Drawing tablets are an essential tool for professional digital artists, and they can greatly improve the quality of your artwork. Drawing tablets are similar to traditional pen and paper, but they allow you to draw directly onto the screen of your computer or tablet.
ArtsDigital Art

Beginner

30 mins

Teacher/Student led

60 points

What you need:

# Chromebook/Laptop/PC


Chromebooks, laptops, and PCs are crucial tools for coding and digital skills education. Chromebooks are ideal for web-based applications and collaborative projects, while laptops and PCs support a wider range of programming environments and software for more intensive tasks like software development and data analysis.

Equipped with full keyboards and the ability to run specialized coding software, these devices enable students to learn programming languages, debug code, and understand software architecture. Their versatility supports both individual learning and group projects, making them indispensable for developing critical digital and computational thinking skills in the classroom.

# iPad/Tablet



iPads and tablets are versatile, portable computing devices that offer a wide range of educational applications in the classroom. Featuring touch-sensitive screens ranging from 7 to 13 inches, these devices allow students and teachers to interact directly with content through touch, swipe, and voice commands.

# Overview of digital art software and tools

Embark on a journey to explore the world of digital art. Learn about the various forms of digital art, popular software like Adobe Photoshop and Procreate, and the difference between raster and vector software. Discover essential tools such as drawing tablets and stylus pens, understand their benefits, and delve into different stylus pen tips. Finally, familiarise yourself with common file formats used in digital art.

# Learning Goals

1. Understand the concept and types of digital art including digital paintings, illustrations, animations, and graphic design.
2. Identify and differentiate between popular digital art software such as Adobe Photoshop, Procreate, Photopea, and Corel Painter.
3. Understand the difference between raster and vector software and their respective applications.
4. Recognise the role and functionality of digital art tools including drawing tablets, stylus pens, and computer mice.
5. Understand the benefits of using drawing tablets and stylus pens, including their different tips, in creating digital art.
6. Identify common file formats for digital art and understand their specific uses and characteristics.

# Learning Outcomes

1. Identify and describe the key features of popular digital art software such as Adobe Photoshop, Procreate, Photopea, and Corel Painter.
2. Differentiate between raster and vector software, and identify their respective uses in digital art creation.
3. Recognise and explain the function of digital art tools including drawing tablets, stylus pens, and computer mice.
4. Understand the benefits and working of drawing tablets in digital art, including their pressure sensitivity and efficiency.
5. Identify different types of stylus pen tips and their uses in creating various effects on the digital canvas.
6. Understand and differentiate between common file formats for digital art, including JPEG, PNG, and PSD, and their respective uses.

# Teacher Notes

Prepare to introduce students to the world of digital art, its forms, and the software used to create it. Familiarise yourself with popular digital art software like Adobe Photoshop, Procreate, Photopea, and Corel Painter. Understand the difference between raster and vector software. Discuss the importance of digital art tools like drawing tablets, stylus pens, and computer mice. Explain the benefits of drawing tablets in digital art and the different types of stylus pen tips. Finally, discuss the various file formats for saving digital art.

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### 1 - Introduction

Digital art refers to any form of visual art created using digital tools and techniques. Unlike traditional art forms, digital art allows artists to create and edit their work on a computer or mobile device, offering a wide range of creative possibilities. Digital art can take many forms, including digital paintings, illustrations, animations, and graphic design.

Digital paintings are created using software that mimics the look and feel of traditional painting tools, such as oil paints, watercolors, or acrylics. Illustrations can range from cartoon-style drawings to more detailed, realistic images. Animations are created by stringing together a sequence of images to create the illusion of movement. Graphic design involves creating visual elements for a variety of media, such as websites, logos, and advertising.

👇 Mark your steps as done as you complete them.

done |  5 points

### 2 - Popular Digital Art Software

Digital art software is an essential tool for creating digital art. There are various types of software available, each with its own unique features and capabilities. Some of the most popular digital art software include Adobe Photoshop, Procreate, Photopea, and Corel Painter.

- Adobe Photoshop is a well-known software used for digital art creation. It provides a wide range of tools for image editing, painting, and graphic design. Its features include layers, selection tools, filters, and effects.
- Procreate, on the other hand, is a popular digital painting app for iPads. It features a variety of brushes, textures, and color palettes to choose from.
- Photopea is a web-based application that provides similar functionality as Photoshop. It's easy to use and allows users to edit PSD files without requiring them to install any software.
- Corel Painter is another popular software that provides a range of painting tools and techniques. It offers realistic brush strokes and allows artists to create digital paintings that resemble traditional paintings.

👇 Mark your steps as done as you complete them.

done |  5 points

### 3 - Types of Digital Art Software

There are two main types of digital art software: raster and vector software.

- Raster software is used for creating images made up of pixels, which are small squares that make up the image. This type of software is ideal for creating digital paintings and illustrations. Examples of raster software include Adobe Photoshop and Procreate.

- On the other hand, vector software is used for creating images made up of mathematical equations and lines. This type of software is best suited for creating logos, icons, and other graphic design work. Vector images can be scaled up or down without losing quality, which makes them ideal for printing. Examples of vector software include Adobe Illustrator and CorelDRAW.

done |  5 points

### 4 - Digital Art Tools

Digital art tools are an essential part of the creative process, and they include drawing tablets, stylus pens, and computer mice. These tools help artists to create digital art with precision and control, as well as providing a more natural and traditional feel to the creative process.

- Drawing tablets are specialized input devices that allow artists to draw directly onto a surface using a stylus pen. These tablets usually come with pressure-sensitive technology that detects the pressure of the stylus on the tablet, providing a more natural drawing experience. Some popular brands of drawing tablets include Wacom, Huion, and XP-Pen.
- Stylus pens are used in conjunction with drawing tablets, allowing artists to draw, sketch, and paint on the screen. These pens come with different types of tips, such as brush tips or fine-point tips, to provide different effects in the artwork.
- The computer mouse is another tool used in digital art creation. While it's not as precise as drawing tablets and stylus pens, it can be used for basic tasks like selecting colors and tools or moving layers.

done |  5 points

### 5 - Benefits and Working of Drawing Tablets in Digital Art

Drawing tablets are an essential tool for professional digital artists, and they can greatly improve the quality of your artwork. Drawing tablets are similar to traditional pen and paper, but they allow you to draw directly onto the screen of your computer or tablet.

One of the primary benefits of using a drawing tablet is that it offers more precise and natural drawing control. Drawing tablets have pressure sensitivity that allows you to control the thickness and opacity of your strokes. They also come with different types of styluses that offer different levels of sensitivity and resistance, making them feel like you're working with a real pencil or brush.

Additionally, drawing tablets offer increased speed and efficiency when working on digital art. Unlike using a mouse, a drawing tablet offers more natural hand movements, which translates to faster and more efficient work.

done |  5 points



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