Oh no, not another sketching/drawing App, I hear you say.
Believe me, this one is different. The graphics and some of the concepts are truly unique.
Believe me, this one is different. The graphics and some of the concepts are truly unique.
Now for the ACIDS test:
Aesthetics
Before starting, it's a good idea to quickly get familiar with the commands (this will save an enormous amount potential of frustration later).
Browse
Pinch in to browse and share (this is very important)
Undo
Two fingers swipe left
Zoom
Pinch out
Move
Two fingers hold and swipe to move the canvas
You are now ready for your first masterpiece on a blank canvas. It is simplicity itself to choose your tool, colour, and fill effect... then let your inspiration take over.
As an example, the brush with its ability to overlay strokes is extremely realistic.
The share function is just brilliant. You place your sketch in an envelope and then place the stamp(s) (Facebook, Twitter, Photo Library, Email) on the envelope. It really is beautifully executed.
The App only works on an iPad running iOS 6.0 or later, and only in landscape mode.
This is no surprise really as the beauty would be somewhat compromised on a smaller screen.
Cost
The basic version of the App is absolutely free. The 'Professional' version, which includes more tools and sizes, as well as a brush editor and colour eyedropper is a very modest cost purchase. The developers also allow you to try the Pro version free for an hour; nice touch.
Indispensability
If you need good control for your sketches, this is definitely worth considering.
Dependability
The App works as stated, but make sure you read those instructions for the basic commands.
Security
The usual caveats apply for sharing otherwise, there are no issues.
ACIDS Test Rating:
The developer advises that there has been an update to version 2.0 of the App.
ReplyDeleteThis includes the following enhancements and alterations:
A lot of new features for this 2.0 release:
- Layers with no clutter (pro mode)
- Import photo in the background (pro mode)
- Choose paper grain and color.
- Pencil and watercolor can be more opaque (pro mode)
- New embedded help system
- lots of freeze and bugs resolved
- export layers to transparent png (pro mode)
- Show your drawings to the world on Sketches website (pro mode)
The developer advises that there has been an update to version 2.1 of the App.
ReplyDeleteThis includes the following enhancements and alterations:
Added iAd except for Pro IAP users.
The developer advises that there has been an update to version 2.2 of the App.
ReplyDeleteThis includes the following enhancements and alterations:
Ads for non-pro users.
Saved Sketches are now smaller.
Bug correction.
The developer advises that there has been an update to version 2.3 of the App.
ReplyDeleteThis includes the following enhancements and alterations:
correct the duplicate bug.
iOS 7 optimized.
The developer advises that there has been an update to version 2.4 of the App.
ReplyDeleteThis includes the following enhancements and alterations:
Resolve invisible drawings bug.
Resolve disappearing tools.
No more ads.
The developer advises that there has been an update to version 3.1 of the App.
ReplyDeleteThis includes the following enhancements and alterations:
New IAP to buy Extra Tools and Layers separately.
5 new Tools available on iPhone.
One more layer and reorder layers on iPad
Brush Editor available on iPhone.
New color picker iOS7 style
The developer advises that there has been an update to version 3.6 of the App.
ReplyDeleteThis includes the following enhancements and alterations:
Tons of small tweaks and bug squashing:
Better memory management: Less crashes
Autosave
Each tool can remember its color
Import photo in free version
Smaller eraser
New info panel, more preferences
Color eyedropper on iPhone
New hatching pattern in fill tool
The developer advises that there has been an update to version 4.0 of the App.
ReplyDeleteThis includes the following enhancements and alterations:
Stylus Pressure is now Supported.
Available for Hex3, Wacom and Adonit styluses.
We have reworked the engine completely to make even more amazingly realistic tools.
The developer advises that there has been an update to version 4.1 of the App.
ReplyDeleteThis includes the following enhancements and alterations:
Fixed Wacom Stylus crash.
The developer advises that there has been an update to version 4.2 of the App.
ReplyDeleteThis includes the following enhancements and alterations:
Fixed crash at start.
The developer advises that there has been an update to version 4.3 of the App.
ReplyDeleteThis includes the following enhancements and alterations:
Fixed marker preset.
The developer advises that there has been an update to version 4.4 of the App.
ReplyDeleteThis includes the following enhancements and alterations:
Now choose between 2 color modes: Classic, with one color for all tools or Advanced: each tool remembers it's own color. Change mode in preferences panel.
Change color of texts and shapes after their creation. (iPad)
Active text is now exported to Photo Library. (iPad)
The developer advises that there has been an update to version 4.5 of the App.
ReplyDeleteThis includes the following enhancements and alterations:
Minor bugs fixed.
The developer advises that there has been an update to version 4.6 of the App.
ReplyDeleteThis includes the following enhancements and alterations:
Fixed bug with layers not saving.
The developer advises that there has been an update to version 5.1 of the App.
ReplyDeleteThis includes the following enhancements and alterations:
Bug Release:
Display drawings that could dissapear in 5.0
Buying "Pro" IAP from the info panel now works properly.
The developer advises that there has been an update to version 5.5 of the App.
ReplyDeleteThis includes the following enhancements and alterations:
5 new ways to share your drawings: Dropbox, Tumblr, Flickr, Picasa and whole books in pdf.
Better Translation for all 6 languages
+ on iPad:
New "photo" stickers allow easy placement of pictures on any layer.
Move, scale and rotate your layer content
Recover your deleted drawing in a special "trash" folder (preference)
Jot Script supported
+ on iPhone:
12 more color slots
The developer advises that there has been an update to version 5.6 of the App.
ReplyDeleteThis includes the following enhancements and alterations:
Bug release:
Eraser not working is corrected.
Photo Sticker bad preview is corrected.
The developer advises that there has been an update to version 6.0 of the App.
ReplyDeleteThis includes the following enhancements and alterations:
New on all devices:
No more ads at launch
New IAP system
New acrylic brush
New on iPad:
Portrait mode
New on iPhone:
Better Handling of Tools pages
Moving canvas is easier
And many many small improvement on user experience.
The developer advises that there has been an update to version 6.5 of the App.
ReplyDeleteThis includes the following enhancements and alterations:
iOS8 special release.
Import and Export pictures to or from other and apps through iCloud drive.
Share your drawings to many services with the us of the new Sharing extensions.
Import pictures as been enhanced to ease the process of positioning images in your drawings.
The developer advises that there has been an update to version 6.6 of the App.
ReplyDeleteThis includes the following enhancements and alterations:
Fixed Brush Editor crashing
Enable import photo on iPhone with xtools IAP
Fixed a slowdown when drawing
The developer advises that there has been an update to version 7.0 of the App.
ReplyDeleteThis includes the following enhancements and alterations:
A completely new Flat UI to match the beauty of iOS7 and 8.
New animations everywhere, the workflow has never been so smooth.
New help system.
Updated Wacom and Adonit Stylus drivers.
3 new languages: Traditional Chinese, Swedish and Vietnamese.
The developer advises that there has been an update to version 8.1 of the App.
ReplyDeleteThis includes the following enhancements and alterations:
Optimized for iPhone 6 and 6 plus.
Remove the bug that makes layers white on iPad.