There are a number of great apps available that allow users to draw, sketch, color, and paint digitally on their smartphones and tablets. These creative apps provide fun and engaging ways for both kids and adults to express their artistic talents through digital mediums. The best drawing and coloring apps are easy to use, offer a wide array of tools and features, and produce results that look impressive and realistic.
Popular Drawing and Coloring Apps
Here are some of the most popular and highly-rated apps for drawing, sketching, coloring, and painting:
Adobe Photoshop Sketch
Adobe Photoshop Sketch allows users to create digital artwork using Photoshop’s powerful drawing tools and brushes. It provides extensive options for layering, blending, and adjusting opacity. The app mimics the feel of sketching with pencil and paper by offering natural stroke smoothing. Sketches can be exported as layered PSD files for use in Photoshop on the desktop.
ArtFlow: Paint Draw Sketchbook
ArtFlow is feature-rich sketching and painting software that provides over 100 high-quality brushes with full control over parameters like size, opacity, and blending modes. It includes ruler and symmetry tools, multiple customizable layers, and the ability to import photos. Drawings can be exported at up to 4K resolution.
Autodesk SketchBook
Autodesk SketchBook has a user-friendly interface and professional-grade tools for digital sketching and painting. Core features include over 250 customizable brushes, a predictive stroke engine, and an intuitive layer system. Artwork can be exported in high resolution to PNG, JPG, TIFF, and PSD formats.
Adobe Illustrator Draw
Adobe Illustrator Draw allows you to turn your touchscreen device into a digital drawing canvas. The vector drawing app offers customizable brushes, layers, and advanced drawing tools. Seamlessly sync your projects to Adobe Creative Cloud for refinement in Illustrator on desktop.
Recolor
Recolor is one of the best coloring book apps for transforming photos into digital coloring pages. Choose an image from your camera roll or photo libraries to convert into a line drawing ready for coloring. The app provides a wide selection of coloring tools and hues for filling in your artwork.
Key Features of Drawing and Coloring Apps
The most full-featured drawing and coloring apps share some key features that enable users to digitally create artwork and designs easily:
| Realistic Drawing Tools | Pencils, pens, markers, crayons, paintbrushes, and more simulated realistically |
| Color Palettes | Wide range of hues, shades, and colors for filling and shading |
| Layers | Ability to layer strokes, colors, and elements for compositing |
| Blending Modes | Blend, smear, and smudge tools for seamless effects |
| Import Images | Insert photos to trace, draw over, or convert into coloring pages |
| Symmetry Mode | Draw in perfect symmetry |
| Drawing Guides | Horizon lines, vanishing points, geometric shapes |
| Brush Customization | Control size, spacing, scatter, opacity and more |
These features allow for an immense amount of creative flexibility and expression when drawing or coloring digitally. The most full-featured apps aim to simulate the experience of working with real artistic media.
Benefits of Digital Drawing and Coloring
There are many excellent reasons to use a dedicated drawing and coloring app:
Convenience
Drawing apps allow you to illustrate and color anytime, anywhere, using just your smartphone or tablet. No need for physical drawing supplies. You can work on your digital creations and access your entire collection of artwork on one device.
Powerful Tools
Specialized drawing and coloring apps provide robust toolsets comparable to professional software. These include features like rulers, shape guides, slicing, layers, and perspective tools. Far more capability than just a simple painting program.
Creative Freedom
The advanced tools and customizable brushes found in drawing apps provide endless options for bringing creative visions to life. No physical limitations on supplies.
Stress Relief
Like physical coloring books, digital coloring apps can have a calming, meditative effect. The digital format provides convenience and more options.
Learn Art Techniques
Drawing tools like symmetrical models and perspective guides help you acquire skills. Brush customization allows you to fine-tune your style.
Community
Some apps allow you to share your artwork and see creations from talented artists around the world. Great for inspiration and feedback.
Best Apps for Drawing vs. Coloring
While there is overlap in capabilities, some apps are better suited for drawing and sketching, while others excel at digital coloring:
Best for Drawing
– Adobe Photoshop Sketch
– Autodesk SketchBook
– Adobe Illustrator Draw
– ArtFlow
– Infinite Painter
These provide advanced tools tailored to illustration and drawing, such as predictive sketching assistants, customizable brushes, and powerful layering.
Best for Coloring
– Recolor
– Pigment
– Lake
– ZenColor
– ColorFly
These apps offer features aimed specifically at digital coloring. Such as converting images to coloring pages, extensive color palettes, and a variety of fill tools.
Top Apps for Kids
Drawing and coloring apps provide a fun, engaging creative outlet for kids. Some of the top-rated options for children include:
MediBang Paint Pro
Easy to use drawing and painting tools. Fun comic creation features. Suitable for kids age 8+.
Draw and Tell HD
Combines drawing and storytelling. Record narration for each illustration. For ages 3+.
Doodle Buddy Paint Draw App
Simple fingerpainting app good for toddlers. Colorful stamps, stickers, and backgrounds. Ages 2+.
My Coloring Book
Kid-friendly coloring book app. Includes stickers and easy fill tools. For children ages 3+.
Crayola ColorScape
Virtual coloring book from Crayola. Great selection of pages. Designed for kids ages 4-8.
The best options provide simple, intuitive tools suitable for young kids, as well as kid-appealing coloring pages, stickers and stamps. Guided features can help teach art techniques.
Conclusion
Drawing and coloring apps for mobile devices open up exciting creative possibilities. Powerful digital tools allow users of all ages and abilities to easily illustrate, color, and share artwork. Top apps simulate the experience of physical media while providing convenience and expanding creative options. While some excel at drawing and others at coloring, they all enable you to exercise your artistic skills and find engaging creative outlets on your smartphone or tablet.
