CopyIt The Grid Drawing Method

CopyIt The Grid Drawing Method

An ancient tool made digital.

297 ratings
138 reviews
$19.99 $9.99
In-App Purchases

Lowest price: Free 6 months ago (-100%)


Price history


Details

  • Released
  • Updated
  • June 17, 2010
  • April 28, 2026

Features

CopyIt The Grid Drawing Method screenshot #1 for iPhone
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CopyIt The Grid Drawing Method screenshot #10 for iPhone
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About

This app digitizes the centuries-old grid drawing technique, allowing artists to easily copy, enlarge, or reduce reference images. It offers flexible grids, smart tools, and various filters to enhance accuracy and detail, making it accessible for beginners and experienced artists alike.

Flexible grid types and customization
Smart zoom and digital ruler
Pencil sketch and onion skin filters
Import/export via camera and sharing
Universal app for iPhone, iPad, Mac
Adjustable zoom and media sizes
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What users say

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What's New in CopyIt The Grid Drawing Method

8.3

April 28, 2026

- A second reference layer with opacity control can now be used as an overlay to the original reference image. You can load a second image and/or add annotations (text, lines, rect, ellipses, freehand/Apple Pencil, colours). This allows for endless combinations. For example, you can load the same image again and using the opacity control combined with CopyIt features like Pencil Sketch, Mosaic, Filters, ValueMap etc., it provides another level of insight into studying your subject. You could also load in a photo of your work-in-progress as the second reference and fade between the two to check accuracy. - Mosaic now works with Greyscale and Negative Greyscale Filters (turn on the filter first, then Mosaic) so you can use Tonal Strip for block value studies. - Added preset toolbar colour schemes: Classic Grey, Slate Contrast, Ivory Draft, Blueprint, Forest Studio, Oxford Plum, Sandstone, Harbor Teal, Merlot, Mist and Custom. - Grid Size presets are now always available and automatically best suit the current Media Size. Old presets become custom columns/rows. - Create your own MixMap custom colours with your own label using RGB or HEX format. - SmartMove movement buttons have been added (Previous/Next) to quickly navigate the grid cells. The button panel can be dragged and repositioned when active. - Free Art Teacher resources have been added to the CopyIt webpage (lesson plans and student handouts). Visit https://www.nigelgreensapps.com/copyit - Improved visibility of some interface controls. - General bug fixes.

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Subscription plans

CopyIt Monthly Subscription

Provides monthly access to all features in CopyIt.

$3.991 Month
7 Days trial
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In-App Purchases

$29.99

CopyIt Lifetime

One‑time purchase that unlocks all features in CopyIt.

User reviews

Media size

It would be great if there were watercolour sheets sizes to choose from ie full sheet, half sheet and quarter sheet sizes

Original owner of CopyIt, the grid drawing method.

CopyIt has saved me a lot of time with the grid method. I love the color selector. In some of my paintings, the little crevices make it difficult to see the dark colors in the shadows. The movement of the shadows helps me select the dark colors and the depth of the shades. I’m enjoying the CopyIt app!
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Great app

Good app with many very usual features. The new ruler is particularly needed for detailed work. A screen lock function would also be useful for tracing details.

CopyIt

I'm a professional painter and work mostly from my own photos. I have found this app great so far and think it is well worth the investment. My recommendations would be for different ratios to be made available or a grid option of standard canvas sizes to use in cropping and then creating a grid for an image. Being able to enlarge each section of an image is great! Also, more detailed instructions would be helpful. So far I have not figured out how to choose a specific number of columns that vary from the standard settings. ??
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Buggy

This is a good idea, but has a number of bugs that make it difficult to use

Developer apps

User experience

🐞

Reported Bugs

3 issues

Grid lines not aligning properly when rotating the image

Bug

App locking up or crashing when switching between projects

Bug

Inconsistent behavior when resizing the grid or image

Bug

Requested Features

5 requests

Ability to save multiple projects at once

Feature

More grid size and layout options

Feature

Improved image resizing and positioning tools

Feature

Onion skin mode improvements

Feature

Faster performance and reduced crashes

Feature

FAQ

What is CopyIt The Grid Drawing Method?

CopyIt is a digital application that brings the traditional grid drawing technique into the modern age. It allows users to copy, enlarge, or reduce reference images with precision by breaking them down into manageable sections, similar to how masters like Leonardo da Vinci worked.

What are the key features of CopyIt?

Key features include flexible grid types with customizable rows, columns, and colors, smart tools like zoom and a digital ruler, various filters such as pencil sketch and onion skin overlay, and robust import/export options via cameras and sharing platforms. It also offers extensive customization for orientation, fullscreen mode, and media sizes.

Is CopyIt free to use?

The application is free to download and use, offering a range of features. However, it does have in-app purchases, suggesting that some advanced features or content might require an additional purchase.

What devices is CopyIt compatible with?

CopyIt is a universal app, meaning it works seamlessly across iPhone, iPad, and Apple Silicon Macs. This allows users to work on their drawing projects across multiple Apple devices.

How does the grid method help with drawing?

The grid method breaks down a complex image into smaller, simpler squares. By focusing on drawing the content within each individual square, artists can more easily replicate proportions, lines, and shapes accurately, making it easier to scale images up or down without distortion.