Features

By Natalia Engdahl 

Digital art has become an increasingly popular medium. To beginning artists or artists who are more accustomed to traditional art, trying digital art for the first time may seem daunting. However, getting the right tools doesn’t have to be confusing or expensive. There are several affordable options of drawing software for artists who want to begin experimenting with digital art. 

Listed below are five different kinds of drawing software ranked from least to most expensive. Which program is best will depend on the device the artist is using and the kind of art they want to create. 

 

Krita

Krita is free to download and can run on Windows, MacOS, Linux, Android, and ChromeOS. This program is best for creating concept art, 2D illustrations, and comics. Krita allows the artists to have multiple layers, a stabilizer for smoother lines, and a wide variety of brushes.

Adobe Photoshop Sketch 

Adobe Photoshop Sketch is free on the AppStore and can be used on tablets and phones. This program offers brushes, blending tools, and the ability to create custom brushes. It supports all the latest styluses from companies like Wacom, Adonit, Adobe Ink, and the Apple Pencil. Like Krita, Adobe Photoshop Sketch also has layer features and stabilizers. 

Medibang Paint

Medibang Paint is a free app that can run on PCs, Ipads, iPhones, and Android devices. Its layout is intuitive and easy to use. The program includes stabilizers, easy to manipulate layers, over 50 brushes, and preloaded fonts. Medibang is best for 2D illustration work. 

Procreate

Procreate is available to download on the iPad for $9.99, and on the iPhone for $4.99. The app is easy to use, offers a selection of over 130 brushes, has multiple layers, blending modes, and can edit text. It was made to be paired with the apple pen, but it also works with a number of other styluses such as Pogo Connect, Jot Touch, Wacom, and Bamboo sketch. 

 

Clip Studio Paint Pro

Clip studio paint is software that can be installed on macOS, Windows, iPadOS, iOS, android and chrome OS. It can be purchased for a single payment of $49.99. ClipStudio offers more advanced versions of the features mentioned in the previous programs and is best for creating comics, illustration, and 2D animation.

Keep in mind that digital art, like any new medium, will take time to adjust to. Even experienced traditional artists need to spend time experimenting with the program’s features in order to find their own digital art style and preferences. Try not to be discouraged if your art does not initially turn out the way you want it to. Practice is the best thing you can do to improve your ability. Digital art is a medium that allows for a lot of flexibility and creativity. All the time that is put into familiarizing yourself with it’s tools and features will help you in creating exactly the kind of art you want to make.

By Natalia Engdahl

Known for his humor and coffee obsession, Mr. Morimoto has been a well-loved and oft-visited teacher at Diamond Ranch for fourteen years. Many students will have had him by the time they graduate seeing as he teaches world history at the college prep, honors, and advanced placement level. 

Mr. Morimoto has always made significant efforts to make learning interesting for each of his students, and still does even during distance learning. When speaking to several of his past students, they often remark that his class was one of their favorites to take at Diamond Ranch. 

Mr. Morimoto has found that it is now more difficult to foster meaningful discussions between students over zoom calls, and notes that it is more difficult for students to receive feedback on their writing and edit their peer’s work during distance learning. 

In an attempt to rectify this problem, he has opted for a lesson plan where students grade and review three anonymous essays to try and improve their own writing. He also makes himself available during office hours to go over students’ work and offer them feedback. His kindness and eagerness to help his students have always been  key traits of Mr. Morimoto’s character. He is perhaps best known for buying all of his AP students breakfast the morning of the AP World History exam and always sending them off with a heartfelt speech. 

Mr. Morimoto’s greatest concern as a teacher this year pertains to whether or not he can fully prepare students for the AP World History exam. Because of the quarter system, those who are in his first three class periods will be taking the test several months away from the last time they were in his class. To ensure his students’ success, he urges his students to consistently review the material so they retain all the information they need.

The rest of his classes face another challenge. The AP test is scheduled for early May, and students from periods 4, 5, and 6 will miss about two weeks of instruction in class. To help students learn all the information needed to score well on the test, Mr. Morimoto says he will release a review book from the library for students to study and leave office hours open for instruction. 

By Alvin Shuh and Nain Munoz

 

“Some students are living their best life; this is ideal for them. For others, the isolation is terrible.” Science Teacher Mr. Anderson accurately describes students’ perspectives on distance learning. 

 

 

The sentiments of Mr. Anderson are exemplified throughout the student population at Diamond Ranch. In a poll conducted on Instagram, 75% of the 157 students who responded preferred in-person learning over its digital counterpart. Distance learning may not be all bad as claimed by Junior Katelyn Abaya, who enjoys having fewer classes per day and the more individualized approach many teachers are taking. 

 

 

While the effectiveness of distance learning may be disputed, many other components of a Panther’s high school experience are also impacted. Senior Cameron Shimokawa, a member of Varsity Boys Baseball, explains how the lack of in-person sporting events may help his chance of getting an athletic scholarship to a college of his choice. “Because there are no games or practices, for the time being, I can focus on strengthening my game instead of focusing on putting up good numbers for high school. On top of that, I can condition without worrying about being sore for the game the next day.” 

 

Like Shimokawa, many other students at Diamond Ranch are finding the silver lining in living through such an unprecedented set of circumstances. Panthers from all walks of life and completely unique backgrounds are using the extra time to pursue other hobbies and interests.

 

Apart from being able to spend more time doing things outside of school, students may also find going to school in their homes more accommodating. Internet and connectivity issues aside, Senior Faith Henderson enjoys “being able to get out of bed and go to class without getting ready for school.”

 

Living our lives from the confines of our homes has proven to be a significant undertaking for both students and staff at Diamond Ranch. Panther Students and Teachers alike express that forming emotional connections with one another became increasingly difficult through a computer screen. Mr. Lambright, Math Teacher and Professor at Mt. San Antonio College, expresses that he finds it difficult “to gauge if students are learning.” 

 

Teachers also encounter technical problems in their classes. Multiple teachers share the same frustrations regarding students disconnecting from class due to connectivity issues and other limitations of the online platform. Social Science teacher Mr. Power typically employs Quizlet Live games for extra credit, but the possibility of students disconnecting prohibits him from using this medium. “If one student’s internet goes down, their entire team can’t play the game at all,” laments Mr. Power.

 

Not to mention that the Zoom platform, with its many features, inhibits a teacher’s ability to teach. Many teachers have already experienced “Zoom Bombing” within our time online and the chat function – which students tend to use instead of unmuting themselves – is not actively seen by teachers busy lecturing. In many classes, not every student’s square will fit onto one slide of the gallery view, making it hard for teachers to actively gauge student engagement and focus. 

 

Nevertheless, teachers appreciate the ability to safely teach students without fear of spreading a deadly virus. Our district works hard to ensure that the needs of the students are met to the best of their ability, supplying Chromebooks, hotspots, and providing free technical support. Many of our in-person established classroom norms, such as Google Classroom, translate easily to an online learning environment. The scheduling also benefits teachers as much as students. Mr. Lambright appreciates the time set aside for tutoring in Office Hours instead of students hoping to find a teacher free during lunch or after school. 

 

As we continue working learning through this online platform, we need to remember that our teachers are not that different from us. They spend long hours outside of class preparing to teach and experience the same distractions while working. Chemistry teacher Mrs. Hofferth was constantly interrupted in the middle of her lesson by adamant meows begging for attention and Mr. Lambright needs a break now and then, “There are times where I turn off my camera and walk around while my students are working.” 

 

Whether you are living your best life or missing in-person learning, practicing empathy during these uncertain circumstances ensures that we all make the best of the current situation.