Fantastic Art Software to download from Promethean Planet

[markrobinson]

Art Rage is a stunning piece of software and you can download a free starter version from Promethean Planet.

It allows you to create amazing pictures and painting on your Activboard, Activpanel or Activslate.

What makes it different to a program like MS paint - is that it is a "natural media painting program". You can mix watercolours like you can with real paints, spread oil paints using a pallete knife and use highlighters, pens and pencils. There is a great selection of tools in the Starter Edition.

http://www.Prometheanplanet.com/upload/img_200/ArtRage-screen.jpg

You can also update to the full version for a few $/£s which enables dozens of extra options including amazing tools like stencils and tracing images, etc.

Please check it out and watch the section grow: Choose "resources" at the following location for the downloads and upgrades.

http://www.Prometheanplanet.com/server.php?show=nav.15631

[LisaD]

Does this work on both PC and Mac? Just wanted to know before I try to download it. Looks very cool!

Lisa

[markrobinson]

Yes...

Windows: Windows Vista, XP, 2k, or Tablet PC. 800mhz processor or faster, and 256 megabytes of RAM.
Macintosh: Macintosh OS X 10.3.9 or later. G4 processor or faster, and 256 megabytes of RAM.

Also in French and German as well as English.

[Rosie MacAlpine]

I think this one is just gorgeous! I ended up getting the upgrade just because I wanted to be able to use the metallic paint :)

[markrobinson]

I agree - the upgrade is worth every penny (and it is not that much!).. The glitter paint & metallics are really cool!

Please let us know how you get on with it in class!

[markrobinson]

You can download a free Starter Edition of ArtRage from Promethean Planet (http://www.prometheanplanet.com/forum/../server.php?show=nav.15631)which can be upgraded to the full version.


If you need an excuse to download and try it, you might want to read this story from New South Wales where they are having great success.


As at July 2008, the NSW Department of Education and Training has distributed almost 4,700 licences of ArtRage Full to 121 public schools spread throughout New South Wales. They still consider this distribution “early days”!


Stuart Hasic, Regional Technology Advisor, has this to say about their plans.


“Past experience has shown that schools and teachers that are actively involved in the decision to implement new software are more likely to use that software effectively in the classroom.
The educational benefit of ArtRage apart from the obvious exposing of students to realistically simulated artistic tools and techniques is that ArtRage “grows” with the students. It can work with the youngest of students in “kids mode”, allowing for creative expression without complicated interfaces.

Young students are producing similar works to those they would create using finger paints and glitter without the mess (and cost). But the benefit is that their artworks maintain a life. Instead of ending up in a drawer or the bottom of their bag, their works can be used again and again in their digital portfolio, in
slideshows and videos and on school websites.

As the students grow and their creative abilities grow, ArtRage extends, providing access to more complicated materials and techniques and its support of pressure-sensitive drawing tablets (Such as Activpanel and Activtablet) further provides the budding artist with realistic tools to challenge and engage.”


Stuart also highlights how well adopted software tools can rapidly add value across the curriculum:

“We have also found, particularly in the K-6 environment, that ArtRage is being used more widely than for just creative arts.

Schools have realised that digital literacy is becoming more important in today’s world, so students have been producing ArtRage artworks to tell a digital story - creating eBooks and Comic strips (using Comic Life) which incorporate their images.”

Find out more about ArtRage here (http://www.prometheanplanet.com/forum/../blog/?p=264)

[htemske]

I had downloaded the free version and quickly upgraded to the paid one. I've had fun playing with it and I'm not a bit artistic. I can't wait to get my kids using it on the board.

[markrobinson]

Perhaps people will post their pics that the kids do - and we can make a gallery...

[markrobinson]

You can get neat tutorials at:

http://www.ambientdesign.com/artragetutorials.html