Review: ArtRage 2.2 (free and full versions)

ArtRage is a digital paint program developed by Ambient Designs (they did a lot of work on Kai's Power Tools).  That would be selling it short, however, so let me elaborate:

You have some art tools, and all the canvas and paint you could ever need.  Of course, this doesn't sound like much more than all the MSPaints and Pixias of the world.  What makes ArtRage great is how it feels and how the paints and other tools interact with the canvas and the other tools.  From the radical interface to the ways in which the paints mix and smear, everything clicks.

As soon as you begin painting you will see that this program is something special.  The paints have depth on the screen with bumps and valleys, shadows and highlights.  Mistakes become an opportunity to blend colors together with the palette knife.  The canvas becomes another tool as you use the grain and a light touch of chalk.  You can even set an option that gives you a little glass of water to rinse your brush off between strokes (this can be set so that your brush is auto-magically cleaned whenever you let go of the mouse button as well).  When you're done, you can export you image into numerous formats, including a layered PhotoShop file (if you have the $20 paid version).

ArtRage is an outstanding program.  I used to love to draw when I was younger, and I have tried many computer graphics programs in an attempt to rekindle that interest.  ArtRage is the first that has succeeded.  This program was the driving force that led to my recent investment in a Wacom tablet.  Even with the mouse, however, the program is amazing.

I have successfully introduced the free version of the program to children as young as 5 years old, and they are producing amazing work with it.  The full version is really wonderful, and at only $20, it is a great value.  The community on the ArtRage forums is helpful and welcoming, and offers constructive criticism to any works that are posted there.  The development team posts frequently in the forums, and is willing to investigate bugs and other issues.