[IGB]

As promised, I've done a users review of Sketchbook Pro 2. I know version 2 has been out for a while, but an update is in development and I'm hoping it will be out later this year. So it will be a good way to see what its all about, if you're thinking of buying a copy of Sketchbook Pro 2, or waiting for the future release.

Please let me know if you can't see it, I have had a lot of problems trying to get it uploaded!

IGB's Sketchbook Pro 2 Review

Enjoy

Ian

[CB3]

IGB, I have to say that this was a very thoughtfull review from you!

It would be great to find more like this, that really allows for someone to go into a purchase, with a complete understanding of what they can expect from a product. You really have a natural way with the writing, and seem to have taken a look at every feature that may not be known. (like the brush resizing bit)

I also like that you included some of your own personal pro's and cons. In all seriousness, I do think that Autodesk could get wind of this at some point, and maybe ask you to take a look at reviewing the newest beta, or finished copy once it's released. It just has to get noticably, noticed. :D

After a bit of reading, I found that the text is bit blurry in spots, moreso around the beginning, where it's slightly smaller, and less so as it went on. I don't think it's the colors though, maybe just due to any resizing done.
Thanks for putting the time in on this, you did a really great job!

[IGB]

Cheers CB3, glad you found it interesting. Hmm... I can't say it appears blurry for me, text was same size throughout. Only thing is probably the compression applied during saving that might produce those effects.

I'm sure they would have done the beta testing or be doing it by now tbh. I also have a pretty good idea as to who might do the box art for a new version, but my lips are sealed, lol. Hey, if I had the chance to get a look at a new version I'd be more than happy to! lol

[SinKing]

At first it really annoyed me that you cannot "draw" a straight line in Sketchbook 2, by connecting two points. It took me a while to understand that it's truly a sketchbook. The tools offered are great, even though I sometimes wish I could just pull out an ellipsis.
The thing about Sketchbook is that it's comprehendible, easy to use and made for Wacom tablets, it seems.
Photoshop sometimes leaves me guessing what I have to do to achieve what I want. It's a program, which forces me to learn it, in order to achieve my goals. Sketchbook is a program you want to learn, because it encourages you to combine, play, find out. It's much better drawing software than anything else I know, simply because it really feels like drawing.

[Mull]

great review Ian and nice comment from SinKing, its a program I've not had the pleasure of trying but it appears a decent program for beginners and advanced digi art folk.

[IGB]

That it is. I agree with you SinKing, Photoshop does have a learning curve that can sometimes stump you. It wasn't designed as a painting program, so that could be the reason.

Sketchbook Pro was designed as a painting and drawing program, focusing on tablet and stylus input - basically to give the closest feeling to real sketching on paper as possible.

I'd say it does this better than anything else [Corel Painter is an altogether different beast]

A lot of professionals use Sketchbook Pro, Bobby Chui being one of them. He has some really good tutorial videos on YouTube where he uses it.

There is currently a version 3, named Sketchbook Pro 2009.

I'll be honest with you - should anyone be thinking of upgrading from version 2 - it doesn't build on version 2 in a greatly significant way. The program is the same, works the same etc. with the main new things being .PSD file open support [where previously you could only save as a .PSD, now you can open one in SB as well], and a custom pallette and a fill tool.

If you are using SB as your main painting app, you might not need to export to Ps [I use GIMP for example] so sticking with version 2 might be better until another upgrade is released that develops the program further.