So we all have the normal things we can’t live without on our computers - our favorite email program, web browser, maybe an ftp client, chat programs. But then beyond that what do you use your computer for? I know people who’d probably want to jump off the nearest bridge if they couldn’t have their favorite game installed. Mine happens to be my art programs now, so here’s the three things I MUST have installed beyond the usual get me around the internet programs:

ArtRage - I have to admit I don’t use it as often I did when it was my only paint program (sorry PAINT doesn’t count, my mom uses it, I’ve seen people do amazing things with it, but I hate it). Anyway… ArtRage. It’s free or $25 (I’d recommend the $25 version). Both version include oil paints, pencils, chalk, crayon, markers. The $25 version also includes glitter, an airbrush, a roller, and tube, stencils and rulers (some included, some you can find on their boards, or make your own), metallic paints, the ability to use images as tracing images or reference images, layers, PSD support, etc. Not bad for a $25 program. I did my earlier drawings / paintings in this and photoshop.

TwistedBrush - Another with a free version and a pay version, this time though $129. But it’s far more advanced than ArtRage. It’s pay version has too many types of paints, pens, pencils, and general tools to name as it too has oils but different types of oils, watercolours, pencils, coloured pencils, pens, tubes, acrylics, erasers, you name it, if they make it for drawing and painting in the real world, then it’s probably in the Pro version of TwistedBrush. Feature comparison chart of their free vs pro here. You can even video tape yourself painting within the program. I’ve not really played with this feature as I often do other things and even with maxed out ram in my poor old laptop it can be a bit slow when painting, having a bunch of web tabs open, etc. I’d rather not push my luck Like ArtRage you can trace or use reference photos (something I do with my paper sketches to turn them digital). Almost all of my newer art is made in this and Photoshop.

And finally, Photoshop. Price? Way out of my budget, ever. But it helps to have connections. I don’t even think I need to say why it’s a must have. I use it to do minor pic edits like cropping / resizing photos. I use it to touch up art I made in the above programs. I use it a lot. I suppose if I couldn’t, there’s cheaper / free similar programs out there, in fact edit your pics online from any browser at Picnik (sort of like Photoshop for dummies on the web - with all of the basics pre-programmed so you put your picture in, and it does the work). But, yeah, if you can get your hands on Photoshop it’s still best, I think.

What programs must you have installed?