Ranking Every Drawing App

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Check my Courses (worldwide) brad.site/learn/
Ranking every drawing app ever? Are you mad? Yes. And it's impossible to rank EVER drawing app, but I can rank A LOT OF THEM. So that's what I'm doing today.
00:00 Intro
01:27 Photoshop
02:24 Adobe Illustrator
02:57 Adobe Fresco
05:23 Affinity Photo/Designer
06:31 Vectornator
07:17 Sketchable
08:09 Leonardo
08:58 Krita
10:04 Gimp
10:41 Sketchbook
11:43 Clip Studio Paint
12:41 Procreate
13:57 Heavy Paint
14:56 Art Studio Pro
15:39 My Pint
16:20 Ibis Paint X
17:21 Medibang
18:18 Corel Draw/Corel Paint
18:57 Infinite Painter
19:29 Artflow
19:48 Huion Sketch
20:59 Inkscape
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[@vizvik1678]

Krita being free and on the S-tier shows how advanced and capable software it is!

[@puffyunicat2458]

Krita is one of the worst software I have ever used. You can't put software in the s tier when its programmers don't even bother with the UI/UX. Making software so insufferable to use is just like saying "we don't care about our software's users ". If it isn't enough Krita's brushes look and feel shitty. Krita can't compete with Photoshop, Clip studio, or Procreate (not even with the discontinued Paint Tool Sai). I really don't like it. Not as a programmer, not as a designer, and especially not as a user.

[@krishiv6565]

@@puffyunicat2458 I don't know which universe's Krita u have been using

[@lloydkuijs]

@@puffyunicat2458 As a software engineer, your comment made me barf.

[@FroggyWagon]

@@puffyunicat2458 I've used Krita before and I feel the same.

[@hatedphrase7937]

@@puffyunicat2458 hah... as a digital painting hobbyist, i bet u can't even use linux based OS As a programmer and a designer yourself, please do enlighten us. Do your magic, Krita is Open Source after all.

[@flaminashes4693]

How dare you forget the S+ tier MS Paint

[@alfaridarizka865]

Wrong. MS Paint is the SSS+++ tier /j

[@HLPiepgrass]

You made me laugh!😂

[@ExultantTJ]

It is GOD tier.

[@kurisurisuku]

@@alfaridarizka865yooo

[@Thatonemetalsonicfan]

I was sad once I saw that MS paint wasn’t on this list

[@lego_minifig]

I always respect open source software like Krita

[@rosiisartistic]

krita is just great. Been a user for 2-3 years and I love it.

[@smorty3573]

Open source stuff is just really cool

[@giveitupforbeabadoobee]

it also have animation feature and doesn't support NFT, what a chad.

[@smorty3573]

@@carma27 Very True. I love Krita on my tablet and Plasma is just fun to use.

[@blackcitadel37]

The version 5 is no joke. I prefer it over Photoshop for drawing.

[@jamesedenart]

I'm genuinely surprised SAI wasn't even on the list. It felt like it came around when everyone was begging for better inking abilities than what photoshop could offer, and the stabilization tool was revolutionary at the time. I would have continued using SAI had CSP not come onto the scene as a "love child between SAI and Photoshop"

[@Amanecer458]

I tried to Dowland Sai, is saw many videos and i only had the trial version

[@repeekyraidcero]

I know a few pros who swear on it... But it isnt on Android, sooo...

[@poolsharkATTACK]

Isn't it SAI currently abandonware? It was so revolutionary when it came out, but I feel like it's steadily falling behind the curve

[@TheWipal]

@@poolsharkATTACK people kept stealing it so the dev dropped it

[@snoozyA113]

@@TheWipal that’s unfortunate. I really loved sai when I was younger and would’ve loved to see the application adapted and upgraded over the years

[@Miranda_Starheart]

Ibis paint also has a KZbin channel where they teach you how to use their features or tutorials on how to draw different things which is cool

[@sugengriyanto229]

Yeah, they have a bunch of tutorials

[@Haunted_Plush]

Yeah and they're actually easy to follow and not too technical witch I like a lot since it's easy for me to get overwhelmed with that stuff lmao

[@PSL-Mogger]

@@sugengriyanto229 I don't understand why ibispaint is in c tier while infinite painter in b.

[@Junkhead10]

@@PSL-Mogger I feel you ibis has way more to offer especially when you consider the community stuff, it seems this youtube wasn't aware there is a paid version to avoid the amazing ads. but not the end of the world that he didn't know

[@justintimbertim8589]

@@PSL-Mogger Brad actually said that Ibis paint can go anywhere on the tier, so it is considered an s tier app, but he put it in c tier because of the ad.

[@tecinplace1316]

"There's also little things in Clip Studio like you can animate..." bruh thats a huge thing

[@EGODINGO32]

Kinda overglanced that didn't he? I mean, even anime studios in Japan use it for their animation.

[@ons3949]

S- Photoshop, Krita, Clip studio paint, Procreate A- Illustrator, Affinity designer, Huion Sketch B- Frescoe, sketchable, Leonardo, ArtstudioPro, infinity painter, Artflow C-Vectornator, Sketchbook, Heavy Paint, Ibis paintX, Medibang D- Affinity Photo, My pint, Inkscape F-Gimp Didn't make the list- Coreldraw/paint

[@ponpokobushi7389]

Sai 1/2 must be on A or S for god speed brush engine and flexibility.

[@AriaSerif]

Krita deserves to be off the S list for constant crashes and other bugs with 5.0, plus a crappy support team

[@yuukihinamori2310]

@@ponpokobushi7389 I agree. Still a Sai user here and I still love it to this day.

[@jekesan4221]

@@AriaSerif You just have suckish PC/tablet, i always draw on it for more than 3h and never crash

[@AriaSerif]

@@jekesan4221 my pc isn't the issue and my tablet never gave me any trouble before. thing is I NEVER had any of these issues UNTIL the update. I had minor issues with the 4.2 version I had, but nothing like this.

[@alzamonart]

Adobe Photoshop / Illustrator became the gold standard because for many years... they were the only game in town. My personal opinion: Photoshop was never intended to be used as a digital drawing/painting app, but photo retouching and manipulation. Again, since there weren't any apps that could compete with or surpass Adobe's offerings, they ended up being the industry default... but now in 2022 this is no longer the case, and with Adobe moving to a rather expensive subscription model, Affinity and CSP's single-purchase offerings are a solid, money-wise alternative. I personally dropped all Adobe programs in favor of these (and Procreate in my iPad Pro).

[@npcimknot958]

Adobe's biggest mistake was following Netflix subscriptions model

[@TakarieZan]

@@npcimknot958 I can't even say Netflix subcription model. Netlfix is competitively priced. Adobe arguably isn't.

[@akane8615]

what is csp?

[@thomasrivet5494]

@@akane8615 CSP = Clip Studio Paint 11:43

[@akane8615]

@@thomasrivet5494 thank you so much!

[@jordandunn2386]

Very surprised Paint Tool Sai wasn't on the list (and it seems I'm not the only one), but I can kinda understand why, too; the stablest version of the program is pretty outdated at this point, and while the 2.0 software is indeed in continuous development (site released a new technical preview last week), I'm pretty sure the whole team working on it is just one dude, and it's been ongoing for years. Sai was my first drawing program, and the first drawing program of most other artists I knew while I was learning. It's definitely in a weird space developmentally right now, but it heavily influenced how a whole generation of digital artists approach the medium. No other software I've tried feels quite like it, though CSP comes the closest, and if Paint Tool Sai released a major feature update tomorrow, I'd go back to that as my default program in a heartbeat.

[@Diwasho]

I don't think I'll ever ditch SAI, it's the only thing I can comfortably use. Nothing else feels even close as good as it, even SAI 2.0 is not quite the same.

[@DallasUzumaki]

@@Diwasho on what devices is it available? And is it good for the beginners?

[@Diwasho]

@@DallasUzumaki It's just on Windows. I don't know how well it would run on 11 but I'm currently using it on Win10 and it's still working well aside from some UI scaling issues on higher resolutions. And yes, it's great for beginners. Not only is it easy to learn but it's pretty much fully capable of producing high end art, and if you ever want to add finishing touches in Photoshop you can easily save your file as PSD whenever you want, as well as open PSD files in SAI. I love how flexible SAI is, I'm not sure that I can recommend it as a main drawing app since it hasn't been updated in over a decade but if there's nothing else that feels good enough for you then do give it a try.

[@mimii694]

SAI was my first art program too. Crazy to think I'd almost forgotten about it. Helped me make my first steps into the digital art world

[@ashurad_fox5991]

I still use SAI til this day (like ver 1.4 if I remember) since the ver 2 was a miss for me (the ui and work area made it hard for me to use) And unlike photoshop like design, SAI is really simple and easy to understand. (Sadly the psd bug in the ver 1 is quite a pain, since you can't save or export if you open said psd file)

[@pavlice_]

the only thing I wanted from this list was for gimp to end up in the lowest possible tier and I was not disappointed

[@mathieul4303]

Lol, now I understand why I never came back to this app

[@mxnjones]

GIMP is…I hesitate to say garbage, but it isn’t very good.

[@alfaridarizka865]

I remember watching LavenderTowne's review of GIMP and the most memorable things for me were the bell pepper brush and the color wheel that's spinnable for some reason 😂😭

[@trikeonabike4949]

*Opens Gimp* There’s a menu here, up there, down there, over there, EVERYWHERE.

[@jeffreypostma6832]

There are not enough letters in the alphabet for it. The most awful app I have ever used!

[@ForkedEye]

I'm still in love with Concepts. One of the best on my Surface Pro!

[@thebradcolbow]

Concepts!!! ahhhh, I forgot that one!

[@MohammadIbrahim-np8io]

Is it similar to procreate where u can deag and fill in colour

[@jayrinaldi]

@@thebradcolbow you can't just comment 'i forgot that one' and then not rank it in your tier list. :-P

[@bokbas]

@@thebradcolbow yeah, missed opportunity. Big fan of concepts...and your channel.

[@marinabarbosa227]

I looooove concepts

[@love_mandyxo]

CSP is my fave. Medibang and Procreate were great until Medibang started constantly freezing and the selection tool in Procreate went wonky. Anything Adobe for me is overrated and overpriced

[@repeekyraidcero]

MB is unusable... But clip is such a paywall... Ibis is my pick as it never failed to save my work.

[@lovingbritt]

Medibang is great for sketching and I love it still

[@hoshiuno7530]

@KONTASTROPHE the pc version no but the mobile app well yeah.

[@hamloaff]

@@hoshiuno7530 ahhh right the mobile app

[@lylivictor]

@KONTASTROPHE i have csp on my PC and its the best there, the money was worth it, but the Android version is not a one time purchase system, it's not the cheapest so it can be difficult for a lot of people to pay, especially in dollars, even tho I love csp I'm trying to see if I can get used to krita on my tav s6

[@katieee_llyn]

Clip Studio in S tier- as it should 👌

[@thebradcolbow]

I know that was 100% my bias showing, but now that it's on Android it has become one of my favorite apps ever.

[@jyotirmaypradhan2665]

Clip studio should make one time purchase for mobile devices

[@angel-stories2547]

@@jyotirmaypradhan2665 I agree

[@technosterj4530]

@@jyotirmaypradhan2665 just download mod 👨‍💻

[@Ash-fm6ym]

@@jyotirmaypradhan2665 facts literally just pirate it , so easy

[@nia427147]

Krita is amazing for being free. Great as an intro for beginner / hobbyist wanna try their hands at digital art, not ready to invest in drawing app quite yet. There are more powerful tools like CSP, Procrate, etc. but what Krita can offer isn't too wide a gap from those and has the audacity to be FREE!

[@katladrera2718]

Is krita apps is good for pc usage?

[@teaartist6455]

@@katladrera2718 One of the reasons I hate this trend to call desktop applications/programs "apps" is how it obscures things like these. Weather you mean pc as in desktop os in general or windows specifically, yes, though it's originally for Linux and I couldn't tell you how good or bad the ports to other os are.

[@gg31hh]

u missed out Concepts .. i think should do different categories for vector drawing and Raster drawing

[@andre-arthur]

Infinite Painter and Art Flow are my picks on my Android Tablet! I love the drawing experience and the clean UI! Really happy to see them developing good apps for Android

[@jennaln]

Thank you so much for this list! I'm just about to start working digitally on my desktop after years of only working traditionally, and thanks to your review I also ordered the Huion Kamvas 16! I was at a complete loss on where to start with drawing apps so this has been an invaluable video.

[@thesuperzfamilyvlog6607]

You really are my digital-art-hero! Thank you for a great list!

[@aboi55]

Krita really deserved the - S Tier

[@badasspuppy]

Kind of surprised you haven't talked about Concepts app yet. It's vector based, allows line adjustments like pushing it to the side, stroke width and even changing the brush. More geared towards sketching but I really love the interface.

[@Escalusia]

Clip Studio Paint is by far the best I've ever tried. I got tired of how many tools SAI was missing, and that it rarely got updated. CSP did everything SAI did + photoshop (without all the hassle and big money). It's been amazing, easy and it's SO powerful. The fact that you can also record your drawing process too was amazing. It's also relatively cheap and it OFTEN goes on sale. Not to mention their massive tool and brush library created by other artists! It's amazing for illustration, comics and it's good for animating as well. It works amazing on iPad too, but it's not as "sleek" as procreate. However, what I love about that, is that I have to click so much less than procreate. I feel like I constantly have to open a tab and then click a thing and then scroll down.

[@alasseearfalas]

I recently started using Sketchbook again on my Android phone (it's May 2023) and idk if it's the new team managing the app or what, but it's fantastic now!! Infinite layers (something I couldn't find on any other free Android app), excellent brushes with some fun oil-like blending functionality, minimal interface that gets out of the way & I swear gets easier to navigate with every update, basic palette creation, and so on. I would absolutely put it in A tier now. It's not quite the powerhouse that Krita is, but for on-the-go art it's definitely one of the best options!

[@richarda3764]

I've always been a fan of Sketchbook as well. Something about the lay out and the way many of the pencils and brushes look. For some reason, I seem to come up with some very good work out of it. My only issue was when I tried to use the text tool and found it very underwhelming for what I was trying to do.

[@elsdee2630]

Thanks, Brad, for introducing me to a few drawing apps. A handy list for anyone who draws casually or professionally, to be sure.

[@EPeltzer]

I have to give a deafening shout out to all the true open source free apps out there. This includes Krita Inkscape Gimp and Blender (omg Blender!) Once you spend a few years in the arts and using digital tools, you start to realize how many tools you need and what a terrific pain in the neck it is to keep up with subscriptions, upgrades, etc. Yes Krita and Blender have learning curves but there are free tutorials out there that are amazing. It pays off very quickly once you commit to learning these tools. The community is amazing. These apps are absolutely incredible, deep, capable, and pro level. And to know that they will always always be free and available on multiple platforms is just priceless. No one is going to slap a paywall or ads or device limits or subscription fees on them. And it's not just being a cheapskate. I have seriously tried and paid for many of the apps on this list. I pay for additional capabilities in blender and for digital models and materials and stuff like that gladly. But I always gravitate back towards the free open source tools. Even a tool like Inkscape well it doesn't seem very sexy does it? Maybe not oriented towards artists exactly. But it's precisely what is needed for most graphic design and not an ounce of fat and I can open up drawings from 15 years ago.

[@davebilson]

Blender also has the drawing app Grease Pencil. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIvcc2ZmYt2NfNU

[@Moonfixer]

So THIS is what that tier list post was about! Lol. Great video, this gave me a few ideas as to what other apps to look out for.

[@thebradcolbow]

yep yep. I kept googling "ranking" or "top list" I was missing the word "tier" so that's why I asked on Twitter.

[@tennessee3156]

The problem i find with Huion is that they limit the number of layers (based on the quality) ... I NEED LAYERS

[@ryuugaeisen8946]

Yeah and in animation, clipping layers kinda kills the background layer

[@YouKnowImOnMyPeriodYah]

I abuse the sh*t out of layers and that’s probably why my iPad storage is suffering lmao

[@superNova5837]

Procreate does the same although it may be based on ram as well

[@johnperry6201]

You're videos really help me out going back into drawing after about 10 years of drawers block

[@corwin32]

When I read the title, I thought, “Brad’s way to fair-minded and positive to ding a lot of apps. I was kind of expecting a top-heavy tier list”.

[@thebradcolbow]

Hah, you're totally right. There were one or two times when I though, ya know, someone worked really hard on this app.

[@chintex_]

I feel like art studio pro should be higher on this list for it's brush engine. When it comes to things like painting it's far superior to procreates.

[@leeray666]

Totally underated.

[@sander1133]

Far far far superior to Procreate when it comes to brushes. Which is surprising since Procreate has such an elaborate "Brush Studio".

[@jeebishak]

Agreed. Artstudio Pro is crazy versatile. Awesome brush engine.

[@rebelgonebad]

You beat me to the punch! Waaay better than mid-tier; more like Photoshop tbh, with a brush engine which works and doesn’t freeze on an iPad (pro anyway)… unlike Photoshop on any platform! Affinity Photo so low is strange, especially compared to a freebie Huion app?!

[@asimian8500]

I would have placed Art Studio Pro between A and S level. The brush engine is excellent and I agree it's better than Procreate for painting...and even sketching (pencils and charcoal). And it's better than Photoshop for large brushes without that lag. In fact large brushes are so responsive.

[@TheHallieLogan]

Thanks for this. I really appreciate the time and consideration that went into this video, it has made the process of selecting a few apps to get started with much easier.

[@pinoyastronaut]

Always looking forward to your video upload every week!

[@ChaosWitxh]

Me watching this while I work on Affinity Designer on my iPad. Absolutely my favorite for iPad for sure! Procreate used to be that for me, but I tend to do more precise work which I need a vector program for. But, I still have access to the pixel persona 😌

[@goldfishcrackers7845]

I was boutta throw hands when you put Clip Studio Paint in A and not S tier 😠 but then you moved it to S and I'm complete again ☺❤ CSP literally allows one to do anything & everything imo! As an animation student, I wish it was the standard, but thas just my opinion 💦

[@thebradcolbow]

Darn it! The whole reason I made this list was to get people mad! I'm kinda upset you walked away happy. 🤣

[@michaela984]

Same! I was like: "What?? Only A tier?? Brad, what the hell are you on? lol" But than he changed it to S tier thankfully lol

[@rgb2296]

🤣

[@brenday_da_bababoei_cat]

@@thebradcolbow D I S A P O I N T M E N T

[@rizzrizz2291]

@@thebradcolbow Can I use it on my Xp Pen 15.6?

[@GamerDMac-tw6od]

I have question for the iPad mini 6 is it worth it to put a tempered glass screen protector on the iPad mini 6 if so does it effects the use of the apple pencil or the drawing capabilities

[@sanekibeko]

Clip Studio doesn't deserve the S ranking anymore.

[@MaxLindorfer]

Love your videos Brad! It would be great to see you give Rebelle a try. The ink simulation stuff really does give unique results. The 'natural media' elements might not be well suited to your clean, flat style, but I think you would enjoy it nonetheless.

[@waterbubble1304]

One of the things I really like about Krita is how customizable the dockers and tools are. I like being able to choose where I want to put them and how big they are. I haven't used any other programs so I dont know if this is a common thing but I find it really useful.

[@TraktorTarzan]

if you want CSP then google when it has sales. the drawing version will only cost $20. if i didnt buy it on sale, id be drawing on krita

[@marcins5584]

I need vector designing apps with fonts like Ai or Affinity designer or even Inkscspe on Android.... Is there something out? Or still only on Ipad

[@alquinart]

Can someone explain to me how to get an iPad app for Krita? I downloaded Krita for Mac os but my iPad won't install it do anything with the download file

[@theinktician]

Being industry standard does not excuse the flaws of Adobe apps. They are almost as unwieldy as Gimp, with the only thing making it usable being the thousands of tutorials. After college, it's still unwieldy. I'd give it a B - and that's high-balling it

[@theinktician]

The B is for photoshop btw. Illustrate gets a C. Fresco gets a B too

[@sunilsdesigns1232]

Love using Clip Studio Paint, totally deserves the S-tier rating! Thanks for sharing this awesome ratings video!!

[@lovingbritt]

So true definitely up there!

[@gabdali]

Is artrage a good digital art software? Thinking of getting into digital art, is the Huion kamvas 13 or 13 pro a good starting tablet?

[@lynefall]

Did anyone know where to download Huion Sketch ? I can't find that on google play and found Huion Sketch(y) app (yeah that app looks sketchy because it doesn't from Huion and the app just like kids drawing app (even worse because they have an ads)

[@mrebholz]

Krita is the new Gimp. I went full Krita, despite I own a CS6 Master Collection (Ps, Ai, Id, Pr, Ae, etc). Inkscape is my new Freehand.

[@mrebholz]

I used to like Artrage. It is not feature rich but easy to use. It's not for free though.

[@AdamJRichardson]

I keep coming back to Leonardo, though it has some limitations on its brush tools (eg marker is poor). Strictly speaking its still in beta, developer is apparently working on a big re-write so we'll see what emerges hopefully later this year

[@dianebland3824]

I have an iPad I use for drawing and I have Procreate. I am wanting to get into drawing vector art. What's the best app for that?

[@darrenb4324]

What was the charting app you used on screen for this comparison?

[@mlocascio656]

Also, thank you for the Time Stamps, it really helps a lot!

[@kelliblanton9420]

Rebelle is still one of my favorite programs for any time I want to do a traditional style. As a traditional painter I love how well it replicates how real paint reacts on different surfaces while still being able to undo.

[@itsDjjayy]

I'll look into it, I have windows 11😅

[@Angelika5378]

Curious what you think about concepts app I'd love to try procreat but not buying an ipad just for that 1 drawing app

[@davidnorman6348]

Thanks, Brad! A very helpful rundown on most of the well-known illustration softwares. I've been working with Adobe for over 20 years (as an advertising/marketing illustrator), but have been put off by their outrageous pricing scheme. I'm in the process of transitioning to CPS and Krita and love them both.

[@somewhatdiscrete]

so happy to see infinite painter get some recognition! it's what I used on my samsung tablet before getting an ipad and moving to procreate, and for a complete beginner like myself it was INCREDIBLY fun and simple to use.

[@violetsprite]

Thanks for explaining each app and why you like/dislike them. Can you do the same for Animation apps, please?

[@mmmmmmm2514]

Do you advise me to buy Samsung galaxy tab s6 liet this year and is it still useful

[@madawanilupul9220]

Can anyone tell me what's the best app for fashion illustration on a android tablet

[@Junkhead10]

I personally use ibis paint and it works fantastic so many options and you can pay a small amount to not have to watch ads plus there is a bunch of community stuff as references stuff and custom pens.

[@terraglade]

came here after hearing clip studio might be going subscription. Might be time to give Krita another try

[@kimpark3956]

Omg no!

[@jacobvig0]

Im looking for an app that would be good for school, brainstorming, sketching, sketch board etc.. any you could suggest? I want one app for all uses. Note taking, sketching, picture etc. all mixed and able to move freely.

[@TinieMx]

It seems like no one has really tested/done reviews on ArtRage 5 and openCanvas.. I just ordered my first pen display, which comes with either ArtRage 5 or openCavas (I can choose). Are they just bad/not worth doing reviews on?

[@sloppynyuszi]

I find Photoshop too old fashioned for drawing. Only reason I would use it for is editing drawings for all the effects it has. For outright drawing I would start in procreate or other more basic software. If there is something they can’t do I might move it to Photoshop. Rarely need to these days though.

[@npcimknot958]

Photoshop is great for composition other apps better with drawing

[@hillustration]

Rebelle is amazing. The watercolor and drip effects are incredible. I wish it had a blur function.

[@gloriouschoices]

i concure. truly the best media simulator! perhaps blur is unavailable due to it being a "media simulator". you cant blur on paper/canvas, you can't blur in the app.

[@hillustration]

@@gloriouschoices True, they say a brush or something is coming and you can use the smudge tool to do something like a blur with the correct settings.

[@caralambrechs1620]

Brad! Your courses are not available to purchase in the UK :(

[@NewtonesIndustries]

Out of curiosity, what software did you use for your presentation. I noticed the settings at the end of each rode,so I figured it was built up row by row

[@H.DrawLab]

Thank for creating this content

[@roachewy]

watching 1 ad unlocks all the brushes you only need to do it once a day lol

[@thebradcolbow]

Nice! Good to know!

[@superNova5837]

Except for certain effects

[@amirankakachia133]

good video ...i work in corel draw can u tell me how i can replace it in android ?

[@philjpark]

Whats the best one for Android and the Spen? Clip?

[@Kogami]

As a GIMP defender, this semi hurts my soul but I can also get why *everyone* hates it lol. I prob still like it because I used it waaaay before Krita was a thing + couldn't get Photoshop back then... or is it just Stockholm Syndrome... 🤔 (That said the newest Version 10 is the superior ver of GIMP but as you mentioned there's no reason for people to use it anymore nowadays haha)

[@thebradcolbow]

It's been several years since I've used it. Maybe I should go back and give it another chance. My biggest beef was just that it was to slow on the Mac.

[@fablewalls]

@@thebradcolbow - you'll be back quicker than you know it. Gimp was never good even first time round.

[@carlosmarques535]

​@@thebradcolbow 🤔 It is an Editing software, having a different UI from Photoshop and different workflow aren't flaws per se. Every app you reviewed has different UI's and shortcuts (Procreate says hello). Saying GIMP is not for drawing is expected, flaming it as a whole just because, this is sad (for me) actually. Another thing, your let Corel's out of the review because you didn't use it for years, just like GIMP. Why get out your way just to say is bad? I expect more from you Brad. I know you don't care about me or my opinion, but alas.

[@rano12321]

@@thebradcolbow probably why, they mention on their twitter they neighter have mac devs nor macs to develop for, so no wonder it's gonna run like crap on macs, use it on windows or linux, it runs fine.

[@goodkillermusic]

As someone that's still very much a beginner and decided on Android, I found Infinite Painter to be the most intuitive. HOWEVER, that app is buggy. Files get corrupted, layers shift randomly, etc. Maybe it's been patched since I used it a few months ago, but I found it difficult to recommend based on those bugs.

[@Katica0]

I just have a question and I hope you can help me. What kind of S-pen can I use for my samsung galaxy s6 lite tablet? Just the one type the tablet came with (which I lost, that is why I want a new one), or I can use for example the one for the s7 tab? Can I combine these pens, or they only work for their own type of tablet?

[@frantisek.zaborsky]

Yes, it seems to be possible to use a S7 stylus on Samsung S6 Lite, but not all functions may be supported. Another interesting choice is btw a Wacom One Pen CP91300B2Z due to subjetively better grip and tips. I have ordered this one to try, the S Pen is tiny and uncomfortable for long term drawing for my hand.

[@herdesign9234]

hey brad which one has a good arrow feature? help

[@JupiKitten]

Honestly, all the apps I've tried you ranked about where I would have. The only changes I'd have made is to put sketchbook (pro version in particular) in B tier because it really does have a lot of potential and it is good at what it was designed to for, aka mobile touch screen devices. You get a surprising amount of control just using your finger to draw. Not as much as say photoshop or Krita with a a nice art tablet/screen, but its still impressive. Ink... maybe in C? Maybe. D is probably fine for it. Gimp 100% in F. I've never liked Gimp even back when everyone was raving about it I just found it too clunky and painful to use. I recently moved away from photoshop (damn near 20 years using it 😵‍💫) to Krita because I switched to a new pc and was not at all happy to find out Adobe had unvalidated my cs6 keycode that I purchased years and years ago, coupled with what seems to be some shady practices with their monthly subscription service model. Krita has been really nice, possibly even better then photoshop was 👀... Ikr? Surprised myself with that one. I don't even mind the slow updates, frankly I'd been living without any official support from photoshop for a long time because I refused to give up my older program so I dont even feel it with Krita. If you're in a similar boat, it's worth giving it a try, you may even like it 👍

[@maeisnotdaijoubu358]

i do both traditonal and digital art and i find sketchbook easier to adapt because of the selection brushes.

[@andrewsanders7636]

what do you think gimp needs to be on the same level as krita and photoshop in art and drawing and what are your problems with gimp

[@JohnBurke67]

Thank you for this. Could you suggest a beginners drawing app. I'm mostly a paper pencil drawer. Thank you

[@JSAbbott]

I would love to see you try the grease pencil in Blender.

[@Choedron]

I use Rebelle 5. It is really good and inexpensive - but aimed at the traditional artist, who loves to do paintings/drawings with a traditional workflow. The colour mixing is exceptional compared to other apps. And it is not congested with features, which you would never use anyway. Brushes are still very customisable though. And no other app has the ability to make nano pixels. It is not subscription based. I hate subscription based software. Ps would be an F on my list - for the simple fact, that it is subscription based.

[@user-gs1lx5qo1v]

Yo anyone know which one of these is the closest to procreate for Android?

[@brandonslomski1836]

I have a lot of fun on 53’s Paper app. The limitations are kind of nice and the sketchbook interface is fun

[@hyliansaviour9420]

I just got Infinite Painter on my android tablet while learning. I really like it :)

[@schrodingerskatze6192]

I personally love drawing and painting with Affinity Photo, so I'm not sure white it just suddenly fell down the entire list without explanation :D Especially since Photoshop is at the very top. Because Affinity Photo is very similar to Photoshop. It runs smoothly even when working on huge canvases, you have lots of editing tools, you can import Photoshop brushes and it has a similar brush engine, too. Sure, Affinity Photo is not the standard like Photoshop is but D tier is a bit harsh in my opinion.

[@SourPlanet]

It's definitely stronger than D... But he makes a solid point that if you're going to drop Designer on the list too, Photo can't really compare. Photo is basically contained within Designer- just with some power user functions missing (functions which aren't as relevant to art creation). In that light, it makes sense. With no context though, I agree. It's well above D. Closer to A, actually. I literally replaced Photoshop with Photo for production work for a year and it lacked nothing. Now I'm back in Photoshop missing Photo features lol

[@RacoonAndres]

Yeah it should be at least A tier, guck adobe products and it’s subscription model

[@cantisanifotografo]

It’s brush engine is super basic, no “wet” effect in affinity photo or designer.

[@SourPlanet]

@@cantisanifotografo Wet effect isn't necessary in digital painting. I mean, Photoshop doesn't do it at all well either. I've been working in concept art and illustration for 15 years and I teach digital painting.. and I have literally never used wet effects or seen any coworkers/teachers/students use them either.

[@cantisanifotografo]

@@SourPlanet and other apps do it wonderfully, like Procreate and ArtStudio Pro (two apps I have). I used Affinity Designer for pixel painting at first, then I realized what I was missing. I love Designer for vector work, and having the Pixel Persona is wonderful. But if I want to make a pixel illustration (no vectors), Designer is not even in my mind now. ArtStudio Pro is just fantastic. Don’t get me wrong, I love Affinity Photo and Designer. I have the 3 Affinity apps in my mac, and I have the two available for iPad. I use them constantly for other type of work. But for painting.. at least for me, they’re far behind in terms of the brush engine. The “wet” effect is just one thing and you surely know that. It’s too basic in many other little things.

[@skyblinked]

Thank you for the list. How about Rebelle and Artrage ? Or are they more for the oil painting crowd ?

[@TravTravYT]

I just happened to look for "art apps" because I draw on a non-updated _Microsoft Whiteboard_ because of its incredibly useful infinite board scaling, Sketchbook, and Drawpile. I've been using Sketchbook for... 8 years now? Both mobile and desktop and seeing it on C makes complete sense. Thank you for the list, this is actually a really good way of being introduced to other apps lol

[@StephaneDesnault]

Like many I also would have liked to see Concepts rated ?

[@AlfredReinoldBaudisch]

GIMP is still HEAVILY, HEAVILY used for: (1) making PS1 textures for PS1 (Play Station 1) models; (2) quickly correcting textures and making them tileable; (3) pixel-art (Aseprite nowadays is the standard, but a lot of ppl still use GIMP).

[@AlfredReinoldBaudisch]

But, to be fair, what I cited GIMP for is very niche. I would think that using it for painting is insanity. But for other usages (and all the cool filters and operations), GIMP is very good.

[@VinylSkillz]

Happy New Year's dude!!

[@darkvelvethoney1774]

So I have absolutely no experience with digital art, I was thinking about buying the Huion Kamas 13 and teaching myself- but is there an absolute beginners guide to getting started with digital art?

[@wolfhansinful]

Great video. About time to jump on the Tier video bandwagon ! In my books Affinity Photo gets B or even A Ps & Ai get S (industry std. after all) CSP gets A ArtStudio Pro gets A, even an S, it's on par with Procreate in being fun to use

[@jecheesecake]

For my day to day usage, Affinity Photo does 90% of what I need Photoshop for at $55 one time buy vs. PS sub model. Not sure how PS gets S tier and AP gets D when their capabilities or so close.

[@RafaelDrumondRego]

I agree with most of the list. I would probably put affinity photo either on C or B. I think it has a lot of useful illustration tools being similar to photoshop, though I understand the professional point of view of Brad. But, besides that I would agree with most of the rest of the tier.

[@Rafaelrpaese]

Me too, AP has more potiential for concep illustrators, or just pixel illustration, like photobashing and etc. I understand why Brad feel this way for AP, itis because I does not have utility to him, compared to AD, because of his comic styles of drawing. So it makes a lot of sense, but I think is fail for him to put AP in such low category, when it is just tool that is not suitable for his artstyle

[@mmmmmmm2514]

What the defendant between the illustration and drawing??

[@pancakes7373]

I have huge respect for krita, man. Been a user eversince I first started digital art. Still using it now

[@itsyaraz]

Krita my beloved is in S tier, I think I can die happy now

[@demon6937]

csp now will transition to subscription based like adobe

[@shoesandboots3635]

any suggestions for low spec pc?

[@samoguz0]

Awesome video. Love the icons.:)

[@artistinspiration]

Agree with most of the rankings only for affinity photo and Inkscape they deserve a higher ranking both are super good at what they do

[@askeladden450]

yup, I had been using illustrator for years now and 1 week ago, I switched to Inkscape and I am already more productive with it than I ever was with illustrator. especially the gradient stuff and paths effects are amazing!

[@rogthepirate4593]

Not gonna lie, I went mad for a sec when I saw you drop Krita in B tier at first. I've basically moved on from PS completely because I'm reaching an age where I don't want to bother with the hassle of pirating stuff any more, but I also don't want to pay adobe's outrageous asking price to use PS because I am and will always remain a hobbyist (and I have enough expensive hobbies already), so Krita is really THE perfect piece of software for me. I love it to death.

[@joeskeesick]

Xara Designer Pro - I've been using it for years. It was the first app to have most of the things we take for granted now in a lot of the other apps. It is fast, nearly infinite zoom (some 36000% iirc). I have used all the big alternatives (AI, Affinity, Corel) and always come back to it.

[@obiseankenobi2056]

thanks for this breakdown ! when I run Krita on the same macbook air/ cintiq setup that I run photoshop CS5 on it is so slow and laggy it is utterly useless - I'm stuck waiting for the program to catch upto my hand after drawing a single line with anything other than the smallest simplest brush ... i assume I am missing something here because the reviews and ratings for it were good enough to make me test it as an alternative to my aging copy of CS5 - but it wasn't even close to working well enough to be useful for actual illustration. any insight would be appreciated.

[@kimpark3956]

It might be you have stabilization too high on your brush. This tries to straighten and smooth all your lines after you draw them and introduces some lag when you paint. It def does in CSP for me and I'm sure Krita has something similar. Maybe it's not the problem though. Just an idea.

[@pixelpuppy]

With so many S-tier apps, it would be nice if you could break that down further into a tier list!