So, for my fellow broke digital artists out there, I will review 5 popular digital art programs. Before we start off this list, let me tell you what software I have: I have the Surface Pro 4 from Microsoft (256 GB, 8 GB RAM, Intel Core i5), and I'm currently running on Windows 10. Let's start this list! Free Digital Programs 1. Everything you need to unleash your creativity. Platforms: Windows, macOS, iOS.
Explore the best Illustration software for Mac. Browse our catalog of over 50 000 mac apps. MacUpdate is serving app downloads since 1997.
Design and print beautiful photo books, custom gifts, and lots more with our digital scrapbooking software.
Our newest release, Artisan 5, requires a 64-bit version of Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 or Windows 10.
- Operating System: 64-bit (x86) Edition of Windows 7, 8, 8.1, or 10
- Processor: An Intel Core i5 Processor (8th Generation), 64-bit (x86) or better
- System Memory (RAM): 8 GB (16 GB recommended)
- Display: Minimum 1366 x 768 resolution with 32-bit color
- Connectivity: Broadband internet required for software activation and purchase (Wireless N or gigabit connectivity recommended)
- Storage Capacity: Minimum 500 GB, Solid State Drive (SSD) or 7200RPM Spinning Disk Drive
- Warranty: Minimum 1-year Basic Warranty from your retailer or manufacturer
Artisan 4 can be run on 32 or 64 bit versions of those operating systems as well as Windows Vista and Windows XP. Which Version of Windows am I running?

Artisan is free to try for 30 days.
Create beautiful photo books and more with digital design software from FOREVER®.
Manage a lifetime of photos, videos, and audio files on your Windows PC with Historian's powerful features and vault technology.
Historian runs on 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10, and on 32-bit versions of Windows XP.
Windows 8+ users please note:Historian requires the Microsoft .NET Framework 3.0 and will enable this for you as part of set up. Alternately, it can be manually enabled by following these instructions from Microsoft.
- Operating System: 32-bit (x86) Edition of Windows Vista, 7, 8, or 10
- Processor: 1.5 GHz (2 GHz or higher recommended), 32-bit (x86)
- System Memory (RAM): 1 GB (2 GB recommended)
- Display: Minimum 1024 x 768 resolution with 32-bit color
- Connectivity: Internet required for software activation and purchase
Historian is free to try for 30 days.
You can purchase an activation code to continue preserving your memories with Historian after your trial period ends.
Available for iPhone, iPad and Android devices.
The FOREVER® Mobile App offers automatic sync and backup so your photos can stay safe and secure even on the go. Once in your account, you can easily access, organize, and share your photos anywhere! Download for free today.
The FOREVER® Mobile App is totally free to use!
It works best when combined with FOREVER Storage®. View Pricing.
Lite Edition
Realistic
Painting Software
for Windows / MAC
Get started on your masterpiece with ArtRage Lite: An artist’s toolkit for all ages.

ArtRage’s introductory paint program
ArtRage Lite is a realistic art media painting program for Windows & macOS, designed as an affordable and fun introduction to art software for first time digital artists.
ArtRage Lite focuses on mimicking traditional painting and drawing as intuitively as possible. It’s easy to learn for people who’ve never used a digital art program and allows you to continue using your experience and traditional art skills. ArtRage offers something different to the standard digital art program: a bit messier, a bit more room for inspiration, and extremely flexible. No other program offers the gorgeous textures, easy colour mixing and creative freedom that ArtRage does.
ArtRage Lite is simpler and more accessible than the more advanced ArtRage 6, but it contains all the same tools and real media resources. It’s more child friendly, and suitable for those who don’t think they’ll need to get to grips with custom brush creation, gradient fill or sticker spray, but just want to paint. If you do want to move onto the full version at some point, we offer upgrade discounts for all Lite users.
ArtRage Lite is sold as a digital download through our online store. You will be sent a download link after purchase. It is also available as a free download with certain graphics tablets, but is distributed by the hardware company in those cases.
ArtRage Lite does not require a subscription or internet connection to install or use. You will always be able to download the latest versions for both macOS and Windows by registering your serial our member area, but we respect your privacy and do not automatically register you.
Operating System: ArtRage Lite is compatible with macOS 10.6 and later, and Windows 7, 8 and 10.
Hardware: You can install ArtRage Lite on any desktop, laptop, or touchscreen device that runs a supported operating system. Please try the ArtRage 6 demo before purchasing if you have any concerns about performance or compatibility.
Unlimited downloads of the latest version are available from the member area. ArtRage Lite will not be replaced by a future edition or have significant feature updates, but will updated on an ongoing basis to keep it running smoothly, so you will not end up with an outdated program or need to pay for a future edition. ArtRage Lite includes an upgrade discount to the latest edition of our full program.
Upgrade discounts to ArtRage 6 are available for ArtRage Lite users and owners of older desktop editions. See the Upgrades page or register your serial in the member area for details.
ArtRage Lite Features
Compare the different features of ArtRage Lite and ArtRage 6.
Banner Image: Fragility of Life by Steve Goad
Beginner Tutorials
Watch painting tutorial videos for ArtRage Lite, demonstrating basic art techniques to help you get started.
ArtRage Lite Reviews
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NCCE’S Tech Savvy Teacher Blog
ArtRage Lite Screenshots
Click through the screenshots below to see what you can create with ArtRage Lite.
Work From Photos
Use realistic pastels to build up color and blend. Add reference images around your canvas to help you draw.Impasto
The Oil Tube and Palette Knife let you build up extremely thick paint and smush it around to get fantastic impasto textures.Manga
Use the Ink Pen for smoothly inked lines and the Felt Pen (Marker) to blend and color. Turn off canvas lighting to get a completely smooth digital image, and collect color samples to keep your palette consistent.Watercolors
Realistic watercolor effects let you control the spread and layering, to get exactly the result you want.Oils
ArtRage's oils are the most realistic and easy to use digital oils around. Just pick up a brush and start throwing paint at your canvas!Layers and Canvas Texture
Sketch out your design on one layer, then add a new one to redraw the lines neatly. Change the canvas texture to get different pencil effects as you draw, and take advantage of the Ink Pen properties to get automatic smoothing, taper, and angled strokes.Custom Brush Effects
The Sticker Spray lets you play with custom image brushes that lay down repeating patterns and sprays. Explore the default presets, or download more advanced custom sticker spray presets created in ArtRage 5 for more professional custom brush effects that suit your workflow.Illustration
Combine multiple tools, stencils, layers, and layer effects, to create traditional looking illustrations easily.Stencils
Mask out areas of canvas and draw straight lines with stencils. Add your own custom images to create outlines and textures.
Overview of ArtRage Lite Tools and Features
ArtRage Lite offers a full range of real media painting tools and basic digital editing features. You can also pin references to the canvas, use tracing images, and play back your iPad or Android scripts on the desktop.
Natural Paints
ArtRage simulates real world properties of paint like wetness & thickness so that the tools work like the real thing. Smear paint, blend colors, and work with canvas textures to get natural looking results without complex digital processes.
Best Free Online Art Software
Easy To Use Interface
ArtRage presents the important tools in a simple, clean interface that gets out of the way while you paint. This means you don’t get distracted by complex digital controls and can stay in the creative zone while you work.
References & Tracing
Sometimes it can be handy to have other images open while you work. If you want a visual guide you can pin Reference Images to your canvas, or load a Tracing Image overlay that can apply colors for you automatically.
Layers
ArtRage supports Layers – Transparent overlays that let you paint on your canvas without damaging the paint beneath. Each Layer can have its own blend mode so that you can easily generate shading and other effects.
Utilities
ArtRage enhances its natural toolset with utilities tailored to give you the convenience of a computer paint package without getting in your way, like: Undo and Redo, Layers, Select and Transform.
Upgrade to ArtRage 6
ArtRage Lite can be upgraded to ArtRage 6 at any time to unlock a range of professional level features, such as filters, blend modes, advanced tool settings, Symmetry, Grids, script recording, and custom brush creation.
Upgrading to ArtRage 6
All users of ArtRage Lite are eligible for a 30% upgrade discount to ArtRage 6
If you already own ArtRage Lite (for example, it came free with your Intuos Draw), or want to buy the Lite version now and upgrade to our full professional software later, then you can take advantage of our upgrade discount!
Access your 30% discount through the member area by registering your serial number, or by going to Help > Upgrade to ArtRage 6 inside the program (version 5.0.4 of Lite and later).
Purchasing ArtRage 6 will expand the options available for existing tools, and open up many more ways to customize your canvas, presets, stencils, menus, colors, interface, and other resources. ArtRage 6 also offers powerful professional digital art, image editing, and graphic design features like Perspective, Grids, Guides, Symmetry, custom brush creation, Gradient Fill, multiple documents, script recording, Real Color Blending, filters, Views, Layer Effects, and more. All your ArtRage Lite paintings can be opened in ArtRage 6.
This upgrade discount does not expire.
Learn more about ArtRage 6 or try the demo!
Mac Software Free
Get ArtRage Lite Now!
What’s included…
- ArtRage Lite: Full Version User License for Windows & macOS
- Delivery: Electronic Download
- Languages: English, French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese
- Support: Includes quick start guide, online tutorials, community forums, and email support.
- System Requirements:
- Windows 7, 8 (requires Desktop mode for Windows 8), 10
- macOS 10.6 or later (Intel Macs only).
- 1024 x 768 or larger screen size
US$29.90
Buy ArtRage Lite to get started with realistic digital painting.
Buy ArtRage 6
US$79 (Upgrade Discounts)
Looking for something more powerful? ArtRage 6 offers many more features and professional options. Learn more about ArtRage 6 and our upgrade discounts.
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