Digital art is produced mainly from or with aid from the computer. The different types of computer software are endless and available for everything from image development to multimedia effects and production. The different types of software offer multiple tools to create and render images that take away from, enhance, or combine existing images as well as produce brand new creations with layers full of depth.
Digital animation creates the illusion of moving images. The production of 2D rapidly moving images or model positions can be produced in many different ways. A series of slightly varied images can be made through digital illustration or imaging and then combining the images on a motion picture, video or graphics animation software program. 3D animation uses more advanced programs that provide manipulating and sculpting techniques through mathematical tools.
Digital illustration uses digital tools on the computer to produce images from scratch. Images can be made in multiple ways. Graphics tablets and screens for actual drawing, since computer mice lack precision, or digital illustration software, which offers more tools than drawing, are two options. Digital illustration software spans from Paint Shop Pro and Microsoft Paint to more advanced software Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Paint, Adobe Illustrator.
Digital imaging and photo manipulation take existing physical images, digital pictures, physical photographs, photographic film, and images from radar equipment or telescopes, to add on to or alter and create a whole new image. Digital imaging often combines images created from geometric modelling on the computer. This alteration of pre-existing images has triggered concerns of authenticity and to the use of ´borrowed images.´
Digital painting is quite similar to digital illustration. Both have the same incentive of producing a digital image, but digital painting software tools are specifically designed as painting techniques, watercolor, oil, pastel, through means of a tablet and stylus. Digital painting allows for the artist to undo and redo strokes in a non-linear process, therefore taking away the use of traditional techniques. And of course, the ultimate surface and strokes of the painting are very different from a traditional painting, and change the way it can be studied.
Digital photography produces digital images of subjects leaving out the traditional use of photographic film and processing. In the absence of chemical processing images can be uploaded, displayed, printed, rendered, transmitted and permanently stored digitally on memory cards and with use of computers. Digital cameras range from low-end web cams and mobile cameras to handheld and professional digital cameras. Picture quality is based on number of pixels or mega-pixels. Review, deletion, manipulations and color enhancements can be made immediately from the camera as well as on computers with certain software. While many professional photographers refuse the use of digital photography for its lack of dynamic range other artists prefer its efficiency. Digital photos can be used as base images for digital illustration or painting retouch and effects.
Visual effects are created or manipulated images and film frames, sometimes combined with animation, used for film or video clip. They can be made photographically, or through computer generated imagery. Videos are used for internet display, commercial use, films, and personal production and ownership.
Internet art uses the internet as the main medium for the artwork. Internet art includes websites, email projects, artistic software, internet or network installations, online video, spam and internet advertising art, and net-poetry.