Programs and Tools.

This thread is about different programs and tools everyone uses for their artwork.  
Also, feel free to post any tutorials you guys find helpful.
 
I’ll go first with a few of the tools I’m most familiar with:
 
*GIMP  
AKA poor man’s Photoshop. Bitmap editing program. USE THIS INSTEAD OF MSPAINT, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. Mac, Windows, Linux.
 
*Inkscape  
AKA poor man’s Illustrator. Vector editing program. Mac, Windows, Linux.
 
*Sketchup  
Incredibly easy to use 3d modeling program. Originally developed for architectural rendering, this program has become a great starting point in 3d art. There’s a free version which does pretty much everything you need to do but export to other file types out of the box. To export to other file types you can get a free plugin. Mac, Windows, Linux support through WINE.
 
Aviary Suite  
AVIARY IS DEAAAAAD YOU BASTARDS!

All I got is Gimp, and a mouse.

Graphicagale
 
(dons hipster glasses)

@Pix3M
 
Whoops, I meant graphicsgale*

@Pix3M  
I see your Graphicsgale and counter with PIXEN

Photoshop and pencils.

GIMP with laptop touch pad. Takes some getting used to with the precision and a shaky hand can ruin a line, but it works.

The little bit I do is mostly pencil, paper, and a scanner. Sometimes I’ll try colorizing it in GIMP if I’m bored.

Oh yeah.
 
Along with Inkscape, there’s a version specifically for pony:  
*Ponyscape  
How it is better than Inkscape, I have no idea. I have never been able to run the damn thing.

More programs I know about:  
*Makehuman  
Used for making 3d models of humans. (Someone should create a Makepony). Mac, Windows, Linux
 
*Blender  
A free 3d modeling program. More powerful than Sketchup. Mac, Windows, Linux

For quick editing, use Pixlr(http://pixlr.com/editor), fairly powerful bitmap editor that runs in your browser.
 
And Inkscape is not the “poor man’s” Illustrator, as it is pretty much superior; it just happens to also be free. Ponyscape is a custom build of Inkscape with some experimental and new features tailored toward show-style artwork.
 
And of course, there’s PaintTool SAI(http://sai.detstwo.com/sai/), which is what a fair amount of tablet artists use in this fandom; simple, good tools and has a glorious pen stabilizer.

Photoshop CS5 and a cheap Bamboo tablet (I think it’s either a Fun or Connect).  
I’ve always wanted to try out Sai, but I’ve been using photoshop for like seven years now and don’t know how I’ll acclimate.

It should be noted that there are artists who are comfortable with MS Paint and can do some really cool legit art with it.
 
For lines I use SAI pretty much exclusively. Sometimes I throw into Photoshop for color, but I haven’t really drawn with it at all since I got SAI.

@Pea
 
MS paint is horrible even for art that intends to have a pixelly aesthetic. No keyboard shortcuts D=

I think I do have GIMP installed.
 
I just don’t think it’d be easy to outline my drawings using only a mouse.
 
|| Am I being lazy? ||

@TheImmortalWolf  
I remember those days. trying to digitize pencil sketches with a mouse.  
Though, if you start you might get good at it. I know a couple of people who actually prefer using a mouse over other forms of input.

@Wafflecannon
 
Preferring mouse over a tablet? I hope none of those artists use ‘other’ digital media like vectors.

I use a Bamboo Create and Paint Tool SAI for pretty much everything. When I’ve had to do after-effects, I have used GIMP.
 
I have a bunch of programs installed that I need practice with. Adobe offers Photoshop CS2 free of charge if you sign up for their mailing list.
 
If I’m trying to pose humans, I use DAZ Studio 3D to get the pose & proportions right.

@Pix3M  
Actually it was digital painting. She was this girl that used to sit across from me a couple of semesters ago in a digital art class I was taking.  
I have no idea how she did it.

@Wafflecannon
 
Hmmm… NOW if we were dealing with a professional digital artist in the field, then it would be interseting. I still think that a mouse is kind of inferior to a tablet by default of not having pen pressure.

OpenCanvas1.1 is limited but favored by some for digital painting

I use a combination of MyPaint and Easy Paint Tool SAI, along with my Wacom Bamboo Pen & Touch. I don’t really do any after effects, so while I have Photoshop Elements, I really never use it.

@Pix3M  
Someone should make a mouse with pressure button.
 
I should make a mouse with a pressure button.

I use PaintToolSAI and Photoshop CS2 for my work.

I’d use CS2 too if it still worked on my systems.