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- $4.99
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.