The Ultimate Showdown: Krita vs Clip Studio Paint
As an artist, choosing the right drawing software is a crucial decision. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to decide which one is worth investing in. In this blog post, we'll dive into a comprehensive comparison between Krita, a free drawing software, and Clip Studio Paint, a more expensive and well-known alternative. But before we get started, let's set the stage.
The creator of the video we'll be discussing has been using Krita for three years, after receiving a drawing tablet as a gift and not wanting to pay for a program. They researched free drawing software and stumbled upon Krita, which they grew to love. But the question remains: is Clip Studio Paint worth the cost compared to free alternatives like Krita?
To find out, the creator embarked on an "OC challenge," where they drew a character based on a set of given parameters (skin color, color palette, hair, accessories, style, etc.). The goal was to see if Clip Studio Paint's features and capabilities would make a significant difference in the artwork. However, the creator notes that they lost inspiration halfway through the piece and didn't do the pose justice, which affected the overall quality of the artwork.
One of the challenges faced during the OC challenge was the lack of creative freedom, especially with the pose and outfit. The creator regrets not doing more with the character and the drawing, and not trying harder to make it better. Despite these challenges, the creator is satisfied with how the artwork turned out in the end.
Now, let's dive into the artistic experience and software comparison. The creator removed the necklace from the character design due to the lack of implementation options. They experimented with a new, thicker pen, which resulted in a heavier line art style that didn't quite match the intended outcome. This style led to a more cartoony look than anticipated.
As a long-time user of Krita, the creator is comfortable with its features and loves using it due to its free availability and satisfactory brushes. However, they struggle with drawing hands, making them appear like "baby hands," and tend to forget adding details to the final line art. The thickness of the line art also limits the amount of detail that can be added.
The character development process was also affected by the creator's lost motivation, resulting in a lack of passion and attention to detail. They didn't complete the feet, as they can be challenging to draw. Initially, the character was envisioned as a scholar or academy student, but the color palette shifted towards a more colorful, kindergarten teacher or carnival worker vibe.
Despite the challenges and setbacks, the character still has a cute and endearing quality. The creator is uncertain about the character's name or background, leaving room for future development.
Now, let's move on to the artist's experience with Clip Studio Paint. The creator was excited to try out Clip Studio Paint but encountered difficulties with the password and reset process during sign-up. They eventually managed to sign up, but were surprised to find out that a license or plan was required to use the free trial.
The creator spent a long time setting up the interface to their liking, comparing it to Krita's simplicity. They explored the brushes, liking the pencil brush but finding it too textured. They were disappointed to find that there was only one type of pencil texture available. The creator had trouble finding a pen brush with a wide range of pen pressure (from small to big) and found it hard to figure out how to customize the pen settings.
The challenges and frustrations continued as the creator struggled to learn the new software and its features. They were not familiar with the hotkeys and didn't want to change their drawing pad hotkeys. They couldn't quickly mirror the canvas with a hotkey, leading to frustration with the process.
The first attempt at drawing with Clip Studio Paint was a serious piece, but the creator didn't like the result. They specifically didn't like using the pencil brush, acknowledging that it was a learning experience and that they could improve with time and practice.
In the personal comparison between Clip Studio Paint and Krita, the creator notes that they liked the base pencil in Clip Studio Paint and found the software to be nice with lots of patterns and features. However, they didn't like the button to change from eraser to pencil, finding it annoying to switch back to pencil with the same hotkey.
The creator struggled with the eye drop feature, making shading annoying, and didn't know how to use it effectively. They found it hard to switch from Krita to Clip Studio Paint due to muscle memory. In the end, they concluded that Clip Studio Paint has more features than Krita, but Krita has some features that are easier to use. Krita is more comfortable to use due to familiarity, and while Clip Studio Paint has features that Krita lacks, they're not necessary for personal use.
In conclusion, Clip Studio Paint is a good software, popular for a reason. However, the creator wouldn't spend money on it when Krita is sufficient for personal use. Familiarity with Krita makes it a better choice, despite Clip Studio Paint's features.
Take this opinion for what it's worth, and remember that it may be biased due to long-term use of Krita. If you enjoyed this video, feel free to subscribe for more content and check out Instagram for more art.