Comparison

Parallax Layers Lite vs Paintsight

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Parallax Layers Lite

Bring your illustrations to life by adding images and arranging them to create a 3D movement effect. Record and share your animated creations on social media. Save your work as projects for later editing.

Highlights
  • Import images from camera or gallery
  • Arrange images into a canvas
  • Create 3D movement effects
  • Record and share animations
  • Save projects for editing
  • Supports images with alpha components
Features
Read full description

Parallax Layers Lite allows you to bring your illustration to life. 1. Add your images from the camera or the gallery 2. Arrange them into the canvas to build the final illustration 3. Tap play 4. Move your device and tilt it and see the 3D movement effect You can record the animation and share through your favorite social platform. Also you can store your images as projects in order to recover or edit them in any moment. To achieve awesome results, use image with alpha components. Lite version limitations: - You can create 2 projects - You can import 2 layers per project

About

Paintsight

This app helps artists analyze and draw from reference photos. It offers tools for value studies, color analysis, composition guides, and proportional drawing grids. Users can also compare their work directly against references.

Highlights
  • Notan and value studies
  • Color palette analysis
  • Drawing grids and guides
  • Painting comparison tools
  • Reference photo organization
  • iPad-optimized interface
Features
Read full description

Paint from photos with a painter's eye. Paintsight keeps your reference photos in one place and gives you the studio tools to read them: notan and value studies, grids, color palettes, design tools, and a way to check your painting against the reference. SEE THE VALUES • Notan and value study: simplify any photo into 2 to 7 values, then tap a value to highlight it • Notan options: several ways to design the lights and darks, side by side • Thumbnail: see the design at postage-stamp size, where only the big shapes count • Squint and grayscale views, to judge light and dark without detail or color in the way • Sample: tap any spot to read its value on a 0 to 10 scale, its color and whether it reads warm or cool READ THE COLOR • Palette: the main color masses with their share of the picture, value, hex and RGB. Tap one to see everywhere it appears • Color blocks: flat color masses for the block-in • Warm and cool map, and a chroma map of where the most intense color sits • Gamut wheel: the palette on a color wheel, with its color scheme named SEE THE DESIGN • Planes: the photo as flat facets, finer where the form turns • Silhouette: check that the subject reads as a single shape • Focal point, big lines and flow: where the eye goes first, the main directions, and the direction of form for planning brushstrokes • Hard and soft edges: see how sharply shapes meet • Contours: clean lines for drawing in or transferring DRAW IT IN PROPORTION • Drawing grid with numbered and lettered squares, sized to your canvas (such as 16x20 in) so you can scale up square by square • Rule of thirds, golden section, diagonals and harmonic armature guides • Measure angles and proportions, with a plumb line • Sketch over a reference with Apple Pencil. The sketch is saved with the photo • Mirror, rotate, and crop to your canvas shape or a standard ratio CHECK YOUR PAINTING • Photograph your painting, straighten it, and compare it with the reference: overlaid, flicking between the two, or side by side • Compare in any view, such as values or color blocks, to see where the painting has drifted KEEP YOUR REFERENCES ORGANIZED • Import from the camera or your photo library, one at a time or in bulk • Tag photos, such as hands, skies, fabric or portraits, and filter in a tap • Add notes to each reference: palette ideas, mixes, what to try next time • Syncs with iCloud, so the same library is on your iPhone and iPad BUILT FOR iPAD • Library sidebar, and tool options in a side panel so the photo stays full size • Open a reference in its own window beside your painting app in Split View or Stage Manager • Drag a reference straight into Procreate, Files or another app • Keyboard shortcuts for the main tools MADE FOR PAINTERS For oil, acrylic, watercolor, gouache and plein air painters, and for anyone drawing from reference. Plan a painting at the kitchen table, then prop your iPad or iPhone by the easel while you work. The screen stays awake while a reference is open. SIMPLE PRICING Try Paintsight free with up to 3 reference photos and every tool. One payment unlocks unlimited photos for life. No subscription, no account, no ads. Questions or ideas? Get in touch from Settings. Paintsight is made by an independent developer.

Screenshots

Parallax Layers Lite4 screens
Paintsight4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Paintsight at 3.0 against Parallax Layers Lite's 1.0. Paintsight also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). Parallax Layers Lite's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 26.0). On price, ratings volume and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Paintsight sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Parallax Layers Lite asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Paintsight holds the better App Store score, 3.0 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 2 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Parallax Layers Lite ships an update every 2 months, Paintsight every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Parallax Layers Lite versus Paintsight: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterParallax Layers LitePaintsight
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (3 ratings)3.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supportedFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB8 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDaniel LaoGruffydd Johnston

Customer experience

Parallax Layers Lite

All ratings3 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Paintsight

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

None

Parallax Layers Lite

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Paintsight

One-time1
  • Lifetime$4.99

Questions

Is Parallax Layers Lite free?
Parallax Layers Lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Paintsight free?
Paintsight is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Parallax Layers Lite or Paintsight?
Paintsight is rated higher. Parallax Layers Lite averages 1.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Paintsight averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Parallax Layers Lite or Paintsight have ads?
Parallax Layers Lite shows ads; Paintsight does not.
Which is updated more often, Parallax Layers Lite or Paintsight?
Parallax Layers Lite ships an update every 2 months, and Paintsight every 2 weeks. Most recently, Parallax Layers Lite was updated on November 3, 2026 and Paintsight on November 4, 2026.

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