Ricalko vs Lucida Studio Mobile
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Ricalko
This app projects photos onto any surface, allowing you to trace them with your own hands. It's designed for both beginners learning to draw and experienced artists looking to refine their skills. Features include layer separation, creative filters, and AR projection.
- Project photos onto surfaces
- Trace images with your hand
- Layer separation for learning
- Creative filters
- Perspective mode for angled projection
- Augmented Reality (AR) mode
- Zoom for precision
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Ricalko lets you create incredible artwork, see how your drawings take shape, like magic! It is great for beginners who want to learn drawing and it is perfect for advanced users who want to improve even more! Ricalko has many smart features that let you achieve the results your aiming to, but in few words it is able to virtually project photos, so you can trace them on a paper sheet, an easel or on any other surface! You don't have to be a professional artist to reach amazing results. How is it able to do that? In normal mode you have to put your device onto a stand (DIY works too, like a simple glass), with the camera pointing to a sheet of paper below for example. On your screen an overlay will be shown and you will be able to see both the photo and your hand below so you can trace it! See below for more details... CRAFT REALISTIC ARTWORK FROM ANY PHOTO You can choose any photo and then create art from it. Pencil and paper? Brush and watercolours? You choose! LEARN TO DRAW AND SEPARATE LAYERS Split photos to different layers, in colors or grayscale, see them one by one individually and trace them on your art to create the final result. Perfect for learning! CREATIVE FILTERS Turn your photo into a drawing, a comic or apply a posterisation, Ricalko filters are great for creativity. PERSPECTIVE MODE You don't have to keep your device perpendicularly if you don't have a stand, you can also keep it angled, perspective mode will remove any distortion and you will be able to create your artworks without any particular effort. You just have to set it with the guidelines helper image! AR MODE Don't like keeping your device still? You don't have to with the augmented reality. You can select a marker, the app will recognise it and place your photo virtually next to it, so you can trace it! USE ANY CAMERA You can use any camera on your device, wide angle, zoom lens, ultra wide angle or even the front camera, this one with the perspective mode and a reflector (to be purchased in online stores, such as OSMO and not included). ZOOM TO BE PRECISE After you have setup your environment you can zoom on the area where you are drawing to see even more clearly, with natural gestures like pinch to zoom or by moving your device closer in AR Mode. NO SUBSCRIPTIONS AND NO IN APP PURCHASES You get what you see, there are no in app purchases or additional subscriptions! Buy the app once and keep it forever. PREMIUM CUSTOMER SUPPORT Need help? Have a suggestion? See it included in future releases and drop an email to support@genovasoftworks.com REQUIREMENTS Ricalko does not have any particular requirement since supports iOS 14+ devices only. If you can download it, it will work on your device. A printer is suggested in order to print markers for AR Mode and the guidelines image for Perspective mode, even if they could also be displayed on an additional supporting device.
Lucida Studio Mobile
This app uses augmented reality to overlay images onto your drawing surface, acting as a modern digital camera lucida. It helps artists improve perspective and proportion by allowing them to trace scenes and portraits with greater accuracy. Ideal for intuitive artistic endeavors.
- Augmented reality image overlay
- Digital camera lucida functionality
- Assists with perspective and proportion
- Intuitive artistic tracing
- Overlay images on surfaces
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Originally, pre-digital Camera Lucida was a 19th-century optical drawing aid that uses a prism or mirror to superimpose a "ghosted" image of a subject onto a drawing surface. It enables artists to accurately trace scenes, portraits, and still lifes, improving perspective and proportion. This iOS based Camera Lucida uses Augmented Reality to overlay images on surfaces for intuitive artistic endeavors. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Lucida Studio Mobile at 100% against Ricalko's 0%. Lucida Studio Mobile also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.3) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 12 months). Ricalko's advantage is ratings volume (4 vs 1) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 26.4). On ads, in-app purchases, monetization model and chart position 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
Ricalko costs $5.99 and Lucida Studio Mobile $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Lucida Studio Mobile holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 1 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Ricalko's written reviews are positive against 100% of Lucida Studio Mobile's.
Ricalko ships an update every 12 months, Lucida Studio Mobile every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Ricalko | Lucida Studio Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $5.99 | $0.99 — better |
| Rating | 4.3 (4 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 4 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 12 months | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #140 | #71 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 26.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 39 MB | 17 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | GENOVA Softworks | Joseph Shoop |
Customer experience
Ricalko
Lucida Studio Mobile
In-app purchases
Ricalko
No in-app purchases
Lucida Studio Mobile
No in-app purchases








