Part 1: Comparing Photoshop, Artrage, and Rebelle for Naturalistic Painting

Hey all! Big news: Check out my new Domestika Class here: www.domestika....
This video series dives deep into the pros and cons of each software, and happens in front of the live painting in each app. Check it out and tell me your thoughts!
More of my links here:
Join my Patreon to help me keep growing these experiences: / mambobon
My Tablet (xp pen deco v2): amzn.to/3gg7vBG
Follow my Instagram here: / mambobon
Follow my Facebook here: / danielibanez

[@ianbanks3016]

Personally, it's Rebelle for me, the watercolors are exceptional and the oils are constantly improving. I started and trained many years ago as a traditional artist, Rebelle was the one app I've used that instantly felt intuitive and mimicked the way I'd expect traditional media to behave straight out of the box, as it were.

[@DanielIbanez]

I can 100% see that! I am still getting familiar with Rebelle 5. My review is so slow to come out b/c I want to be COMPLETELY comfortable with it before I give any final words. I also have a specific Rebelle series coming out soon too!

[@catetc]

Artrage for me, I love its simplicity. I mean the UI just so friendly, very easy to use for someone like me that only just wanted to draw or painting. The ability to record your strokes also I found very useful for my work.

[@Stjerneklang528]

They are all good apps, and I suppose it is natural to like one more than the others. Fortunately all the apps complement each other. To me, ArtRage and the oil brush just works well and is simple to use. The editing features of Photoshop are fantastic. Rebelle on the other hand has something the other programs do not. HSluv and the ability to divide the selected color into a value grid is something I find to be consistently helpful.

[@DanielIbanez]

Those are great points. I will have to make sure to include them in future videos.

[@posefile8873]

Thanks Daniel!! I'm a huge "brush nerd" that spent YEAAAARRRSSS developing brushes and tools and processes (even going so far as to learn to write [read:hack] photoshop scripts) in order to get the natural media look that I was going for in Photoshop. Artrage 6 was a huge revelation for me when it came out; I had the Artrage 4 in the past that I purchased, became quickly disillusioned with and never looked back.... but the brush desiger with impasto in 6 brought me back. Since then, I've transferred my nearly obsessive need to craft the perfect oil brushes to Artrage. There are some 'issues' that I have with their brush designer, but I still love it. I still use Photoshop for many things... but generally finish most of my paintings in Artrage; I appreciate all the work that you put into producing these videos!

[@DanielIbanez]

Wow wow wow! That is a fascinating comment... Your knowledge is so immense on this topic. I would love to see some paintings with your brushes. I have real respect for your perspective. And I agree that Artrage is a revelation! Cheers to more exchanges like this one. I am always wanting to learn more! Thank you very much

[@stumonoart]

Just want to say that your Domestika class is fantastic. Probably one of the best classes I've ever taken. Thank you!!

[@jazzlehazzle]

Glorious. Perfect compare. I don't think I'll ever be able to choose just one, bc I'm most at home in Photosh, but on ultimately on desktop I'd like to use mostly Rebelle & Krita, while on mobile it's ArtRage, Procreate, & ArtStudio Pro. The only thing that keeps me locked into ArtRage more than others is hopping back/forth from mobile to desk. That's a big help. (But let's not forget about Paintshop & Painter)!! 😅

[@georgireland8829]

Hi Daniel, I only saw your post today and I have nothing new to add to your post and the comments. I would just like to thank you for the effort you put in to bring us closer to (I love your word coining!) "tradigital" art. You have succeeded in convincing me, as a digital painter who has been using Corel Painter for 15 years and Rebelle for 5 years, of the qualities of ArtRage. And, after taking your Domestica course, I started painting with Photoshop. These are all wonderful and valuable experiences. So once again, thank you!

[@DanielIbanez]

Thank you thank you sir! I am so honored to know you took the class. I would love to pick your brain on how it went! Thank you!

[@AimeeHanson-so2sz]

Just enrolled in your Domestika class ✨ I appreciate this training. I'll use photoshop and Art Rage for now and save buying Rebelle for when I become a better artist. Thanks to everyone for the comments here - awesome!

[@michaelwsheeler]

Sounds like you are simply more familiar with Art Rage. My preference is Rebelle. And my mode in modes is oils.

[@carles_carbonell]

For me it’s Rebelle. It’s more versatile, specially if you like to mix media. For me it’s also more streamlined; but this doesn’t mean nothing , beciause it’s the software i use. What i agree is that Artrage it’s pretty good when you rirst run. As Georg i did a test with Artrage default oils and it was a success. I will use it more often for sure. I did the same with Corel Painter; the results were pretty good too, but much less streamlined as in Artrage. About Photoshop/Procreate and other raster software… you can simulate pretty well traditional media. But the brushtrokes looks always the same. You need lots of brushes if you wish to have different looks. I prefer Rebelle or Artrage : you have 2 or 3 brushes and change paper influence, wetness, thickness, etc

[@DanielIbanez]

That is well said. Good points. This is a good discussion!

[@anxxxiiiiiiiious]

AT LAST! THE VIDEO THAT I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR

[@DanielIbanez]

Much more to come!!! Thank you!

[@nickyjamesonarttv]

I have Corel Painter, Rebelle, Photoshop ArtRage (iPad). I love Corel but with it increasingly becoming out of the reach of digital painters I am happy to see ArtRage and Rebelle showing how they really are killing it with what they can do. Thanks for this comparison! I deserted ARVitae for a bit and this encourages me to get back to it. I like the way the Technology is not in the way... There is a downside to lots of bells and whistles sometimes.

[@josuefox]

If you like Rebelle Pro, Hurry up, it's on sale for $10 till October 13th !

[@Mity_Moose]

Yay! I love it when you do comparisons. It’s still ArtRage for me. The digital oils are so versatile. But, I cannot seem to breakaway from real paper for water color. Rebelle on iPad? Maybe.

[@DanielIbanez]

Rebelle on iPad would be a blast! Thank you!

[@TheKevphil]

There is this video on KZbin of a guy painting a skull in ArtRage *_watercolor_* which is the most realistic-looking digital piece I've ever seen. Now, there are different _approaches_ to watercolor, and one size does not fit all, but Wow, that piece is good. And this was from more than a few years ago.

[@toonlyrics]

I have version 3 of Rebelle and Artrage Vitae on an Android tablet, and was debating whether to upgrade to Rebelle 5 or to Artrage for desktop. There is a sale on Artrage Vitae right now until the end of June 2022 in the Microsoft shop, BTW, making it 1/4 the current price of Rebelle 5 pro. Also, Rebelle is a resource hog if you lack specialized hardware. But if Rebelle had a definite edge over Artrage, those considerations would be secondary. As a hobby artist, I like the meditative feeling of modeling an image, and a program that is reasonably easy to master. I tried the demo of Rebelle 5 pro, the color blending is awesome, but - very subjective - Artrage's is equally good and is easier to get to work as wished. In any case, thanks for the tutorials that show how much can be done in Artrage, there aren't many artists doing that, and your videos are entertaining as well.

[@Armlesscrayon]

For me it’s, ArtRage, ArtRage, ArtRage, Art Studio Pro, Rebelle, Procreate. I have Painter, but I’d rather paint than constantly adjust software. Thanks for this.

[@okaybrandon8021]

Thanks a lot for this video!

[@DanielIbanez]

Thank you!

[@PixelremixRetouch]

Thanks for the comparison Daniel! Can't wait for part 2!! 😄 I am at the very beginning of doing my research about creating digital oil paintings and which hardware and software to use. I think my preference would be using an iPad with the Apple pencil over a graphic tablet without screen (at least until I can afford an expensive Wacom Cintiq). Do you have any thoughts on using Adobe Fresco on the iPad (which uses the Adobe Photoshop Brush Engine so you can use your personal PS brushes!) and finalising the painting in Photoshop on the Desktop computer?

[@DanielIbanez]

Let me look into that! Great questions

[@fivebrah]

Hey Daniel, can you shoot us the Rebelle 7 brushes @ Domestika? Thanks!

[@artistsirofgod3565]

ArtRage is for me plus photoshop 👌❤

[@DanielIbanez]

Hard to argue with that!

[@drunkenstylus]

Great insights as I've come to expect from your videos but, What do we want? PART 2!!! When do we want it? NOW!!! 😄 P.S Have you ever tried verve painter? have a sneaky feeling you might like...

[@DanielIbanez]

On it!!!

[@louisklein9207]

Interesting. I thought the art rage looked the worst by far. It almost looked like something painted on a child’s software app compared to the others. I thought Rebelle and photoshop ones were equally good. Just slightly different. Almost as if the Rebelle one looked more traditionally authentic viewed digitally while the photoshop one would look more authentic once printed onto a canvas. All just my opinion of course. Great job

[@DanielIbanez]

That is really good feedback. I think there is a lot more to unpack but I think it is definitely time to review how these tools compare to find the real strengths and weaknesses.

[@seanshimmel8500]

I completely agree. Rebelle’s brush and canvas textures are stunningly real. Art Rage is wonderfully simple to use yet still creates such naturally wet texture. But… some of their brushes look quite digital when zoomed to even 50% such as with the Custom Brush 4 wherein the faux canvas texture looks… faux. In summary, ArtRage can zoom into action quickly without much fuss and still look intriguingly real. Rebelle is without peer. This is what I would use for my finest work. I own all 3 of these programs (plus Corel Painter) and I’m most impressed by far with Rebelle.

[@seanshimmel8500]

@@DanielIbanez you have the perfect demeanor for these videos. Upbeat, calm and always conveying that awe and wonder we all find within art.

[@DanielIbanez]

@@seanshimmel8500 that is a perfect reply! I agree with all of it

[@Andonchoto]

Realistic is the best painting software!!

[@DanielIbanez]

It has some great tools! Do you own the add on brushes?

[@dermond]

I'm watching all your videos to understand ArtRage even if I have the Lite ver. 😅 Really cool art btw

[@TadeuLevy]

Any way I can purchase just the Photoshop brushes?

[@gurujot951]

of the 3 you did, I prefer Rebelle. I'm surprised. I think Rebelle outperformed ArtRage with oil paint!

[@MrNecropodo]

I know you loveartrage, but damn, look that rebelle look, amazing. can i follow your course with rebelle? or it have to be on photoshop

[@DanielIbanez]

Rebelle is perfect! I have brushes for it too!

[@Chejov1214]

Daniel very nice comparison ,.. I found ur channel trying to find info about artrage I started as traditional pai ter too but wah like 15yars ago.. then was photoshop all the way .. I stopped painting traditionally. .. one of the things it really makes me hard to get used. Is to the lack of “Opacity pressure” Not the slider but the ability to manage opacity with pressure witht he stylus . do u know if there’s a hidden feature to unlock this in Artrage 6. Or if its present in Artrage vitae ? Also does rebell has it ? Thnaks

[@hanialadham4336]

The thing with photoshop, the brushes look the same, and there you need to mix many brushes together so it wont looks robotic or unnatural, and photoshop requires you to dig into the web to find all the good brushes and pay for the good ones, I found many brushes that are just bad, I wish they add some there, since I'm paying monthly subscription for that... I mean I just want to start painting without getting bothered installing brushes and everything which makes it frustrating to start! this would be okay in the 90's, but not in 2022!

[@jaylevan3769]

I can't find a part two, 9 months later.

[@gurujot951]

If you want to do watercolor, its Rebelle. Nothing else like it.

[@KashanArtist]

Hi Daniel hope you good. can I buy Photoshop brushes??? how??

[@DanielIbanez]

Thank you! How are you? Right now the brushes are only available for people who take Domestika class. But I will get them out soon!

[@KashanArtist]

@@DanielIbanez Thanks, I am waiting. God bless you 🌼

[@jcaique]

The reference has a HUGE chin.

[@marks2708]

More Rebelle videos please!

[@DanielIbanez]

I am on it!

[@goofycker]

damn advert

[@cosmicfxx]

Artrage is FAR out of date, lacks too much

[@DanielIbanez]

It does need a UX update for sure!

[@dermond]

​@@DanielIbanezit has its charm but yeah

[@lukuxider2000]

I will buy your art rage course in domestika !