Coloring is a fun and relaxing activity that many people enjoy. In the digital age, there are now apps that allow you to color your own pictures on a mobile device or computer. These coloring apps offer a range of features and benefits that make coloring more accessible, creative, and social.
Coloring apps allow users to color line art, drawings, photos, and other images digitally. Some key features of coloring apps include:
- A wide selection of images to color
- Digital coloring tools (markers, pencils, brushes, pens, etc.)
- Color palettes and ability to customize colors
- Layers so you can redo colors without ruining previous work
- Zoom and rotate images for easy coloring
- Save, print, or share completed colorings
Coloring apps provide benefits such as:
- Convenience – Color on your device anywhere, anytime
- More options – Choose from countless images and colors
- Creativity – Use advanced tools to make professional looking art
- Relaxation – Color at your own pace for stress relief
- Learning – Some apps teach color theory and art techniques
- Community – Share your colorings and see others’ artwork
There are many great coloring apps to choose from, such as Pigment, Colorfly, Recolor, and ColorTherapy. The best apps have a lot of images, customization features, and sharing options.
Popular Coloring Apps
Here are some of the most popular and highest rated coloring apps:
Pigment
Pigment is one of the most fully-featured coloring apps available. Key features include:
- Over 4,500 images including mandalas, animals, landscapes, patterns, and more
- Ability to import your own photos to color
- Hundreds of color palettes and ability to create custom palettes
- Advanced tools like Gradient Fill, Color Replacer, Color Picker
- Layers for non-destructive coloring
- Zoom, rotate, and flip images
- Share completed colorings on social media
Pigment has outstanding customization options and professional quality tools. It’s available on iOS, Android, and the web.
Colorfly
Colorfly is a free coloring app with the following features:
- Library of 2,500+ images including animals, mandalas, florals, cars, holidays
- Fun brush tools including Neon, Galaxy, Rainbow, and more
- Ability to upload photos to auto-trace into coloring pages
- Community area to share and rate colorings
- Color challenge competitions
- Color palette organizing features
Colorfly makes coloring more social with its community features. It’s available on iOS and Android.
Recolor
Recolor is focused on helping users relax with simple coloring tools. Features include:
- 1,500+ intricate illustrations and patterns
- Soothing background music and sounds
- Basic color palette of 24 colors
- Simple tools like Paint Bucket and Eraser
- Daily coloring page shared on social media
- Easy user interface
Recolor provides a calming, distraction-free coloring experience. It’s perfect for beginners and available on iOS and Android.
ColorTherapy
ColorTherapy is a coloring app designed with mental health benefits in mind. It offers:
- 500+ affirmation and mandala images
- Self-care quotes and messages
- Soothing nature backgrounds and sounds
- Basic and neon color palettes
- Guided coloring through categories like Focus, Energy, Calm, Sleep
- Coloring reminders and routine tracking
ColorTherapy incorporates mindfulness, gratitude, and growth content into the coloring experience. It’s available on iOS and Android.
Key Coloring App Features
When evaluating coloring apps, here are some of the most important features and tools to look for:
Large Image Library
The number of images available influences how long you can use an app before getting bored. Top coloring apps offer 1,000+ images across many categories like animals, nature, mandalas, abstract designs, holidays, and more. being able to import your own photos is also a nice feature.
Coloring Tools
Good coloring apps provide a range of digital coloring tools including:
- Smart Color – Automatically fills enclosed areas
- Paint Bucket – Fills areas with a tap
- Pencils – Color lightly for shading effects
- Markers, pens – Bolder, solid colors
- Crayons – Waxy, textured colors
- Airbrush – Soft sprays of color
- Eraser – Remove mistaken colors
- Eyedropper – Sample colors
Advanced tools like Gradient Fill, Glitter, Neon, Galaxy, Rainbow effects add to the fun.
Layers
Layers allow you to color without permanently changing the image. You can go back and redo colors endlessly. Layers make complicated coloring projects less frustrating.
Zoom & Rotate
Magnify sections of an image up to 5-10x to color tiny details. Rotate or flip images for easy coloring from any angle.
Color Palettes
Color palettes allow you to organize and customize colors. Features include:
- Library of preset palettes
- Ability to create custom palettes
- Organize favorite palettes into folders
- Eyedropper tool copies colors
- Hex code support for perfect color matching
Large palette libraries with advanced organizing make coloring more creative.
Sharing & Community
Social features allow you to share your artwork and see colorings from others. Some apps have galleries, contests, chat features, and more to build community.
Benefits of Coloring Apps
Coloring apps provide many great benefits including:
Convenience
Color anytime, anywhere on your smartphone or tablet. Coloring apps are portable fun for travel, waiting rooms, commutes, and more.
Variety
Choose from thousands of coloring pages on any theme you can imagine. New pages are continuously added.
Creativity
Digital tools allow you to color, shade, blend, and decorate with unlimited options. Add creative filters and effects.
Sharing
Post your artwork on social media and coloring community apps. See creations from colorists worldwide.
Relaxation
Peacefully color at your own pace with soothing music. Let your stress fade away.
Concentration
Focusing on coloring improves concentration skills and attention span.
Motor Skills
Using coloring tools exercises fine motor skills and dexterity.
Memory
Looking at designs and deciding colors activates thinking and memory.
Teaches Tech Skills
Learning an app builds digital literacy and comfort with technology.
Types of Coloring Apps
Coloring apps can be grouped into these main categories:
General Coloring Apps
These apps offer a wide variety of images and tools for open-ended coloring. Examples are Pigment, Colorfly, Recolor.
Photo Coloring Apps
Convert your photos into digital coloring pages. Examples are ColorPop, PointColor.
Mandala Apps
Specialized apps for coloring symmetrical circular mandala designs. Examples are Color Mandala, Mandala Color.
Pixel Art Apps
Color geometric pixel images and create digital mosaic art. Examples are Pixel Art, Color by Number.
Paint-by-Number Apps
Fill in numbered sections according to a key to create a full image. Examples are Paint by Number, Colorfy.
3D and Anti-Stress Apps
Color intricate 3D and geometric images for relaxation. Examples are Calm Color, Happy Color.
Kids Coloring Apps
Fun coloring apps with simple tools for children. Examples are Colorfy, Crayola Color.
Conclusion
Coloring apps provide a convenient, engaging way to enjoy the relaxing, creative benefits of coloring on your mobile device. The best apps offer a wide selection of images, advanced coloring tools, customization features, and community options.
Top coloring apps include Pigment, Recolor, Colorfly, and ColorTherapy. Key features to look for are large image libraries, customizable palettes, layers for non-destructive coloring, and sharing capabilities.
Beyond relaxation, coloring apps can improve focus, motor skills, and concentration. With many types of specialty coloring apps, you can find the perfect option for your interests and needs.
Unleash your inner artist! Download a coloring app to your mobile device or computer and enjoy coloring your own digital pictures today.
| Coloring App | Platforms | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Pigment | iOS, Android, Web | Over 4,500 images, layers, advanced tools, custom palettes |
| Colorfly | iOS, Android | 2,500+ images, community, contests, fun brushes |
| Recolor | iOS, Android | 1,500+ illustrations, simple interface, relaxing |
| ColorTherapy | iOS, Android | 500+ affirmation images, self-care quotes, reminders |