Paintable vs RefCreate

Transform into a confident artist by creating original illustrations from imagination, guided by a clear path, helpful feedback, and a community that shares your passion. Digital Painting Academy is a private, supportive space built specifically for self-taught digital artists who want to grow their skills, build a consistent creative practice, and confidently illustrate from imagination. Whether you’re just getting started or returning after years away, you’ll find the structure, feedback, and community you’ve been missing. Join over 9,000 artists already transforming their creative lives with our step-by-step learning path, monthly themed workshops, and expert support—designed to help you finish what you start and feel proud of the art you make. > WHO IS THIS FOR? This app is for digital artists who are: • Returning to art after a long break and ready to reconnect with their creative identity • Aspiring illustrators who want to level up and take their craft seriously • Hobbyists who love making art, but struggle to finish anything • Creative burnout survivors who want to bring joy back to their art practice If you’ve ever felt stuck, scattered, or overwhelmed by all the tutorials and advice out there—you’re not alone. This space is for artists who want real growth, real progress, and real connection. > WHAT WILL YOU GET? Inside the Digital Painting Academy app, you’ll find everything you need to go from dabbler to confident artist: ** A 5-Level Learning Path ** A clear roadmap from beginner foundations to fully polished illustrations—designed to build your skills step by step, so you’re never lost or wondering what to learn next. ** Monthly Workshops ** Every month, dive into new themes like portraits, characters, and storytelling illustration. Learn pro techniques, apply them through mini-projects, and stretch your creative muscles—without getting overwhelmed. ** Private Feedback Space ** Get personalized, constructive feedback from experienced mentors who understand your goals. Whether you’re stuck or just need a nudge, we’re here to help you keep going. ** Supportive Artist Community ** No ego. No distractions. Just a warm, encouraging space to connect, grow, and stay inspired with fellow artists who care about their craft as much as you do. ** Built-In Creative Habit Support ** Life gets busy—but that doesn’t mean your art has to take a backseat. We help you find a rhythm that fits your real life, so you can make consistent progress without burnout. > WHY JOIN? Because you’re putting in the hours—now it’s time to get the results you deserve. If you’ve ever thought: “I’ve been drawing for years, but I still don’t feel like I’m improving.” “I can’t seem to finish my projects.” “I know I could do this… if I just had the right structure.” This is the space you’ve been looking for. Create art you’re proud of. Finish what matters. And finally feel like a “real” artist. No more doing it alone. No more wondering what to work on next. Just a clear, supportive path to becoming the artist you’ve always wanted to be. Join Digital Painting Academy and unlock the skills, confidence, and momentum to bring your imagination to life—one finished piece at a time.

Build your drawing skills with RefCreate for iPad and iPhone. Draw beside a 3D reference, practise the fundamentals with scored drills, and watch your progress grow. RefCreate works best on iPad with Apple Pencil, with more room to draw and keep your reference beside you. DRAW WITH A 3D REFERENCE BESIDE YOU • Keep a 3D model in a floating or docked reference view while you paint on a layered canvas. • Turn and zoom the model, then lock the view you want to study. Your reference view is saved with each drawing. • Light the model your way: a key light, a fill light and an optional rim light, each with its own colour and intensity. • One perspective grid shared by your canvas and the reference, with its horizon, vanishing points and bounding box. • Trace the model on your canvas with an overlay you can show, hide and fade. PRACTISE WITH INSTANT FEEDBACK • Line Control drills: steady parallel strokes, connecting two points in one confident line, and longer sets. • Boxes drills: one-, two- and three-point boxes and cubes, dead reckoning, the Y method, and free boxes and cubes. • Get score feedback as you practise, check a box yourself when you are ready, and review every line or box in the set. • Short animated guides demonstrate line and box techniques, with exercise-specific tips while you practise. • Optional help on the box drills, including a 3D reference posed like your box, corner marks and lines that snap to the box's directions. Help costs some XP. • Line Control drills are free. Boxes drills come with the Boxes Pack, and two free sets a day can be used on two rotating box exercises. Repeats count toward the two-set limit; cubes require the pack. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS • A daily goal and streak, XP and levels. Harder drills earn more XP. • Mastery for every drill, and Progress for today, this week, this month and all time. • 31 badges for practice, accuracy, streaks and mastery. See your next goals or browse the full collection. • Open Progress for your level, streak and personal records. A FULL DRAWING WORKSPACE • A library of brushes organised by category, and a brush studio to make them your own. • Layers with opacity, blend modes and locks to protect finished work; freehand selection and transform; QuickShape and perspective guides. • Smoothing built into each brush for steadier lines. Edit any brush, and restore its defaults with one button. • Import images and export your drawings. Turn between portrait and landscape and your drawing stays where it was. BOXES PACK — EVERY BOXES DRILL, AND THE ONES TO COME Unlock every Boxes drill. New Boxes drills are on the way, and they are included in the Boxes Pack at no extra charge. A one-time in-app purchase, with no subscription. HEADS PACK — ONE PURCHASE, A GROWING COLLECTION Unlock the Heads 3D model collection, including Asaro, planes of the head, skulls and facial muscles. Future models added to this collection are included at no extra charge. The Heads drill is coming soon and will be included in the Heads Pack when released. It is not available in this version. The Heads Pack is a one-time in-app purchase, with no subscription. Other packs are sold separately. Existing RefCreate Heads Pack owners can restore their purchase with the same App Store account. The Loomis head remains free.