Although Adobe Photoshop is the standard for image editing and graphic design, it has such a strong price tag that this package is out of reach for many. Artweaver is a great alternative for which your wallet does not have to be pulled.
Artweaver
price
Free / € 34
Language
English
OS
Windows 7 and higher
Website
www.artweaver.de/en
8 Score 80 
- Pros
- Extensive brush and filter set
- Layer support
- Negatives
- Some restrictions in free version
When selecting a graphic design program you will find a lot of tools on both sides of the spectrum: simple applications with limited options and advanced applications with a steep learning curve. Artweaver is flexible and attractive for almost all user levels.
Interface & tools
Those who are somewhat familiar with Photoshop will quickly feel at home at Artweaver. Here too you will find (by default) an extensive toolbox on the left, panels that can be moved on the right for, among other things, working with layers, experimenting with color palettes, and calling up and, if desired, reversing previously performed actions.
The toolbox contains just about all important tools. You can make geometric and free selections, crop images and place them in perspective, but you can also clone them and apply a gradient color. A fill bucket and magic wand are also missing and of course it is possible to place text on your images.
Brushes & filters
Artweaver also provides a wide range of brushes. By default you will find here about twenty different types, with names like Calligraphy, Charcoal and Oils. You will find a large number of ‘presets’ for each brush, but you can also fine-tune them yourself. You will only find additional details for this, as well as the option for creating your own brushes, in the paid Plus version. It also offers support for Photoshop plugins. We think the price of 34 euros for this premium variant is very reasonable.
Artweaver is also doing well in terms of filters and special effects with more than 30 years. You can save your creations in various formats, including PSD. With a drawing tablet you get even more out of this artistic tool, something that will appeal especially to advanced users.
Conclusion
Artweaver is not the most powerful artistic design tool on the market, but the price is unparalleled, even from the Plus variant. The program offers just about all the important tools and the generous range of brushes and filters ensure that you will be attracted for a long time.
