Art Programs for Mac
 

So, I just bought a brand new laptop with OSX on it because I'm not fond of the notion of the MPAA and RIAA having free reign on my computer. This is the first time I've used a Mac since elementary school and I'm still adjusting. I've gotten a media player that'll play all my COMPLETELY LEGIT AND LEGAL cartoons and cooking shows, I've set up firefox, and I'm ready to make comics again. Problem is, I can find even a basic bitmap editor on this thing!

I have some silly comic program (Comic Life), but it's... not exactly suited to making comics that aren't like Mirai Gen's. The self-extractors for the gimp on their website seem less self-extract-y than anything called a "self-extractor" should (typing stuff in the console, downloading unrelated programs just to make it work, possibly wrecking the computer I just spent three months' rent on, etc).

So, would someone recommend a free (or under $50, $100 at the most) art and image manipulation program for Mac, or tell me where the pack-in basic arting program that I'm too stupid to find is? Preferably one that has an installer.

The sad fact is you're going to have to break down and shell out the cash for an Adobe product to really get something worth while in the realm of drawing programs. Good news is Adobe Photoshop is as stable as a rock on an Apple, unlike windows.

Graphic Converter is not bad, and it might be just what you are looking for, I find it underpowered, but that's me. it will only set you back $30 http://www.lemkesoft.com/

If you want to branch out into 3-d. I know just the thing for you. How does Cheap as Free sound? http://www.blender.org/

you can get photoshop elements on the cheap, I think mine came free with my Wacom tablet.

What do you mean by "elements," Funka? I could always use an excuse to buy a tablet.

Blender is an interesting idea, but 3-D modeling isn't something I'm skilled at (at all) and I'm not trying to do anything more spiffy than, at the minimum, throwing sprites onto a two-color background. Still, maybe someday I'll look into Blender, as it could be a fun thing to learn.

Photoshop elements is a stripped down version of photoshop, but it does everything I need it to do. I guess it doesn't have as many paint patterns or some shit, but I'm not a professional so it works for me. it draws straight lines, allows me to crop things and lets me add colors and whatnot, not worries.

I see. I've found an article comparing Photoshop and Elements, and shall investigate further.

Still no freeware image editors, though. Darn MacGIMP peoples...

Welcome to the club of non-invasive, useful Operating Systems!

For bitmap editing, you cannot go wrong with Seashore. It's open source, stable and very good. It's like MS Paint but can support layers and some other nice features.

Don't pay money for what you can have free. If you have any other Mac OS questions, feel free to PM me. www.OSalt.com is also a good site to find open source alternatives to commercial programs- that goes for all operating systems.

EDIT- For the love of God, don't buy MS Office: Mac. Download NeoOffice. It's free, more stable and microsoft can't do anything about it to protect their monopoly... unlike MS Office.

:) Actually, I had you in mind when I made this thread, based on something or other you said earlier about there being alternatives to PS on Mac. Seashore looks like what I'm looking for. Thanks, Arlia, and thanks Squishy and Funka.

As for figuring this computer out, I'll try to stick with Google, at least until I get stumped again.

Gimpshop is probably your best bet for a Photoshop alternative.

I've never heard a bad thing, but I just can't stand learning a new interface when I've been using Photoshop for years.

GIMPShop has a bad thing, because when you want to close the program... you still have to close that window that has the Xtns menu instead of the Window Set.