Digital fashion illustration is taking over the fashion designing industry, and for good reasons. It is faster and easier than manual sketching and has many features you can use to your advantage. 

If you want to improve your digital fashion illustration skills as a fashion designer, you need to invest in some digital illustration apps.

There are tons of free apps you can use for digital fashion illustration. We will share a couple of them in this article to help you get started. 

Free Apps for Digital Fashion Illustration 

Let’s start with the free apps. Yeah! We know you like free stuff. Who doesn’t? 

However, some free apps have additional features you can access when you subscribe to the premium version. That notwithstanding, you can still do something worthwhile with the free version.

We also recommend investing in premium tools to help improve your skills as you advance in your fashion design careers. 

Now, let’s get the show started!

1. Adobe Illustrator Draw

Adobe Illustrator Draw is a free vector drawing app for iPad. As you already know, anything made by Adobe is always dope, and this app is no exception. 

With Adobe Illustrator Draw, you can create high-resolution, clear images with a bold and attractive plan. These images are so sharp even when you zoom in. You can also import and export images and work on vector images. 

The app has a simple interface, so you won’t have difficulty navigating it. The only downside is that it has only a few brush options, so your choices are limited. As such, your images may have a similar appearance.

2. Adobe Sketch

Adobe Sketch is another free app for the iPad. You can use it as a backup for your Adobe Illustrator Draw. Just like Adobe Illustrator Draw, it’s simple to use, although it has few brush options. Unlike Adobe Illustrator Draw, it has additional tools like pencils and watercolours, which you can use to create softer images. Also, images created on Adobe Sketch are less sharp and sketchy in appearance.

3. Autodesk SketchBook

SketchBook is a nice app that’s great for colouring. It’s an all-in-one app with a lot of features and functionality. You will find virtually all the drawing tools and features you need on SketchBook.

The side panels are easy, and fun to use as the features are not cluttered. Although SketchBook is not a vector drawing software, you can still zoom in without fear of your image becoming blurry because of its pixelation.

4. Concepts App

Concepts is a vector drawing app with an extensive canvas and high image quality. It has many slick features and tools that are great for sketching. One thing about this app is that it gives a professional vibe to your workflow. Even architects and product developers can use it.

Concepts app has custom palettes that allow you to group your colours for easy access while drawing. The eraser works faster than most apps. So you don’t have to worry about spending hours wiping off your mistakes. However, learning how to navigate the app may take a while. Also, some of its best features have a price tag. That means you have to pay before you can access them as add-ons.

5. MediBang Paint

MediBang Paint is a free illustration app with a lot of functionality which is unexpected for a free app. This all-in-one drawing app has many brushes, design options, and settings you can use to bring your fashion ideas to life. It’s like a complete digital art software. 

However, it can be overwhelming sometimes, as the screen may appear cluttered due to the many functionalities. Also, the image appears blurry and grainy when you zoom in.

6. Tayasui Sketches

Tayasui Sketches is another illustration app for iPad. If you are looking for versatility, this is the app for you. It has a range of tools, including pencils, pens, markers, watercolours, and airbrush effects in different shades. These features are easy to access on the sidebar. 

The best part is you can also organize your sketches into different notebooks in the app. Also, images on Tayasui have the least noticeable pixelation at max zoom. The only downside is that it doesn’t have many colour options, and you have to pay to unlock additional features.

Paid Apps for Digital Fashion Illustration 

Now, let’s talk about paid apps. With a paid app, you expect to get something better than the free version. It is premium, after all. 

While free apps are great, we still recommend trying paid apps occasionally. After all, you will still have to pay to unlock additional features on the free app. The best part is that with paid apps, you don’t have to deal with annoying ads and pop-ups.

Here are paid apps you should try. 

1. Procreate

Procreate is a great drawing app packed with many tools and features you can play around with. It is super versatile! With this, you can create different fabric prints and textures. The interface is relatively clean and simple.

There is no disputing that this is a great app. However, the image can be grainy when you zoom in. And the eraser can be slow sometimes. The app costs approximately $10. 

2. Sketch Club

One thing you will love about Sketch Club is its setup. With this app, you can create bold images that are easy to see, even on a small scale. The Clun aspect of the app allows you to see the designs of others which could be a great source of inspiration. The app may not have many features like Procreate, but it’s easy to navigate. If you are looking for simplicity, this is your best shot. You can get it for as little as $3 on the app store.

3. Notability

Although this is a note-taking app, it is excellent for drawing quick sketches. If you want to stop sketching your drafts manually with paper before completing them online, Notability is a great option.

With this app, you can copy and paste your sketches into multiple forms. It is easy to use and has a lot of functionality to help you organise your sketches. However, the only drawing tools available on the app are a pen and a highlighter. Getting the app will cost roughly $9.99.

Conclusively,

All these apps have features that are great for digital fashion illustration. Ultimately, it depends on what you want in a digital illustration app. Do you want something simple or versatile? Do you want maximum functionality for a minimum price? Or do you want to create beautiful illustrations in the shortest possible time?

Each app has its pros and cons. That there’s at least one that suits your needs. You can test the free apps to see which works for you. Reading reviews about the apps will also help you make an informed decision. You can also check out our fashion illustration courses. By enrolling in our fashion illustration courses, you will learn more about these digital illustration tools and improve your fashion design skills. They are practical and quite affordable. Click here to get started. 

What digital fashion illustration app have you tried? Do you have a favourite app? Tell us in the comments.