ArtBuddy vs PaintSteps

ArtBuddy helps painters work more accurately from a reference image with a step-by-step guided plan that takes you from setup to your final color layers. Follow each stage at your own pace, right from your phone. As you paint, you also learn to see shape, light, and color more clearly. Guided plan: a clear path through your painting • Set up the projector and trace your sketch onto the canvas • Build depth with light and dark values • Block in your first color layer, then refine layer by layer • Celebrate your progress when you’re done Tools: use them inside the plan, or on their own • Projector: project your reference onto your canvas (camera required) • Color Palette: AI-assisted suggestions for mixing colors (acrylic or oil) • Values & contrast: see where light and dark areas appear in the image • Proportions: check whether shapes and distances match the reference

Turn any photo into a practical, step-by-step painting guide. PaintSteps simplifies your reference into progressive color stages, helping you see what to paint first and what to add next. Choose your medium and painting order, then work through the image, palette, and mixing guidance at your own pace. CREATE FROM ANY PHOTO - Choose an image from your photo library - Crop and position it for your canvas - Adjust colors, steps, smoothing, and canvas ratio - Build dark-to-light, light-to-dark, or balanced PAINT WITH CLEAR GUIDANCE - Follow progressive painting steps - Use color numbers and an adjustable drawing grid - Pinch to zoom while guides stay aligned - Press and hold to compare with the original photo TRACE WITH LINE ART - Turn your painting into an outline drawing to transfer onto the canvas - Choose the level of detail, or let Auto pick a step that's easy to trace - Add a drawing grid and color numbers, then print it or share it as a PDF or PNG - With Pro, choose thin, medium, or bold lines MIX COLORS - View practical paint-mixing suggestions for every palette color - Choose from built-in paint sets - With Pro, use your own paints and palettes, calibrate tinting strength, and edit recipes SAVE AND EXPORT - Keep your painting projects in one library - Export complete PDF tutorials, including the line art page, or individual PNG step images with Pro The free version includes up to two saved paintings, tutorials with up to four steps, and line art. PaintSteps Pro unlocks unlimited paintings, up to eight steps, custom paints and palettes, recipe editing, export, and line art thickness. PaintSteps Pro is a one-time purchase. No subscription. Mixing results are estimates. Always test a small mix before painting.