A new non-realistic node-based digital painting software - Black Ink

General Forums Blender and CG Discussions
1

Seems pretty interesting and useful for fast conceptual painting:

The software is in open beta right now with free version having some limitations on file sizes and brush customatization but it`s good enough for understanding what it does - http://blackink.bleank.com/

It also boasts its high speed due to GPU based tech and huge resolutions while painting in a lossless format - the only save formats right now are PNG and Black Ink Document.

Some more in-depth videos can be found here too - http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=103336440

2

saw this on steam and I am really tempted. Also there is 62% of discount due to the beta stage right now. Someone used to digital painting has some comment on this?

3

I just bought Manga Studio EX 4 on Amazon for $65 (Boxed DVD version). The regular price used to be $299. It is a full featured inking program with multiple layer support, 3d object import, photoshop export with layers (can be opened in GIMP and Krita), tones, materials, photo rendering, color tools, etc. (EX 5 has improved color tools making it more usable for illustrators, but it still cost $299.)

Besides being node based, what does/can this new program do that I can’t in a combination of Manga Studio, GIMP, MyPaint, and Krita?

Edit: I see that Steam has a demo available, so I will give it a try.

4

I would say that the photograph based illustration shown in the second video in my first post sets this somewhat apart from other softwares. They do boast the speed on high resolutions, apparently 11k and more is not a problem even on avarege specs. Also nodes of course. But other than that its pretty basic right now as a beta version of that particular software and does not provide an edge over other tools you mentioned. Its certainly not a fully fledged painting tool yet - layers are pretty basic, no selection, move tools, etc… But it`s quite nice for some fast conceptual painting and the node system is pretty indepth for brushes.

5

Gotta admit, until I saw the brush customization features I wasn’t particularly impressed but darn, that’s really nice!

Too bad it’s only available for windows though :frowning:

6

Apprantly it`s coming to Mac sometime in the future but most probably there wont be a Linux version.

From the official FAQ:

For the moment Black Ink is only available for Windows systems (XP/Vista/7/8). A Mac version will follow in the future but we don’t have any plans for a Linux port yet

7

Maybe you can get your money back and buy it here: http://mysmithmicro.com/marcom/eblasts/smithmicro/20130910/index-web.html?hq_e=el&hq_m=1155796&hq_l=1&hq_v=46d8ab6637

8

Wow! I hope that deal will be available on friday.

9

It looks like a very nice software. At the moment though I think I will stick with donating to Krita development.

10

The first panel on the page says: This promotion expires 9-30-2013. So yes, I think you will be good to go on Friday!

11

Well I moved back to my windows machine just to try this out and I think I had a nerdgasm. The way you can design your brushes is just too freaking awesome!

12

In the brush customization department this is probably the most advanced piece of software you`ll find.

13

Wow! I’m glad I didn’t do the digital download from Amazon! That’s a good deal, but I’m keeping my DVD.

14

This looks awesome, like other people I wasn’t sold until I saw the nodal brush stuff. Too bad there is no Linux port in the works.

Imagine this kind of work flow for texture painting directly on an object within Blender :stuck_out_tongue:

15

I don`t know how I missed this - Black Ink uses some kind of vector rendering so brushes do not lose fidelity by changing their size.

16

I’ll be checking this out as well. Looks interesting. I agree with the sentiment expressed by those supporting Krita, which has the best chance of being what 2d open source is to blender as 3d open source.

17

I just have to say, the UI is freak’n beautiful. So clean and well organized. I love how the node panel pops up when you need it and pops back down when you’re done. There are a lot of good lessons in UI design that can be gleaned from this.

18

the UI looks freaking awesome!

19

This program is a little gem.
I always wished a 2d program with nodes,nodes for me are the future of 2d painting(if some of you do some music with synthesizers or computers,can understand that sometimes is really important the sound,which gives inspiration,well,brushes are the same)
I’m a great fan of Krita,but I admit that the node stuff makes me buy this(more than a year ago I asked on Krita forum “why not nodes?”,developers seemed a bit surprised about a request like that).
IMO 2d Painting should follow generative and procedural drawing(honestly trying to copy real media is so boring and makes every draw to look the same,I own Painter 12 and even if the brushes are great if I want to use oils or water colors I prefer the real one)

20

The nodes remind me of the mypaint brush settings.