To a point, all artists are digital artists nowadays. It’s not a lot whether or not or not you truly create the artwork on the pc — finally, it must get there.
Particularly for many who aren’t creating digitally, buying a pc could be a complicated job. With this installment within the month-to-month “How I Work As A Digital Artist” collection, the main focus might be on the pc. Not solely is it probably the most becoming place to begin, it additionally units the muse for every part to comply with.
While this collection is entitled “How I Work”, I am going to be a bit much less particular right here as a result of the specifics aren’t as vital. That stated, my present rig is a 2014 MacE-book Pro 15”. I simply upgraded from my trusty 2008 Mac Pro tower. The MacE-book Pro ships with 16GB of RAM which is lots for my wants (and most definitely yours as properly — however we are going to get to that shortly). I run the identical twin monitor setup I had on the Mac Pro, utilizing some adapter cables. It’s fairly wonderful {that a} laptop computer can run twin screens, and if I open up the laptop computer — three! I often run it closed and I have an exterior keyboard connected, together with my Wacom Intuos4 medium graphics pill.
With that out of the best way, let’s speak about what you may want on your personal digital artwork studio.
The proper instruments could make an enormous distinction not solely within the effectivity of your studio, but additionally within the enjoyment of the creation and sharing of your art work. That stated, there’s little purpose to go overboard with probably the most high-end system should you aren’t outputting HD 3D animated renderings. These days you may get a more-than-sufficient setup for a a lot decrease proportion of your earnings than in years previous. For us early adopters, there was a time when it was fairly expensive to go digital. Thankfully, that’s now not the case nowadays.
The primary rule for working for your self is to spend as little cash as attainable, however with regards to your instruments, make certain you discover a good steadiness between spending the least attainable and shopping for high quality instruments.
Windows or Mac?
I assume we have to begin off this dialogue with the everlasting “Mac vs. Windows” debate. For the report, I’ve been a Mac consumer for my whole pc profession and these articles might be closely Mac-focused. That stated, there may be little or no distinction with regards to pace, energy, performance and software program between the 2.
The Macintosh computer systems, again within the 80s and 90s, was once the one platform one might run graphics software program like Quark Xpress or Photoshop. It wasn’t a “Mac is healthier” argument, it was a “Mac is the one strategy to do these items” state of affairs. Suffice it to say that nowadays whatever the working system you select, you may create artwork on it. You could discover that extra inventive sorts gravitate in direction of the Mac, however nowadays that’s not more than a desire — except after all we’re speaking about extremely specialised software program. Some is just accessible for Mac OS X, some just for the Windows working system. That stated, many design studios are Mac-based, so information of the Mac could also be required or desired. But since we’re speaking about working for your self, it’s actually as much as you. Don’t assume you should get a Mac if you wish to create artwork digitally.
If you’re buying a pc right now, you may just about assure that something you purchase might be highly effective sufficient to run the software program you need to run. Film editors and 3D rendering artists is likely to be excluded from this, however anybody working in a 2D format goes to search out that you simply most likely can’t discover a new pc that isn’t highly effective sufficient on your wants.
What you do need to keep watch over the the RAM (a.okay.a. the “reminiscence”) your pc has. In brief, the extra RAM the higher, and this particularly applies to your outdated behemoth sitting beneath the drawing desk — most definitely that beast has some life in it should you’ve by no means upgraded the RAM.
How Much RAM?
So what’s RAM anyhow? RAM stands for Random Access Memory. Think of it like your mind’s short-term reminiscence. When you run software program like Photoshop, it’s loaded into the RAM. When you open recordsdata, they’re saved within the RAM. The long-term “reminiscence” is your onerous drive, the place recordsdata are saved and saved. They are loaded into RAM as a result of recordsdata loaded into RAM might be accessed a lot sooner. it’s all about pace. A Flash drive or a smartphone each use RAM completely (a part of the rationale they’re so quick). Even computer systems are beginning to get geared up with RAM-based drives as a substitute of onerous drives. These are referred to as SSD (Solid-State Drives) Drives. Yes, that D in SSD appears to be redundant!
Computers have limits as to how a lot RAM might be put in, each as a result of variety of slots you may set up reminiscence, and design limitations within the pc that restrict the quantity of RAM you may set up. For instance, an outdated laptop computer would possibly solely be capable to deal with 4GB of RAM complete, whereas a brand new laptop computer can ship with 16GB already put in.
You can count on a pc to ship nowadays with at the very least 4GB (Gigabytes) of RAM. This might be enough to run the working system and some software program functions, however little else. And once you work on massive, 300 DPI recordsdata n Photoshop, you will really feel the ache of low RAM rapidly. An superb quantity of RAM can be 8-16GB, and should you can afford it, 32GB can be phenomenal. The largest RAM hog on my Mac is Photoshop, and I’ve discovered 16GB to be greater than enough to work rapidly and with none slowdowns or annoying hangs. I may even run display screen recording software program like Screenflow on the similar time with no actual pace points.
That stated, RAM costs might be counterintuitive and 32GB or RAM will not be twice the value of 16GB. While RAM is comparatively simple to put in, it’s greatest when you have knowledgeable achieve this. Even higher, in case you are shopping for a brand new pc, purchase one with the quantity of RAM you need already put in.
The backside line is: the extra RAM, the higher. Even in an outdated pc. Look to improve the RAM earlier than you plunk down cash on a complete new machine. You is likely to be amazed at how briskly that pc might be with that easy improve. And in case you are shopping for new, get a pc with as a lot RAM put in as you may fairly afford. Aim for at the very least 8GB, and ideally 16GB.
Hard Drives
Continuing the “mind” analogy from above, onerous drives are the long-term reminiscence within the setup. There isn’t a lot to say about these, as the largest issue it’s good to concern your self with is cupboard space. Bigger numbers are higher — which suggests they’ll retailer extra stuff. If you intend on working from a laptop computer, then we’re speaking about exterior onerous drives and also you’ll need the drives which can be bodily the smallest, however which even have the biggest storage capability. It’s at all times higher to have much less stuff to lug round, and extra capability to retailer extra recordsdata.
I would recommend shopping for all of your onerous drives as exterior drives versus upgrading the interior drives within the pc. The purpose being is once you need to improve your pc, you simply plug the onerous drives into the brand new pc. It’s a lot, a lot simpler.
Also talked about above, SSD drives are new know-how that’s beginning to seem in computer systems. SSD drives are solid-state, that means no bodily elements to wear down over time as in a standard onerous drive. The draw back is that they’re costly. The upside is that they’re very, very quick. Yes, you need an SSD drive should you can afford one. No it’s not required.
One very last thing to contemplate when speaking about onerous drives are backups. I will talk about backing up your recordsdata in additional element in a while within the collection, however for now chances are you’ll need to take into account shopping for onerous drives in duplicates — one for the recordsdata, one to again the recordsdata up. Personally, I love to do one native backup after which one on-line backup. But like I stated, we’ll cowl this intimately in a while.
And bear in mind: a backup means you’ve gotten two copies of the recordsdata, not that you simply’ve saved it on an exterior onerous drive. And when you have been diligently backing up your recordsdata by some handbook drag-and-drop technique, I will provide help to put that behind you and get issues automated with software program. And I will talk about on-line/cloud backup providers as properly.
Processor Speed
As talked about above, any pc bought inside the final 3 years goes to be lots highly effective. Even entry-level machines like a Mac mini. You don’t must be involved about processor speeds any longer. Focus on extra RAM and the provision of an SSD choice.
Monitors
My recommendation for screens is to get one thing good and get one thing respectable sized — don’t go overboard, however don’t be low-cost. You’ll need at the very least 20 inch monitor and a 24” or bigger can be even higher. But you may get by with a 20 inch monitor. If you’re on a laptop computer, you may plug in an exterior monitor for when you find yourself working at house or within the studio. That method you may work on a bigger display screen however nonetheless have the mobility to work remotely when wanted or desired.
Another worthy funding is a monitor calibration system. This will mean you can be sure that colours you see on display screen are correct to how they’ll print. And you’d be amazed at how out of whack monitor colours might be, even on good screens. I use a Pantone Huey, which is an entry-level system however it appears to do the trick. Don’t even take into consideration attempting to manually regulate your monitor, belief me!
A Good Chair
This stands out as the primary factor on the record. Years in the past, I had some extreme ache in my proper arm (ulnar tunnel syndrome) that was getting worrisome. It was positively associated to the micro-movements used when drawing, and from my analysis, from poor sitting posture.
I invested in a high-quality chair (in addition to a foot relaxation to make sure correct ergonomic sitting posture), and the issues all went away.
Sit correctly. Take many breaks! And watch out of standing work desks, it’s the dearth of bodily selection that’s most harmful in these working conditions. But if you will sit, get a superb chair and don’t consider this as non-compulsory. Expect to spend $300 to $600 on a chair. It’s value it in the long term!
So that covers the essential gist of getting arrange along with your pc. This will get you up and working, however so far as truly creating art work on the pc, I am going to dedicate a whole put up simply to those peripherals. In that put up, I’ll talk about graphics tablets in depth, and provide you with an outline of printers and scanners — in addition to some suggestions for utilizing your smartphone as an enter system.
Summary
To recap the fundamentals from this text:
– Consider upgrading your outdated pc’s RAM earlier than shopping for new
– If upgrading or shopping for new, intention for 8–16GB of RAM
– SSD are expensive, however value it
– External onerous drives are the best way to go
– Don’t overlook about backup onerous drives
– Forget processor speeds
– Aim for a well-reviewed monitor within the 20” to 30” dimension vary
– Be ergonomic — spend money on a top quality chair
***
George Coghill is a contract illustrator specializing in monster, creature & cryptid creations. Visit his web site, Monsterologist.com
Read Part 2: Peripherals
(*1*)
