Here is my 2500+ word blog post on the best drawing apps for the iPad:
The iPad has completely transformed digital art over the past decade. With its large, high resolution touch screen and Apple Pencil stylus support, this popular tablet provides artists an intuitive, versatile surface for creative work.
Whether you‘re a professional graphic designer or an amateur just doodling for fun, the iPad gives you endless options to bring your artistic visions to life. From fluid painting apps that mimic real watercolors to 3D sculpting programs that rival dedicated workstations, there‘s an iPad drawing app perfect for every discipline.
In this comprehensive guide, we review the top 7 apps for digital drawing and art on the iPad. For each app, we cover:
- Key features and tools
- Ideal users – beginners, professionals, 2D vs 3D artists
- Pricing and subscription models
- Primary strengths and advantages
We also provide expert tips on choosing the right app for your needs and skill level, making the most of the Apple Pencil, and setting up your iPad for an optimal drawing experience. Let‘s dive in!
An iPad Drawing Revolution
Creative apps have played a huge role in cementing the iPad‘s status as a groundbreaking device for artists. By harnessing the tablet‘s touch capabilities and processing power, developers have engineered advanced digital equivalents of everything from paint brushes to 3D sculpting tools.
Apple‘s introduction of the Apple Pencil in 2015 took iPad drawing to the next level. With its pressure and tilt sensitivity, low latency, and precision tracking, the stylus gives users unmatched control as they sketch, illustrate, or paint on the iPad‘s screen.
Between sophisticated apps and accessories like the Apple Pencil, creative professionals can now illustrate beautiful vector art, sculpt 3D figures, or mimic oil painting – all on a slim, portable tablet. Even novice doodlers enjoy the simplicity and fun of drawing by finger or stylus on an iPad.
Let‘s explore some of the most common digital art forms people create on an iPad:
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2D artwork: From sketching to painting, many classic art forms translate wonderfully to the iPad. Artistic apps simulate tools like pencils, acrylics, and watercolors with tons of custom brushes.
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3D modeling: Sculpt figures and structures, create architectural renderings, or design 3D printable objects using iPad apps with intuitive 3D gestural interfaces.
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Vector illustrations: Produce resolution-independent logos, icons, and graphics using Illustrator-style vector tools tailored for touch.
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Concept art: Sketch out character designs, storyboards, or other preparatory illustrations with versatile sketching apps.
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Photo manipulation: Apply touch-based filters and adjustments to transform photos into beautiful digital paintings.
Now let‘s explore the best iPad apps covering these creative areas and more.
Best Overall Drawing App: Procreate
In the 10+ years since its launch, no app has surpassed Procreate as the premier iPad drawing and painting app. With its silky-smooth brushes, lush canvas textures, and sheer wealth of tools, Procreate is beloved by casual doodlers and professionals alike.
Let‘s look at why Procreate stands out as our choice for best overall iPad drawing app.
Key Features
- Over 100 customizable brushes with advanced properties like tilt, pressure, opacity, and more
- Multi-layer support for constructing complex compositions
- Import and export PSD files to continue work across devices
- Transform tools like warp, perspective, and liquify
- Video recording to show entire drawing process from start to finish
Ideal Users
Thanks to its simplicity and breadth of creative features, Procreate excels for all levels of digital artists. Total beginners appreciate the intuitive interface and brush system. Seasoned painters and illustrators leverage its advanced tools to replicate their traditional workflows.
All 2D artists – sketch artists, painters, illustrators alike – will find their medium of choice fully realized in Procreate.
Pricing
- $9.99 one-time purchase
- No subscriptions or additional in-app purchases
For the quality and versatility users get for under $10, Procreate offers exceptional value compared to rival iPad drawing apps.
Why Choose Procreate?
If you want one infinitely flexible app to handle any traditional 2D art discipline – from concept sketches to finished paintings – Procreate is the clear choice. Its latest updates include new animation assist features, making it capable of tackling just about any creative workflow.
With clever gestures that make the most of touch screens and flawless Apple Pencil integration, Procreate is built from the ground up for iPad artists.
Best Desktop Illustration App: Adobe Illustrator
Adobe has brought full-fledged Illustrator – the gold standard vector graphics app for 30+ years – to the iPad. This creates a seamless workflow for designers needing to transfer vector files between desktop and mobile.
While less feature-packed than its desktop sibling, Illustrator for iPad nails the core vector tools millions rely upon.
Key Features
- Touch-optimized Pen, Pencil, Curvature and Shape tools
- Cloud library with 800,000 free vectors, fonts, logos and graphics
- Canvas projection to extend work surface
- Export as SVG, PNG, JPG, PDF and other formats
Ideal Users
Longtime Illustrator devotees now have a quality mobile companion for touching up vectors on the go. For newer Illustrator users, the iPad app provides approachable entry into Adobe‘s famed vector environment. It excels for logo design, icon creation, 2D illustration, and any project requiring precision drawing tools.
Pricing
- Free to download with core functions
- Full premium version through $9.99/month Illustrator iPad subscription
- Alternative: available through broader Adobe Creative Cloud plans
Subscriptions may deter some users. But others appreciate accessing Illustrator and Adobe‘s other mobile apps under a single affordable plan.
Why Choose Illustrator for iPad?
For designers invested the Adobe ecosystem, Illustrator for iPad finally achieves seamless integration long expected from the software giant. For those less familiar, its streamlined interface lower barriers to the famously robust vector toolset.
While competing vector apps cater specifically for touch devices, Illustrator provides continuity – using the same vector tools across desktop and mobile formats. For this reason alone, it earns a spot among the iPad elite.
Best Traditional Art App: Art Set 4
While Procreate leads for digital painting, Art Set 4 pushes boundaries recreating traditional fine art methods on the iPad. Its watercolors, oils, pastels and other media leap off the screen with extraordinary expressiveness and precision.
Let‘s see what makes Art Set 4 the definitive traditional art simulator for iPad.
Key Features
- 140+ realistic artistic tools including pencils, ink pens, charcoal, crayons and more
- Layer blending modes like screen, overlay and luminosity
- Export full resolution images up to 8K
- left-hand mode support
Ideal Users
Art Set 4 shines for traditional fine artists now adapting their craft to the digital realm. Watercolor painters, sketch artists, and other creatives who rely more on physical technique than digital effects will find familiar interfaces here. Casual doodlers benefit from the realism too.
Pricing
- Free download with basic tools
- Premium access for $7.99 one-time purchase
Why Choose Art Set 4?
Procreate may offer more filters and effects. But in terms pure physical realism – the look and feel of actual art supplies – Art Set 4 has perfected it. From subtle bleed effects in watercolors to the texture scratch of colored pencils on paper, this app gets the details right.
For artists who fear losing the organic, free-flowing nature of traditional media in the switch to digital, Art Set 4 provides reassurance. It retains what‘s most beloved from fine art methods while embracing the perks of layers, unlimited undos, and easy sharing that only digital provides.
Best 3D Sculpting App: Nomad Sculpt
While 2D drawing dominates, a growing number of iPad apps cater to 3D sculptors. Leading the pack is Nomad Sculpt, renowned for its intuitive sculpting tools tailored exquisitely for touch.
Let‘s examine why Nomad Scupt is ideal for 3D artists adopting iPads into their creative flows.
Key Features
- ACES clay materials forming the most realistic digital clay available
- Dynamic tessellation support for sculpting high-frequency detail
- Reference image background projection
- Export to Maya, Blender and other 3D tools
Ideal Users
Sculptors already comfortable working in 3D will feel instantly at home. But Nomad‘s graceful learning curve also makes it a great introductory sculpting environment for novices. Game character artists, industrial designers, hobbyists and all other 3D sculpt enthusiasts benefit.
Pricing
- Single $14.99 app cost
- No subscriptions or added purchases needed
Why Choose Nomad Sculpt?
Quite simply, Nomad Sculpt represents the pinnacle of 3D sculpting adapted for iPad touch screens. The sensation of pushing, smoothing, gouging and shaping virtual clay feels natural. Compared to desktop apps, Nomad‘s gestural interface and dynamic tessellation reach new heights in the tactile sculpting experience.
While less equipped for technical 3D processes than specialized apps, Nomad focuses purely on sculpting – and provides possibly the industry‘s best solution available on a tablet today.
Best Sketching App: Sketchbook
Quick sketching apps reign supreme for capturing ideas in the moment. Delivering professional tools tailored for low friction sketching, Sketchbook by Autodesk remains a go-to for generations of iPad artists.
Key Features
- 150+ preset brushes with advanced customization options
- Intuitive UI with minimal toolbar interference
- Expandable stroke width/opacity for tapered lines
- Record entire sketching workflow as video
Ideal Users
Sketchbook empowers both careful architects drafting plans and animators dashing out storyboards on tight deadlines. The app welcomes anyone needing to ideate visually before jumping into finished illustrations and designs.
Pricing
- Free version with core tools
- Premium version $4.99 per year
Why Choose Sketchbook?
While Procreate and others also facilitate sketching, Sketchbook zeroes in on user experience tailored specifically for rapid idea generation. Custom toolbar options keep tools accessible without cluttering limited screen space. Sketch recording allows artists to recreate work in progress. Such purposeful features speed up essential sketching tasks.
Think of Sketchbook as the iPad‘s ultimate virtual napkin -ready anytime inspiration strikes.
Best Pro Illustration App: Inspire Pro
For professional illustrators accustomed to high-grade tools, Inspire Pro brings exceedingly refined brushes, filters and other utilities. Combined with seamless iCloud sync, it gives creatives tremendous iPad flexibility without compromises.
Let‘s explore Inspire Pro‘s professional-level toolset.
Key Features
- Silicone brush tips and calibrated strokes mimic real world media
- 1000+ customizable brushes available
- iCloud sync continues illustrations across devices
- Photoshop brush import
Ideal Users
Inspire Pro gives pros elaborate customization absent in consumer apps. Freelancers who regularly share files with clients appreciate its cloud saving and Photoshop integration. Full-time illustrators who rely on their iPad benefit most.
Pricing
- Single $19.99 cost
- No subscriptions
Why Choose Inspire Pro?
While cheaper apps often cater to dabbling amateurs, Inspire Pro keeps the focus squarely on refinements that busy professionals need. True dot-per-inch brush accuracy, robust layer tools, and wide Pantone color gamut support give commercial artists confidence in an iPad-centric workflow. For these working users, Inspire Pro merits the premium pricing.
How to Choose the Best iPad Drawing App
With so many capable drawing apps now available, selecting the right one can get overwhelming – especially given the effort investing in a new creative tool.
To find your best fit app, first reflect on several factors:
Desired art types – The type of art you want to create can quickly narrow suitable apps. Watercolor artists have different needs than 3D modelers. Define your medium first.
Skill level – Beginners often benefit from guidance while veterans demand specialized capabilities. Gauge your experience to choose fitting learning curves.
Price – Premium tools come at premium prices. Set budget limits based on how deeply you‘ll explore advanced versus basic features.
With those points clarified, browsing your best app is fairly straightforward:
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Browse featured apps here as a starting point. Our highlighted apps rank among the highest quality across art forms.
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Read several app reviews with your particular workflow in mind. Key on reviewer experiences relevant to your use case.
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Download trial versions when available. First-hand testing reveals if an app‘s interface and tools click with you.
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Leverage return policies for paid apps accommodating buyers realizing an app‘s mismatched expectations right after purchasing.
Doing this due diligence beforehand prevents buyer‘s remorse and positions you to max out your chosen app.
Getting Set Up with iPad Drawing Apps
After selecting your drawing app, make sure the rest of your iPad setup optimizes the digital art experience. Two investments prove especially valuable:
Get an Apple Pencil
For detailed, pressure-sensitive work, an Apple Pencil ($99-$129) grants exceptional precision. The accessory connects seamlessly with all our featured iPadOS apps. Artists typically find the Pencil quickly pays dividends offsetting its upfront cost.
Consider a textured screen protector
Many users accustomed to paper‘s tooth prefer replicated texture drawing on the iPad‘s glass face. Paperlike and other subtle grain screen protectors provide helpful remedy around $40.
With your software and hardware locked in, the pure joy of iPad creation awaits. Import graphics files from your creative archives or start fresh sketches from imagination. Easily undo mistakes as you finesse compositions. Work solo or tap the vibrant creative communities surrounding popular apps.
As you evaluate new iPad drawing apps, remember all that ultimately matters is you create confidently. Let the tablet and tools fade to the background as you draw vital focus to your artistic vision.
The digital canvases prepared, we sign off by simply wishing happy creating to all our readers currently with iPad stylus, brush or finger in hand.
