LiveSketch HD for the iPad: Mimicking Drawing Tools without Control

Most drawing apps give you a wide range of tools, choices of color and the ability to create your work using layers, but like Zen Brushes, LiveSketch HD is good at doing one thing and one thing only... creating work that looks like a mathematical mess rather than a true artistic creation.

LiveSketch HD allows you to draw lines on the screen that look like a cross between graphite drawing and vine charcoal, but rather than leaning on the strengths that each medium brings to the drawing board (no pun intended) it falls somewhere in the middle. Drawing with LiveSketch HD allows you to sketch, change colors and incorporate backgrounds and that is about it.

The line work is very stylized, but again the quality is entirely to uniform to make for a good drawing app. I spent time exploring the app and all its functions, but I was quick to realize that the app itself is very limited.

LiveSketch HD brings a charcoal look to their app.

The Pros and Cons for LiveSketch HD

Pros

1. The app creates a unique line that I have not run across in any other sketching app and does a great job of mimicking charcoal or a soft sketching pencil being dragged along its edge.
2. The app is relatively inexpensive ($1.99) and if you really like the look of the marks than it might be worth the price.

Cons

1. The app has no brush options allowing for little variety when it comes to line and value
2. LiveSketch HD has no layers and it only allows you to export your work to either the iPad's gallery or send it out via email.

Over all I feel that this app is entirely to limiting to recommend it unless your are really taken with the line quality and look the app provides. Don't let the fact that Japanese artist Yoshitoshi ABe used this app in a YouTube video be the only thing that persuades you to purchase this app. 

I give LiveSketch HD...

1 star out of 5