Comparison

Mural Trace vs Trace Camera

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

Head to head
About

Mural Trace

Easily transfer and enlarge any image onto surfaces like walls or canvas using a phone camera and the grid method. Simplify colors, create grids, and trace sections with AR overlay. Perfect for murals, art projects, and DIY décor.

Highlights
  • Image posterization with color simplification
  • Customizable grid system for tracing
  • AR camera overlay for real-time tracing
  • Color palette extraction
  • PDF export of grid reference
  • Project management and progress tracking
Features
Read full description

Paint any image - no artistic skill required! Transfer and enlarge any photo onto walls, paper, canvas, or any large surface. Perfect for DIY home murals, street art, classroom projects, and professional installations. Use the classic grid method to divide your image into squares and trace one section at a time, using your phone's camera as a guide. Brought to you by Ctrl V Art Studio (ctrlvartstudio.com) WHY Ctrl V Art Grid? - No projector required - just your phone - Works in any lighting conditions - No artistic experience needed - Works on any wall size - Portable - take it anywhere - Much cheaper than projector setups HOW IT WORKS: 1. CHOOSE YOUR IMAGE Select any photo from your library - portraits, landscapes, logos, or artwork. 2. SIMPLIFY THE COLORS Use powerful posterization tools to reduce your image to paintable color zones. Adjust levels, contrast, and even extract a color palette to know exactly which paints to buy. 3. CREATE YOUR GRID Divide your image into a grid of squares. The app calculates the exact size each square should be. 4. TRACE WITH YOUR CAMERA Hold your phone up and use the AR camera overlay to trace each square. Pinch, zoom, and rotate to align perfectly. 5. COMPLETE YOUR PAINTING Track your progress as you paint. Mark squares complete and watch your masterpiece come together. KEY FEATURES: SMART POSTERIZATION • Reduce images to 2-10 colour levels • Multiple presets: Bold, Pop Art, Stencil, Vintage • HSB color mode for advanced control • Extract color palettes from your image • Custom color replacement FLEXIBLE GRID SYSTEM • Customizable rows and columns • Wall size calculator • Alphanumeric square labels (A1, B2, etc.) • Visual progress tracking AR CAMERA OVERLAY • Real-time image overlay on camera • Pinch to resize, rotate to align • Adjustable opacity • Position lock to prevent accidents • Built-in torch for low light PDF EXPORT • Print your grid as a reference guide • Perfect for planning large projects PROJECT MANAGEMENT • Save unlimited projects • Resume anytime • Track completion progress PERFECT FOR: • Painting portraits & landscapes • Bedroom & living room accent walls • Children's room murals • Garden walls and fences • Garage and basement art • Restaurant & café décor • Office and workspace murals • School art projects • Community murals • Street art and graffiti • Canvas enlargements • Stage backdrops • Shop signage SUBSCRIPTION Try Ctrl V Art Grid free, then unlock all features with a subscription or one-off payment: • Unlimited projects • All posterization styles • PDF export Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscription automatically renews unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Manage subscriptions in Account Settings. Privacy Policy: https://barrelofsunshine.com/art-grid-privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you! hello@barrelofsunshine.com www.barrelofsunshine.com www.ctrlvartstudio.com Start your masterpiece today - download Ctrl V Art Grid now!

About

Trace Camera

Transform your device into an AR drawing projector to trace any image onto paper. Ideal for beginners, anime fans, and kids, it simplifies the drawing process with a vast template library and photo-to-sketch conversion. Record your progress with time-lapse videos.

Highlights
  • AR Trace Camera
  • Massive Template Library
  • Photo to Sketch Converter
  • Time-Lapse Video Recording
  • Opacity Control
  • Grid Overlay
Features
Read full description

Want to draw but don't know where to start? Trace Camera - ArtBeam turns your device into a powerful AR drawing projector, allowing you to trace any image directly onto paper. Whether you are a beginner looking to learn to draw, a parent seeking fun art activities for kids, or an anime fan wanting to sketch your favorite characters, ArtBeam makes art easy. No expensive equipment or tracing paper needed—just your phone and a pencil! MAIN FEATURES AR Trace Camera: Draw Anything Use your phone’s camera as a professional image projector. The app overlays a semi-transparent image onto your notebook, letting you trace drawing lines with perfect precision. It’s like a traditional light box, but smarter! Massive Template Library Access 100+ high-quality templates across popular categories. - Anime Drawing: Sketch your favorite manga characters. - Animals & Chibi: Cute cats, dogs, and fantasy creatures. - Learn to Draw: Step-by-step drawing guides for beginners. Turn Photos into Sketches Have a favorite memory? Use our Photo to Sketch converter to turn any picture from your gallery into a traceable outline. Create custom portraits of your pets, friends, or landscapes instantly. Record Time-Lapse Videos Capture your creative process! The app automatically records your session while you draw. Create satisfying sketching videos to share on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube to show off your skills. Advanced Art Tools - Opacity Control: Adjust the transparency of the overlay for better visibility. - Flashlight: Draw in low-light conditions. - Grid Overlay: Use the grid method for perfect proportions. - Lock Screen: Freeze the image so it doesn't move while you trace. WHO IS THIS APP FOR? - Kids & Beginners: Develop hand-eye coordination and learn basic art drawing skills. - Anime Fans: The easiest way to create fan art and master anime drawing. - Students: Perfect for school art projects using the tracing projector method. - Social Media Creators: Make viral art content with built-in video recording. HOW TO USE: 1. Select: Choose a template (Anime, Animals, etc.) or upload your own photo. 2. Position: Place your phone on a steady surface (like a cup, stack of books, or tripod). 3. Trace: Look through the screen and trace the lines onto the paper. 4. Share: Save your sketch and share your time-lapse video! Why choose ArtBeam? Unlike complex art apps, we focus on the physical experience of drawing on paper. We combine the fun of technology with the satisfaction of real sketching. It’s the ultimate how to draw assistant for everyone. Download Trace Camera - ArtBeam today and unleash your inner artist! Start your ar sketch journey now. https://ilkerb.com/drawing-projector/terms-of-use

Screenshots

Mural Trace4 screens
Trace Camera4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Trace Camera at 4.2 against Mural Trace's 3.0. Trace Camera also leads on ratings volume (10 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). Mural Trace's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Mural Trace sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month and Trace Camera sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Trace Camera holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Trace Camera has 10 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Mural Trace ships an update every 2 months, Trace Camera every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Mural Trace versus Trace Camera: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMural TraceTrace Camera
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings)4.2 (10 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings210 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS17.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size39 MB69 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBarrel of Sunshineilker beri

Customer experience

Mural Trace

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Trace Camera

All ratings10 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Mural Trace

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly - Ctrl V Art Grid$3.991 Month
  • Annual - Ctrl V Art Grid$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Access - Ctrl V Art Grid$9.99
3 purchases

Trace Camera

Subscriptions2
  • Weekly Subscription3 Days trial$4.997 Days
  • Annual Subscription$24.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Access$39.99

Questions

Is Mural Trace free?
Mural Trace is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Trace Camera free?
Trace Camera is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Mural Trace or Trace Camera?
Trace Camera is rated higher. Mural Trace averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Trace Camera averages 4.2 from 10 ratings.
Do Mural Trace or Trace Camera have ads?
Neither Mural Trace nor Trace Camera shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Mural Trace or Trace Camera?
Mural Trace ships an update every 2 months, and Trace Camera every 4 months. Most recently, Mural Trace was updated on September 27, 2026 and Trace Camera on October 15, 2026.

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