10 Best Drawing Apps for Digital Artists in Malaysia: 2024 Edition

As Malaysia’s digital art scene continues to flourish, graphic designers and artists have access to an impressive array of apps and programs to bring their creative visions to life. With the rising popularity of stylus pens, artists now have even more freedom to create fluid, natural strokes in their digital artwork.

A stylus pen, when paired with a high-quality drawing program, empowers artists to work more efficiently and expressively, whether they’re at home in Kuala Lumpur or on the go in Penang. Let’s explore the top drawing apps that make the most of stylus technology, with options suitable for both beginners and seasoned professionals in Malaysia.

Top drawing apps for Malaysian artists

Every artist has unique preferences, and the software you choose may depend on your artistic style and project requirements. Whether you’re creating comic art for a local Malaysian publisher or designing logos for businesses in Johor Bahru, there’s an app to suit your needs.

While the more comprehensive tools on our list can be used for various applications, they often come with a steeper learning curve and a higher price tag. However, the investment can be worthwhile for serious artists looking to elevate their craft.

1. Krita

Krita is a free, open-source software that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux systems. It’s particularly useful for creating comic art with premade panels, making it a great choice for Malaysia’s growing manga and comic artist community.

Krita supports animation functions, including audio, and comes with premade templates. You can import textures from third-party sources to enhance your artwork further. While Krita is free to use, you can opt for premium options via Steam and the Microsoft Store for automatic updates and support.

For artists who enjoy working on the go – perhaps sketching scenes at Batu Caves or Langkawi – keep an eye out for the upcoming mobile Krita app, currently in beta.

2. MediBang Paint Pro

MediBang Paint is widely popular among anime creators, including those in Malaysia’s growing animation industry. It also offers useful features for all types of graphic designers. One of its standout features is the Art Street community, which hosts competitions for the best artwork – a great way for Malaysian artists to showcase their talents globally.

MediBang Paint provides access to over 1,000 screen tones and 20 fonts. Its cloud-based system allows you to save your work to your account and continue on any logged-in device – perfect for Malaysian artists who work between their home setup and a co-working space in Cyberjaya. It’s available for free on PC, iPad, iPhone, and Android devices.

3. FireAlpaca

FireAlpaca is an easy-to-use drawing tool that’s free forever for Windows and Mac users. You can also opt for an ad-free version on Steam. This app is ideal for vector art and boasts a simple design that’s easy to learn, making it a great choice for beginners in Malaysia’s digital art scene.

FireAlpaca works in 20 languages and offers pen, pencil, airbrush, and watercolor brush tools in its default settings. You can also customize additional brush options. As a light program that uses few resources, FireAlpaca is perfect for Malaysian artists working on older computers or budget-friendly laptops.

4. Autodesk Sketchbook

For artists focused purely on drawing without the need for photo editing, Autodesk Sketchbook is an excellent choice. Its intuitive tools are perfect for turning your creative ideas into reality, whether you’re designing batik patterns or sketching urban landscapes of Kuala Lumpur.

Use Sketchbook on your tablet, Mac, or desktop PC. You can even export your projects to Photoshop without losing layer data, providing flexibility in your workflow.

Sketchbook is completely free to use, making it an ideal tool for Malaysian students and aspiring artists just starting their journey with stylus pen art.

5. CorelDRAW

Corel is a well-respected name in the graphic design world, and its CorelDRAW Standard continues to impress artists globally, including those in Malaysia. This app comes bundled with Corel PHOTO-PAINT, offering a comprehensive suite of tools for both professionals and hobbyists.

With hundreds of brushes, vector tools, photo editing filters, and typography options, CorelDRAW is the gold standard for anyone interested in professional ad or graphic design in Malaysia’s competitive creative industry.

CorelDRAW is available for Windows only at the lower-priced tier but is compatible with 9 of the top file types. You can try it free for 15 days to see if the investment is worthwhile for your creative needs.

6. Adobe Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is a go-to tool for aspiring artists, students, and professionals worldwide, including in Malaysia. Use it to create, edit, and easily share your work to the cloud or with others in social communities like Behance. Photoshop’s key features include smart sharpen filters, color correction tools, and photo retouching capabilities to enhance your artwork.

While Photoshop is a powerhouse option with a steeper learning curve, it’s an industry standard in Malaysia’s creative sectors. The monthly subscription option makes it more accessible for Malaysian artists compared to an outright purchase. Photoshop is available for iPad and desktop platforms, allowing you to work seamlessly across devices.

7. Procreate

The Procreate app is an iPad Pro exclusive that works with the Apple Pencil. It offers many of the effects you’d expect in a desktop software solution, such as layers, brushes, and filters. While you may not want to do heavy editing on your iPad, you can easily export your finished Procreate projects to other programs, such as Photoshop.

For Malaysian Apple enthusiasts who want a powerful and portable drawing option, Procreate is an excellent choice. It even allows you to create and sell your own brushes to others, potentially opening up a new revenue stream for Malaysian digital artists. You can purchase Procreate for a one-time fee of $9.99.

8. Blender

Blender is open-source 3D animation software primarily used for creating 3D models and big-budget movie animations. However, it’s gaining popularity among Malaysian artists who simply want to draw.

One of Blender’s standout features is the grease pencil mode, which lets you create artwork from simple lines. You can use this mode to make all kinds of vector-based artwork, sculptures, storyboards, animations, comics, and more – perfect for Malaysia’s diverse creative projects.

If you need inspiration or a starting point, Blender hosts a ton of templates from its global community. Even better, this PC drawing app is always free to use, making it accessible to all Malaysian artists regardless of budget.

9. Inkscape

Inkscape is an entirely vector-based drawing program that lets you draw and manipulate objects. It’s perfect for creating shapes and designing logos, making it an excellent choice for Malaysian graphic designers working on branding projects.

Inkscape is open-source and completely free, which has contributed to its popularity for both nonprofit and commercial uses in Malaysia. Users love it for creating clip art, typography, flowcharts, diagrams, and infographics, as well as simple cartoons.

You have the option to draw freehand with your pen or use the shape tools to get a precise look for your drawings. The Boolean operations make it easy to convert selected objects in the file to “paths” using simple directions like “exclusion, combine, or break apart.” You can render as you draw and watch your creations come to life.

Inkscape is available for Linux, Mac, and Windows users, catering to the diverse range of systems used by Malaysian artists.

10. Artrage

With Artrage, you can create realistic-looking paintings using only your stylus. Use the multiple brush customization settings to create oil, watercolor, or pastel finishes – perfect for digital artists in Malaysia looking to recreate traditional art styles.

Artrage simulates the experience of working on a real canvas and includes blending modes for a more authentic feel. The app is available in the Lite version as an iOS and Android mobile app, or you can download the full-featured desktop version (Vitae) for Mac or Windows.

Bonus app: Rebelle

Rebelle, from Escape Motions, bills itself as “the first painting software with physical color mixing based on traditional pigments.” If you’re familiar with color theory, you’ll be impressed by the realistic use of color and texture, which mimics real-life painting.

This award-winning software allows you to experiment with oils, watercolor, acrylics, and various other media types, along with plenty of paper finishes. You can even blow paint, use a palette knife to create 3D effects, and take advantage of stencils for a more consistent look.

Rebelle offers Malaysian artists a great way to experience mixed media techniques digitally, without the mess or additional materials. You can buy the standard version for $89.99 or opt for the “state-of-the-art” Pro edition for $149.99. Both versions are available for Windows and Mac.

How to pick the right stylus drawing app for Malaysian artists

When choosing the perfect app for your needs, consider the following:

• Start with your device, which may determine the best app choice based on processing power and/or operating system.

• Explore the galleries on each app’s website to see what’s possible and how it aligns with Malaysian artistic styles.

• Watch tutorials to understand how long it might take to master all the features.

• Consider your budget. Many art apps on our list are free, but some offer “lite” versions for half the price of full-featured desktop tools. Look for trials to familiarize yourself with the tool before buying.

Remember that your choice of stylus tool matters too. While some computers come with a stylus, others require a separate purchase. Stylus pens can have various features, including shortcut buttons and ergonomic grips. Research to ensure your stylus is compatible with your PC or laptop to achieve the level of detail you want in your artwork.