Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)Drawing and sketching programs seem to fall into two general categories - very powerful but excessively complex, or simple to use but lacking in options and power. SketchBook Pro successfully combines power and simplicity into one package, such that even a weak artist can be productive and successful.
I ran into a problem when installing the application - the installer crashed, giving some odd internal error and number. I tried again immediately and the second try went without a hitch. I assume it is a configuration issue with my system as I have occasional strange issues when installing software.
When first launched, the application asks if you have your serial number and key handy. If you are new to SketchBook Pro, I encourage you NOT to enter them just yet but instead specify that you want a 15-day trial. The reason is that you get presented a quick pictoral tour of the feature set when you run in trial mode (which is really just a time-limited demo mode with everything enabled), which is a nice introduction. Afterward, registration information can be entered through the help menu.
Being new to SketchBook Pro myself, I was startled by the sparse interface when opening a new canvas. There was little on the screen other than the main menu up top and the lagoon in the lower left. Most drawing applications clutter the screen with an assortment of toolbars, palettes, wizards and other things that just get in the way. Autodesk keep their application simple instead, putting the essentials out there and leaving everything else off the screen until it's really needed.
Most elements of the application are available in radial menus, accessible either through clicking on icons on the lagoon or right-clicking on the canvas. All menu items have help tips to guide along the way so you know what option you're choosing. Radial menus can be a surprise to those who have never been exposed to them, but once used to them they are very powerful and easy to use.
Plunging into the various options available, I immediately discovered a couple of things I have never before used in drawing applications. First, I discovered the symmetry options, which makes creating mirror images easy. Using the axis, I was able to draw a crude figure of a person in about 10 seconds without even expending any real thought. Even more productive for me, though, was the ruler, especially in combination with the layering tool. The ruler is a slight misnomer, as it is actually more of a straight-edge against which to draw straight lines.
Another interesting surprise was the help system. When I launched the help system, rather than bring up a compiled help file, my default web browser launched and I was presented with one of the best help systems I have seen. The help is easy on the eyes and very straightforward to use. There is sufficient detail with pictures to address almost any conceivable question that might arise.
SketchBook Pro is very fast and very responsive on my system. I am running Vista with 3GB of ram and a dual-core 2.1G Intel processor, and there is only the slightest hint of hesitation on rare occasion.
Having never played with SketchBook Pro before and being a poor artist, I was shocked that I could create viable results in minutes. In the hands of a professional artist, this is a powerful and easy-to-use package. Emphasis was placed on productivity, but power was not taken away.
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SketchBook Pro 2010Autodesk SketchBook Pro software offers best-in-class sketching capabilities for professional designers and artists from all industries. A paint and drawing application designed specifically for use with digitized pen tablets and Tablet PCs, it can be used in any creative process where pen and paper would traditionally be used. With a patented user interface that is fast and intuitive, even new users can be productive within minutes. Autodesk SketchBook Pro represents the next generation of digital design products that focuses on the user, translating technology and functionality into a natural drawing experience.
Your Digital Sketchpad So versatile and easy-to-use, it can be used in any creative process where pen and paper would traditionally be used:
Concept sketching and ideation
Illustration
Character studies
Set and level designs
Story boarding
Annotation and review
High Quality Results
The look and feel of traditional tools that experts demand
Custom texture brushes
Interactive brush symmetry
Interactive rulers and ellipses
Fits into all Digital Workflows
Reduce time scanning and touching up paper sketches
Reduce the use of paper
Open and save common file formats, including Adobe Photoshop: TIF, BMP, JPG, PNG, PSD
Streamlined User Interface
SketchBook Pro is designed to maximize flow, offering a natural drawing experience
Highly discoverable UI
So easy-to-use, any user can be productive within minutes.
Patented Marking menus provide access to major tools with just one-flick
Do-it-yourself custom brush creation
Communicate More Effectively Share visual ideas quickly with integrated e-mail feature Instantly email sketches and annotations
What's New With 2010, Autodesk Sketchbook Pro continues its tradition of delivering an affordable, easy-to-use, natural drawing experience with the quality expected by professionals.
New: Rotate Canvas
The navigation puck now has a rotate ring for smooth rotation of the canvas view.
Automatically snap to 90 degree increments
New: Blur & Sharpen Brush
Two new brush types in the brush palette.
Paint blur effects directly in SketchBook Pro
Use the sharpen brush to tighten imported photos or images.
New: Symmetric Brushing
Easily draw anything symmetric.
Horizontal & Vertical interactive mirroring brings drawings to life instantly... and fun too.
Great for character design, product concepts, graphic design, automotive sketches, and vehicles of all kinds.
New: Custom brush features
Create your own Custom Textures
Capture and reuse graphics
Make specialized brushes
Export/Import custom brushes
Save out XML with a TIFF map that you can share with other SBP users.
Customizability
Set up your preferred tools in the Lagoon, including your custom DIY brushes
Access marking menus right at the cursor
Hotkeys for each lagoon item
Assign these to a pen-button or tablet keys
Now you can work completely in full screen mode, calling up tools as you need them.
DIY Palette items can be reordered
New: Numeric color input
Direct RGB input fields in the Color Editor.
To support the custom color palette on Windows, you can now accurately define RBG values before saving them.
The Mac version continues to use the Apple Color editor.
Preset primary colors & gray scales now available for customizing in the lagoon.
New: Guides
Create perfect straight lines, circles and ellipses.
The Ruler and Ellipse guide bring a new level of precision to refine your sketches.
New: Scale enhancement
The transform puck now allows non-proportional scaling
Tweak the horizontal or vertical proportions of a selection or entire image directly in SketchBook Pro
Get 4% OFF
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