0 Comments Art Review: Autodesk SketchBook

Program - Autodesk SketchBook (Autodesk, Inc.)
Tested version - v8.5.1

Price - 15-day trial, $29.99 per year subscription, $85.00 Enterprise per year subscription (comparison, scroll down their page)
Notes - The demo has very limited features unless you sign-up for the 15-day trial with an account.
Systems - Windows 7/8.1/10, Mac OS X, Android, iPad/iPhone - see complete details.
Official website - https://www.autodesk.com/products/sketchbook/overview

Raster or Vector - Raster

 * Which version I tested is unknown by me, that is to say I downloaded the trial from their site, and used the program without making a account. Looking for details online it appears that Sketchbook is running in the "free mode" as mentioned in their article about the markers. It is definitely not Pro, Enterprise, or any other mode for sure.

Either way it is really limited, and I will review what I can. If subscription software is something your interested in then try it for yourself.

Ease Of Use - Easy to get started, and fluid on the images which is limited to my screensize (and 100 dpi). Online help, and tutorials/videos can help get you started as well.

Program Speed - Quick and responsive with no lag. How it does on larger images or resolutions I do not know however.

Layer Options - Visibility, Opacity (blue slider), Reorder (move), and Lock transparency.  Other options are hidden on a layers dashed circle, which has to be left-clicked and held to show the options, then the mouse is moved to the option wanted and finally the button is released.

From the pop-up options there is New layer, Delete layer, Rename layer, Merge all, Merge with below, Lock layer, Hide, and Duplicate layer.

Color Selection - Color wheel, sliders RGB and HSL with numerical input, and a simple palette. I found colors are added to the palette by dragging the color bar at the very top to a spot in the palette.

The 2nd image is the Copic library and 41 colors counting the colorless blender - the subscription version has lots more. The markers truly are the highlight to SketchBook, and I would recommend anyone that uses markers and looking for a program to try it. Apparently Copic agreed as their name/colors are available. 😀

Brush Options - A few presets of brushes, erasers, markers, and the Smear /Blur /Sharpen tools at the bottom. The subscription version offers many more, but even then brush options/properties is limited to Size, Density (opacity), and Slant.

No matter what version there appears to be no way to add custom brushes, which really limits SketchBook. Of course with no brush tool options anyway there is no point in importing any.

The standout as mentioned previously here is the Copic marker tools. They respond as their traditional counterparts and really leave other software lacking in marker technology. The one problem is the amount of bleed/build-up when the marker sits, which in real life varies on the paper weight and illustration board types. I really wish that was a option that could be adjusted as it is a glaring flaw to me.

Common Necessities - Other tools that are primarily tools, and is surprising lacking in some software making it necessary to include them briefly.

Paint Fill - Has one and works good, but has zero options.
Eraser - Includes a Hard and Soft variation, with options to adjust Size and Amount erased in percentage.
Image Zoom - Zoom in/out on the mouse scroll wheel, or using the Zoom tool (see Selection Tools image below to see it). Zoom range 5% to 3000%
View Rotate - Yes, found in the Rotate tool which is a modified Zoom/Rotate tool - see image below to see it. Rotates in any angle but does not have a reset to 0 option.

Selection Tools - No. While it does have a modified Lasso tool - all that can be done with it is altering the selection by enlarging /shrinking, skew, or rotating it. If a selection is enabled and a Brush or Fill tool is switch to the selection is automatically removed. I really hope it is not this way on the paid version too.

Drawing Aids - A Ruler (1st image) and Ellipse tool (2nd image), and both allow only one line per use. Which is fine unless your using it for some crosshatching effect or such as it will take much longer to use. They are perfect though if your looking for a single line at a precise point.

The last one is the Symmetry tool, but has a issue. If you use the markers anywhere you stop the color bleeds and builds-up as expected, but does not appear in the mirrored version. Click the image to see it, on the left is where I colored with the marker, and on the right is the mirrored version. So for Symmetry itself the tool is not.

Pros -

• Nearly no program lag with mouse or tablet
• The Copic marker tools work great. They are a highlight for sure, and likely the best markers I've used in any software (even with their no option bleed/build-up limitation).
• Other basic traditional medium tools, so it lives-up to the program's namesake.

Cons -

• Subscription based software, a deal breaker for me.
• The cluttered floating windows, "Lagoon", etc.
• Very limited brush options in any version, and no way to create or import custom brushes.
• Symmetry tool has a very noticeable issue with markers, not mirroring the actual bleed/build-up characteristics.
• The Text tool is so basic to not even bother reviewing it, I can only hope it is better in paid versions.
• No Guides (guidelines) or other options limiting the workaround to setting up a template image in another program first.

Recommended Use - For achieving a realistic traditional marker effect especially, or any traditional medium, in your artwork.