Comparison

Value Study vs Atelier

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

Head to head
About

Value Study

This app helps artists improve their drawing and painting skills by simplifying reference images into greyscale tones. It allows users to break down complex images into distinct value levels, making it easier to understand light, shadow, and form.

Highlights
  • Simplify images into greyscale tones
  • Adjustable number of value levels
  • Highlight areas of the same value
  • Focus on light, shadow, and form
  • Enhance traditional art studies
  • Cross-device compatibility
Features
Read full description

In art, value (or tone) refers to how light or dark a colour is. If you're learning to paint or draw, doing value studies is one of the best ways to improve. These small, loose sketches in greyscale help you understand where shadows fall and highlights appear—essential for capturing depth and form. Value Study is a simple, focused tool designed to help you see values more clearly in your reference images. Instead of just converting a photo to black and white, this app lets you break down tones step by step. Start with just black and white to map out the biggest shapes, then gradually add more values to refine your understanding. You can also highlight all areas of an image that share the same value, making it easier to see subtle shifts in tone. This is especially useful in complex references, like portraits, where different parts of the image might have the same level of shadow but look completely different in colour. Value Study isn’t here to replace traditional studies—it’s here to enhance them. Whether you're sketching, painting, or working digitally, this tool makes it easier to focus on the fundamentals of light, shadow, and form. Try it for free with all features enabled on sample images from Unsplash before deciding to unlock the full app with a low-cost yearly or lifetime purchase. All Value Study Pro upgrades count as lifetime purchase. Either option will unlock Value Study across iPhone, iPad and Mac. Annual: Auto-renews yearly. Lifetime: One-time payment, no fees. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Atelier

This tool helps artists draw and paint with accuracy by providing reference analysis and construction aids. It offers features like head construction overlays, proportion measurement, and color analysis to support traditional and digital art workflows.

Highlights
  • Loomis head construction overlay
  • Measurement and proportion tools
  • Color and value analysis
  • Grid system for scaling
  • Canvas presets
  • Layer visibility control
Features
Read full description

Draw With Accuracy. Learn With Structure. Atelier: Art Grid is a professional reference and construction tool for artists who want to draw or paint with accuracy and confidence. Designed for traditional and digital artists alike, Atelier helps you analyze proportions, understand head structure, and transfer reference images to paper or canvas using proven academic methods. The app focuses on clarity, precision, and minimal distraction, giving you exactly what you need while you draw, and nothing you don’t. CORE WORKFLOWS Loomis Head Construction * Overlay a structured Loomis head directly onto your reference * Adjust orientation, scale, and alignment to match the subject * Ideal for learning head rotation, proportion, and placement Measurement & Proportion Tools * Place multiple measurement lines on your reference * Check distances, angles, and relative proportions * Toggle measurements on and off as you work Color & Value Analysis * Sample colors directly from your reference * Analyze value relationships to support accurate rendering * Useful for painters and realistic drawing workflows * Color mixing guide. STUDIO FEATURES * Grid System: Precise grid overlays for scaling and transfer * Canvas Presets: Match common paper and canvas formats * Layer Visibility Control: Show only the tools you need * High-Resolution Zoom: Maintain position while inspecting detail * Clean Drawing Mode: Designed for long, focused sessions BUILT FOR ARTISTS * No ads * No social features * No clutter Atelier is intentionally narrow in scope, built for artists who care about fundamentals, structure, and craft. Whether you are studying portrait drawing, refining your proportions, or preparing a reference for a finished work, Atelier supports the way artists actually work.

Screenshots

Value Study4 screens
Atelier4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Atelier at none against Value Study's 7. Atelier also leads on update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks). Value Study's advantage is ratings volume (3.4K vs 16). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads 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. Value Study sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per year. Atelier asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Value Study against 4.7 for Atelier. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Value Study has 3.4K ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 92% of Value Study's written reviews are positive against 100% of Atelier's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Value Study ships an update every 2 weeks, Atelier every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Value Study versus Atelier: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterValue StudyAtelier
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (3.4K ratings) — better4.7 (16 ratings)
Positive reviews92.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3.4K — better16
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS16.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size37 MB59 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDiem LimitedReuven Levitt

Customer experience

Value Study

All ratings3,368 ratings
Positive96.7%
Neutral1.3%
Negative2.0%
Written reviews201 reviews
Positive92.0%
Neutral1.5%
Negative6.5%

Atelier

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Value Study

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • App crashes or fails to launch on some devices
  • Occasional issues with image processing

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add ability to adjust value midpoint
  • Include color study/color adjustment options
  • Provide side-by-side comparison of original and simplified images
  • Add customizable grid overlay

Atelier

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

7 purchases

Value Study

Subscriptions2
  • Value Study Pro$7.991 Year
  • Value Study Pro (yearly)$7.991 Year
One-time5
  • Appreciation$2.99
  • Generous boost$9.99
  • Value Study Pro (Lifetime)$17.99
Show 2 more
  • Value Study$17.99
  • Amazing supporter$24.99
None

Atelier

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Value Study free?
Value Study is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Atelier free?
Atelier is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Value Study or Atelier?
Value Study is rated higher. Value Study averages 4.8 out of 5 from 3.4K ratings, while Atelier averages 4.7 from 16 ratings.
Do Value Study or Atelier have ads?
Neither Value Study nor Atelier shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Value Study or Atelier?
Value Study ships an update every 2 weeks, and Atelier every 5 days. Most recently, Value Study was updated on November 7, 2026 and Atelier on November 5, 2026.

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