There's an App for That!

Article Transcript

For the past 15 years, making the transition into a “digital caricaturist” has been an extremely time consuming and costly venture. The technology involved was very expensive, and it seemed like something better and more advanced was always creeping around the corner. Many of us rejoiced once the Apple iPad hit the mainstream. Never before has a piece of equipment been so versatile, portable and affordable. Now that the iPad has been on the market for four years, a ton of new and exciting drawing apps have been making appearances. As of right now there are over 25 different drawing/painting apps on the market. There is something for everybody! I have spent the past two years and many restless nights researching and studying these drawing apps and have compiled my Top 5 list for your pleasure!

5. ArtRage

ArtRage is an app that is very much tailored for the “Artist’s Artist.” It is not built for speed and definitely cannot be used effectively in a live environment. ArtRage DOES have a ton of really cool features. The brush panel has detailed photos of every drawing tool, each of which can be modified to fit your needs. Each drawing tool does a very good job of simulating its natural predecessor, but sometimes there can be a bit of a lag during strokes. The most effective tool in ArtRage is the “Watercolor Brush.” This brush will simulate watercolor blending and will give your color a very naturalistic appearance.

Cool features include:
Script Recording- You can record your process and import it onto your desktop in video format.
Custom Canvases- Before you start a project, you can modify the canvas texture.
Layers- A “must have” for any digital artist.
Photo Reference Feature- Easily import a small reference photo onto your canvas.

Cons:
Low Pixel Count- The maximum pixel ratio is 768x1024, which means your artwork will experience pixilation if printed larger than 5x7.
Lagging- These brushes have a ton of detail. Unfortunately this slows the app down a bit and your drawing strokes feel very unnatural.
Controls- The controls are pretty complicated and take a while to figure out.

4. Sketchbook Pro

Sketchbook Pro has consistently been the “go to” for many digital artists on iPad. Most artists whom I know who aren’t caricaturists cannot say enough good things about Sketchbook Pro. This is an app that has been used in the live-digital environment before but will definitely slow things down a bit. The controls in this app are gesture based and rely heavily on complicated finger movements to make simple things happen. There are a variety of brushes available that glide very smoothly and feel very natural. There are many coloring options available, but since there are no gradient options or bucket fills available, blending color is mandatory and can be time consuming.

Cool features include:
Mirroring- Draw one half of the face and the other half will be duplicated instantly.
Brush Selection- There are more brushes than you can shake a stick at!
Pressure Sensitivity- If you have a pressure sensitive stylus, it can easily be synced with this app.

Cons:
File Memory- The more pixels you require, the fewer Layers you are given. Ex: 1800x2400= 4 Layers
Gesture Controls- Modulating your line width and opacity can get pretty complicated.
No Fill or Gradient- Coloring could take a while without these tools.

3. Procreate

Procreate is a pretty amazing drawing app. The strokes in this app are seamless and the brushes look as close to the real thing as you can get. The controls are extremely easy to get used to with the incorporation of Size and Opacity sliders. The simple and easy to understand design of this app makes it extremely easy to get the hang of, which is why Procreate is ideal for live-caricatures.

Cool features include:
Canvas Rotation- The ability to rotate your canvas during the drawing process.
Pressure Sensitivity- Definitely has the best pressure sensitivity on the market.
Layer Properties- Each layer can easily be modified with the tap of a button.
Big Project/More Layers- You don’t have to sacrifice layers when working on a large project with a high pixel count.

Cons:
Pen Quality- Most drawing apps can simulate a marker stroke fairly easily. Not so much with this app.
No Gradient or Fill- Better start working on your blending!

2. Sketch Club

Sketch Club is an app that is constantly evolving and just keeps getting better and better. The controls are easy to understand with the incorporation of sliders. The pen and brush options are second to none. I especially enjoy having the ability to record my process directly from the app. You can even incorporate music, edit the speed of your video and upload directly to YouTube! Sketch Club is also the only app to incorporate an online artist community, much like DeviantArt, where you can see the work of others and even comment and critique!

Cool features include:
Canvas Rotation- You do not realize how much a difference this makes until you utilize it while drawing.
Live Stream Chatting- You can chat with fellow artists while drawing!
Smoothed Pen- Easily smooth out your line-work for a cleaner appearance.
Vector- You can incorporate beautiful shapes easily to create a very quick and simplistic caricature.

Cons:
No Fill or Gradient- For many live-caricaturists, this can be a deal breaker.

1. ArtStudio

In my opinion, this app is the ultimate drawing tool for any artist. ArtStudio has taken all of the qualities that make Photoshop so great and translated them for the iPad. The line-work is very clean and smooth, which is perfect for artists that have been trained with marker. You can create custom brushes and color palettes with ease. If you want to add a little extra flair to a piece, you can even incorporate many of the filters normally found in Photoshop. This app will always be my go-to for any live and commissioned caricature work.

Cool features include:
Custom Brushes- You can easily create your own brushes to fit your drawing needs.
Lasso Select and Magic Wand- If you use Photoshop regularly, you know why these tools are so important. The incorporation of Gradients and Bucket Fill make this app great for coloring a caricature.
Filters- Easily transform your drawing into another medium! Online Forum- Is there a feature missing in the app? Let the developers know directly via the online Forum. It’s just a tap away!
Tutorials- If you are a beginner and want to know a little more about how to tackle a digital caricature, the app has a direct link to 2 of my caricature tutorials.

Cons:
Crashing- ArtStudio takes up a ton of memory while drawing. Save your work regularly!

Nolan Harris is the co-owner of the caricature retail/event entertainment business Over The Line Art, in the delightfully damp city of Seattle. When he is not blankly staring at the Space Needle from his caricature stand, he also travels the country, drawing digital caricatures at trade shows.

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