# Art Tools — Design, Grid and Value tool

> Art composition and subject analysis tool for painters and artists. (iPhone/iPad app by Accurasee.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/art-tools/id407578464 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Accurasee](https://appshunter.io/developer/406065392)
- Category: Education, Photo & Video
- Price: $2.99 with in-app purchases
- Rating: 3.40/5 from 253 App Store ratings · 58 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 12.0 · 15 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2010-12-11
- Data updated: 2026-09-01
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/art-tools/id407578464/reviews.md

## What is Art Tools?

Are you ever in such a hurry to get started painting that you forget to design your canvas or analyze your subject matter?  

"Take time to save time." Use Accurasee Art Tools to get your composition and your proportions right from the start. 

1. Take a photo of desired subject.  Or choose reference from the camera roll.
2. Choose the window opening to match your canvas
3. Choose from a selection of  grids including the golden ratio or use no grid at all.
4. Alter size relationships, change value, color or thickness of frame and grid.
5. Using 2 finger method, enlarge, shrink, rotate and move your photo for desired compositional effect.
6. Quickly change photo to B/W and color
7. Use the value checker tool to check for proper values.
8. Save and store your project for future reference or email to yourself.

We hope that you enjoy Art Tools. If you like Art Tools, please give us a review and share it with your friends.  We'd really appreciate any feedback you might have.

Thanks and keep drawing!

## Key features

- Import photos or use camera
- Apply various grids (e.g., golden ratio)
- Adjust image values and color
- Resize, rotate, and move photo
- Value checker tool
- Save and email projects

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: $2.99.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Art Tools Pro | $2.99 | one-time |


## What do users think of Art Tools?

Overall sentiment: mixed

**Pros**

- 👍 Helpful for drawing
- 👍 Useful for artists
- 👍 Great for proportions
- 👍 Useful for plein air
- 👍 Good value tool
- 👍 Helps with composition
- 👍 Accurate transfer of photos
- 👍 Value checker tool
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Clarifies values
- 👍 Solid app
- 👍 Brilliant illustration aid
- 👍 Great for planning paintings
- 👍 Helps with scaling
- 👍 Simple to use
- 👍 Saves time
- 👍 Good interface
- 👍 Value finder feature
- 👍 Helps with scaling
- 👍 Useful for composing

**Cons**

- 👎 Not user-friendly
- 👎 Grid customization tricky
- 👎 Difficult to figure out
- 👎 No instructions
- 👎 Poor replacement for value viewer
- 👎 Chunky and unusable
- 👎 Too much to manipulate
- 👎 Only portrait mode
- 👎 No landscape option
- 👎 Takes up too much space
- 👎 Crashing issues
- 👎 Buttons don't work
- 👎 Needs Adobe Flash
- 👎 Freezes often
- 👎 Blank screen for saved projects
- 👎 Not enough grids
- 👎 No rectangular options
- 👎 Cannot upload photos
- 👎 Cannot enlarge picture
- 👎 Grid is fixed
- 👎 Cannot move grid
- 👎 No vertical plumb lines
- 👎 Cannot update to paid version
- 👎 Shop not open
- 👎 Abandoned by developers
- 👎 No support or help
- 👎 Bugs in updated version
- 👎 Split view stuttery
- 👎 Difficulty seeing options
- 👎 Importing photos doesn't work
- 👎 Editing feature blank screen

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Cannot update to paid version
- Shop not open
- App abandoned by developers
- No support or help
- Bugs in updated version
- Split view stuttery
- Difficulty seeing options
- Importing photos doesn't work
- Editing feature blank screen
- App freezes when opening photos
- App crashes when uploading photos
- App crashes when turning photos
- App crashes when saving photos
- App crashes on iPad
- App crashes on iPhone
- App crashes on iPad mini
- App needs Adobe Flash
- Buttons don't always work
- App keeps crashing
- Cannot download content

**Most requested features**

- New app will be better
- Make grid intro clearer
- Vertical plumb lines
- Option for square paintings
- Option for horizontal paintings
- Rotate photos by 90 degrees
- Fit to frame button
- Golden ratio harmonics
- Spiral grid
- Print project with grid
- Implement user suggestions
- Rectangular grid options
- Fibonacci curve
- Moveable grid instead of picture
- More plumb lines
- Slider for grid squares
- Comparison tool for painting progress
- Color picker
- Color scheme helper
- Update value viewer app
- Manual frame size adjustment
- Landscape option for frame
- More stable two-finger sizing
- Separate vertical/horizontal/diagonal sizing
- Support for iPad
- Fix bugs on iPad mini
- Fix bugs on iPhone
- Fix bugs on iPad
- Fix crashing when uploading/turning/saving photos

## Recent user reviews (10 of 58)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/art-tools/id407578464/reviews.md

### 4/5 — It is very helpful.

*2024-06-13, version 3.0.2*

Would give it a 5 star rating but I confident the new app will be even better.

### 5/5 — This is a very useful app for artist.  I hate it is no longer available:(

*2024-05-13, version 3.0.2*

Thanks

### 5/5 — I didn’t realize the grid is scalable…

*2023-02-16, version 3.0.2*

I was about to delete this app because I could not figure out how to make the grid denser. As another reviewer said, you have to lock the photo, then enable custom grid to be able to pinch and zoom in the grid to get more lines. I gave it a two star review because I didn’t know that feature existed. I think you guys should make that part of the little intro pages to let people understand because it is absolutely not clear.

It also will not let me update to the paid version. When I go to the settings and try and upgrade, it sends me to a website. I’d like to pay you guys, but can’t figure out how!

### 4/5 — Would help if shop was open

*2023-02-01, version 3.0.2*

I have tried four times today to buy the pro version ie without ads. 
No connection made each time
Perhaps Sever Down
Perhaps No Longer Supporting App
?!?!?!

### 4/5 — Plumb lines.

*2022-07-30, version 3.0.2*

Art Tools is a great app to help with drawing, values, and composition, but why isn’t there a way to create vertical plumb lines? By definition, plumb lines determine the verticals. Horizontal lines would be more accurately called “level” lines.

If vertical plumb lines ARE available… how do you create them? I don’t see any way to do that.

### 4/5 — Proportions

*2022-04-28, version 3.0.2*

I am a beginning painter and this tool helps me keep my proportions accurate.  I do wish there would be an option for square paintings, and for paintings that are horizontal.  When I try to rotate the picture I am copying I goof it all up!

### 5/5 — A real tool for real painters

*2021-08-27, version 3.0.2*

I love this app! Accurasee has helped me with MANY a composition. It’s very useful while Plein air painting. I like to save multiple compositions and then compare them in the projects tab. I just wish it would include a feature to rotate photos by 90 degree increments, and a “fit to frame” button. I would have the FTF button toggle between fitting height, width and last manual size adjustment. Oh, I wouldn’t mind golden ratio harmonics, and a spiral grid either!
Thank you so much to the developers!

### 2/5 — Printing project with the grid

*2021-08-15, version 3.0.2*

I cannot figure out how to print my project with the grid so I can work on it therefore I gave it a low rating

### 2/5 — Great if it wasn't abandoned

*2021-07-02, version 3.0.2*

I think this app has a ton of potential. However nothing has changed in 3 years. If they implement the suggestions given to them by the actual users, this app would have a perfect score. Unfortunately I am pretty sure it's been abandoned by the developers.

### 2/5 — Not enough grids

*2021-01-31, version 3.0.2*

No rectangular options

## Frequently asked questions about Art Tools

### What does this art app do?

This app assists artists in planning their artwork by providing tools for composition and subject matter analysis. It allows you to import reference images, apply various grid systems, and adjust visual elements to perfect your layout before you begin creating.

### What are the key features of this art tool?

Key features include the ability to import photos or use your camera, apply grids like the golden ratio, adjust image size and position, change photos to black and white or color, and use a value checker tool. You can also save and email your projects for future reference.

### Is this app free to use?

The app is free to download and use, with the option for in-app purchases. This model allows users to try out the core functionalities before deciding to invest in additional features or tools.

### Who would benefit from using this app?

This app is ideal for painters, illustrators, and visual artists of all levels who want to ensure their compositions are well-balanced and their proportions are accurate from the outset. It's particularly useful for those who often work from reference photos.

### Can I use my own photos with this app?

Yes, you can import your own photos from your camera roll or take a new photo directly within the app to use as your reference. This flexibility allows you to work with any subject matter you choose.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 3.1.7 — 2026-01-24

- Added golden ratio grid
- Added image outside frame indicator
- Added Reset buttons

### 3.0.2 — 2018-02-08

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

- Bug fixes and improvements

### 3.0.1 — 2018-01-02

*General ui and bug fixes.
*Adjustable Value Scale feature.
*Ability to save Value settings for projects.
*iPad usability improvements.

### 3.0.0 — 2017-12-08

-Updated app for iOS 11
-New and improved design
-New and improved Value Checker Tool
-Overall better functionality and feel
-Free download with full functionality.

### 2.3 — 2013-11-25

Improved stability and ios 7 updates.

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## Related topics

[art tools](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/art-tools)

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-01.*