ArtRage is a bitmap graphics editor for digital painting created by Ambient Design Ltd. It currently supports Windows, macOS and mobile Apple and Android devices and is available in multiple languages. ArtRage 5 was announced in January 2017 and released in February 2017.
The software is designed to be used with a tablet PC or graphics tablet, but can be used with a regular mouse as well. Its mediums include tools such as oil paint, spray paint, pencil, acrylic, and others, using "realistic" physics to simulate actual painting.
Tools and Features
The software includes varying thickness and textures of media and canvas, the ability to mix media, and a "realistic" colour blending option, as well as digital RGB blending. Other tools include tracing, smearing, blurring, mixing, symmetry, different types of paper for the "canvas" (e.g. crumpled paper, smooth paper, wrinkled tin foil, etc.), as well as special effects, custom brushes and digital editing tools. Later versions (Studio, Studio Pro, and ArtRage 4) include more standard digital tools, such as Select, Transform, Cloner, Symmetry, Fill, and custom brushes. Each tool comes with several presets, with additional customisation options available. It is possible to share custom resources between users.
Traditional drawing tools Other features Airbrush Gloop Pen Glitter, Ink Pen, Pencil, Oil Brush, Watercolor, Paint Tube, Paint Roller, Pastel/Chalk, Pencil, Felt Pen, Eraser, Palette Knife, Stencils, Sticker Spray, Rulers, Metallic Select, Cloner, Fill, Transform, Symmetry, Gradients, Layers, Tracing, Reference Images, Scrap Layers, View panels, Text, Filters, Layer Blur, Presets, Canvas options, Customisable Workbench, Scripts, Grids, Pattern Fill, Gradient Fill, Custom Brush, Perspective, Guides, Warp (liquify)
Real colour blending
ArtRage offers a specialised colour blending option as well as standard digital RGB based blending. It is turned off by default as it is memory intensive but can be turned on from the Tools menu. The most noticeable effect is that green is produced when yellow and blue are mixed.
The color picker supports HSL and RGB colors.
Custom resources
Users can create their own versions of various resources and tools, or record scripts, and share them with other users. Users can save their resource collections as a Package File (.arpack), which allows folders of resources to be shared and automatically installed. ArtRage can import some Photoshop filters, but not all. It only supports .ttf (TrueType Fonts) which it reads from the computer's fonts folder.
Package files do not work with versions earlier than 3.5. ArtRage Studio does not support Photoshop filters, or allow sticker creation, and has fewer options overall. Individual resources can be shared directly, though most resources have specific file types.
Resource/tool File type Colour Set .col Colour Picker Any image file Canvases .cpr Stencil PNG or JPEG Stickers & Sticker Spray Presets (custom brushes) .stk Scripts .arscript Tool Preset .prs Gradients .argrad Package File .arpack
Versions Seven editions of ArtRage currently exist. Mobile apps include versions for Android, iPhone, and iPad. A version called ArtRage Touch is also available for Metro devices. Desktop editions include Lite and ArtRage 4, a free demo version of the latter also being available. ArtRage 1, ArtRage 2, ArtRage Studio and ArtRage Studio Pro have been discontinued.
ArtRage was made available on Steam on October 10, 2012, as part of the very first non-gaming software launch on the platform. The Steam version does not include DRM and can be used without Steam running.
Languages
ArtRage 4 is available in several languages, but the manual is only available in English. The other versions have manuals available in assorted languages. Language is chosen when installing the program (except for the ArtRage 2 alternative editions).
Language ArtRage 2.6 Full Edition ArtRage Studio and Studio Pro ArtRage 4 ArtRage Lite iPad iPhone Android (free + paid) Chinese (Simplified) Yes* Yes* No Yes + Manual No No Yes + Manual Chinese (Traditional) No Yes* No Yes + Manual No No Yes + Manual Dutch Yes Yes Yes Yes + Manual Yes No No English Yes + Manual Yes + Manual Yes + Manual Yes + Manual Yes + Manual Yes + Manual Yes + Manual French Yes + Manual Yes + Manual Yes Yes + Manual Yes No Yes + Manual German Yes + Manual Yes Yes Yes + Manual Yes No Yes + Manual Greek Yes No No No No No No Italian Yes + Manual Yes + Manual Yes Yes + Manual Yes No No Japanese Yes* Yes Yes Yes + Manual Yes No Yes + Manual Korean No Yes No No Yes No Yes + Manual Portuguese Yes Yes No No No No Yes + Manual Portuguese (Brazil) Yes Yes No No No No NoRussian Yes Yes Yes Yes + Manual No No Yes + Manual Spanish Yes Yes Yes Yes + Manual Yes No Yes + Manual Spanish (Latin America) Yes Yes No No No No No Turkish Yes + Manual Yes No No No No No
Japanese/Chinese are only available as Alternative Editions in ArtRage 2 ArtRage Studio & Studio Pro Wacom China Editions support English, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese. ArtRage 2 Japanese Edition supports: Japanese and English interfaces and manuals. ArtRage 2 Wacom China Edition supports Simplified Chinese interface.
Release history
There is no official release schedule, and new updates are announced as they are ready. New editions typically release on a three to four year upgrade cycle. Major updates may occur halfway through a cycle (referred to as the "X.5" edition) alongside ongoing patches and minor updates. Some updates continue for the previous version, although support is slowly phased out over time. Backdated upgrades to Studio Pro included bug fixes, DRM removal for Steam users, and a fix to work properly on OS X Mavericks. The iPad version was updated to include Retina support.
Release date Edition Platform Latest version Price (USD) Last Updated Available 2004 ArtRage 1 (Starter) Windows/Mac OS X ? Free Discontinued 2006 ArtRage 2 (also known as ArtRage Deluxe) Windows/Mac OS X 2.6.0 $25 May 2010 Discontinued 2009 ArtRage Studio / ArtRage Studio Pro Windows/Mac OS X 3.5.12 $40 / $80 2014 Discontinued 2010 ArtRage for iOS (previously ArtRage for iPad) iOS 2.3.3 $4.99 Dec 2017 Current 2012 ArtRage for iPhone iOS 1.0.4 $1.99 July 2013 Discontinued 2013 ArtRage 4 Windows/OS X 4.5.10 $49.90 May 2016 Discontinued 2014 ArtRage for Android Android 1.4.5 $2.99 October 2021 Current 2015 ArtRage Touch Windows 8 App 1.0.3 $9.99 March 2016 Discontinued 2015 ArtRage Lite Windows/OS X 5.0.9 $29.90 2018 Current 2015 ArtRage Oil Painter Free Android 1.1.0 Free May 2016 Current 2017 ArtRage 5 Windows/macOS 5.0.8 $79 August 2018 Discontinued 2019 ArtRage 6 Windows/macOS 6.1.2 $59 October 2019 Current 2021 ArtRage Vitae Windows/macOS 7.1.4 $80 2023 Current 2021 ArtRage Vitae Mobile iOS/Android 1.1.5 $4.99 April 2023 Current
Free demo versions
These were released alongside their respective editions, as trial software. Demos prior to ArtRage 4 are unavailable. Work can only be exported to JPEG format and contains an ArtRage watermark. Images larger than 1280x1024 cannot be saved or exported.
ArtRage 2.2 Free Edition: limited trial version Studio Pro Demo Edition: full trial version with some restrictions, expires after 30 days ArtRage 4 Demo edition: full trial version with some restrictions ArtRage Touch: one week trial through the Windows App Store ArtRage Oil Painter Free : limited free app on the Play Store and Amazon App Store ArtRage for Android: free download on some Samsung devices via the Galaxy Gifts program
Software downloads
ArtRage is only sold individually as an online download. It can be bought directly from the company website, or through Steam, but is not sold on any other websites. The free demo is only available from the main site. The mobile (iPad and iPhone) versions can only be bought via the Apple app store and cannot be registered on the ArtRage site. The Android version is available from the GALAXY Gift store for specific Samsung devices, and will be made available on the Samsung Apps and Google Play stores.
Upgrades
Upgrading from ArtRage Lite or any pre-existing desktop editions gives a permanent 50% discount on ArtRage 4 (the most recent full desktop edition). This upgrade discount is handled separately by the Steam and the ArtRage stores, so users cannot currently switch between stores.
To upgrade, owners must register their serial number in the ArtRage members area (unless it is a Steam or mobile version). This also allows users to download both the macOS and the Windows versions of their software at any time, an unlimited number of times.
Steam and mobile versions are updated through Steam and the App Store.
Hardware bundles
The ArtRage for Android app was released as part of a bundle deal with Samsung. It is free for the new Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and Samsung Galaxy Note Edge smartphones, distributed through the GALAXY Gifts store, and is available for purchase from the Galaxy App store for other Samsung devices. It was released for sale on the Google Play Store in February 2015. Older editions of ArtRage also come as bundled software with various devices. ArtRage 2 and ArtRage Studio Pro are available bundled with several WACOM graphics tablets, as well as various other devices, such as ASUS EP121 tablets, Sony VAIO Laptops, and Adesso Cybertablets. The serial numbers in these cases are handled by the companies distributing the hardware. ArtRage is usually provided as a software download, although it can come pre-installed or on an accompanying CD.
A version of ArtRage called "Ink Art" was included in Microsoft's Experience Pack for the Tablet PC in 2005 and on some older Wacom tablets. Ink Art contained a subset of features offered in the full ArtRage program. Promethean Planet, an educator community, distributes a free version of ArtRage for classroom use on Promethean's range of interactive whiteboards.
Sony Duo PCs ArtRage is included on the following models from the Sony Duo touchscreen range. Sony VAIO Tap 20 Sony VAIO Duo 11 Sony VAIO L24 Sony VAIO E14P Sony VAIO T13 Sony VAIO Duo 13
Wacom Tablet models (see full Tablet details here) Tablet model number Name Bundled software Americas Europe Americas Europe CTL490DW CTL490DB Intuos Draw Intuos Draw ArtRage Lite ArtRage Lite CTH-670 Create Fun M Pen & TouchAutodesk SketchBook Express Adobe Photoshop Elements Corel Painter Essentials Nik Color FiltersArtRage 3 Adobe Photoshop Elements 10 Corel Painter Essentials 4 Bamboo DockCTH-470 Capturehttps://www.wacom.com/store/pages/product?product=CTH470&crumb={EB5A996C-64B6-4174-96AA-05CBD7F58FD4} Fun S Pen & Touch Autodesk SketchBook Express Adobe Photoshop Elements Nik Color FiltersArtRage 3 Studio Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 Bamboo Dock CTL-471 Splashhttps://www.wacom.com/store/pages/product?product=CTL471&crumb={EB5A996C-64B6-4174-96AA-05CBD7F58FD4} Autodesk SketchBook Express ArtRage 3 Studio CTL-470 Connecthttps://www.wacom.com/store/pages/product?product=CTL470&crumb={EB5A996C-64B6-4174-96AA-05CBD7F58FD4} PenAutodesk SketchBook ExpressArtRage 2.6 Bamboo Dock MTE-450 Bamboo colspan="2" CTF-430 One ArtRage 2 Bamboo Link
System support
ArtRage 4.5 has full 64-bit support on Windows and Macs. There are also iOS supported versions for iPhone and iPad.
ArtRage for Android supports Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0 and later.