Autodesk SketchBook

For those who started out doodling on Microsoft’s Paint app and want to be free from its limitations without having to deal with the complexity and hassle of getting accustomed to Adobe Photoshop and the like, Autodesk Sketchbook combines all the necessary features for drawing, doodling, editing and more into a user-friendly interface designed for beginners and professionals alike.

One of the biggest advantages of using Sketchbook as opposed to other industry standards is the focus on the basics, forgoing the cluttered toolsets filled to the brim with options that many users would disregard in favor of a canvas-centric layout ready to fill with brushstrokes and imagination-fueled artwork.

Toolbars containing the most important functions can be rearranged and set anywhere on the screen, while their default position is usually held on the sides. The top ribbon concerns image manipulation settings, leaving the various brush properties for the left part, while the right side is responsible for editing the layers that can be added to the canvas.

Whether you are looking for a quick doodling session or want to start laying the bricks of a successful graphic designer career, Sketchbook has all the right tools in one neatly organized package. A succinct brush library can be expanded into a highly detailed one using the toolbar on the left. The top side lists the undo and redo buttons, zooming, selecting, cropping and transforming tools, along with more advanced functions such as Symmetry, which allows for drawing perfectly mirrored brushstrokes.

Other elements such as Steady Stroke lets the user drag their paintbrush for less jagged edges and Predictive Stroke smoothens the shapes drawn, while the Ellipses and Ruler tools make drawing circular and linear patterns a breeze. The layer function can also come in handy for easily making a sketch to be drawn over in the final iteration of the artwork, separating types of content such as Text from the drawing layers and the Background one.

The user can drag a multifunctional “puck” up and down for choosing the opacity of the brushstrokes or left and right for selecting their size. An immeasurable array of customizable brushes is at the user’s disposal for any type of artwork. This app’s main disadvantage is the lack of updates from its parent company. However, the app remains fully functional for the time being.

Autodesk’s Sketchbook can be a perfect start for anyone willing to dive into the world of doodling or anybody eager to start a future career as a graphic designer. From the easily accessible basic features to more advanced functions, this app turns drawing from a complex endeavor into a fun pastime.