With the digital age in full swing, the way that artists and designers
can produce work is a whole new ball game. From creating a
fully-rendered painting with the touch of your finger to instantly
finding a font with the click of your cell phone camera, the
possibilities are almost endless. Here is our list of the five most
useful apps for artists and designers.
SketchBook Mobile
AutoDesk’s mobile version of its SketchBook Pro product takes the idea of conceptual sketch design from the large screen and Wacom tablet and makes it mini and ready for use on your mobile device wherever you go. With this app your fingers are the only tools you will need, and with a quick swipe of the screen you can sketch, erase, tap and zoom. The newest version comes complete with significant upgrades like the capability to export PSDs, extended layer functions and much more.
$2.99 at iTunes
Brushes
While some claim the newest version of AutoDesk’s SketchBook mobile blows all of the other contenders out of the water, this list would not be complete without the inclusion of the highly regarded app–Brushes. Developed by former apple employee Steve Sprang, Brushes has a simple yet powerful UI (unlike SketchBook Pro), and is often considered the best app for digital painting. This app’s toolbar is located at the bottom of the screen and includes a color picker, eye dropper tool, paint bucket, brushes, brush properties and an eraser. On the bottom right of the screen, users can redo or undo any action and have direct access to all of their layers. Because this app was developed specificly for painters, the advanced and accurate brush features and capabilities are impressive but not surprising. Check out this amazing video of artist David Kassan using Brushes to fully render a portrait of an old man. It is awesome.
$4.99 at iTunes
WhatTheFont
We all know that there is more to design than just sketching, and thankfully the app WhatTheFont is here to help us with all of our typographic needs. We see typography in almost everything we look at these days, and as designers most of us are always on the hunt for undiscovered fonts. This app takes the guess work out of this entire process. The next time you are looking at a magazine ad, poster or web banner and notice a great font, all you have to do is grab your iPhone and snap a photo. WhatTheFont connects directly to MyFonts.com and can identify the font in just seconds!
Free at iTunes
Palettes
One cannot deny that color is important for both artists and designers, so we’re thrilled to give three cheers for Palettes! Developed by Rick Maddy, Palettes make it easy for anybody to create a color palette anywhere at anytime. You can grab colors from a photograph, website, or any one of 5 color models offered. And if you are really serious about color, definitely consider paying the extra dough for the Pro version. One of the best features of the pro version is that it allows you to Import and Export palettes to and from Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and Fireworks, GIMP, Paintshop Pro and OS X Color Chooser. This app is a must have for graphic and web designers.
$5.99 at iTunes
Rulers 2
We all know the importance of accuracy, and so does Rulers 2, which has given us the tools to be accurate and on point everywhere we go. Available for your iPhone and your iPad, this app will turn your mobile device into a handy measuring tool. Rulers 2 features a pointer with a digital readout, so all you have to do is line up the device with what you are measuring, and poof! a precise measurement is at your finger tips. Literally.
The added beauty of this app is that you actually get a pointer with a digital readout. This means that all you have to do is line up the device with whatever you are trying to measure and you will get the precise measurement instantly. This measurement will be displayed in inches–complete with fractions–or in centimetres with decimals, depending on which option you choose.
$0.99 at iTunes
What apps do you use when you are feeling creative?
See
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Inhabitat is an online magazine devoted to the future of design, tracking the innovations in technology, practices and materials that are pushing architecture and design towards a smarter and more sustainable future. Written by a young tech-savvy team designers and design journalists, Inhabitat delivers fresh content daily, showcasing emerging work from the cutting-edge of the global design community. Rebecca Paul is a designer, portrait painter, installation artist and writer. After receiving her BFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design – Rebecca moved to Los Angeles where she worked as a resident artist for The Hive Gallery and Studios in the emerging downtown art scene. During her time on the west
coast she also acted as a Freelance Curator where she produced several
art shows converting raw spaces throughout the city into dynamic
backdrops for a variety of mediums. Uninspired by the contemporary art
market – Rebecca is currently living in Brooklyn and has shifted her
career path to focus on sustainable design and architecture. She plans
to pursue her Masters degree in industrial design, so she can further
her contribution to the field.
Read More From Rebecca Paul
