Black Ink
6.4#26 in digital painting softwareFrom €99 a yearWindows
VisitBlack Ink vs FireAlpaca
FireAlpaca
7.6#4 in digital painting software$39.99 one-timeFree planLinuxmacOSWindows
VisitWhat both publish
| Fact | Black Ink | FireAlpaca |
|---|---|---|
| Drawing tools | The maker lists tools including brush, eraser, paint bucket, blur, magic wand, lasso select, transform, crop, zoom, and rotate. | Listed functions include animation, mesh deformation, gradient maps, lasso fill, CMYK display, text, halftone, 3D perspective, tone curves, and reference windows. |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Layer system | The nodal layer system lets users combine layer operators while preserving the original drawing. | Layers support 18 blend modes, clipping and layer folders. |
Black Ink plans
- Business€99 a year
- Upgrade$8.99, paid once
- Individuals$34.99, paid once
FireAlpaca plans
- FreeFree
- FireAlpacaFree
- FireAlpaca standardFree
- FireAlpaca SE$39.99, paid once
Pick Black Ink if…
You want what its maker publishes above — check its page for the details.
Pick FireAlpaca if…
FireAlpaca suits illustrators and others making digital images who want a free tool for Windows, macOS, or Linux. The separate SE edition is an option for those seeking its additional brushes, layer masks, and liquify tool.