Our verdict: ArtRage is the friendliest way to get real-media painting on a PC: thick oils, palette knives and watercolors behave like the real thing without digital tricks. The demo never expires but cannot save, and it is the older ArtRage 6, not the current Vitae. Licenses are one-time purchases with no subscription.
About ArtRage
ArtRage is made by Ambient Design in New Zealand, founded by former MetaCreations developers. It simulates the wetness and thickness of paint, so oils smear and blend into natural gradients, watercolors react to the canvas texture and pencils shade with the side of the tip. Layers with blend modes, reference and tracing images, guides, grids and perspective tools cover the digital side.
The free download is a demo of ArtRage 6, the full professional edition, with no sign-up and no time limit, but it cannot save, export or record scripts. The current desktop edition, ArtRage Vitae, has no demo and costs $80; the simpler ArtRage Lite costs $29.90. Both are one-time purchases that include Windows and macOS downloads, and the demo does not turn into the full program, so buyers download it separately.
What it does well
- Realistic oils. Oil brush and palette knife that smear and blend thick paint with gloss and impasto.
- Watercolor. Delicate watercolor strokes that react to the canvas texture.
- Pencils and pastels. Pencils that shade with the edge of the tip, plus wax and chalk pastels.
- References and tracing. Pin reference photos to the canvas or trace an image with automatic colors.
- Guides and layers. Grids, perspective guides, symmetry and layers with blend modes.
Who it is for
Good fit
Traditional painters, hobbyists and children who want paint that behaves like real oils and watercolors.
Look elsewhere
Illustrators who need comic, vector or animation tools, or anyone who wants to try the current Vitae edition before buying.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Very convincing oil and watercolor simulation
- One-time purchase, no subscription
- Demo has no time limit and needs no sign-up
- Runs on modest hardware without a strong GPU
Cons
- Demo cannot save or export your work
- Demo is the older ArtRage 6; Vitae has no trial
- Limited tools for line art, comics or design work
How to install ArtRage
The button downloads the official ArtRage 6 demo installer from Ambient Design's download server; it needs no e-mail or internet connection. After buying, download the full program separately from the member area, because the demo does not unlock. Change the interface language in Help > Change Language.
Questions about ArtRage
Is ArtRage free?
No. The ArtRage 6 demo is free with no time limit or sign-up, but it cannot save, export or record scripts. To keep your paintings you need a one-time license: ArtRage Lite costs $29.90 and ArtRage Vitae costs $80, both for Windows and macOS.
What is the difference between ArtRage Lite and ArtRage Vitae?
Lite has the core painting tools in a simpler interface. Vitae adds custom brushes, gradient fill, perspective and symmetry guides, script recording, layer effects, filters and many more options.
Does ArtRage need an internet connection?
No. Ambient Design states that ArtRage installs and runs without an e-mail sign-up or internet connection and has no ads or user tracking.
