Pixiq

Artists Digital Toy Box

There is nothing I like more than a Digital Toy Box full of brushes, filters, plugins and variety of colors to explore. These tools help me to create “Magic”! Like any tools some of them take time to learn how to use but it's worth it. Some of the tools are also time savers and help to spend less time in Photoshop and more time in the creative side.

Here's some of my tools in my toy box and what I think about them. 

Nik Filters  are something everybody needs. Their suite of filters are very powerful. In particuliar their strength is in how you can target specific areas using their world famous U Point technology. Now I am pleased and excited that my favorite all time set of filters the Color Efex Pro is coming out with an upgrade to 4! If you buy version 3 now you will receive a FREE UPGRADE to 4 when it comes out! Not only that but you can get a discount on it. Use the coupon code: MSHOLIN to save on your purchase.

Topaz Filters are another exciting set of filters. They have built their brand into another must have for artists and photographers. Many of their Topaz Adjust are just plain fun to try out. Their interface is simple and easy to learn. Topaz has built their line now with a large number of filters. I use Adjust the most but the new BW Filter has amazing possibilities and probably more power than any of the other filters. Again you can get a discount with the coupon code: MSHOLIN.

More from my toy box includes new and exciting POSTWORKSHOP PRO which is very powerful and exciting. I am still learning this one but the potential is dangerous for how amazing the paintings and effects are coming out. Sometimes I find the right one immediately and sometimes it takes longer. Definitely worth playing with!

Alienskin Snap Art 3 is awesome fun. I have written about it before HERE and if you missed that post it's worth looking up. I love playing with it and have used it in many of my paintings especially as a layer that adds more depth and interest. You can also use the Discount Coupon for Alienskin for any of their products: DISCOUNT CODE: MSH0901

Studio Artist for MAC & PC is an incredibly powerful art creating software that I am still learning. It does things none of the other toys do. There are tons of options and settings including this one which is a straight clone painting done with Quick Oil Paint setting.

There are more of these fun toys available and every day I find more new ones. Another one of my favorites is nicknamed DAP which stands for Dynamic Auto Painter from Mediachance. While it has it's limitations, it's also a fun and creative toy to own. There are some custom brushes that can be installed into it also to expand it and they can be found on their blog. It's easy to learn there on the blog how to install the new brushes also.

I have done a 75 minute video showing all these toys. It was a webinar I did last winter for the Digital Art Summit. You can download the video for a small fee and see the little tricks and I used and the information about each of the software and how I think when I use them. It's like sitting on my shoulder and watching me work! 

DIGITAL ARTIST TOY BOX WEBINAR

I am going to be revisiting some of these software over the year and will have more specific posts on them in the future.

Meanwhile, keep PLAYING with your TOYS!

Upcoming Live and in Person Events!

Fall Painter Blast in Asheville NC OCTOBER

SAN DIEGO BEGINNER PAINTER 12 in March 2012