Comparison

Painter Values Check vs Color Study

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

Head to head
About

Painter Values Check

Analyze the lightness and darkness of colors in your artwork or images in real-time using your device's camera. It generates simplified versions to help you assess contrast and focal points, and allows exporting results.

Highlights
  • Real-time value checking via camera
  • Analyze imported images
  • Generate simplified value versions
  • Export result images
  • Histogram-based value categorization
Features
Read full description

Values are the colors' relative lightness or darkness. They define the contrast and variety in a painting and create a focal point. If you want your painting to work and pop the main shapes should have different values. Painter Values Check allows you to check values in realtime through your device camera and also analyze it or any other image imported from Photo Gallery. The app will generates 3 versions from your original image: the values version and two more simplified values images in order to check if your painting or image is working. Also, you'll be able to export any of the result images :) How does it work? Painter Values Check calculates the histogram of every captured frame and reorganize the values into "Dark", "Middle dark", "Middle light" and "Light" categories in order to help you to check the variations in your painting, drawing or picture. In order to work properly the app needs camera permission — Subscription details 1 year without ads — US$9.99 per year, renewing automatically. Prices may vary by region. Cancel any time in your Apple Account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.pineappslab.com/privacy.html

About

Color Study

This app helps artists simplify images into essential shapes and colors for study. It provides tools for accurate color matching, paint mixing guidance, and detailed analysis of value, saturation, and color codes. Advanced features for deeper analysis and paint mixing are available via subscription.

Highlights
  • Image simplification to shapes and colors
  • Accurate color picker with pixel averaging
  • Paint mixing guidance
  • Value, saturation, and color code inspection
  • Interactive analysis maps
  • Customizable grid overlay
Features
Read full description

Color Study is a tool for artists to simplify images, study color and value, and accurately match colors through paint mixing. Load any photo and reduce it to clear shapes and essential color information. Color Study generates a clear color map of your reference and provides guidance for mixing paints to match the colors you see, giving you a practical guide you can use at the easel or in study. Focus on the fundamentals that matter in drawing and painting. Made for artists Core tools: • Accurate color picker with magnification and pixel averaging options • Place and customize color markers directly on your reference • Inspect value, saturation, and color codes (RGB, HSV, HSL, CMYK, LAB) • Automatically extract key colors and accents in an image, and mark their locations • Compare colors to assess value, relative temperature, saturation, and perceptual difference • Customizable grid overlay for precise alignment Advanced tools: • Interactive value maps, shape simplification, temperature maps and notan controls • Paint-mixing guidance designed for opaque paints, with real-time feedback from photographed mixes • Export analysis views and color maps as images for reference or study • Advanced grid controls for precision alignment and subdivision • Generate simplified line drawings and contour maps to clarify structure, edges, and major shapes • Organize your work into projects with images, paint palettes, and artwork details • iCloud sync keeps your projects and palettes in sync across all your Apple devices Advanced tools available with subscription. Train your artistic eye Color Study is not a design tool or palette generator. It is a learning tool for painters, illustrators, and art students who want to analyze what they see and make better decisions in their artwork. Study master paintings, analyze your own photos, and deepen your understanding of value structure, color harmony, and visual design. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Painter Values Check3 screens
Color Study4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Color Study at 89% against Painter Values Check's 0%. Color Study also leads on rating (4.9 vs 3.1) and ads (none vs shown). Painter Values Check's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7). On price 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. Color Study sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Painter Values Check asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Color Study holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Color Study has 352 ratings behind it against 37, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Painter Values Check's written reviews are positive against 89% of Color Study's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Painter Values Check ships an update every 2 months, Color Study every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on September 7, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
Painter Values Check versus Color Study: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPainter Values CheckColor Study
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.1 (37 ratings)4.9 (352 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews88.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings37352 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 11 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#122 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Mac — better
Requires iOS26.016.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB195 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDaniel LaoBrushLabs LLC

Customer experience

Painter Values Check

All ratings36 ratings
Positive52.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative47.2%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Color Study

All ratings352 ratings
Positive97.7%
Neutral0.9%
Negative1.4%
Written reviews54 reviews
Positive88.9%
Neutral3.7%
Negative7.4%

In-app purchases

None

Painter Values Check

No in-app purchases

7 purchases

Color Study

Subscriptions4
  • Color Study Pro monthly$2.991 Month
  • Color Study Pro monthly$4.991 Month
  • Color Study Pro yearly7 Days trial$19.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Color Study Pro Yearly7 Days trial$24.991 Year
One-time3
  • Color Study tip$1.99
  • Color Study tip$19.99
  • Color Study tip$29.99

Questions

Is Painter Values Check free?
Painter Values Check is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Color Study free?
Color Study is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Painter Values Check or Color Study?
Color Study is rated higher. Painter Values Check averages 3.1 out of 5 from 37 ratings, while Color Study averages 4.9 from 352 ratings.
Do Painter Values Check or Color Study have ads?
Painter Values Check shows ads; Color Study does not.
Which is updated more often, Painter Values Check or Color Study?
Painter Values Check ships an update every 2 months, and Color Study every 11 days. Most recently, Painter Values Check was updated on September 7, 2026 and Color Study on September 21, 2026.

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