Chromatic Vision Simulator vs Handy Art Reference Tool
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Chromatic Vision Simulator
Simulate various types of color vision deficiencies in real-time using your device's camera or photos. Understand how individuals with protanopia, deuteranopia, or tritanopia perceive the world by visualizing color differences.
- Simulates color vision deficiencies
- Real-time camera simulation
- Photo simulation
- Supports protanope/protanomal
- Supports deuteranope/deuteranomal
- Supports tritanope/tritanomal
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“Chromatic Vision Simulator” is a color vision simulation tool which simulates the color vision of color vision deficiencies. This software is developed by Kazunori Asada (Ph.D. medical science and Ph.D. media design), based on the research in color science. About 5% of men have difficulty distinguishing red and green, or recognizing dark red. Such color deficiency can be classified into three major categories: protanope / Protanomal, Deuteranope / Deuteranomal and Tritanope / Tritanomal. Color deficiencies are the inability to tell differences between some colors other people can easily distinguish. People with different types of color vision deficiency perceive colors differently. For example, individuals diagnosed as Protan or Deutan cannot perceive differences between red and green, and pink and cyan. These color visions are predictable by calculating working of the cone cells that perceives the color to some degree. "Chromatic Vision Simulator" makes simulated images of each color vision type from built-in Camera or Photos and shows you how people with specific types of color vision sees the world in real-time.
Handy Art Reference Tool
This app provides artists with rotatable 3D models of hands, heads, and feet for drawing reference. Customize poses and lighting to achieve realistic results for your artwork. Additional packs for animal skulls and foot rigs are available for purchase.
- Rotatable 3D limb models
- Customizable poses
- Adjustable 3-point lighting
- 3D head busts
- Animal skull reference pack
- Material editing
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"Thanks to this useful app, drawing realistic hands can become a whole lot easier" - ImagineFX "Pencillers, inkers, and colorists should all give this a look!" - Tony Moore, co-creator of The Walking Dead If you're an artist and ever wanted just quick and easy drawing reference for hands, heads, or even feet (IAP) without having to awkwardly pose your limbs in front of a mirror, this app is for you! HANDY® is an artist's reference tool, consisting of several rotatable 3D limbs with a variety of poses useful for drawing. You can also customize and edit your own poses for hands, feet, and skulls. Fully adjustable 3-point lighting means you can get easy lighting reference when using any of the 10+ included 3D head busts. Handy if you’re painting and need to know what shadows the head casts from a certain angle! Also available is the Animal Skulls pack. With over 10 different animal species, it's great for anatomical reference or creature design inspiration. [Foot rigs and Animal Skull pack require additional purchase] NEW in Handy v5: Edit the materials of models! Selectively turn off their textures, adjust their specularity, or tint them a certain color. Perfect for comic book artists, painters, or just casual sketchers! Featured in ImagineFX's Top 10 Must-Have Apps! Check out the video demo: https://www.youtube.com/@handyarttool Sign up for the HANDY newsletter for information about new upcoming updates! http://www.handyarttool.com/newsletter Follow HANDY on Bluesky https://bsky.app/profile/handyarttool.bsky.social
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Chromatic Vision Simulator at Free against Handy Art Reference Tool's $1.99. Chromatic Vision Simulator also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2). Handy Art Reference Tool's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (1.2K vs 58). On review sentiment, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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
Chromatic Vision Simulator is free to download; Handy Art Reference Tool costs $1.99 up front. Handy Art Reference Tool sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Chromatic Vision Simulator asks for nothing beyond the download.
Handy Art Reference Tool holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Handy Art Reference Tool has 1.2K ratings behind it against 58, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 85% and 85% positive.
Chromatic Vision Simulator ships an update every 11 months, Handy Art Reference Tool every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Chromatic Vision Simulator | Handy Art Reference Tool |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $1.99 |
| Rating | 4.4 (58 ratings) | 4.8 (1.2K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 84.9% of reviews | 85.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 58 | 1.2K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | Every 5 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | #187 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 361 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Kazunori Asada | Belief Engine |
Customer experience
Chromatic Vision Simulator
Handy Art Reference Tool
Bugs and requests
Chromatic Vision Simulator
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Handy Art Reference Tool
Reported bugs
3 issues- Crashes on launch for some users
- Purchased content not unlocking
- Positioning and movement issues
Requested features
6 requests- Add full body models and poses
- Include more facial expressions and emotions
- Allow for custom hand and finger posing
- Implement ability to save custom poses
- Add more diverse skin tones and ethnicities
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- Improve lighting controls and options
In-app purchases
Chromatic Vision Simulator
No in-app purchases
Handy Art Reference Tool
- Feet Models$1.99
- Animal Skull Pack$1.99
Questions
Is Chromatic Vision Simulator free?
Is Handy Art Reference Tool free?
Which has better reviews, Chromatic Vision Simulator or Handy Art Reference Tool?
Do Chromatic Vision Simulator or Handy Art Reference Tool have ads?
Which is updated more often, Chromatic Vision Simulator or Handy Art Reference Tool?
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