Welcome to the first (of many, I hope) PC Weenies mailbags. I hope to run these every Friday or so – but that’s really up to how many emails I get…
Got an art related, Mac tech related or PC Weenies related question? Hit me up and I’ll do my best to answer it within the blog. Today’s missive comes from Matt Mesarch, who writes:
Hi There,
I hope you don’t mind a software question!
I’ve loved to draw for years. And I recently considered buying some software that would allow me to ink/color drawings, create a comic using panel templates, and possibly incorporate using a pen tablet at some point in the future.
I’ve been trying to find reviews from people who have used both Manga Studio Debut and Sketchbook Pro. And I noticed on your website that you have used Manga Studio (the “Pro” version) and Sketchbook Pro. I was wondering which program you would recommend.
Is either one more flexible, easier to use, or in general more capable of being used as a standalone product?
Can you use the same pen tablet with either piece of software?
Is there another software product that you would recommend over either one of these?
Right now I’m considering buying Manga Studio (probably the debut version, in order to save money) or Sketchbook Pro. I would appreciate any advice or suggestions you might have!
Sincerely,
Matt
Great questions, Matt! Thank you for writing in.
Since you didn’t specify which version of Manga Studio, for the purpose of this discussion, I’ll assume it’s Manga Studio 5 (MS5). Manga Studio 5 comes in two flavors: Debut and Pro. Currently, only MS5 Debut is available for purchase now. MS5 Pro is expected late this summer. Aside: I’ve used Manga Studio Pro EX version 4 for the past year or so. The MS4 interface is a bit kludgy and cumbersome – particularly if you’re coming from Photoshop or Painter. Coupled with woefully sparse documentation, I never really ventured into using MS4 EX Pro as anything more than a glorified inking tool.
So the real question, I think, boils down to: How does Manga Studio 5 Debut compare to Autodesk’s Sketchbook Pro 6 when it comes to making comics? Read on to find out… ↓ Read the rest of this entry…
