Choosing the best portrait illustration maker is a lot harder than it sounds. With so many choices out there, it's hard to decide what the best for your needs is. Some of them are very cheap but also have huge limitations on what they can do. Others might be expensive and offer lots of features, but it will take forever to finish a simple drawing. What if you want something in between?
This blog post will discuss some factors to consider when choosing a portrait illustrator. But first:
A portrait illustration maker is a program that allows you to create computer-generated portrait illustrations, either from scratch or based on an image reference. They are used extensively in the game and anime industry for creating promo images, but they are also great for anyone that wants to be able to draw portrait illustrations more efficiently.
There are a few key features to look for when choosing portrait illustration makers. They include:
This is important, especially if you're new to portrait illustration and want to try it out. The cheaper alternatives can be the best choice because they enable you to test the waters without having to spend too much money on something completely new and unfamiliar.
If cost isn't an issue, then there's no need for you to go cheap or free (unless you're okay with using open-source software). It also depends on your budget – going with free portrait illustrators might require more time from your side than going with paid portrait illustrators like CorelDRAW.
The portrait illustrator you choose should make portrait illustrations that don't look pixelated when scaled up or down in size. - i.e., they should be vector portrait illustrators. Pixelated portraits look low-quality and will not look nice when printed or blown up on a large canvas.
For example, if you're making portrait illustrations for a magazine ad, it's better to choose portrait illustrators that are vector portrait illustrators. You might be able to get away with pixelated portrait illustration makers if you're strictly working online.
When considering purchasing a portrait illustration maker, it's important to note that not all portrait illustration makers work the same despite them looking similar at first glance.
Every portrait illustrator has different features and key features, and depending on the license (whether it is free or paid), these features vary from each portrait illustrator.
You want to choose a portrait illustrator that has features such as vectorization and portrait variation. This will help you save time in the long run and won't limit your creativity either.
Some portrait illustration makers come with specialized brushes, but others use more generic software; for example, CorelDraw is mostly used for portrait vectorization.
A portrait illustrator maker should be made up of at least two software programs, a portrait illustrator and a portrait editor. When you buy portrait illustration software, you'll have to license it, and these can cost about the same as buying the portrait illustrators themselves.
The portrait editor is an essential part of the portrait illustrator because it enables you to change things such as colors and details after vectorization has already been done.
Some portrait editors are sold separately, but others are included in your initial purchase cost for your portrait illustration maker license. For example, CorelDRAW comes with portrait editing software called Corel Photo-Paint, enabling you to refine portrait details.
Aside from portrait variation, scalability, and portrait editing software, portrait illustrators can also have additional features. For example, some portrait makers enable you to draw directly onto a portrait instead of creating a vector of it first.
This is great if you want to do more traditional drawing on your portraits. Some portrait illustrators like CorelDRAW come with tutorials that give you step-by-step directions on how each feature works, while others don't even offer this detail.
Choosing the right illustrator can be a daunting task. We hope this blog post has helped you get started on your journey to find the perfect portrait illustration maker for your portrait illustration needs. If you're looking for professional-grade software with an affordable price tag, CorelDRAW Graphics Suite is the way to go. The best part? It comes with tons of tutorials to help you master it. Download a free trial to get started.
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