# Line Lift – Watercolor Studio — Paint, Draw & Sketch Naturally

> Realistic watercolor painting simulation for mobile devices. (iPhone/iPad app by NILS FREDRIK PAHLMAN.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/line-lift-watercolor-studio/id6792545860 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [NILS FREDRIK PAHLMAN](https://appshunter.io/developer/6792545862)
- Category: Graphics & Design, Entertainment
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 2 App Store ratings · 2 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17.0 · 26 MB
- Languages: American English, Japanese, Korean
- Released: 2026-09-05
- Data updated: 2026-11-05
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/line-lift-watercolor-studio/id6792545860/reviews.md

## What is Line Lift?

Line Lift is real watercolor on your phone. Not a filter, not a brush texture, a living simulation of pigment and water: washes stay wet, colors bleed into each other, blooms and backruns spread while you watch, dry-brush strokes catch on the paper's tooth. Wet the whole sheet first and paint into it, and the color creeps and feathers the way it does on real cotton paper.

Every serious art app assumes a tablet and a stylus. Line Lift is built for fingers, for the sofa, the café, the commute. The studio works the way a real one does: dip a pan of pigment, rinse the brush in the water bowl, dab it on the towel, mix two pigments in the tray. On iPad there's room to spread out, and Apple Pencil pressure and rotation are supported — but never required.

And it starts on paper, if you want it to. Draw with real ink on real paper, point the camera at it, and Line Lift lifts your linework off the page, so you can lay watercolor under your own drawing without ever losing it. Or skip the paper and start on a blank sheet.

Paint with sound on. Every stroke is synthesized in real time, the wet drag of a loaded brush, the dry whisper of a thirsty one.

What's in the studio:

• A wet watercolor engine with blooms, backruns, stacking washes and true drying
• Wet-the-sheet mode: soak the whole page and paint into the standing water
• A broad hake for laying washes, and a sponge for skies, clouds and lifted texture
• Washi tape and a craft knife: mask an edge, cut a shape, peel back to crisp paper
• The fineliner and the reservoir pen, a dip pen with a real, finite ink load
• Ink lift from camera, scanner or imported photos
• Reference photos to trace over on the lightboard, or keep beside your work
• Papers with real tooth
• A sketchbook home: your work lives in notebooks you flip through, and every painting session saves a new version — the original is never touched
• Time-lapse of your painting as it comes together
• iCloud backup of your sketchbook
• Full export and undo

Everything in this version is free. Your artwork stays on your device and in your own iCloud, analytics are anonymous, and there are no ads and no account.

## Key features

- Realistic watercolor simulation
- Wet-on-wet painting
- Finger and stylus support
- Ink lift from real paper
- Sound effects for strokes
- Masking tools
- Time-lapse recording

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| The Drafting Set | $2.99 | one-time |
| The Detail Round | $0.99 | one-time |
| The Spotter | $0.99 | one-time |
| The Rigger | $0.99 | one-time |
| The Fine Brushes | $1.99 | one-time |
| The White Gouache | $0.99 | one-time |
| Masking Fluid | $0.99 | one-time |
| The Craft Knife | $0.99 | one-time |
| The Highlighter Set | $1.99 | one-time |
| Coloured Washi Tapes | $0.99 | one-time |


## Is Line Lift safe?

Not enough ratings yet to assess Line Lift.

## Is Line Lift legit?

Line Lift – Watercolor Studio has limited verification signals. The AppsHunter Legitimacy Score for Line Lift is 58 out of 100 points across 7 verification signals from App Store and developer data.

## Recent user reviews (2 of 2)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/line-lift-watercolor-studio/id6792545860/reviews.md

### 5/5 — I love it!

*2026-10-13*

This is exactly the sort of app I was dreaming of when I got this iPad. I’ve had so much fun figuring everything out, and have been using it to make art and unwind after work. I also love the sensory experience of it all, the sounds of the brushes are the best. Thank you for making this and sharing. 😊😊👍

**Developer response:** Ah, thank you so much! ☺️ I’m so glad you are appreciating the app. Please feel free to ask for help or provide feedback also in the chat in the app if you ever get stuck or have a request. Happy painting!

### 5/5 — Simple and Engaging

*2026-09-18*

Line Lift offers a smooth and enjoyable experience with a clean, easy-to-use design. It's straightforward to explore and keeps things engaging. A nicely designed app that's definitely worth trying!

**Developer response:** I’m glad to hear that 😊

## Frequently asked questions about Line Lift

### Does Line Lift have ads?

No, Line Lift is ad-free. The app is completely free to use without any advertisements.

### What devices does Line Lift support?

Line Lift is available for iPhone and iPad. It is designed for intuitive finger use but also supports Apple Pencil pressure and rotation on iPad.

### How does Line Lift simulate watercolor?

Line Lift uses a wet watercolor engine that simulates pigment and water interactions, including blooms, backruns, and true drying. Washes stay wet, and colors bleed naturally.

### Can I use my own drawings with Line Lift?

Yes, you can draw with real ink on paper, then use the app's camera to lift your linework. This allows you to paint watercolor under your own drawings without losing the original lines.

### What is the age rating for Line Lift?

Line Lift has an age rating of 4+. This indicates it is suitable for children and general audiences.

### How often is Line Lift updated?

The latest version of Line Lift is 1.3.2, and it was last updated on October 2, 2026. Updates typically bring new features and improvements.

### Does Line Lift offer in-app purchases?

No, Line Lift does not have any in-app purchases. Everything in the current version is free to use.

### How does Line Lift handle saving artwork?

Your artwork is saved in a sketchbook home, where each painting session saves a new version, preserving the original. iCloud backup is also available for your sketchbook.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.4.3 — 2026-10-26

Line Lift 1.4.3 lifts clouds out of wet washes.

• New: a paper towel in the tool fan, next to the sponge. Lay a wet sky, pick up the towel while the paint is still glossy and dab: it blots a crumpled, ragged shape out of the wash, crisp where the folds press and soft where the sheet lifts away. Drag to wipe. Every press lands differently.
• The sponge now lifts wet washes with its own texture, clumps and pores, different on every dab, so repeated dabs build organic mottling into big, messy clouds. Hold still or press harder with the Pencil to take more.
• Dabs reach white. A sponge or towel press pulls pigment that has already settled back out of damp paper, dab by dab. Dry paper gives nothing: mist it and blot again.
• The sponge, the paper towel and the mist sprayer can be picked up while the paper is wet.
• Fixed: wet washes no longer break up into patches and rings as they dry.
• Fixed: tapping the water glass after scrolling the color library could load a color instead of diluting the brush.

### 1.4.2 — 2026-10-14

New in Art Supplies:
• The Fine Brushes — the Detail Round, the Rigger and the Spotter. Try each one on scrap paper before you buy.
• The Highlighter Set — white gouache, masking fluid, the craft knife and coloured washi tapes: every way to keep the white of the paper. If you already had the gouache and the knife, they stay yours.

Better painting:
• Masking fluid now protects wet paper. Paint, water, salt and spray stop at the fluid, and rubbing it off reveals clean paper.
• A blunt tip for the white gouache, beside the pointed one.
• Masking fluid strokes can start off the edge of the paper.
• The mist sprayer lays a fine dusting of droplets, and water can wake up dry paint a little.
• Pick up a mix by tapping a puddle in the mixing basin.
• Colours in the paint tin are arranged in colour order.
• Paintings open faster, and wet paint is finer on older iPads.
• Ready for iPhone Duo.

### 1.4.1 — 2026-10-04

Inktober is easier to find: while it runs, a ribbon on your sketchbook shows today's prompt. Tap it and the Inktober book opens on today's page. New to Line Lift this October? You'll start in the Inktober book once you've had your first try.

### 1.4 — 2026-10-03

The Drafting Set is here: a ruler, a shape guide, a folding rule, an ellipse guide and a French curve, $0.99 each or $2.99 for all five. Open Art Supplies and try each one on its page before you buy: lay it on the paper, turn it, and draw along it with the fineliner.

If you've used Line Lift before this version, the Drafting Set is yours for free, as a thank-you for being here early.

Also new: the folding rule clicks into a symmetric roof, the Art Supplies list shows at a glance what's yours and what's for sale, and you can take back an "I'd use this" vote.

### 1.3.2 — 2026-10-02

Inktober, smoother:
• A drawing you scan from a day's page now lands on that day. Before, it could end up at the back of the book and leave the day empty.
• Scan straight from the page: open an Inktober page, tap "…" and choose "Scan a drawing onto this page". If the page already has work on it, you're asked first, and the page you had is kept at the back of the book.

Also in this update:
• The eraser rubs out paint again, and you choose what it takes: Ink, Paint or Both. Paint alone keeps your linework while you tidy around it, and new Softness and Strength sliders go from a crisp edge to a feathered one.
• Masking tape now always puts back exactly what was under it. Peeling a strip could sometimes fill it with the last color you painted.

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## More apps by NILS FREDRIK PAHLMAN

- [Stereogrammy](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stereogrammy/id6809458674)

All apps by NILS FREDRIK PAHLMAN: https://appshunter.io/developer/6792545862

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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 2026-11-05.*