Final answer:
Digital painting utilizes traditional mediums like oil, acrylic, watercolor, and pastel, replicated through computer software that mimics the attributes of actual paints and brushes, allowing artists to create artwork digitally.
Step-by-step explanation:
The digital art and digital painting mediums have embraced traditional painting techniques facilitated by advanced computer software. Four traditional painting mediums that continue to influence digital painting today include oil, acrylic, watercolor, and pastel. These mediums are represented in digital painting by using software tools that mimic their physical counterparts' properties. For instance, digital brushes in software can replicate the texture and blending capabilities of real oil paints or the transparency of watercolors. Moreover, the layering techniques of traditional acrylic painting can be achieved through software layering functionalities.
Digital artists often begin with a base that is comparable to the ground used in traditional painting, such as a digital 'canvas' with a neutral tone and texture. They can then apply colors and manipulate the digital 'paint' on the screen using various input devices like a stylus, graphics tablet, or mouse. The final digital artwork can be viewed on screens or printed onto physical supports, sometimes employing gicleé and other high-quality printing methods that resemble traditional painting surfaces.