Atelier vs Art Reference
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Loomis head construction overlay
- Measurement and proportion tools
- Color and value analysis
- Grid system for scaling
- Canvas presets
- Layer visibility control
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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.
Art Reference
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Art Reference: Value Study helps painters, illustrators, and traditional artists see any reference more clearly. Study values, simplify light and shadow, overlay grids, and paint side-by-side with your canvas. A value (or tone) is how light or dark a color is. Learning to see values is one of the fastest ways to improve your drawing and painting. But it's hard to read shadows and highlights through all the color. This app makes it effortless. SEE YOUR REFERENCE IN VALUES Instantly convert any photo to grayscale, or a 7-value posterized scale. Flick between levels of detail, start in simple black and white, then build up value by value to train your eye. CROP & FRAME TO YOUR CANVAS Match your reference's composition and aspect ratio to your canvas before your first stroke. GRIDLINES Overlay grids to lay in your under-sketch with correct proportions. CURATED COLLECTIONS Don't have a reference ready? Start with dozens of hand-picked photos across Animals, Architecture, Botanical, Figure, Landscape, Portrait, Still Life, Skulls, and Master Studies from the great painters. NO AI ART Every starter reference is a real photograph or artwork, attributed to the original artist with a link to their portfolio. No AI-generated images. And your own artwork stays private in your personal iCloud, never shared online, never used to train AI models. WORKS OFFLINE No connection needed. Perfect for the studio, plein air, or anywhere you paint. CLEAN, FOCUSED, NO ADS Just the reference tools you need.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Atelier at 15.1 against Art Reference's 26.0. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
| Parameter | Atelier | Art Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (6 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 6 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 59 MB | 181 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Reuven Levitt | Gil Osborne |
In-app purchases
Atelier
No in-app purchases
Art Reference
No in-app purchases









