The 4 Best Apps for Visualizing on the Tablet

The 4 Best Apps for Visualizing on the Tablet

Visualizing on paper is one thing. But how do you manage to implement what you’ve drawn digitally? We asked our visualization professionals from the bikablo core team about the best apps for tablets. Here are their favorites.

by Frank Wesseler und Stefan Böker

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The All Around Best App: Procreate

Procreate (one-time fee of €10.99) contains a wide range of functions and thus offers everything that the drawing heart desires. This includes various ergonomically optimized drawing functions (e.g. the fill tool) and 130 brush tips that can be edited. The app also scores with the option to export drawings as PNG, JPEG or PSD files. So many functions bring complexity to this app, which is why it often  takes some time to learn and be proficient with this app. Procreate requires iOS 13.2 or later, and only works with the iPad.

For trainers and visualizers at bikablo, Procreate has become a favorite across the board. That’s why we also offer special Procreate training for all different purposes from poster visualization to sketchnoting.

learn more about the bikablo Procreate StarterSet

The entry-level app: Tayasui Sketches (Pro)

At first glance, the app Tayasui Sketches Pro (6.99€, the slimmed-down “non-pro” version is free) looks like a simplified version of Procreate. The simple user interface has advantages when visualizing digitally, as all functions are available immediately with just a few clicks. The feature is especially useful when drawing live.

Beginners will be able to master this app more quickly, as its design is somewhat more intuitive than Procreate. Another big plus for this app is it includes an always accessible “pencil case” and the “area fill tool”, which can even create patterns.

Unfortunately, Sketches Pro has some bugs and crashes from time to time. (This app requires iOS 9.0 or later, is compatible with the iPhone and iPad, and recently has been made available for Android devices).

The quick sketchbook app: Paper

Paper by weTransfer (formerly Paper 53) has all the important, rudimentary drawing functions: drawing, sketching, writing and coloring. The “Spotlight” function can also be used to highlight particularly important details on photos. Checklists and diagrams are also no problem for this app. Intuitively, it can be learned in 5 minutes which allows you to get started right away.

Sorting individual files into folders is particularly easy with this tool. (This app requires iOS 11.0 or newer and is compatible with the iPhone and iPad).

The vector professional: Concepts

Concepts (free to download and you can purchase additional packages) offers many features that other apps only dream of: an endless canvas, a large selection of brush tips, a library where you can save and reuse your own pictogram collections, as well as clear document management and print resolution without end.

This is because Concepts relies on vectors instead of pixels. However, this means that brush strokes do not look as natural as they do Procreate. (Concept is available for iOS, Windows, Android and Galaxy.)

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