Best Apps For Learning To Draw Learn To Draw It’s often said that digital natives are terrible at drawing. Nothing could be further from the truth. We may have grown up in the age of video games, but this doesn’t mean we had to pick up the controller while our friends were trolling the halls with sketch pads and pencil cases. The first step to improving any skill is knowing where to start, so here is a list of the top apps for learning to draw on your iPad: SlideDraw, Traces 2, Art Studio For All, Sketchbook Pro By Autodesk.
Table of Contents
Best Apps For Learning To Draw
- Procreate
ipad with digital painting going off screen with Procreate Interface
An expressive digital painting on iPad featured on Procreate Website
At first glance, this application can be a bit daunting for someone who has never used a design app before. While it can be helpful to experiment with all the different tools and buttons, to really build skill in this application and get the most functionality, check out the Procreate Community page. There are many skilled artists and tutorials available to support digital artists of any skill level. Be sure to check out the animation feature—it really helps your work come to life.
What it does:
Creates digital drawings using a multi-layered layout
Illustration
Animation
Exports easily to other devices for continued work
Pros:
One time purchase
A good amount of helpful tutorials
Lots of preset brushes already installed
Easy animation tools and exporting feature
Cons:
Can’t “finalize” a drawing for professional use without bringing it into Illustrator to clean up lines or vectorize it
Brushes simulate the painting of strokes, but doesn’t bleed like a vectorized brush
Not vectorized (it doesn’t scale well so you have to pay attention to how big your canvas size is or everything will be pixelated)
Pricing: $9.99—one time purchase
Experience level: Beginner
Tools needed: iOS device
- Adobe Photoshop Sketch
ipad with digital painting on screen for ipad and iphone display
A colorful drawing done on iPad in Adobe Photoshop Sketch
This is a tried and true drawing application. Photoshop Sketch features a gorgeous interface that is clean and simply laid out like other Adobe products. The brush panel on the left and minimal design tools on the right leave a large digital canvas on which to paint. Designed for fine artists looking to add a digital component to their work, this application focuses on clear, simple tools that allow the creator to do what they do best—create!
What it does:
Works in a similar way to Photoshop layout with brushes, but with pressure-sensitive capabilities.
Meant to be used as a part of the Adobe Family of Applications. Must have an Adobe ID to use.
Pros:
Easily connects to Illustrator or Photoshop since it’s in the Adobe family
Made by a seasoned company (Adobe) which provides more resources and support compared to other design applications
Seamlessly integrates with Adobe Stock
Cons:
A bigger learning curve for those who have never used a design software before
No other features (like animation) available; must use another app
Limited storage but can pay additional monthly cost for more storage
Pricing: Free for iPad or android device users with Adobe ID
Experience level: Intermediate to expert level
Tools needed: iOS and Android
- Adobe Illustrator Draw
ipad with digital painting on screen for ipad and iphone display
A colorful drawing done on iPad in Adobe Illustrator Draw
This application is for the graphic designer already integrated into the Adobe family. It’s so easy to translate work done on the iPad in Adobe Illustrator Draw to an open Illustrator file through CC Libraries.
The app is beautifully laid out with a simple approach to Adobe Photoshop Sketch, though the learning curve can be challenging for those who are unfamiliar with design software. The upside: the app features a robust tutorial platform and community engagement available for all users and skill levels.
What it does:
Meant for vector graphics with customizability for brushes
Easily mixes photos with drawing layers
Pros:
Easily connects to Illustrator or Photoshop since it’s in the Adobe family
Creates vector graphics with customizable brushes; easily integrates with Adobe Capture
Clean and simple layout for beginners
Cons:
Some reviewers say it can crash easily
Limited storage, but can pay additional monthly cost for more storage
Pricing: Free for iPad or android device users with Adobe ID
Experience level: Beginner
Tools needed: iOS or Android
- Adobe Fresco
ipad with digital painting of a person reading a newspaper
A colorful drawing done on iPad in Adobe Fresco
This application is a bit different with live brushes that bleed across the screen, gorgeous vector graphics and blending effects that look 3D. Adobe Fresco easily translates to Photoshop for further work with more robust tools, however if simplicity is the end goal, Fresco’s streamlined approach allows designers and illustrators to get their ideas without being bogged down by other tools.
What it does:
This is a simple and streamlined digital drawing and painting app that’s great for beginners.
Pros:
Brushes that blend and bleed like the real thing
Can be used in combination with Adobe Photoshop on the iPad
Part of the Adobe family
Cons:
Can’t add text
No canvas option
Free version only lasts up to 2 GB of storage
Pricing: Free for mobile device use
Experience level: Beginner
Tools needed: Adobe ID—download on App store and for Windows
- Inspire Pro
ipad with gallery display of digital drawings
Inspire Pro’s digital drawing gallery screen on iPad
Inspire Pro is a great introduction into digital drawing. The simple layout is easy to navigate, but still offers up a lot of great tools for creation. Fast rendering times makes this application a contender for one of the best drawing apps out there on the App Store.
What it does:
The focus is on drawing and painting—this is a tool for hitting the basics of digital drawing. The app is not as robust in comparison to the other drawing apps.
Pros:
Lots of blending options with high quality brushes pre-loaded that also have high render brush strokes
Easy to learn
Cons:
Still pretty new—expect a few bugs
Everything is on one layer
The current version is missing a few tools to help in creation. It will likely take a few more iterations for it to become more user friendly
Pricing: $9.99 one time purchase
Experience level: Beginner
Tools needed: iOS devices
- Pixelmator Pro
ipad with photo of woman on red wall edited in application
Pixelmator Pro’s image editing software layout
Designated more as a “image editor” this application cannot be overlooked as a contender for some of the best digital drawing apps. It has text capabilities with different layered effects, vector graphics, color adjustments and clipping masks. This little application can make an artist’s crazy graphic design and photography dreams come true.
What it does:
Similar to Lightroom and Photoshop, Pixelmator Pro is designed to edit photos with some additional tools available for graphic work.
Pros:
Has a large community of users to reach out to for support or resources
Simplified layout for beginners and for creatives who need to make quick edits on the fly
Cons:
Can’t import and rasterize vector files—features less in-depth tools
Still missing a few features that help to support the creative process
Pricing: $4.99
Experience level: Beginner to intermediate
Tools needed: iOS device
- Assembly
Colorful vector illustration on iPad
Vector illustration done on Assembly Application’s platform on iPad
This application is defined as a “Mobile Vector Design” tool. Assembly is packed with a graphic designer or illustrator’s dream toolsets and has gorgeous shape packs built in for easy use. The clean and simple layout maximizes canvas space for easy creation. This design app has a growing community of creatives using this tool plus fun tutorials to help you get started.
What it does:
This is a mobile application designed for vector graphics and doing illustrative work using shapes.
Pros:
Works on iPhone or Ipad, can flex between the two devices
Advertised as “no experience necessary”
Features better tools compared to other applications including vector SVG output and typography tools
Cons:
Subscription based as opposed to a one-time purchase model
New application may have some bugs
Limited export options available (SVG, PDF, PNG, JPG only).
Pricing: Free for the basic Assembly—Pro version is subscription $29.99/year
Experience level: Beginner to intermediate
Tools needed: iOS device available on the app store
Best drawing apps for professional designers
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These are apps that are a bit more robust and can be integrated easily into an already established professional career. The learning curve may be a bit more complicated for those who have never dipped their toes into the design realm before, but once mastered the reward is high.
- Autodesk Sketchbook
ipad with illustration on Autodesk Sketchbook on iPad
Autodesk Sketchbook platform layout on iPad
If technical drawings and fine details are the name of the game, then this is the application to explore. It has scanning capabilities to take drawings into the digital age. Many industrial designers, architects and the like have integrated this handy little tool into their workflow for easy drawing and quick transition into the Autodesk family.
What it does:
Sketchbook is designed to create technical drawings used by Architects, Industrial designers and illustrators.
Pros:
Camera can scan paper drawing and import it to the app with a transparent background
Can fully finish a project within the app—as opposed to moving it over to finish in another app
Integrates with other devices via an Autodesk ID
Large community of users for continued support
Cons:
Steep learning curve
Pricing: Free for individual use with Autodesk ID or $85/year for multiple licenses
Experience level: Intermediate to expert
Tools needed: iOS or Android devices
- Affinity Designer
ipad with illustration drawing of residential house in colorful palette
Affinity Designer’s drawing platform layout on iPad
Affinity Designer is a comparable design platform to the Adobe family. It has such a robust layout that the sky seems to be the limit on what can be created. It has a huge library of tutorials available and a growing community of creatives adding this into their creative process. With a one-time purchase for the application and the desktop version, it’s no wonder this app has caught the eye of many looking for the best digital drawing app on the market.
What it does:
This drawing app is an extension of Affinity Designer desktop that can be used for vector or pixel graphics (can switch between). It was created for design that will be laid out in print or digital.
Pros:
Closer design layout to Photoshop or Illustrator
Allows you to have artboards
Can create keyboard shortcuts w/ keyboard extension
More options in functionality
Designed for computers and mobile devices
Unlimited number of layers
Switch between vector and pixel designs
Cons:
Higher learning curve, not for beginning artists
Since it is a newer software, expect some bugs
Pricing: $20.00 one time mobile app purchase ($50.00 for desktop application) both a one time purchase, no subscriptions.
Experience level: Intermediate to advanced
Tools needed: iOS or android
Best drawing app for beginners
Software by Purpose
First, think about your drawing goals, what you want to draw, and whether your art will stay digital or go to print. This will help you find the drawing tools and software that are right for you, which is especially important if you want to draw comics.
Bringing Your Drawings to Life with Animation
Clip Studio Paint (Windows/macOS/iPad/iPhone/Android)
Photoshop CC (Windows/macOS)
Procreate (iPad)
Vector Drawing Design
Affinity Designer (Windows/macOS)
Adobe Illustrator (Windows/macOS/iPad)
Clip Studio Paint (Windows/macOS/iPad/iPhone/Android)
Just to Have Fun Doodling
ibisPaint (iPad/iPhone/Android)
Clip Studio Paint (Windows/macOS/iPad/iPhone/Android)
Paint Tool SAI (Windows)
Paintstorm Studio (Windows/macOS)
Procreate (iPad)
MediBang Paint (Windows/macOS)
Krita (Windows/macOS)
GIMP2 (Windows/macOS)
ArtRage 6 (Windows/macOS)
This article introduces the best tablets for beginners to digital art!
Review of Each Software/Application
Scroll down to see the features of each drawing software/app as well as price information, support, and trial versions. For first-time users, you might value a drawing software or app with more reliable support from the company that produces it. Trial versions allow users to try something out before investing in them so you can make a more informed choice about which one suits you best.
● Photoshop CC (Windows/macOS/iPad)
A professional graphics software that’s popular with professional designers, photographers, and editors. Abundant in features, it is also useful for drawing illustrations. Photoshop CC requires some customization, so it is suitable for intermediate artists.
Photoshop CC is prominent in the design and photo processing industry, and many design schools use Photoshop to teach students. This versatile software can export multi-page data for use online, in print, and for videos.
You can draw in Photoshop, but it wasn’t created with illustration or comics in mind. It takes time and effort to customize the pen and brush tools, and features like pen pressure are turned off by default. However, if you are looking for a highly-customizable program, Photoshop CC will work well for you.
Since it was initially software for photo processing, it is quite good at adjusting colors. It also supports CMYK, the go-to format used for printed works. Since Paint Tool SAI does not support CMYK, you can use them in conjunction.
Photoshop CC is suited for intermediate users, so we recommend it if you know what you want to create and are happy to customize your software. If you want a more drawing-friendly Adobe experience then you might want to look at Adobe Fresco.
Developer: Adobe Systems Co., Ltd.
Trial version:
Download the full-feature seven-day trial version from the Free Trial Download page.
Note: To use all the features, you must obtain an Adobe ID and register for the trial version.
How to purchase:
Creative Cloud Photography Plan: $9.99 USD/month
Photoshop CC is a monthly subscription service. When purchasing from the official website, Adobe accepts payments through credit card, PayPal, and wire transfer. You can pay with cash if you load it onto a prepaid debit card, available separately from many retailers.
Support:
For some issues, the Adobe support team can be contacted via their official contact form or a chat feature. Although the official website has a community forum for asking and answering questions, these topics are mainly related to design and photo processing. There is not much information on illustration and comics.
There are also many books and online websites that introduce Adobe Photoshop, but again, there is little information specializing in illustration and comics.
Community:
There is a large community of artists from amateur to professional focusing on mainly design and photography. Many people also have created brushes and other materials to make the program more friendly to draw in.
Conclusion
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