By Eva Williams 8 days ago, Software Reviews
Paint Tool SAI 2
By Systemax Software * $35.89 * ★★★★☆ (4/5) * Last updated on April, 2020
| Reviews: | 3.1K |
| License: | $35.89 |
| Downloads: | 1.5K |
| Version: | 2.1 |
| Compatible: | Windows |
| Operating System: | Windows XP/Vista/7/8/8.1/10/11 |
| Processor: | 1.6 GHz |
| Storage: | 20GB of device space |
| RAM: | 2GB of RAM |
| Screen Resolution: | Any |
Recently, I have decided to download Paint Tool SAI 2 that is not a professional tool but it's really impressive, even to amateurs like me. I have been creating a lot of manga art as I am a student of art and this is my specialization, and most of the time, I use software with so many sophisticated digital art features that need 100+ hours of tutorial hours.
The feature of stroke recovery is exactly the reason that most other programs of this nature did not add to their toolkit, and that is why I got interested in it. It helps me to trace and fine-tune each stroke in an extremely detailed way, so my sketches look better.
Besides, Paint Tool SAI 2 has a very intuitive interface and a wide range of brushes and tools that can be customized, which will be perfect for manga illustration. An easily laid-out UI speeds up the working process, letting me spend all my attention on the pieces rather than wrestling with technicalities.
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File name: |
paint_tool_sai_2_win_xp.exe (download)
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File size: |
23MB |
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File name: |
paint_tool_sai_2_win.exe (download)
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File size: |
18MB |
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paint_tool_sai_2_win_8.exe (download)
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15MB |
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paint_tool_sai_2_win_10.exe (download)
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22MB |
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paint_tool_sai_2_win_11.exe (download)
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17MB |
Rich color palette
I do like that it incorporates various color modes that I can use to play with light and shadow on faces in trying to bring out realistic manga sketches. For example, when it came to doing battle scenes, I would use the saturated and color-blending modes to give the scene a sensation of forceful motion.
When creating more contemplative scenes, I went with more muted tones in an attempt to highlight the feel of the character introspection.
Sophisticated layer features
While working with a full 2023 version of the program, I could easily remove the unwanted details without affecting the rest of the composition, which is a real game changer. It is possible to create a separate layer for the sky, mountains, forests, and characters combining all these components into a cohesive scene. This provides me with overall control over each element and gives me the desired level of detail and amazing depth.
Identifies stylus pressure
The ability to choose the desired thickness and opacity of brush strokes allows the creation of various textures and structures with extreme accuracy that many Paint Tool SAI alternatives often lack.
For example, an artist needs to apply light pressure to draw delicate flower petals using thin, translucent lines to emphasize their tenderness. On the other hand, it is important to apply heavier pressure to depict sturdy stems and leaves, which require more solid lines to appear stronger.
Line stabilizer feature
Adjust the stabilizer to make the line smooth at any stroke – it’s so easy to do here. The final output will be a beautiful line that stretches across the canvas in one flow. This is really useful for me when sketching the first lines or details of the characters’ costume, in example. With this hyper-functional software, it becomes a piece of cake to retain control over every line in a freehand drawing.
Restricted selection of brushes
A small set of brushes limits my creative opportunities, making me look for another painting program rather than downloading Paint Tool SAI 2.0 for free. My manga usually features a wide variety of textures, but in this program, there is no perfect brush for achieving the desired effect.
Outdated UI
Since I'm just an amateur, I prefer using well-optimized programs with modern interfaces but which are fully free, and the old interface of SAI was a big downside for me. It would really be nice if the developers improved the user interface so that it ensured a better and more pleasing user experience and it could bring more downloads.
