Sketchshare Review

Drawing apps are all the rage right now, but there aren’t many that boast the words “multi purpose collaborative sketching tool” in their iTunes description. Sketchshare just happens to be this app, and it is packed with many features that are both useful and entertaining. This productivity app is a remote working tool that allows colleagues, clients, and friends to share ideas, brainstorm, or doodle in real time.

Sketchshare is relatively easy to navigate thanks to the informative start up screen. The navigation bar on the right side of the screen contains all the tools users need to get started such as Game Center connectivity, pen and eraser toggle, color changer and a clear canvas button. Users also have the option to swipe to change pen size or tap to pick any color that their heart desires. If the icons are in the way of a sketch, simply tap the eye at the top to hide them from view.

While Sketchshare runs solely in landscape mode, pinching the screen rotates the canvas to portrait mode. A simple double tap outside returns the screen to normal so users aren’t constantly trying to reposition the canvas.

What makes Sketchshare shine and stand out from other drawing apps is the option to share. Users can connect with up to four other iPad users via Game Center to collaborate in real time. Along with mirrored sketches, the app also supports voice chat so users are able to chat as they sketch on the canvas. This opens up a world of endless possibilities like live Pictionary games, storyboard meetings or app developer planning sessions.

After sketches are completed, users have the option to save them directly to the Photo library, email or tweet them. One of the best features is the option to save a sketch without a background. This allows users to load the images back into the app as stamps so they can see more than one idea at a time.

Aside from the lack of portrait mode, there are a couple of other issue that would greatly improve Sketchshare. Users can save the image with or without the background, but there is no way to continue working on a sketch later without first importing it into the app. Also, saving a sketch to the Photo library simply takes a screen shot of the entire screen, but emailing or tweeting the sketch results in an image without the toolbar showing on the side of the screen. I'm not sure why the toolbar shows in the Photo library images, but this may just be a small glitch.

The interface is clean and intuitive. Anyone can learn how to use the app in a matter of seconds. Whether users create with a stylus or their finger, Sketchshare makes the transition from a whiteboard to the iPad simple.

Sketchshare is a well-designed productivity app that serves many purposes. Share and discuss ideas with business partners or sketch drawings with friends. Regardless of how you use Sketchshare, it’s worth keeping on the home screen.