Zen Brush 2

Zen Brush 2 is an amazing app. It literally gets out of your way to allow your creativity to flow. Been using it for years. After trying countless of drawing and sketching apps, I always go back to Zen Brush. The only reason I keep looking for a replacement is because Zen Brush 2 lacks iCloud sync. If you need to replace your phone, all your Zen Brush creations are gone. I think adding a way to sync would not disrupt the amazing zen flow of the app; iCloud sync would just provide a useful feature to those of us who need it. If Zen Brush can have a sync feature, hands down, it will be the best drawing app in the AppStore.

It was a little intimidating at first. This app is not your average sketch app... there is just one brush tool (with 2 colors, three levels of transparency, and 4 texture/wetness levels), no layers, and not a lot of editing tools besides a deep but limited undo button. This art app is specifically focused on the Japanese Ink brush style, and challenges the user to reinvent how they express themselves artistically. Novices to digital painting or sketching may find this app too specific, but anyone and everyone will enjoy stepping up to the challenge of painting in this minimalist style. Full disclosure: I am categorically a “noob” at digital art making in any style!!! But I have a deep passion for exploring and learning how to use art making apps on the iPad 6th gen with iOS12. This is the ideal app for anyone interested in high tech digital painting in this ancient traditional technique. Be sure to use the Apple Pencil (or other supported “active” stylus) to make the most of the pressure and angle sensitivity for the fullest range of the virtual brush’s expressivity.

After years of using Zen Brush I think Zen Brush 2 is extraordinary. An amazing art program that does one thing extremely well: mimic the real-world flex and bristle spread of a sumi brush. The responsive and expressive nature of Zen brush is even more amazing with the iPad Pro and the Apple Pencil. The added benefits of the 5 “UNDO's” and DRY brush of version 2 makes it an outstanding addition. I love the ability to Save and Load previous drawings, add to them, and save as new artwork. The ability to Export (Save) as PNGs with Transparent backgrounds makes it ideal for use in Procreate, Concepts, or Affinity Photo (for iPad) and use the brushwork as layer to use with layered color artwork is AWESOME. In fact, the ONLY thing missing from this version of ZenBrush 2 is the ability to import art from Photos and use it as a springboard to create other artwork. (A single transparent layer would be perfect too.) but at least the ability to import from PHOTOS would be greatly appreciated. GREAT WORK Zen Brush team!!

I didn’t use the original Zen Brush, so I can’t speak to that version, but this is a really strong painting program. I really love the “feeling” of the brush distortion as the the pressure changes with the Apple Pencil. I have been looking for a program like this for a while, even with ProCreate available. THings I would like to see included in the next update would be having the addition of a pre-wet paper option, to allow the ink to drift a little or interact with the other strokes on the paper. Also, I appreciate the original colors being red and black, but what I would love is a small pallet of colors, like a medium box of crayons, maybe 16/24 colors each with the 3 options of opacity. Later on in a further iteration, adding mixing for custom colors, but now just adding a wet paper option and and a couple dozen colors would be fantastic. Great overall app.

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What happened? Something very bad is what... Why did it change? Why? Now the ink bleeds all over no matter what and there is no more dark, rich ink. Seriously, what happened? XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX This app is BEAUTIFUL. It is fluid, smooth and easy to use. It has two major flaws. I. It is very limited on colors. I don't know why. You set two colors for each page. Second, it has a delete page button that does not ask if you are sure. This is somewhat mitigated by the fact that it has an undo that lets you bring the page bacK, most of the time, which brings me to a third problem, perhaps not a MAJOR flaw, but still serious. The undo button is seemingly random 'in how many steps it will let you go back. Sometimes, it will not let you restore more than even a couple of steps. This app has tremendous potential and works exceptionally well with Apple Pencil. Just give us a few more colors and better undo options. It is definitely the best "inking"app there is in the store right now. For writing text, it is without compare.