Project Dogwaffle 3.6

Dan Ritchie, former animator on Star Trek and all-round creative loose cannon, has added another update to his quirky Project Dogwaffle paint package.

For those unfamiliar with Dogwaffle, the package is similar to Painter-Lite. Some of the interface elements and ideas are suspiciously similar, but Ritchie has given the digital painting idea a new spin, and the result is something that will keep a beginner entertained while also giving a professional plenty of space to experiment.

The feature set is packed with brushes, auto-textures, filters and other tools, and the basic built-in video and animation features are also a real attraction. This version 3.6 upgrade is free to users of version 3.5, and adds improved brush keyframing, more animation scripts, dual-monitor support, and extra artistic filters. There are also LUA scripts based on the LUA language – LUA experts can even write their own. Animation has been made faster and more productive.

It’s hard to dislike any piece of software with a progress bar that’s labelled ‘computer stuff happening’. Compared to the formality of many packages, Dogwaffle is a rare outbreak of creative exuberance, which is both good and bad. The slightly eccentric look and feel takes some getting used to, and until it’s mastered some features don’t always behave as you’d expect. But at this price it’s hard to go wrong.