TWCL

[dlmx-13]

So, I'm really tired of trying to draw with Photoshop - in all the years I've owned a tablet, I've never had any success with it. The brush parameter settings absolutely suck, and my lines always look like a wobbly scrawl no matter what I do.

I'm thinking of investing in Manga Studio, but before I do that I'd like to hear from others who have used it. How large of a difference is there between the $50 version and the $300 "pro" version?

Alternatively, what about Paint Tool SAI?

[NaarieKermie]

I currently use Manga Studio 4 Debut (the cheaper version) to do my comic and I'm pretty satisfied with it. It has a bit of a learning curve and doesn't come with any hardcopy instructions (I believe it only comes pdf file) so I had to go online and watch/read a bunch of tutorials in order to get started. Once I figured it out, though, I found it to be exactly what I was looking for.

Pros:
Many different tones
Many different and easy to use/manipulate word bubbles
Many different and customizable brushes
Adjustable line corrector (this should help you with the "wobbly line" problem)
Great paneling tools
Various pen types
Easy to use and customize Focus Lines/Speed Lines
Clearly marked and measured bleed and trim areas

Cons:
No eye dropper tool (in the cheap version)
Can't manipulate the tones
Exporting is sometimes a little wonky (I don't know if it's just on my computer but sometimes when I export the file some areas that have a lot of tone get this weird 'plaid' overlay)

I've personally never used the more expensive version but here's a comparison chart: http://manga.smithmicro.com/debut_vs_ex.html

Overall I'd say I'm happy with the program. It was designed specifically for making comics and it really gets the job done.

[cjjoughin]

I use MangaStudio 4EX and honestly, it's the best thing ever for me and has made making my comics a thousand times better. I used to do all my comics traditionally with just Photoshop for cleanup but I've switched to doing all my inks digitally. I'd also recommend checking out Amazon for deals, as I've seen the EX version out there for about $100.

For me, the greatest pluses are the vector word balloons, the perspective tool which allows you to create a snap-to perspective grid in 1-2-3 point perspective as well as with a handful of other special rulers like a symmetry ruler and a radial tool. I find the panel folder system to be very easy to use as well.

I find it fairly intuitive, the pen tool replicates traditional ink better than anything I've been able to do in photoshop, and the correction is fairly good though I've heard Sai's is better. That's not a big issue for me. I also do flat greys instead of using MS's tone selection, but their tones are nice and easy to manipulate.

You can save MS files as .psd if that helps. I've spoken to a number of comic artists, both web and mainstream, that use it as their go-to program for everything. I even enjoy coloring in MS more than I ever did Photoshop.

I put off trying out the program because the name put me off, but I'm very glad I tried it out. I would suggest getting the full version over the demo because the full version has access to the ruler tools as well as basic things like the eye dropper.

[n9uxu]

My copy of EX just arrived today. I've installed it and... I'm not at all sure what to do with it... any good tutorial sites you folk care to recommend?

Dave
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Also be sure to read ttallan's

[NaarieKermie]

n9uxu wrote:

My copy of EX just arrived today. I've installed it and... I'm not at all sure what to do with it... any good tutorial sites you folk care to recommend? Dave

The MangaStudio site itself has a few simple guides to help get you started.

There's also a DA group that not only has a ton of tutorials but also user-made custom tones and brushes for you to download.

For me I found the most helpful tutorials on youtube. It's just something about watching people do the actions as they explain really helped solidify it in my brain. Just do a simple search for "Manga Studio 4 tutorials" and you'll get a ton of results.

[lexia]

That is what I forgot to do... Look at tuts.. lol I just hopped on to Manga Studio and learned as I went...

I know how to use many other programs so it was just a matter of getting use to there set up and how things are done.

Personally I like manga studio for inking, but that is just a preference I have inked by hand, in PS, Painter and Illustrator, I just like Manga also the tones I can use time to time.. anyway I rant so bye bai's till next rant

[NK_Nutter]

Manga Studio is amazing. The pencilling and inking tools feel very natural to use, and there are a bunch of settings you can fiddle with to customise your brushes. And then you can save them all into a custom tool panel.

Things like perspective rulers, speed/focus line generators, speech bubbles, panel makers and symmetry rulers are extremely handy and take just seconds to set up.

Highly recommended!
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[iaviv]

Paint Tool SAI is very good for coloring in a painterly style. It's pretty great for inking as well. However, I don't really know any program other than Manga Studio that helps you draw comics, specifically. It has comics tools, and they're really good tools at that. Coloring in Manga Studio is rather basic (they're working on improving it in future versions, I hear), but you can easily export your pages and color them in some other program (I use Photoshop for that).