# Tracing Board | Lightbox vs Core Image Tools

The clearest difference is rating: Core Image Tools at 5.0 against Tracing Board | Lightbox's 4.5. Core Image Tools also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 67%) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 18 months). Tracing Board | Lightbox's advantage is ratings volume (40 vs 3) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 18). On ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Tracing Board | Lightbox costs $2.99 and Core Image Tools $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Core Image Tools holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Tracing Board | Lightbox has 40 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Tracing Board | Lightbox's written reviews are positive against 100% of Core Image Tools's.

Tracing Board | Lightbox ships an update every 18 months, Core Image Tools every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Tracing Board | Lightbox | Core Image Tools |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **$0.99** |
| Rating | [4.5 (40 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tracing-board-lightbox/id1040566627/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/core-image-tools/id6748240493/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **40** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 18 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 10 MB | 60 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 18 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Pablo Paciello](https://appshunter.io/developer/834434174) | [Lino Bailey](https://appshunter.io/developer/1804513706) |

## What reviewers say

### Tracing Board | Lightbox

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tracing-board-lightbox/id1040566627)

This app transforms your iPad into a portable light box for artists. It allows you to trace over sketches, drafts, or fonts to refine your work, make variations, or create new typographical designs. Save your progress and adjust image settings for an optimal tracing experience.

**Highlights:** Portable light box functionality, Trace sketches and drafts, Create typographical designs, Save tracing progress, Adjust size, brightness, saturation, and contrast, Lockable menu to prevent accidental input

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Core Image Tools

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/core-image-tools/id6748240493)

This app offers over 100 image editing tools with a simple interface for various effects. Easily edit, enhance, resize, and apply filters to your photos across multiple devices. Its intuitive workflow allows for seamless, step-by-step image manipulation without complex file management.

**Highlights:** Over 100 image editing tools, Simple and intuitive user interface, Multi-platform support (Mac, iPhone, iPad, Vision), Resize images with added pixels, Flip and mirror functionality, Various blur effects, Chroma-keying tools

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Tracing Board | Lightbox free?

Tracing Board | Lightbox costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Core Image Tools free?

Core Image Tools costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Tracing Board | Lightbox or Core Image Tools?

Core Image Tools is rated higher. Tracing Board | Lightbox averages 4.5 out of 5 from 40 ratings, while Core Image Tools averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Tracing Board | Lightbox or Core Image Tools have ads?

Neither Tracing Board | Lightbox nor Core Image Tools shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Tracing Board | Lightbox or Core Image Tools?

Tracing Board | Lightbox ships an update every 18 months, and Core Image Tools every 2 weeks. Most recently, Tracing Board | Lightbox was updated on October 6, 2026 and Core Image Tools on October 8, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*