To draw in SketchBook, you can either use a stylus or just your finger. I will point out the cases where Sketchbook Express is different so that free users can still follow along. You’ll see why upgrading is worth the price, but you can definitely use the free version to follow along with almost everything in this tutorial and see how great drawing with Sketchbook is. Its user interface is also laid out just a little differently.

It’s free, but it limits the number of features, layers and tools that you can use. If you’re not sure you want to pay for the app just yet, you can use Sketchbook Express. For instance, you can start a sketch on your iPad and open it later on your MacBook to add the finishing touches. Sketchbook Pro is really affordable, and is available on all of the major platforms (it also has a free version, which I’ll get to in a minute):Īnother great feature is that any Sketchbook Pro files created on one device can be opened on any other device that has Sketchbook Pro installed. But unless you’re a hardcore illustrator, you don’t really need to invest a lot of money in graphics software. You might be asking, “What’s the reason for using Sketchbook Pro? Why not use Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, or even Flash?”

In this tutorial, you will be using an iPad app called Sketchbook Pro.

And even sharing your masterpieces with the rest of the world!īy the time you finish this tutorial, your skills in programmer art will level up.

Adding shading and highlights to your drawing.

Choosing and manipulating your drawing tools.

Some great tips on creating a rough guide sketch.

In this tutorial, you’ll learn to draw on iPad by making a cute alien creature. It’s a pretty safe bet that most developers outsource most of the art for their apps – programmer art is often said with a laugh for a reason!īut with a little bit of know-how, a good software package, and some decent instruction, there’s no reason that you can’t learn to draw some of your own art for your apps.

How to use sketchbook on ipad