Review: ArtRage for iPad

*As a member of the Tomoson blogging community, I received a free download of ArtRage for iPad.*

ArtRage Stock Photo- I wish I were this artsy!
ArtRage Stock Photo
About:

ArtRage is intuitive painting and drawing software that you can use right on your iPad. A wide range of artistic tools like oils, watercolors, and inking pens can be used on the iPad version to create realistic art. You can import your photos to paint, email your artwork, or share the results with the ArtRage desktop version. Click HERE to see art created by ArtRage users.

ArtRage for iPad can be found in the App Store for $4.99. It’s also available for iPhone, Windows 8 touchscreen, and Mac/Windows computers.

My Experiences:

I’ve used Adobe Photoshop quite a bit and have some knowledge of Illustrator and Lightroom. So I thought it wouldn’t be too difficult to use ArtRage, but I have to admit…it’s more complicated than I expected. That’s not a bad thing, ‘though. It just means this software has a lot to offer, especially for the price. I’ve created a few uhm…art projects…using ArtRage, but I definitely need to spend more time looking through their tutorials. The tools were easy to use; I’m just not that artistic! They also have forums, where you can ask question from those more experienced. There are plenty of YouTube videos as well.

Check out my artwork below. I took a photo of myself on my iPad, then opened the photo in ArtRage, and traced the photo with my index finger to end up with this:

ArtRage Cellist- by My Life: A Work in Progress
Don’t laugh! That’s not nice! :p

Okay, it’s not great, I know, but I’m excited about the possibilities. And I need to get a stylus. That would probably help! Tracing is a great way to get started and used to the tools. It’s also handy for people like me who can’t draw that well.

You can change the tools you use, as well as colors, and the size of the tools. The canvas can be plain or choose a texture like mine. There really are a lot of possibilities. Overall, it’s a really fun program that can do a lot, and it’s cheap!

Note: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

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Review: recyclable, American-made kids iPad case

Apple Pie sent me two of their iPad cases to review.

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About:

Apple Pie specializes in American brands. Their kids iPad case is durable, functional, and inexpensive. Like all their products, it’s made in the USA. The kids iPad case is made from recycled paper; when you’re finished with it, just toss it in the recycling bin, and you’re good to go. They’re designed to last six to 12 weeks, but change them out more often if you like.

Our Experiences:

I kept the white kids iPad case and gave the brown kraft case to my friend’s little girl. Here’s her personalization:

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As you can see, she favored the “Sponge Bob sticker” look. =D

I gave the white iPad case to Baby J and supervised him as he used Crayola toddler markers to draw on and personalize his case. Here’s the result (I drew the doggie face):

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Baby J had a blast decorating this! I was surprised at how sturdy this case is. I thought it would be pliable since it’s made with cardboard, but it’s actually quite stiff (a good thing for a tablet case). The case closes and is held shut by two tiny but strong hook & loop (Velcro) attachments. Although it’s designated as an iPad case for kids, I could really see teens and adults who like to doodle or design using this case.

These cases are sold in packs of three. Choose brown kraft or white. Currently, the packs are on sale for $16.99 (about $5.66 each). Since cases usually last two or three months each, one pack ($16.99) could last you nine months.

To learn more about the kids iPad cases, as well as other products Apple Pie has to offer, visit their webpage ApplePieUSA.com, Facebook, and Twitter.

Note: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. The opinions expressed above are mine; they may differ from yours.

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