What software to use?

[Fr0zen0ne]

This is my first post here so be gentle on me, please.

So for christmas I got a Wacom Bamboo tablet which I planned to use mostly for school. (Using cross-section paper as background and having the things I type digitally)

Now I understand this is not really the topic of this forum but what software would you suggest for that work ? The one that came with the Bamboo is not very good in my opinion as I lack some options I would like to use.

Also I would like to get into digital drawing, as I enjoy drawing very much and now that I have a tablet why not do it on the computer.
What software would you suggest for this? I have seen some people talking about Adobe and others about Illustrator, which is better for what kind of work ?

If there are posts regarding exactly this topic, feel free to link me to those incase I am too stupid to find them. Thanks in advance.

[Audentia]

Adobe is not a software. Adobe makes software.

So to answer your question...

- Drawing software (if you want it vector) is Adobe Illustrator. You can also use Adobe Photoshop if you are "painting" the art piece.

I'm not really sure what you mean by the first question...?
What are you trying to transfer via your tablet?

[Virgo Nightingale]

Adobe is the company that makes Illustrator, so they're essentially one in the same. They also make a little program you may have heard of called Photoshop.

Illustrator is geared toward vector illustration, for things like logos and cartoons and such. Some examples:

http://vector-vector.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Shutterstock-Girl-Vectors.jpghttp://vector-vector.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Cute-Danger-Icons-Vector.jpghttp://vector-vector.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Cute-Spring-Flower-Banners-Vector.jpg

Photoshop is photo-editing software, so it's best for manipulating photos or illustration that has a more painted or hand-sketched look. For example:

http://www.crispbranding.com/v1/images/stories/blog/Cezanne/Safari_Bunny_2.jpghttp://media.smashingmagazine.com/cdn_smash/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/landscape.jpghttp://cdn.melissaevans.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/freehand01.jpg

[Fr0zen0ne]

I need a software where i can have cross-section paper as background on screen so I can make small drawings of maths problems or the like, if you know what I mean.

[maynardsayswhat]

With a tablet, Corel Painter is fantastic for how you can mimic paint, charcoal, pencil, etc. I have used it off and on for years in many different versions and combined with a tablet, it's really quite something =)

As Audentia mentioned the standard graphic design software is made by Adobe: Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign, Acrobat.

[Audentia]

Ah I think I know what you mean Frozen.
All of the Adobe products mentioned for your purposes (Illustrator and Photoshop) have a grid function that you can turn on or off. it doesn't print and is only a placeholder for the designer to use.

[Buda]

But if you want a grid that prints, you just create one using the line tool on any programme.

[Fr0zen0ne]

I'm not gonna print a whole lot but thanks for your help everyone!

Are there any guides/tutorials for those programs around?

[rickypounting]

adobe is a company which provides wonderful software products and you can use Corel Painter for your maths problem.

[Virgo Nightingale]

Just do a Google search, there are literally THOUSANDS out there for each program.

[The Lumberjack]

adobe is a company which provides wonderful software products and you can use Corel Painter for your maths problem.

A bit contradictory, no? Adobe is wonderful, use Corel instead?

Corel Painter is geared towards digital art and simulates a wide variety of methods and media. You wouldn't do your math homework in conté crayon, would you?

If you want to do math equations digitally, you don't want to draw it by hand, you want to use a typesetting system. The most practical one is LaTeX, and it's free.

[Fr0zen0ne]

A bit contradictory, no? Adobe is wonderful, use Corel instead?

Corel Painter is geared towards digital art and simulates a wide variety of methods and media. You wouldn't do your math homework in conté crayon, would you?

If you want to do math equations digitally, you don't want to draw it by hand, you want to use a typesetting system. The most practical one is LaTeX, and it's free.

I can guarantee you I'm faster by hand than doing it digitally. Especially when there's a lot to draw since what I will be using it for won't be pure maths but rather electrotechnical equations and the like.

But thank you everyone for helping! Feel free to close this, I should be helped for now.

[The Lumberjack]

In that case, a simple whiteboard is by far the most efficient and user-friendly solution!

You'll be expected to typeset your written reports and papers, perhaps not now, but later in your career. There is a bit of a learning curve, but the sooner you get used to it the better.