how to draw on pictures on mac

Mac attracts creatives for a couple of reasons. It's either the typical standard for certain niches, or it has high performance standards. While other operating systems are certainly capable of offering the same, creatives notwithstanding clamor for a Mac. With that reputation, it has some great cartoon apps, but they don't take to be circuitous. Hither nosotros look at some simple drawing apps for Mac, along with some more advanced solutions.

1. Preview's Markup

Before diving into a pool of drawing apps for Mac and testing each one, you'll want to accept a look at the simplest cartoon app built in to macOS Preview: Markup. In fact, it's available across all Apple devices and is technically more than of an annotation app. Still, you tin can draw with it, and information technology may exist perfect for your needs.

Once you open up an epitome in Preview, you can notice the Preview toolbar icon at the summit of the pane.

This opens the Markup Toolbar, which covers a bunch of ways to annotate your image.

You get two modes in Sketch and Draw, alongside the other tools (such as Shapes, Text, Sign, and more than). You'll also get the selection to use open up Markup in the correct-click context bill of fare. The option you'll need is nether the Quick Actions menu

You may discover that Preview and Markup is enough for you, though (of course), there are more drawing apps for Mac to consider.

2. FireAlpaca

If yous want a certain level of ability from your drawing app, yet simplicity at its cadre, FireAlpaca is the solution for yous.

It looks dated, every bit it uses an older macOS fashion rather than the new guidelines. Still, this doesn't detract from its functionality.

You'll find that navigating the interface is familiar, still there's much you can do with the app. If you use Adobe or Affinity products (more of which afterward), you lot'll feel at home with FireAlpaca.

Also, a nice touch is that y'all tin select the brush shape if y'all need a different style than the default. It's not something you encounter in free and simple cartoon apps, so it's a plus point you'll want to look into.

3. Tayasui Sketches

In our stance, Tayasui Sketches is the definition of a simple still cool drawing app for Mac. It'southward uncluttered and focused on quality drawing.

You take a panel of brushes on the left, and each type has a distinct visual representation – a nice touch. Colour swatches sit down on the correct, and you can add together more (or change the existing swatches) using a dedicated panel:

Given that we're looking at simple drawing apps for Mac here, information technology'southward great to see the functionality pared down yet still accept quality. What's more, you can choose one of several digital papers – non something you find in free, no-nonsense drawing apps.

4. Paintbrush

Paintbrush is a veteran drawing app for Mac, though it's similar to the classic Microsoft Pigment in terms of functionality. Information technology also offers a dandy "freehand" experience.

While it doesn't have high levels of complication or specifications compared to other apps, that'due south a plus point. If you only occasionally have the need to pick upwardly a digital pencil, this drawing app for Mac will fit the bill.

5. Sketchbook

This cartoon app for Mac has had a storied history likewise. For a long time, Sketchbook was office of the Autodesk line of products, merely it'southward now flying on its own.

The app itself has a reputation of existence neat and super simple to utilize. Information technology looks much similar Tayasui Sketches in places and has a similar vibe.

Y'all accept a number of floating windows that let you choose pen and brush types, colors, and other functions. It's not an over-exaggeration to say that Sketchbook can be a professional tool in the right hands, given the wealth of cartoon options at your disposal.

Though, the one drawback compared to other drawing apps for Mac on this listing is that information technology's a premium simply solution. For $19.99, you lot'll get everything Sketchbook has to offering, without the need for a subscription. As far as nosotros're concerned, that is a adept bargain.

Avant-garde Drawing Apps for Mac

A uncomplicated app is all well and skilful, but you may want something with more power. Some of the apps in our list take premium upgrades, such every bit Tayasui Sketches. Though, in most cases, you're going to want to consider a different solution.

If budget is an issue, Inkscape is a oft-mentioned app that's an open-source (and free) alternative to Adobe Illustrator. The developers admit that the macOS version is in need of enhancements. It'southward tough to use due to how the app runs on Mac.

Of form, Adobe Illustrator is an industry-standard solution, and nosotros don't need to wax lyrical about information technology considering information technology'south and then pop. Affinity Designer gives almost every app a run for its money. It'due south a stellar solution that has 99 percent of equivalent tools, with a meliorate subjective User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX).

If you want the feeling of cartoon on paper, Rebelle is arguably the very all-time y'all can buy. Yous choose a paper and work with watercolor-style brushes to create artwork that looks every bit though it's on a concrete medium.

Finally, you may want to consider Sketch. Information technology'south a professional tool to create artwork, draw and design websites, and much more.

Information technology's a vector-based application with several features, such equally a toolbar, canvass, editable shapes and and so much more than. While Sketch is more of a Desktop Publishing (DTP) app – and wins praise with graphic designers – it has a salubrious prepare of features to help y'all navigate your drawings. Information technology's a beginner-friendly tool that you can scale with.

Often Asked Questions

1. Are at that place any simple Adobe Drawing apps for Mac?

No, unfortunately there are no Adobe-branded drawing apps for Mac desktop machines. Illustrator is the nearest y'all can get for desktop. Though, smaller devices take a range of Adobe Photoshop products that allow you lot manipulate images. Adobe Comp is a fantastic and characteristic-rich app, for example.

Information technology's also worth noting that Illustrator is available for Mac, but it'due south a total-featured product. You lot may also want to look into Adobe Fresco, although it's a professional person level app.

2. Do yous need a stylus, drawing tablet, or Apple Pencil to apply these cartoon apps for Mac?

Not at all. While a cartoon tool is platonic, especially if yous desire to create finer lines and gradients, you don't need anything other than the Trackpad.

3. Is it important for my app to be cross-device?

This all depends on your goals. If you see yourself flitting between unlike locations – for instance, if you lot move betwixt abode and school – you may want to consider a cross-device app. Though, it'due south non obligatory, and you may get just as much functionality using a desktop-just app.

You should also consider storage. If y'all work on large-scale projects, y'all may max out the storage on a smaller device. This is where an iCloud account becomes valuable.

We'd suggest that if you're at the stage where you need the power of a desktop app that other devices can't provide, yous'll too need more than a simple drawing app on your Mac.

Determination

Digital artwork is a booming manufacture, and there are many people who like to putter regardless of their ability. If you lot're in this grouping, a simple cartoon app for Mac, such as Sketchbook or Tayasui Sketches, is going to exist on your "watchlist." You could even use Apple tree'due south Markup feature across your devices. It works well as an annotation app and can handle simple sketches also.

If you're after a drawing app for Android devices, nosotros accept you covered. Volition you use any of these cartoon apps for Mac? Let us know in the comments section below!

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Tom Rankin

Tom Rankin is a quality content writer for WordPress, tech, and modest businesses. When he's not putting fingers to keyboard, he can exist establish taking photographs, writing music, playing computer games, and talking in the third-person.