Manga Studio is quite possibly the best digital software for comic artists everywhere.

I mean it.

What is Manga Studio? Manga Studio (ComicStudio in Japan) is a computer program similar to Adobe’s Photoshop, Corel Painter and Paint Tool SAI, except that Manga Studio is created specifically for comic artists. Like Photoshop, work can be made with one or more layers and there are a myriad of textures and brushes at your disposal. However, the brushes are modeled after actual manga tools such as the G-pen, liner pens, markers, and sable-hair brushes dipped in virtual India ink. Thankfully, you won’t have to dip your tools in ink continuously—they’re ready to go with the click of a mouse, or the drag of your stylus, whichever you prefer.

Unlike Photoshop, Manga Studio is not suited for heavy-duty image manipulation. That doesn’t mean there’s no way to edit your illustrations. There are many effects to use, such as inserting speed lines, sound effects, speech balloons and even screen tone, all of which are great for lesser-skilled artists. As I mentioned earlier, work can be drawn in layers. Frames, pencils, inks, effects…every aspect of manga creation can be organized through layers and in turn can be easy to revise when there are changes needed to be made or mistakes needed to be fixed.

Since Manga Studio is tailor-made for manga production, when a new file is started it can be set to either a single page or a multiple page story, with the option of using guidelines on the page for easy paneling. Also unique to Manga Studio is the ability to start a new file using JIS standard paper size (B5, A4, etc.) at 300 dots per inch (dpi) or 600 dpi for ready-to-print publishing, or even 72 dpi for web publishing. When saving a file, it can be saved it its native format or exported as high quality JPGs so your work can be easily shared. Whether it’s for personal enjoyment, a web comic or even a manuscript to be sent to manga magazines, Manga Studio does not disappoint.

Manga Studio is a great tool for any comic artist with a drawing tablet and a lot of imagination. Artwork produced on Manga Studio looks just like it was drawn on paper, and self-publishing is easy. Best of all, there’s no messes to clean up after you’re done “inking” your work! 

And if you're interested in motion comics, you can try out MotionArtist from the same company. 

by Ray n.

Ray n.'s excellent work can be found at his tmblr—childrenareevil.tumblr.com.