Digital illustration

Computer illustration or digital illustration is the use of digital tools to produce images, under the direct manipulation of the artist, usually through a pointing device such as a tablet or a mouse. It is distinguished from computer-generated art, which is produced by a computer using mathematical models created by the artist.

There are two main types of tools used for digital illustration: bitmapped and vector. Popular examples of the former include Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro. Popular examples of the latter include Freehand and Illustrator.