Craft App Review: Paper by 53

While sitting at the Innovations presentation at CHA, I whipped out my iPad to take notes when a few people instantly asked around me, “What app is that?”

“This?” I say, “This is Paper. I use this more than any other app.” And it’s true.  Paper by 53 is a streamlined drawing and sketch app.  In it’s own words, “Paper is where ideas begin. It’s the easiest and most beautiful way to create on iPad. Capture your ideas as sketches, diagrams, illustrations, notes or drawings and share them across the web. “

From the main screen, you can easily organize and create multiple journals.  Make as many as you want, name them, choose a cover or even upload your own photos to use.  Inside your journal you can easily add, delete and share your sketches.  Inside your journal page, you get to play with the five essential tools and a palette of eye-pleasing, cohesive colors.  There is a fountain pen, light lead pencil, marker, ballpoint pen and watercolor brush.  There is also a standard eraser.

Then there is one of my favorite features, the rewind control. Sometimes when adding and layering colors and you make a mistake, you don’t want to completely erase your project. In comes the rewind control, slowly taking away your last few steps and strokes. Rewind too far? No problem, just fast forward. I’ve heard some people complain that the rewind control is not intuitive when using a stylus. I have to disagree. I can still hold my stylus and use my pinky and ring finger to use as my fingers to rewind.

You can also have your tool pane up or down while working on your project:

I’ve made everything with this app including simple sketches:

to more detailed pictures:

and grocery lists:

Scrapbook layout sketches:

And here’s a sketch in progress I’m working on right now; you can kind of see the process I go through as I sketch and add color and doodle off to the side:

I am LOVING this app. Right now Paper is available on the iPad. The free version that is available you can only use the fountain pen, which in itself is very versatile. The additional tools are either $1.99 a piece, or there is the, “essential bundle,” which is only $6.99.  This might seems spendy for some, but just how much did you spend on that Starbucks coffee this morning?  Hahaha! I joke with you, crafters.  Since I use this app every day and multiple times, I can justify the cost.  I’ve spent much more on apps and have hardly used them.  Not the case with paper.  One other thing to note that while this app is finger-friendly, after a bit of playing you may be inclined to purchase a stylus. Now that I have one, I use it ALL the time, so don’t be afraid to make this additional purchase.  Paper is available for purchase in the iTunes app store and make sure to check out their “Made with Paper,” blog to see the absolutely stunning and jaw-dropping creations from other Paper uses around the web!

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About SaraCarns

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• CHA 2015 – Tim Holtz Idea-ology Booth Tour - March 18, 2015
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• CHA 2015 – Beadalon 3D Bracelet Jig - March 12, 2015