To draw freehand on the computer Windows provides a standard program that is used all over the world and is found among the accessories in the Start menu, called "MS Paint". Everyone, at least once, tried it, but immediately gave up on drawing something other than some doodle.
If you want to have fun on the computer with freehand drawing, using the mouse on the PC, so that everyone can do it (with a little patience), without too much difficulty, you need a different program, one that gives satisfaction and that, even if you move the mouse at random or in an inaccurate way, you bring out at least a sketch and a drawing that is beautiful to look at.
Below, the best free programs to draw on the computer .
READ ALSO: Best free graphics programs alternative to Photoshop
- Fresh Paint is a free Microsoft application for Windows 10 that makes drawing on the computer using the mouse with ease very easy. In practice it is the evolution of the old Microsoft Paint, to draw with watercolors, pencils and many types of brushes. The app is also good for children, to color drawings and express their creativity to the maximum without technical complications.
- Paint 3D, also from Microsoft, is an excellent app for beginners with an easy to understand user interface that allows everyone to create 2D and 3D models of objects and shapes.
- The Microsoft whiteboard, described in another article as a free interactive multimedia whiteboard (LIM) app to use at home or at school to draw freehand also in a shared way.
- Twisted Brush is the structured of the programs described here, not nice but easy to use, with all the editing options grouped together. The free version of the program has some limitations, including only 11 types of brushes. Beyond the basic functions, Twisted Brush has many minor options to be discovered in its interface, for expert users.
- Krita is an open source PC drawing program. It is a 100 MB program which is a complete solution for the creation of digital art also for professional artists. There are many types of brushes and tools for drawing and coloring images by spreading colors, with splatter and drip effect and other ways of using paint. Krita is by far the most complete, free software of this category, an excellent alternative also to Photshop, although not very easy to use and more recommended for professional artists.
- AutoDesk Sketchbook, free for Windows and Mac PC, is one of the best drawing programs, ideal for those who work as a designer, illustrator or image animator. The best feature of Sketchbook is its minimalist user interface that disappears during creation, easy to use too. The features are highly advanced and rich, with over 140 brushes for designers, support for unlimited levels, blending modes, grouping of levels, support for rulers and guides, personalized perspective guides, predictive trait and much more to help you in the creation
- MyPaint as a PC drawing program is a tiny 8MB program, with a clean and minimalist interface, perfect for drawing on the computer. Briefly enough to know that it is the fastest program to use, not quite simple because the menus are a bit hidden, but still good for everyone.
- Dogwaffle Project is a surprisingly full program of features and tools, including fully customizable brushes, filters and effects, multiple color selection options, a good set of color shades, animations and more.
- SmoothDraw is a painting program for freehand drawing.
- Pixia is the English version of a famous Japanese graphics software. It supports masks and layers and many other image editing functions. It has many free plug-ins and filters to download which make this program quite unique and different from the other tools.
- Speedy Painter is a fairly simple and basic program, but completely free and very good for drawing even in a professional way. The software interface is also optimized to work with touch screens.
- TuxPaint, the best drawing program for children, the easiest to use on PC.
- FireAlpaca is one of the lightest, free, simplified drawing programs, but it works well as a tool for beginners and for those with an older or cheaper PC.
- Medibang Paint is an excellent free drawing program for manga and comic creators, with over 800 backgrounds over 50 brushes and 20 fonts. It is a simple and powerful tool for people who are just starting to draw Japanese comics and want a tool that can help them learn and improve.
READ ALSO: Sites where to paint online, color and draw freehand
