Top 20 Apps to Turn Your iPad into a Portable Creative Studio
Here are 20 exceptional iPad apps for expressing yourself creatively with your iPad. Creative tools that turn your iPad into a portable, digital studio that supports you through all the cycles of the creative process. From gathering and brainstorming ideas through collecting and organizing inspiration and journaling to expressing yourself through writing, drawing, painting, photography, design, music, acting and crafting. And some play and relaxation to refill your creative well.
1. MindNode ($5.99) Beautiful and minimalist mind mapping app. A simple and effective way to brainstorm and easily map out and organize your ideas. Also available for the Mac.
[App store link: MindNode for iPad and iPhone].
2. Evernote (free) Remember everything. Build and organize your own digital scrapbook with notes, photos, links, web clips, audio and auto-synchronize to your Mac, PC, iPhone, iPad and Web. Magically makes text within snapshots searchable and includes geo-location information in notes. For research, to capture design, art, writing and blogging inspiration.
[App store link: Evernote for iPad and iPhone].
3. Moodboard Pro ($4.99) and Moodboard Lite (free) Make a moodboard to visualise your ideas and jump-start your creativity. Capture a mood, feel or ambience with a collage of materials (photos, textures, sketches, text and color palettes). Easily share early design concepts with clients and colleagues to communicate your idea or use as a guide and inspiration for your own creative projects.
[App store links: Moodboard Pro and Moodboard Lite].
4. MaxJournal for iPad ($2.99). A simple and elegant diary or journal. Customize the font and size, add up to three photos per entry and password protect your journal. Features tagging, time stamping and autosave.
[App store link: MaxJournal for iPad].
5. My Writing Nook ($4.99) and $2.99 for the iPhone. Simple and powerful tool for writers. Minimalist and distraction free writing environment with easy-to-use dictionary and thesaurus. Word count and auto save. Work on your manuscript anywhere, on your iPhone, iPad or computer, synchronize and have access to the latest version for reading, writing and editing everywhere.
[App store links: My Writing Nook for iPad. Also available for the iPhone].
6. Qvik Sketch Pro ($0.99) Quick, easy, effortless sketching, doodling and drawing tool. Qvik Sketch shades or inks your sketches in real-time, creating beautifully rendered drawings. Fast and fun.
[App store links: Qvik Sketch Pro for iPad. Also available for the iPhone].
7. Adobe Ideas 1.0 (free) A simple, vector-based digital sketchbook. Capture and explore ideas on the go. Use the color scheming tool to create harmonized color palettes extracted from your photos or artwork. Email your sketches as PDF files for further editing in Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop. A handy tool for designers and artists.
[App store links: Adobe Ideas for iPad and Adobe Ideas for the iPhone].
8. Brushes ($7.99) A portable art studio and powerful finger painting tool for creating original artwork featuring an advanced color picker, swatches, high quality brushes, layers, extreme zooming, and a simple yet deep interface. Paintings made with Brushes have been published on the cover of The New Yorker on several occasions. With Brushes Viewer for Mac (free) you can replay your Brushes paintings stroke by stroke, render them at high resolutions for printing, and export them as QuickTime movies.
[App store links: Brushes – iPad Edition and Brushes for iPhone ($4.99)].
9. SketchBook Pro ($7.99) A versatile, elegant digital SketchBook for painting and drawing that features 75 art brushes, a smear brush, geometric shapes and a symmetrical drawing tool. Interact with SketchBook through a gesture-based multi-touch user interface.
[App store link: SketchBook Pro].
10. iMockups ($9.99) This gem of a tool will save designers countless hours by helping you to quickly create mock-ups, layouts and wireframes for your web design, iPhone and iPad app projects. iMockups includes customizable navbars, tab panels, and autofilling Lorem Ipsum text. Intuitive and beautiful interface that takes full advantage of the breakthrough touchscreen device with iPad-optimized gesture controls.
[App store link: iMockups].
11. StudioTrack ($39.99) StudioTrack is a powerful audio recording and songwriting tool for musicians and producers who want to capture musical ideas and record songs on the go. Multitrack recording with up to 8 tracks, and bounce them down to add even more. Easily apply effects such as delay, reverb, EQ, and a compressor.
[App store link: StudioTrack].
12. Korg iElectribe ($9.99) A perfectly faithful replica of the famous Korg Electribe•R analog drum machine that’s easy and intuitive to use. Features 64 preset patterns, 8 supercharged effects and advanced Motion Sequencing that make patterns come alive.
[App store link: Korg iElectribe].
13. Rehearsal (free) This professional tool for actors helps you learn your lines. Developed and tested by Hollywood actors. Highlight lines, play peekaboo to memorize your script. Record your script and play it back. Add notes and record different takes to explore your character. Download for free, get unlimited scripts for a week and then pay by the script.
[App store links: Rehearsal for iPad and Rehearsal for iPhone].
14. CameraBag ($2.99) Recreate the magic of film by emulating photography’s most beloved and iconic vintage cameras, film, and processing techniques. Easy to use with an intuitive, simple interface. The perfect companion for your iPhone photography.
[App store links: CameraBag for iPad and CameraBag for iPhone ($1.99)].
15. TiltShift Generator ($2.99) Make your photos look like they are shots with miniatures, toy camera images and fake DSLR by adding a radial blur to your photos to change the perception of depth. Move the sweet spot with your fingers and increase or decrease its size.
[App store links: TiltShift Generator – Fake DSLR for iPad and TiltShift Generator – Fake DSLR for iPhone ($0.99)].
16. Fabric Stash ($4.99) Manage, catalogue, match, track quantities and organize your fabrics with Fabric Stash. Perfect for quilters, sewers, interior decorators, fashion designers and fabric designers.
[App store links: Fabric Stash for iPad. Also available for the iPhone].
17. HandiCraft ($4.99) Quilting, knitting, crochet and embroidery on your iPad with more than 150 patterns with full instructions and HD video lessons. Features patterns and step-by-step instructions displayed in a beautiful interface.
[App store link: HandiCraft].
18. iZen Garden 2 – portable zen garden ($5.99) Tranquil, Japanese rock garden, where you can find peace and create beauty. Arrange and resize objects like stones, seashells, fossils and butterflies, rake the sand into patterns and listen to soothing, ambient soundtracks.
[App store links: iZen Garden for iPad and iZen Garden for iPhone ($3.99)].
19. Soundrop (free) Wonderfully fun and simple sound game. Tap the screen to draw lines and watch as a ball bounces off them and Soundrop creates music out of the pattern you create.
[App store links: Soundrop for iPad and Soundrop for iPhone].
20. Zen Bound 2 ($7.99) Beautiful puzzle game with gorgeous graphics and sounds. Tilt and touch to wrap and twist the shapes to solve puzzles.
[App store links: Zen Bound 2 for iPad and Zen Bound 2 for iPhone ($2.99)].
More writings about the iPad: First impressions of the iPad.
Do you have a great tips for creating a digital studio? Have you tried any iPad or iPhone apps that you found inspiring and that boosted your creativity?
Tags: apps, art, creative, creative cycle, creative process, creativity, design, digital environment, iPad, iPhone, iPhoneography, review, software
You forgot Artstudio the best painting app for the ipad and iPhone
Hello Corliss, yes ArtStudio is a good painting app too. Between Brushes, SketchBook Pro and ArtStudio I think it really comes down to personal preference.
Here’s an interesting comparison of these three art apps.
Three Amazing Art Apps for the iPad: A Review and Comparison
http://www.macgasm.net/2010/05/18/amazing-art-apps-ipad-review-comparison/
Gosh you are working hard!!
oh each one is like a little piece of candy. Someday, I will have an iphone or ipad, and when I do, I’ll be coming back to this post. Awesome and comprehensive post!
Wow! What an amazing list of goodies! This post is like a treasure trove of fabulous resources for artists. Consider this bookmarked for LOTS of later exploration!
I also had heard about an iphone app that allows you take your photos and make them look aged and antiqued. It looks cool although I’ve never used it. It’s called “old photo.” Here’s the link… http://www.appstorehq.com/oldphoto-iphone-73594/app
Thanks for this super comprehensive list. It’s got some really exciting apps!
Boy those apps sound wonderful and I am super jealous I do not have one! My husband is a PC guy and stated I will never get one of these….so I will have to live through you for the experience :)
This is such an excellent resource; I added it to my delicious bookmarks and will definitely be referring to this list in the future. I bet you had fun finding all of these goodies for us.
Some great examples! I love EverNote and use it every day. But I am going to try out MindNode and also ZenBound. Sadly, my drawing skills never progresses past the 3rd grade.
I would also recommend “GoodReader” -it’s a low cost, all purpose document reader and can access your MobileMe disk and even GoogleDocs. It can even unzip zipped files! Also, Wikipanion is a free wikipedia browser that comes in terribly handy when you need to become a 5 minute expert in the field!
I’m interested into how you incorporate the iPad into your digital life Kate, given how much thought you have put into re-organizing it recently.
The only “aspect” missing from the iPad, as I see it, is a better way to organize data on it, or to get data off it. I understand it’s not meant to be a true computer, but with “Pages” and the USB Camera Adapter, you can actually “put” a lot of important documents on the iPad and the process to get these documents and images on and off is a little cumbersome. But I am sure this will improve.
Stephen, thanks so much for your thoughtful comment!
Actually, it was your recommendation for Evernote that I still am grateful for! The whole reason I discovered it!
If you’d still like to give drawing a go, I think you’d find Qvik Sketch Pro an empowering app! Truly, it’s like magic both for people who perhaps don’t feel so confident, and those who have lots of experience!
Have you tried DropBox for iPad? It’s free and I find it works very well for the Mac, Windows and the web. Really nice way to backup and sync your files between different devices?
Also wonder if you’ve tried the RSS app Reeder that I’ve been hearing people praise?
I’m going to check out your recommendations!
I’ll have to get back about how my iPad fits into my digital life! Wish I could do all my art work on it, but I need to use software that doesn’t run on the iPad for my client work.
/Kate
Hi Kate!
Wow! All of these apps look so fun!
I’m going to buy TiltShift Generator and Brushes!
I’m very curious about Rehearsal, Soundrop and Zen Garden.
How are you using Evernote and Mind Node? I’m really curious about your creative process……have your ever created a screencast? I’m such a visual learner — videos and photos work alway help me understand new things better.
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Currently, I use several tumblr blogs as my visual archive and if I saw how Evernote works I might convert!
Are the icons here custom made by you? If so, cool! Did you tag those pics with Alternative text? ( that’s a new trick that I have been using!)
I dig toy camera app for iphone —- I like to shoot with a random filter setting — I like to be surprised. I usually take photos on Sundays when I’m out looking for wild fish.
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I need to research iphone video for 3G this summer.
thanks for being my cool app connection!
Rebecca, thanks for your ideas and suggestions! I’d love to get back more in depth on how I use some of these apps and how my creative process works. Any recommendations for screen cast software?
thank u, thank u, thank u for posting these apps! my dad gave me a ipad which i haven’t even used to much so i am excited to check into some of these you’ve listed!! how GREAT. thank u for taking the time to share these!
WOW…very exciting and enlightening! You’ve been busy playing and researching, Kate! Happy Day :o) ((HUGS))
Kate, I do use DropBox. A great friend recommended it to me. I am torn between using DropBox and MobileMe’s iDisk. I pay yearly for MobileMe but really, it isn’t as good as some of the free services like DropBox. So I go back & forth – grins.
But I agree, DropBox is really taking the lead with a great iPad and also iPhone/ iPod apps. Really well done!
I haven’t generated so many files to move yet, but let’s see which method we think works best? Again, thanks for your input!
These are incredible. I have saved this list for when I get my i-pad. Fantastic.
Kate, I’ve always been a fan of your work. More icons please!
Excellent article! A very nice wide range of apps, too. I just bought a few from the list that I hadn’t seen before.
I second the ArtStudio recommendation! A friend’s 5 year old LOVED it! BTW, the email option is brilliant!
I’ve got a few additions/suggestions:
LiveSketch HD (separate iPhone version, too). A very nice drawing app that sort of textures your line work as you work. It’s lots of fun and you can build up and really dig into a “page”. 99￠! This app has actually inspired me to draw, not just Vectorworks CAD and 3D, for the first time in years!
BubbleHarp. It’s hard to describe, but you drag a finger across the screen and “bubbles” fill it. They kind of wiggle, too. $1.99. The developer has a few other apps that are also fun and intriguing. His Gravilux is free.
Bloom HD (also an iPhone version). This is a collaboration with Brian Eno and Peter Chilvers. Touch the screen and watercolory dots are made and Eno-escque ambient sounds happen. The dots and sounds blend, repeat and slowly fade away. It’s wonderful and mesmerizing. Music for Airports and Windsor Newton watercolors meet! $3.99 worth it. I bought it for mu iPod touch and iPad both!
And EVERYONE should get a Pogo Sketch, if they don’t have one already!
Mr. Reee, thanks for sharing your finds for the iPad! I’m definitely going to give LiveSketch HD a spin as well as take a look at your other suggestions!
WOW kate these list are amazing and wonderful! When i have my very own ipad and iphone, i’ll be sure to come running to these wonderful apple application posts here! Thank you so much for sharing! Have a lovely merry happy day and love to you!
Hi Kate, this is an excellent resource! Thank you so much!!! Now I’m really desperate to get an iphone & and ipad! Have you seen this video of a Korean girl using 3 iphones to do the music for Beyonce’s Irreplaceable? its really cool. http://bit.ly/ah6LUM
thanks for this post kate! i am going to have check these out. i don’t have an ipad, just a macbook, but i seriously love evernote. every time i want to remember a website i just put it in evernote. i have even used it to record online classes that i need to refer back to!