip, for pen should be a triangle, easier when erasing background or getting into those tiny cornered areas.
Summary
really like the product for it interacts with my other drawing programs!
