CGMA vs Ctrl+Paint
CGMA
cgmasteracademy.com
Ctrl+Paint
ctrlpaint.comSide by side
| Figure | CGMA | Ctrl+Paint |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $5.75/mo | Free |
| Free plan | — | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 4 | 3 |
| Spec score · Art Learning Apps | 8.4 (#4) | 8.1 (#6) |
| Support | The site offers admissions help, a contact form, email support, and appointments with advisors. | The creator says he reads support emails personally and asks users to check the FAQ and keep messages concise. |
Plans
CGMA
- Character Creation for Film/Cinematics — One-year Access$69 a year
- Character Creation for Film/Cinematics — 3x Payments$332.67, paid once
- Character Creation for Film/Cinematics — 2x Payments$499, paid once
- Character Creation for Film/Cinematics — Full payment$998, paid once
Ctrl+Paint
- Free video libraryFree
- Premium series$10, paid once
- Digital Painting Starter Kit$55, paid once
In their own words
Ctrl+Paint
Ctrl+Paint is a web-based learning resource for digital painting basics, taught through short videos. Its free library contains hundreds of videos described as five minutes long, arranged from introductory topics toward more advanced ones. Lessons cover drawing, composition, reference, Photoshop tools, painting techniques, color, masking, and vector tools. The library page says new free videos are released every Tuesday and Thursday. For practice, the Concept Art Playbook offers visual problem-solving challenges modeled on game-industry work, which learners can follow at their own pace. The free library has no ads or subscription fees. Individual premium series cost $10.00 per once and cover beginner-to-intermediate topics. The Digital Painting Starter Kit costs $55.00 per once and includes six video series, 362 minutes of video, worksheets, line art, and PSD files. Premium purchases are followed by an automated email with download instructions and a link. A stylus is needed because pressure sensitivity is essential to the taught techniques; Wacom tablets are recommended. The creator says the site does not offer personal tutoring or portfolio reviews.