Many people were intrigued by first-generation paint programs such as MacPaint and Paintbrush, which allowed even the novice computer jock to enter the terra incognita of digital imaging. But as time went on, paint programs climbed up the complexity and price ladders, and cool computer graphics became inaccessible for all but the pro artist with the big budget and the tarmac-sized digitizing tablet.
Weekend pixel-pushers can once again get in on the fun with Fractal Design's Dabbler program. Like Fractal Design's higher-end Painter program, Dabbler can achieve photorealistic quality with a set of tools designed to look and feel like the real thing. Pencils scratch and smudge, and paint builds up on the "canvas." In fact, the application goes as far as storing its tools in sliding "drawers" and its images in a "sketchpad." Dubious but fun additions to these features are the sounds most of the drawing and painting tools make: pencils scratch and spray paint hisses.
Most importantly, Dabbler's interface is about as simple and intuitive as they come, stripping away most of the complex fine-tuning features you'll find (but rarely need) in Painter. Favorites such as the Seurat and Van Gogh presets, the Glass Distortion, and the Auto Cloning effects remain intact, as well as some of Painter's great Paper Textures. If you are new to digital imaging, you'll be amazed but not overwhelmed.
Of course it's still possible to work with existing images in addition to your own creations. Either way, you can use most of the cooler Photoshop Plug-ins, assuming you grow too comfortable with Dabbler's set of options. But the point of this program is that it might be a good idea (and less frustrating) if you first learn to draw "Skippy the Turtle" before you start applying Kai's "Smooth Ooze Lava Lamp" texture or turn everything into fully rendered spheres.
If doing away with all of the technical gobbledygook still isn't enough to start you scribbling with your mouse, Dabbler's documentation comes bundled with step-by-step tutorials by that favorite of amateur artists, Walter Foster Publishing. Leaner, cleaner, and easier to use than Painter, Dabbler is a nifty nexus of art and technology.
Dabbler 1.0 for Mac and Windows: US$99. Fractal Design Corporation: (800) 297 2665, +1 (408) 688 8800.
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