Sketching is your starting point if you are a lover of art or say you have a flair for drawing, as sketching is one of the best ways of expressing one’s ideas artistically.
Sketching practically allows you to view things from a different perspective and achieve a realistic depiction of your imagination. All you have to do is get the best tools to achieve the best result.
Luckily, these tools are available in a digital form, making the process less cumbersome and more fun. However, given the sheer plethora of sketching tools that are available on the market currently, finding the best may be challenging.
In this blog post, we have compiled and reviewed the seven best sketching tools for you to make an informed decision.
What is a Sketching Tool and How Does it Work?
A Sketching tool (software) is a type of computer-aided design software used for creating wireframes, mockups, and prototypes. It allows you to create drawings and sketches of your ideas to help communicate them to others.
It typically works by allowing you to create shapes and lines on a canvas, which can then be manipulated and edited as needed. Sketching software can be used for a variety of purposes, such as creating storyboards, visualizing ideas, creating illustrations and comics, or prototyping designs.
It can be particularly helpful in the early stages of design when you’re trying to communicate your ideas to others. Sketching can also be a useful tool for quickly exploring different design options and iterations.
Sketching is a great way to get your ideas down on the screen and start exploring the possibilities for your project wherever you are.
Benefits of Using a Sketching Software?
Some of the benefits of using a sketching software include:
- The Ability to Quickly Create and Share Ideas
With a sketching software, you can quickly create sketches of your ideas and share them with others. This can be helpful for brainstorming sessions or for sharing your designs with colleagues.
- Improved Collaboration
A sketching software can improve collaboration by allowing multiple people to view and edit the same design. This can be helpful when you’re working on a project with others and need to get their feedback.
- The Ability to Iterate on Designs Quickly
A sketching software can help you iterate on your designs quickly. This means you can make changes to your designs and see how they look without having to redraw them from scratch. This can save you time and help you create better designs.
- Increased Creativity
A sketching software can help you be more creative by giving you the ability to experiment with different design concepts. This can lead to new ideas and innovations.
- Improved Communication
A sketching software can improve communication by allowing you to share your designs with others. This can help you get feedback on your designs and ensure everyone is on the same page. This can save you time and help you be more productive.
- Reduced Costs
A sketching software can help reduce costs by allowing you to create and share designs quickly. This can help you save money on printing and other expenses, especially since some highly functional free tools exist.
Buyer’s Guide for the Best Sketching Tools
When it comes to sketching tools, there are a few things you need to consider before making your purchase. These include:
Type
There are two main types of sketches: vector and raster. Vector sketches are made of lines and shapes, while raster sketches are made of pixels. Vector sketches are usually more accurate and can be scaled up or down without losing quality, while raster sketches can be harder to edit and resize.
Budget
Sketching tools range in price from free to hundreds of dollars. If you’re just starting, you may want to consider a free or low-cost option. However, if you’re looking for more professional features, you’ll need to spend more.
Level of experience
If you’re a beginner, look for a tool that is easy to use and has a lot of tutorials or built-in help. However, if you’re a professional, you can go for sketching tools with more advanced features.
Specific need
Some tools are designed for specific tasks, such as creating comics or architecture sketches. Some tools can allow you to do niched artwork such as watercolor and oil painting, Make sure the tool you choose has the features you need.
Our Top Picks for Best Sketching Tools
- Overall Best for Drawing and Painting: Clip Studio Paint Pro
- Best for Professional Use: Autodesk Sketchbook Pro
- Best for Vector Graphic: CorelDRAW Graphic Suite
- Best for Japanese Manga and Comics: MediBang Paint
- Best for Watercolor Painting: Adobe Fresco
- Best for Ipad Users: Procreate
- Best Free Sketching Tool: Krita
Review of the Best Sketching Tools
Clip Studio Paint Pro
Overall Best for Drawing and Painting
Clip Studio Paint Pro is a powerful program that offers many tools for artists, including a wide variety of brushes, layers, and color options. It also allows users to create vector illustrations scaled up or down without losing quality. Additionally, Clip Studio Paint Pro also offers built-in animation tools that will enable artists to create short animations or film sequences.
Clip Studio Paint Pro is undoubtedly an excellent program for digital sketching. It is perfect for artists of all levels. Clip Studio Paint Pro is used to create simple sketches and complex illustrations.
Features
- Clip Studio Paint has functions that allow you to create animation with the same tools for drawing and painting.
- Clip Studio Paint Pro is suitable for animating frames or referencing multiple frames.
- It can edit, adjust timing, and add camera work and audio to animation without switching programs.
- It can export animation in different formats depending on the needs.
- It is used to speed up workflow.
- It can be used to create backups of the workspace.
What We Like
- It has lots of features and customization options
- It comes with a powerful brush engine
- Excellent pressure sensitivity
- Good file compatibility
- Available for Windows and Mac.
What We Don’t Like
- Steep learning curve
- Limited text editing features
- No built-in video support.
Pricing
- Clip Studio Paint Pro – $49.99 (one-time purchase)
- Clip Studio Paint Ex – $219 (one-time purchase)
- Clip Studio Monthly Plans – $0.99 per month with the first three months free.
Autodesk Sketchbook Pro
Best for Sketching
SketchBook Pro is a digital painting and drawing software application developed by Autodesk for professional and amateur artists. The software’s primary purpose is to provide a natural drawing experience similar to traditional media.
SketchBook Pro offers a wide variety of features, including pencils, pens, markers, erasers, layers, and extensive file compatibility.
Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just getting started, SketchBook Pro is the ideal tool for your digital art needs. With its natural drawing experience and a wide variety of features, SketchBook Pro is the perfect software for artists of all backgrounds.
Features
- User-friendly interface
- Customizable digital pencils, pens, brushes, markers, and airbrushes
- Ability to capture ideas in writing, typed comments, and sketches
- Standard image formats including TIF, BMP, JPG, PNG, and PSD
- Emailing capabilities.
What We Like
- Powerful sketching and painting tools
- Natural media emulation for realistic results
- Customizable user interface for a personalized workflow
- Symmetry tool for creating perfectly symmetrical artworks.
What We Don’t Like
- Some users may find the user interface to be overwhelming
- The tools are somewhat limited compared to other software.
Pricing
- Free for individual artists
- One time license starting at $19.99
CorelDraw Graphic Suite
Best for Vector Graphic Design
CorelDraw Graphic Suite is a comprehensive vector graphic design software package that enables users to create high-quality digital art and illustrations. The software offers a wide range of features and tools that allow users to experiment with different techniques and styles to create unique and eye-catching designs.
Whether a beginner or an experienced graphic designer, CorelDraw Graphic Suite has everything you need to create stunning artwork.
Features
- An overhauled vector rendering engine for better performance and stability
- New bitmap effects include halftone, color replacement, and color abstraction
- It has a new live preview for filters, styles, and effects
- New web graphics features, including SVG export and web fonts
- Enhanced text editing and typography features
- Improved support for high-resolution displays.
What We Like
- Featured comprehensive vector drawing and illustration tools
- Powerful bitmap-to-vector tracing capabilities
- Impressive photo editing features
- Flexible subscription pricing options are available.
What We Don’t Like
- Some tools can be challenging to master
- Lacks some advanced features found in competitors
- Limited file format compatibility compared to other vector drawing software
- Poor customer support.
Pricing
- Free Trial – 15 days
- Annual Plan – $36.58 per month
- One-time purchase – $859 (2021 version)
- Limited time offer – $439 per year.
MediBang Paint
Best for Japanese Manga and Comics
MediBang Paint is a free digital painting and comic creation software for artists and art lovers. It offers extensive drawing and painting tools, including brushes, canvas, erasers, fonts, and materials. It is available on Windows, Mac OS X, Android, and iOS.’
The free tool is very useful in creating Japanese manga and comics.
Feature
- Simple and user-friendly interface
- Offers over 800 drawing and painting materials
- It has a cloud storage facility for saving, sharing, backing up, and accessing files from anywhere across the internet
- Comprehensive tutorials to help users easily navigate through the software.
What We Like
- Free to use
- Intuitive interface that is easy to use
- Lots of features and tools for digital painting
- Great for creating comics and manga
- It can be used on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices.
What We Don’t Like
- It may be overwhelming for beginners
- Not as many features as some of the more expensive options.
Pricing
- Free
- Medibang Premium
20GB – 2480 JPY per year
100GB – 3980 JPY per year
300 GB – 7890 JPY per year
Adobe Fresco
Best for Watercolor Painting
Adobe Fresco is a tool with an extensive collection of vector and raster brushes for a natural drawing and painting experience. Its watercolors are slick with liquids that run and blend on the screen just like on actual paper.
The tool blends raster, live, and vector brushes on a simple but intuitive interface. Adobe Fresco allows users to export their work in different quality formats and upload it directly to Behance.
Features
- Live brushes
- Watercolors and oil painting
- Simple, intuitive interface
- Online gallery of other users
- Pixel brushes
- Touch shortcut
- Export in formats such as PNG, JPG, PSD, and PDF.
What We Like
- Impressive set of brushes
- Blending of raster, live, and vector brushes
- Live Brushes
- Slick watercolor painting
What We Don’t Like
- Requires a high-end device to run perfectly
- Limited live brushes
- It can be expensive for non-Adobe Creative Cloud users
- No text tool
- Limited Canvas texture
Pricing
- Premium Version costs $9.99 per month after a thirty-day free trial.
- You can also get Adobe Fresco as part of the Adobe Creative Cloud suite.
Procreate
Best for Ipad Users
Procreate is one of the best digital art apps on the market today. Packed with powerful tools that help imitate real painting techniques closely. Procreate features a customizable brush library, meaning you get to edit the brushes available to fit the strokes you want to achieve on screen.
Procreate has a minimalist interface that works seamlessly with an Ipad and an Apple pen. Overall, Procreate is a fun tool for artists with its customizable brushes, color menu, and 3D tools.
Features
- Customizable brushes
- Versatile color menu
- 3D models
- Eyedropper color descriptions to aid colorblind artists
- Single touch gesture
- Recent brush feature for easier navigation.
What We Like
- Simple and intuitive interface
- 3D tools
- High level of flexibility
- Customizable color palettes and brushes for a personal drawing experience.
What We Don’t Like
- Works only on an Ipad
Pricing
One-time purchase at $9.99
Krita
Best Free Sketching Tool
Krita is an open-source and free digital art tool that is designed with art enthusiasts and digital art beginners in mind. Krita has a user-friendly and intuitive interface that makes it easier to use and an enthusiastic online community that provides user support.
Even though it is a free tool, Krita provides an impressive range of features and tools, such as the brush stabilizer and brush engine, that give users a lot of control over their brush.
Features
- Clean and flexible interface
- Dark and light color themes
- Customizable shortcuts
- Brush stabilizers and brush engines
- Vector and text
- Animation feature.
What We Like
- It is free
- Flexible and simple interface
- Training resources and a strong community
- HDR painting
- It is a light software, so it can function optimally with limited storage space.
- Excellent image editor
What We Don’t Like
- It is not a very versatile tool
- Still missing some tools
Pricing
Free
FAQs on the Best Sketching Tools
A sketching software is a great way to create quick and easy mockups of your designs. You can use it to create wireframes, mood boards, or just to brainstorm ideas. If you’re looking for a good sketching software, check out Clip Studio Paint Pro or Autodesk Sketch Pro.
Most artists use CorelDRAW Graphic Suite and Autodesk Sketchbook Pro. These are both very powerful programs with a lot of features. If you’re looking for something a little more simple, Adobe Fresco or Procreate are good options.
The most significant limitation of a sketching software is that it can be challenging to get precise movements. It can be hard to get the proportions right if you’re trying to create a design for something that needs to be a specific size.
Additionally, sketching software is often not as precise in capturing the feel and texture of human-made art. However, it’s a lot easier to use and is excellent for quick mockups.
There are a lot of great drawing programs out there, but which one is best for beginners? It really depends on what you’re looking for. If you want something that’s easy to use and has many features, Krita or Procreate might be the best option.
Yes, some sketching tools can be used for oil painting, although they might not totally capture the feel of an oil painting.
Final Thoughts
To conclude, the best drawing tools allow you to create the most realistic and detailed data possible. With the right tool, you can bring your sketches to life and make them look as if they were real drawings, paintings, and illustrations.
From our research, the overall best and probably most popular sketching tool is Clip Studio Paint Pro. However, other reviewed tools have their peculiarities. For example, MediBang Paint is an excellent tool for comic and anime artists. Similarly, Adobe Fresco is great for watercolor painting with its live brushes, and CorelDRAW Graphic Suite is great for vector graphics.
In a nutshell, whether you’re a beginner or a professional artist, these sketching tools will help you achieve your desired results.
