Digital Art

Just what is it?

Presented By Jade Ling

Digital Art: The hows and whys

Digital art is an umbrella term that covers a range of styles and art works that utilise digital technology in their making.

‘Pure’ digital art is conceived and developed entirely within a virtual medium. Many artists, however, prefer to utilise a mix of traditional and digital techniques.

Digital art: Sub categories

There is an enormous range of variation within the broad term of digital art. It covers such things as vector art, digital painting, photo manipulation, and many more besides.

3D modeling is also growing in popularity, with entire websites dedicated to the work of artists using programs such as 3D-max or Blender to create visually stunning works of art.

3d modeling; Examples

Digital art: Vector Art

Vector art uses geometrical primitives such as points, lines, curves and shapes or polygons, which use mathematical equations to represent images. This means that no matter how large or small the image is resized, the quality remains consistent throughout the process and produces sharp, clear images.

Vector Art; examples

Digital Art: Digital PaintingEven within this sub category,

there is an enormous range of further division. Artwork made in Adobe photoshop, for example, primarily uses customised brushes and textures. Although originally developed for working with photos, Photoshop has become a popular program for use with digital art.

Adobe Photoshop; examples

Digital Art: Digital Painting ContCorel painter, however, has a

different approach. Corel focuses more on accurately rendering traditional art media and mediums in a digital environment.

Part of the Corel interface is a ‘pallette’ for mixing colours, and it has many options that customise brushes; such as, choosing different types of ‘paper’ for water colour painting.

Corel Painter; examples

Digital Art: Photo ManipulationPhoto manipulation is a fast

growing trend that involves taking an original photo and either enhancing it, or manipulating it to something entirely different through a digital medium.

It has taken a long time for this to established as an art form, however, and for many years it was thought to be trickery or the work of amatuers.

Photo Manipulations; examples

Digital Art: Tools of the TradeMost serious digital artists utilise

a tool known as a ‘tablet’. This pressure sensitive device allows artists to use a ‘pen’ like pointer and mimic the effects of pen to paper on screen. There is an enromous range of tablets of the market in a range of sizes and pressure sensitivity, with prices to match.

Digital Art: Tools of the Trade ContAlthough it is possible to create

digital painting with a mouse, vector art is more suited to the quick, short movements a mouse can produce. In many cases a mouse simply is not sensitive enough, which is why a tablet is used for most large digital paintings, as the sensitivity can create incredibly subtle effects.

Wacom Tablet

Digital Art: ConclusionAlthough digital art is a rapidly growing

sphere of influence, it is mainly focused on the internet. Most artists choose to display their works on free art-focused websites, as the difficulties over copyright and uniqueness have made it difficult to sell digital art. In this regard, traditional art is the winner, because they are truly ‘unique’ and the same cannot be said for digital art, which can be reproduced many times, with the same consistent image.