Apps you can use to turn your iPad into a digital artist, whether that means Procreate’s blank canvas or a relaxing coloring book from Lake. Now iPads become a great tool for digital artists with their evolving features in 2024. The iPad makes a perfect canvas for creativity (illOne whether you are sketching or painting) blending the traditional with digital progression.
It has been experimented with a third-gen iPad Air using the first-gen Apple Pencil, experimenting with a variety of apps, each trying to help reframe artistic expression. Whatever drawing app for iPad you like, be it detailed, or abstract splashy stuff, the best iPad drawing apps will help you tap into your creativity.
Procreate
Procreate happens to be one of the most popular iPad drawing apps and has quickly become the digital artist’s go-to. This app at $13, offers a comprehensive toolkit that suits beginners to professionals. Its legacy of features includes blend modes, layering options, and Quickshape that will give your art a polished, professional look.
Procreate is very personal and you can even customize gesture controls to your workflow. As you dive into the app, you will find things like alpha locks and clipping masks that further extend your capabilities. Procreate is a lot of stuff, and if you are not looking to create hardcore art, it might not be the right or most user-friendly option. The official Procreate Handbook is a helpful companion for detailed insights and tips.
Autodesk Sketchbook
Autodesk Sketchbook makes for a compelling alternative to those looking for a powerful drawing app without any of the price tag associated. Sketchbook is free to download and free of paywalls, so you are free to access a wealth of tools. After a seven-day free trial, sign up for a free Autodesk ID to continue using the app.
But what makes Sketchbook such a hit with artists is its simple, clean interface, with a neat brush library. It is really easy to change the brush size, brush opacity, and pressure to reach the desired effects. The app remains smooth and natural, zoomed in or not, ideal for artists making the move from traditional to digital. Scan a sketch, bring it in, and continue working on it digitally: it is one of Sketchbook’s strong suits.
Art Set 4
Art Set 4 is a great app to introduce yourself to the world of digital illustration if you are new to digital drawing. It is free to download and has a selection of basic tools but gives you access to more advanced capabilities for $13 in its Premium Pro features. For beginners or casual artists, this is an ideal choice because it pulls on the experience of working with real tools and the paper itself.
Art Set 4 is a great drawing experience, even without premium access. The best thing is that you can change the paper style between canvas and watercolor paper so that your work takes on a realistic look. The creative potential of the app is helped by premium features like 3D paint and fluid watercolor, but the free tools are more than enough to get you started.
Lake
For those who want to unwind, Lake provides a new, unique, and relaxing way of digital art. This free app has an immense gallery of coloring pages by artists here and abroad. They’re not really for serious drawing projects, but they’re just what you want for a relaxing day of coloring.
Perhaps the biggest attraction to Lake is its ASMR integration. Real-life drawing tools that the app’s sound effects imitate help make the coloring experience that much more immersive. You can also switch off the sounds if you like. On the app’s dashboard, you can wander through daily free coloring sheets, or subscribe for $3 a week, $10 a month, or $40 annually to unlock the full catalog.
In addition to providing a coloring palette based on suggestions from each artist, Lake also enables you to look for other coolest or random color combinations. Lake’s tools are perfect for people who like to stick to the lines; once you add shading or imaginative effects, you do not miss coloring. The world of iPad drawing apps in 2024 has something for every artist from professional-grade illustrations in Procreate to an introduction to the programs that created million-dollar companies like Adobe Illustrator and Autodesk Sketchbook, to the slick simplicity of Art Set 4, and even relaxing with Art Set 4’s soothing coloring pages with Lake. Finger painting on an iPad makes these apps: these apps turn your iPad into far more than a tablet, into your digital canvas, ready to bring your creative visions to life.