Drawing on a laptop or desktop computer

Drawing tablets

Artists who draw via their computer usually use a drawing tablet. A drawing tablet is a flat digital device with a pen. Some tablets have screens that allow you to draw directly with the pen on the tablet, while other tablets are a flat extension (see the image below for a comparison). Some artists use their computer mouse to draw.

Free art software for computers

When drawing on a computer, it is beneficial to have an art program that has tools to help you draw, like a variety of brushes. Here are some free art programs:
(Artfight is not affiliated with any of the programs listed.)
(Click "show" to see the list.)

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Drawing on a tablet or phone device (ipad, android, etc)

Pens

To be able to draw efficiently on a mobile or tablet device, it can be good to get a pen that is compatible with the device, especially if the device has pen pressure. You can also draw with your finger, but this method will likely not give varied line thickness.

Free art software for tablets or phones

(Artfight is not affiliated with any of the programs listed.)
(Click "show" to see the list.)

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Tips for traditional art

Tools

You don't need fancy tools to make good art! You can make amazing things happen with just some printer paper and a grey pencil!

Taking pictures of your work

- Make sure you hold the camera directly above your piece

- Use natural light if you have it, though avoid harsh, direct sunlight (cloudy days can be great for photographing traditional artwork!)

- If you are able to, it is advised to edit the photo a little so the colors look the way you want. If you took the picture with your phone, you can usually edit it via the gallery function.

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Free 3D art software (on computer)

(Artfight is not affiliated with any of the programs listed.)

Blender

A free open source 3D modeling program. Offers modeling, sculpting, rendering, rigging, animation and more. Can be downloaded on Windows, Mac and Linux.

ZBrushCoreMini

A free 3D sculpting program. This is a simpler version than the paid one, but it lets you use the most popular sculpt tools. Can be downloaded on both Windows and Mac.

Paint 3D

A very simple free 3D program that lets you put together 3D shapes, as well as draw on the shapes. It comes with Windows as a default.

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Other resources

These sites provide free photography resources:
(Artfight is not affiliated with Pexels or Unsplash.)

Pexels

A site that delivers completely free to use photography. You are also allowed to edit the photos. Even though the site says credit is not necessary, Art Fight asks that you do so anyway so we know that you did not steal the image.

Unsplash

A site that also delivers completely free to use photography. You are allowed to edit these photos. As for credit, the same rule as above apply.

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If you spot any misinformation or want us to add a program that is free (and of a usable quality), contact staff to let us know. ♥

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How to set up an ideal character page

Character reference

Presenting your character design does not need to involve a complicated reference sheet. A single fullbody image showing off the character design can be enough for people to know what to draw. Make sure at least one image has flat colors that are not too blended so they are easy to color-pick for digital artists. Or alternatively have color samples beside the character reference.

Character description

To make it easier for your attacker to pose or place the character, it's nice to add some information about the character. Having a long bio full of paragraphs telling their story can be cool, but please keep in mind that the attacker likely doesn't have the time to read it all in detail. You should of course do what fits you best, but here are some suggestions:

Summary of their concept or story: Keeping this short and sweet is beneficial for artists who want to get a quick idea, or generally those who struggle with focusing on large amounts of text. ♥
Likes and dislikes: What does your character like and dislike? It could be foods, items, concepts, seasons, places, etc
Interests or hobbies: This helps artists who want to add props or dynamic poses!
Places they like to hang out: This is very helpful for artists who want to do backgrounds!

Character permissions

Having your permissions short and organised in a list format can be ideal, as others may only be reading over them quickly. Here are some typical topics to put on your Do's and Don'ts lists!
- Outfit changes
- Drawing your characters with other characters
- Maturity topics like gore, nudity, sexual themes, etc (Please note that NSFW is not allowed on site as per our maturity guidelines and rules. And that sexually themed works are not allowed to be sent to minors.)