About PaintTool SAI
PaintTool SAI is a digital painting software from SYSTEMAX Software Development that provides artists with versatile tools for creating detailed artwork. It includes brush customization, layer management, and various blending modes so users can produce high-quality illustrations. The software supports pressure sensitivity, enabling natural strokes that mimic traditional painting. PaintTool SAI is designed for both amateur and professional artists, making it suitable for a wide range of creative projects. Key capabilities: customizable brushes extensive layer support pressure sensitivity simple interface color mixing options Best for: digital artists that need a capable yet user-friendly platform for creating illustrations and digital art.
PaintTool SAI is a lightweight, high-performance digital painting software that excels in precision and speed, making it particularly well-suited for manga artists, digital illustrators, and hobbyists working on Windows. Its minimalist, intuitive interface maximizes canvas space and offers a gentle learning curve, while the powerful brush stabilization system ensures smooth, professional-quality line work. The software’s Linework Layer tools allow for vector-like editing of lines after drawing, and the PerspectiveRuler and grid tools simplify accurate scene creation, which is highly valuable for comic and illustration work. Version 2 expands capabilities significantly with support for massive canvases up to 100,000 by 100,000 pixels, a wide range of layer types including masks and clipping groups, and improved data handling, all while maintaining lightning-fast performance even on lower-end hardware. File compatibility is strong, with PSD and PSB support facilitating easy integration with other professional software like Photoshop. Input from pen tablets is fully supported via WinTab and TabletPC APIs, ensuring precise pressure sensitivity.
Pros & Cons
- +Best-in-class brush stabilization system for flawless line art and inking.
- +Excellent performance, even on older hardware, with minimal lag.
- −Lacks advanced photo editing and 3D features found in larger competitors.
- −Support is limited due to the small, one-man development team.
Features
Key features
- Massive Canvas Support
- The 64-bit version supports a maximum canvas size up to 100,000 x 100,000 pixels.
- Extensive File Compatibility
- Supports loading and saving to its native SAI2 format, PSD, PSB, BMP, JPEG, PNG, and TGA, and loading the older SAI Ver.1 format.
- Dedicated Linework Tools
- Provides specialized tools like Pen, Curve, Line, and EditPressure for professional vector-based linework.
- Perspective Rulers
- Includes PerspectiveRuler and PerspectiveGrid tools that support 1 to 3 vanishing points for accurate drawing.
- Layer Masking and Effects
- Supports layer masks, blending modes, opacity, and painting effects for complex visual compositions.
- Bristle Definition Corrector
- Offers a separate utility to fix invalid bristle definition bitmaps for continued brush use in the new version.
Additional features
- SAI2 File Format
- Supports loading and saving in the native private format of Ver.2.
- PSD/PSB File Format
- Supports loading and saving files in Adobe Photoshop's PSD and PSB formats.
- BMP/JPEG/PNG/TGA File Formats
- Supports loading and saving in common raster image file formats.
- SAI (Ver.1) File Format
- Supports loading files created in the older SAI Ver.1 format.
- 64-bit Maximum Canvas Size
- Supports a maximum canvas size up to 100,000 x 100,000 pixels.
- 32-bit Maximum Canvas Size
- Supports a maximum canvas size up to 10,000 x 10,000 pixels.
- Maximum Layer Count
- Allows for a maximum number of layers up to 8,190.
- Layer Types
- Supports Normal, Folder, Linework, Shape, and Text layer types.
- Layer Properties
- Supports Blending Mode, Opacity, Protections, Clipping Group, Moving Group, Painting Effect, Paper Texture, Visibility, and Layer Name.
- Layer Operations
- Supports multiple selection and operation for layer items.
- Layer Mask
- Supports the use of Layer masks.
- Selection Operations
- Possible operations include Select, Invert, Deselect, Cut, Copy, Paste, and Move pixels as floating.
- View Operations
- Possible operations include Pan, Zoom, Rotation, and Horizontal flip.
- Alternative/Floating View
- Provides the option for an Alternative View and a Floating View of the canvas.
- Marquee Tool
- A common selection tool for rectangular areas.
- Lasso Tool
- A common selection tool for freeform areas.
- Magic Wand Tool
- A common selection tool that selects contiguous, similarly colored areas.
- Shape Tool
- A tool for creating defined shapes.
- Text Tool
- A tool for adding text layers to the canvas.
- Move Tool
- A tool for moving elements and pixels.
- Zoom/Rotate/Hand Tools
- Common tools for view manipulation and navigation.
- Syringe Tool
- A common tool for picking colors (eyedropper).
- Pencil Tool
- A drawing tool available for Normal Layers.
- Air Brush Tool
- A soft drawing tool available for Normal Layers.
- Brush Tool
- A standard drawing tool available for Normal Layers.
- WaterColor Tool
- A blending/painting tool available for Normal Layers.
- Marker Tool
- A saturated drawing tool available for Normal Layers.
- Smudge Tool
- A blending/smudging tool available for Normal Layers.
- BinaryPen Tool
- A tool for hard-edged, pixel-level drawing available for Normal Layers.
- SelectionPen/SelectionEraser Tools
- Tools used to manually refine the selection area.
- Bucket Tool
- A fill tool available for Normal Layers.
- Gradation Tool
- A tool for creating smooth color gradients.
- Pen Tool (Linework)
- A precise drawing tool for Linework Layers.
- Curve Tool (Linework)
- A tool for creating smooth curved lines on Linework Layers.
- Line Tool (Linework)
- A tool for creating straight lines on Linework Layers.
- Eraser Tool (Linework)
- A tool for erasing content on Linework Layers.
- EditPath Tool
- A tool for editing the shape and anchor points of paths on Linework Layers.
- EditPressure Tool
- A tool for editing the pressure/thickness of lines on Linework Layers.
- ChangeColor/ChangeWeight Tools
- Tools for modifying the color and weight/thickness of lines on Linework Layers.
- StraightRuler
- A tool for drawing straight lines.
- EllipseRuler
- A tool for drawing perfect or perspective ellipses.
- PerspectiveRuler
- A ruler tool for drawing in perspective, created as a layer object.
- PerspectiveGrid
- A grid overlay tool for guiding perspective drawing.
Pricing
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About PaintTool SAI
PaintTool SAI is a digital painting software from SYSTEMAX Software Development that provides artists with versatile tools for creating detailed artwork. It includes brush customization, layer management, and various blending modes so users can produce high-quality illustrations. The software supports pressure sensitivity, enabling natural strokes that mimic traditional painting. PaintTool SAI is designed for both amateur and professional artists, making it suitable for a wide range of creative projects. Key capabilities: customizable brushes extensive layer support pressure sensitivity simple interface color mixing options Best for: digital artists that need a capable yet user-friendly platform for creating illustrations and digital art.
PaintTool SAI Details
PaintTool SAI's In-App Market Place
Does PaintTool SAI have an in-app market place?
Yes
How many Mini-Apps in the marketplace?
1
Mini Apps
No
Pricing Options
Accepted Payment Currencies
USD ($), EUR (€), GBP (£), JPY (¥), AUD (A$), CAD (C$), CHF (CHF), CNY (¥), SEK (kr), NOK (kr), KRW (₩), INR (₹), NZD (NZ$), SGD (S$), HKD (HK$), ZAR (R), PLN (zł), THB (฿), MXN ($)
Pros & Cons
- Best-in-class brush stabilization system for flawless line art and inking.
- Excellent performance, even on older hardware, with minimal lag.
- Lacks advanced photo editing and 3D features found in larger competitors.
- Support is limited due to the small, one-man development team.
PaintTool SAI's Support Options
PaintTool SAI's Alternatives
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