The best software for drawing manga and comics in the UK 2023

Professional or amateur, everyone can try digital drawing on PC, Mac, graphic tablet or smartphone. However, the features, simplicity or compatibility vary from one application to another. So how do you find your way around? Make your search easier with our comparison of the best software for drawing manga and comics in 2021.

OpenCanvas 1
8/10

Best value for money

OpenCanvas

The best software to draw manga and comics in 2021

OpenCanvas is especially popular with aspiring and experienced artists who want to express themselves in the art of manga. It has many tools to facilitate your creativity.

40,16 £ on Kinguin

Available for download from the editor's official website, OpenCanvas allows you to create drawings in a natural way, thanks to the high sensitivity of its tools. You have a wide range of brushes, pencils and airbrushes at your disposal, in addition to functions such as layers and filters. Get started with the art of manga using one of over 150 brush presets, or customize your tools.

Note the ability to save your work with the Event function, and review the drawing process like a movie. The use of OpenCanvas is obviously not limited to manga, as this software remains a powerful and accessible tool if you want to create more artistic drawings or simply classic comics.

Adobe Fresco 2
8/10

Best value for money

Adobe Fresco

The best software to draw entry-level manga and comics

Adobe Fresco prides itself on being one of the most versatile drawing programs. Suitable for all media, it gives free rein to your imagination with its many tools and features.

See the offer

Oils, watercolors and brushes are waiting for you on this software designed for a wide audience. You won't be short of inspiration thanks to the wide range of possibilities available to you. In addition, a large number of tools available on Photoshop are available to users of this software. They are very realistic and make it easy to get started with this software.

In fact, this software requires less effort and promises, in spite of that, amazing results. You won't have any trouble working on many layers thanks to the very intuitive isolation and selection options. In addition, every artist can customize his or her working interface. Use Adobe Fresco on your iPhone, tablet or computer. What's more, it can sync with Photoshop, much to the delight of iPad users.

Clip Studio Paint EX 3
9/10

Best value for money

Clip Studio Paint EX

The best software to draw high-end manga and comics

This is the enhanced version of Clip Studio Paint Pro. Aimed at experienced artists, it is rich in tools with a library of over 10,000 options and features.

148 £ on Amazon

Get all the strokes and lines you need with the adjustable brushes at your disposal. It is also possible to acquire others by buying or creating them on the platform itself. Besides this tool, the software offers a wide range of pages to diversify your creations. This is very appealing to experienced designers who venture to apply different layouts.

And the pages are easily managed with a device included in the package. It must be said that buyers really get their money's worth. With this manager, you are able to work on different pages simultaneously. Don't miss the 3D models that can be animated. To be included in all major design projects.

Krita 4
8/10

Affordable

Krita

The best software to draw manga and comics for free

It is a free software suitable for all levels of users. It offers the possibility to create the best illustrations, caricatures, comics and mangas with the many tools offered. Especially since they can be configured as you wish.

See the offer

The greatest asset of this software is its very simple interface. In addition to this, there are many customizable tools that you can use for your entire project, as well as for the others that follow. Between the pencils, brushes and stamps, you are well able to expand your horizons as professional and amateur designers.

In addition to the classic selection tools, there are also color selection options, which are very practical and offer more precision. In addition, there are several online wizards to help you master the different types of designs offered. Use the software to its full potential. You'll never get tired of the textures and patterns available.

Buying guide • November 2023

Best software for drawing manga and comics

Any specific needs?

The best software to draw manga and comics in 2021

The best software to draw entry-level manga and comics

The best software to draw high-end manga and comics

The best software to draw manga and comics for free

Your guide : Samuel

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Comparison table of the best software for drawing manga and comics

THE BEST CHEAP TOP OF THE LINE EXCELLENT
OpenCanvas 5
8/10
Adobe Fresco 6
8/10
Clip Studio Paint EX 7
9/10
Krita 8
8/10
OUR SELECTION
OpenCanvas
Adobe Fresco
Clip Studio Paint EX
Krita
OpenCanvas is especially popular with aspiring and experienced artists who want to express themselves in the art of manga. It has many tools to facilitate your creativity.
Adobe Fresco prides itself on being one of the most versatile drawing programs. Suitable for all media, it gives free rein to your imagination with its many tools and features.
This is the enhanced version of Clip Studio Paint Pro. Aimed at experienced artists, it is rich in tools with a library of over 10,000 options and features.
It is a free software suitable for all levels of users. It offers the possibility to create the best illustrations, caricatures, comics and mangas with the many tools offered. Especially since they can be configured as you wish.
Features and tools
Online use
Operating system
Windows
iOS 13 and up
Windows, Mac OS, Linux
Windows, Mac OS X, Linux
Target audience
Comic book author/expert
Students, teachers, professional artists, businesses
Experienced artists, companies
Beginner and experienced artists
Developer
PGN
Adobe
Graphixly
Open Source

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Buying guide - software for drawing manga and comics

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How to choose your software for drawing manga and comics

Do you need manga software for your child? Do you want to perfect your digital art and become a professional comic book writer? Do you use a computer, or do you prefer to draw on a smartphone? What is your budget? Your choice of software should match your expectations.

#1 - Compatibility

Before choosing your manga or comic book application, you must determine on which support you will use it. Indeed, some applications work only on computers, while others are designed for use on smartphones or touch tablets. The most powerful and complete ones are usually those designed for computer use, since the PC has many more resources than a mobile device to operate them.By determining your working environment, you will be better able to make the right choice. Also remember to check that the software is compatible with your operating system if you work on a computer.

#2 - The use

You won't need the same software to draw professional-level comics and to create quick illustrations for entertainment. A comic book writer who wants to create a full-fledged work of art, or go into mass production, will choose powerful software with all the necessary tools and features. On the other hand, if you want to introduce your child to digital drawing, a lighter application may suffice. Moreover, it is still possible to choose between a comic book software and another one that is specifically dedicated to the creation of manga.

#3 - The level of difficulty

The most advanced digital drawing software are often difficult to learn. It is recommended to have a first experience with simpler software before using a professional type application. Depending on your habits and knowledge in the field, try to find out if the application you are interested in corresponds to your needs.

French version

Consider choosing a French version of a digital drawing software for a more simplified and fluid use. Those in the original version, most often in English, may slow down your work.

#4 - The price

Criterion not

to be neglected, the price of a digital drawing software varies a lot from one product to another. An application dedicated to a professional use will be much more expensive to buy compared to another one that is aimed at the general public. Online support services, additional tools and features, among others, justify the higher price.

#5 - Versatility

It can be beneficial to have a versatile tool when creating illustrations. For example, some publishers offer manga and comic book software that, in addition to their own features, also allow for image processing. For example, you can import photos from your computer, then modify them before inserting them in your creation. Moreover, the compatibility between two applications is an interesting point. Indeed, you can for example transfer your creation from your touch tablet to work on it on your computer, using a more powerful and complete software.

How to use digital manga and comic book software?

Before you get into the art of digital drawing, you should know some basic rules about using software to draw manga and comics.

First of all, you need a support to install and run the software, it can be either a computer, a touch tablet or a smartphone. But the specific functions of such a software can not be exploited at best without an appropriate equipment that is the stylus. This small tool replaces your pencil, pen or brush and gives you the same effects and sensations as when you draw on drawing paper. It even has a virtual eraser.

Although the screen of a smartphone or a tablet allows the use of a stylus, it is not always the case with a computer. In addition, the use of the mouse does not allow to have a quality rendering. The ideal is to use a graphic tablet, on which you can draw your drawings freely and in the most natural way with the matching pen.

The graphic tablet is connected to your computer and your work is displayed directly on the computer screen. It's like drawing on a sheet of paper, with the tablet's surface matching the surface of your computer screen. When you draw, you'll learn to look at your computer screen instead of the tablet to make your designs smoother and better.

Hardware resources

It is important to read the specifications of a software to draw manga and comics before choosing it. Make sure you have some power and memory margin on your computer or tablet. If your PC doesn't have enough resources, it simply won't be able to run the software, especially if it is a professional type.

Free or paid software?

Free software

Many software to draw mangas and comics are available in free version. If the free version allows you to discover the basic features of the software, it is mainly used to familiarize yourself with the tool. Once you have explored all the possibilities of the free version, you can switch to the paid version. Note that in most cases, the free version is only valid for a specific period.

Paid software

Professional digital drawing software companies offer their users the opportunity to upgrade to the paid version after the free trial period. The paid version is naturally much more comprehensive in terms of functions, options and tools. In addition, you have access to online services to further enhance the possibilities of your software.

Verdict

The free version of a digital drawing software is economically advantageous, and allows you to immediately enter the world of illustration creation. However, its functions are limited and you do not have access to certain resources. If you just want to draw manga and comics as a hobby and don't want to improve your skills, a free software can be useful.

On the other hand, if you are looking for a comic and manga software to better master the art of digital drawing to make it your career, the paid version is required. It is a complete and powerful tool that offers all the creative possibilities you need, even if you want to draw from scratch.

Tips

Try the free version before upgrading to the paid version.

If a powerful digital design software is offered as a free version that you can use for a certain period of time, you can try it out to see if you can master it and make better use of it in the paid version. The free trial period is ideal to familiarize yourself with the program.

Remember to choose a software that allows file transfers.

Many

manga and comics programs can be linked to other applications of the same kind to allow you to import or export your work. This is particularly interesting if you work on an interface that requires you to store your creations on the Cloud. This way, you can download your designs to your computer at the right time to edit or finalize them.

A simple software for your child.

If

your child is interested in digital drawing, opt for software that is easy to use. This is the case with apps that run on smartphones and touch tablets. In addition to being cheaper to buy, they are fun and allow you to quickly create comics by drawing from libraries of characters and settings.

Pay attention to the online support.

Be sure to

check that your digital drawing software gives you access to online services, such as product support, frequently asked questions, assistance, or even additional resources

.

Display your work on your PC screen.

Although

some graphics tablets have a screen, you'll get more comfort and realism by controlling your pen directly from your computer screen, which has better size and display quality

.

FAQ

What is the best software for drawing manga and comics?

The best software for drawing manga and comics depends on your needs and your budget. Read our buying guide to find out which products are the best at the moment.

What is the price of a manga and comics software?

There is a huge difference in price between digital drawing software. While applications for smartphones are offered at around 10 euros, the more professional tools are available at prices of up to 400 euros.

What are the system requirements for my digital drawing software?

It varies from application to application. Nevertheless, it requires a certain amount of processor power as well as sufficient memory size for the software to work. Smartphone apps, for example, range in size from 60MB to 440MB, which means that the medium must have enough storage for installation.

Can I use photos imported from my computer in my drawings?

Yes, many comic book and manga programs allow you to import photos or images stored on your computer, to add to your creation. These images and photos can be modified or used to create 3D drawings if the software allows it.

Can I change the size of the dialogue bubbles?

Yes, you can set up the speech bubbles to match your texts. You can also change the font.

Sources

Note: Below are some of the sources we have consulted in writing this article. Links to other sites are not continuously updated. It is therefore possible that a link may not be found. Please use a search engine to find the desired information.
  1. , Toptenreviews.com
  2. , Bestcartoonapp.com
  3. , Slashgear.com
  4. , Pigier-lyon.com
  5. , Leparisien.fr
  6. , Medium.com
  7. , Clipstudio.net
  8. , Vincenwoo.com
  9. , Painterartist.com
See more

Updates

March 2022 : Translation of this buying guide from our partner meilleurtest.fr

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Our selection
OpenCanvas 9
OpenCanvas
Adobe Fresco 10
Adobe Fresco
Clip Studio Paint EX 11
Clip Studio Paint EX
Krita 12
Krita

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