SketchBook Ink demoed back in March with the revealing of the new iPad. The app arrived at the App Store recently. It has a Spartan interface, and is a simple sketching tool. While the high resolution output will become an important selling point of the app, there are some lacking features in this inking app.
Users will get seven pens, a canvas, two eraser pens and a color palette. Virtually, the ink is simulated from a fountain pen with different nibs, and the quirkiness is wonderful. It looks as if it?s more for calligraphy rather than drawing.
The app allows users to produce very fine details of their artwork, which is based on the freehand-drawing Autodesk SketchBook pro platform. The new technology has the feature to export and print large, good-quality images directly from the iPad. Optimal sizes of the final artwork can be exported to the photo library on iPad, Dropbox, iTunes file sharing or email. The images can go over 100 megapixels if exported to iTunes files sharing or Dropbox.
The images are also ?resolution-independent?. This makes zooming an extraordinary experience. The output resolution is even greater than the output from the display of the new iPad ? up to 11,336*8,727. Interesting effects are created as the ink is reactive to the absorbent nature of real paper. You can close the tools on the margins with just a simple tap and they are very well placed.
However, all is not good in the app. There are no layers, which should have been included considering there?s an option to import a photo as a background. Another odd omission is the lack of control over ink capacity. The width of the stroke is the only thing that can be adjusted. An option to present brushes would have been nice.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMV4x7TFd6Y
Nevertheless, it?s a great tool for people who are talented and can achieve great digital artwork. You can download the Autodesk SketchBook Ink App from the App Store for $4.99. It?s exclusive to the iPad and is being sold for a special introductory price of $1.99 currently.
