GROUP TEST
iPAD ART APPS
Explore the exciting world of digital art on your iPad with these creative apps
REVIEWED BY HOLLIN JONES
ON TEST...
> Adobe Fresco
> Procreat
> Amadin
> Adobe Illustrator
> Affinity Designer
> Inspire Pro
THE
iPAD IS the perfect platform for creating digital art. Not so long ago touch– based design interfaces were prohibitively expensive, but now anyone with an iPad and one of the very affordable apps on the market can dive into the world of design. It’s not just that iPad hardware has improved, though of course innovations like the Apple Pencil make working with graphics much more naturalistic. It’s also that developers have worked hard to make their apps advanced yet usable, bringing all the power and features of desktop design apps to the iPad platform in a way that hasn’t generally been achieved yet with other creative tools.
Obviously you’ll get the most out of design apps if you bring some design skills to the table, but the apps we test here don’t pitch themselves at any particular skill level. You can doodle with your finger or create rich and detailed artwork with an Apple Pencil, and everything in between. And whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned professional, the price of entry is very reasonable.
How we tested
We began each test with a look at the ease of setting up a new document and understanding the app’s workflow. Then we considered the selection and flexibility of tools on offer — brushes, pencils, color selection and the like, as well as the auto– assistance features such as path smoothing to help create more accurate shapes when drawing freehand. Ease of use with and without Apple Pencil was considered, and what output options were available.