If you want to get into digital art, there are plenty of apps you can choose from on both Apple and Android. If you were wondering where to start, here are a few apps plus their features to help guide you.
Sketchbook is a classic across both Apple and Android devices. It’s available for free and has a myriad of brushes, paper textures, and other tools for the digital artist to experiment with. Tools like these help artists find the exact settings they like that make using a digital medium comfortable. Sketchbook also has a premium version that offers exclusive brush sets, different ways to export and other features that a serious digital artist may find useful.
Art Set is less well-known than Sketchbook with a similar interface but less features. This app is more straightforward than the others and has the best sensitivity when using a stylus. This app is best for artists who are looking for a more traditional-like experience as there are not a lot of buttons and sliders distracting the artist from their work. While the sensitivity and simple layout are plusses, the interface is a little confusing and non-intuitive, but easy to grasp with practice. This app also offers a premium version for artists who want more control over their layers and brushes.
Finally, Procreate on the iPad is a fan favorite for good reason. Procreate is made just for Apple, so it uses some of the same operating mechanics that iPads do, making its learning curve a lot lower than the other two if you’re familiar with Apple products. The app also has many hidden features that the user can customize to streamline their drawing experience. While the app is ideal for an iPad user who wants to get into digital art, the app doesn’t offer any cloud storage or account creation that allow the user to save their work and access it from any other device, which is ideal if you use one app exclusively like some Procreate users do.
The biggest difference between all three is that Procreate doesn’t offer a free version like the other two do, so if you just want to try some things out, Sketchbook and Art Set might be the best starting point, especially if you’re a traditional artist just testing the waters. If you’re not and you’re wanting to dive straight in, all three apps have great features and customization to make your venture into digital art as smooth as possible.
