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Show HN: Sketchology

sketchologyapp.com

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Re: Show HN: Sketchology

#61

Post by bobwaycott »

honzzz wrote: post #29

It would be nice to indicate in a title that the link is only useful for people with specific platform. It's kind of disappointing to go there and find out I cannot try it because I don't have that kind of device. Something like "Show HN: Sketchology [iOS]" or "The thing [Android]" or something like that could be helpful.

HN doesn't need to take on responsibility for managing your disappointment level.

The link is useful for anyone who wants to check out the link, see someone's work, and provide feedback.

The linked-to product/app/service is usable by anyone who is interested enough and has the requisite platform or device(s).

Your devices do not determine the usefulness of someone else's work.

Re: Show HN: Sketchology

#62

Post by mickrobk »

micheljansen wrote: post #56

I much prefer Sketchology's freely zoomable canvases over a fixed canvas, but somehow the brush styles don't look as nice as 53 Paper ( http://www.fiftythree.com/paper ). I don't know how to better explain this, but can Sketchology be configured to produce similar results?

No it can't, more than it is already at least. I'd definitely put Paper by 53 in the top spot for drawing feel on the iPad though by a fairly wide margin - second to Sketchology :D - I might have a slight bias though.

The way Paper implemented their tools is pretty interesting. I'd put the #1 feeling difference as due to their automatic layering system. (The most recent line you draw in Paper is not always on top.) This goes a long ways to creating interesting effects but isn't a direction that Sketchology went in for a bunch of reasons.

There's also other tradeoffs ex: - I'd say Paper's watercolor tool is better than Sketchology's for intra-line interactions. (i.e. keep your finger down and draw for a while) However Sketchology's is better for building up layers of watercolor (lots of lines.) - Drawing responsiveness is one or two input frames faster on Sketchology than Paper, but Paper will do slightly more shaping in that time.

There's also different design requirements, as an example Sketchology needs line shaping algorithms that work across a wide variety of brush sizes, and the ability for them to look consistent across zoom sizes. A lot of my early work on shaping algorithms would look great at one size but not another.

I've a really high opinion of Paper, the drawing feel they achieved is bounds ahead of everyone else. (Except Sketchology, again in my biased opinion.) Ultimately though after getting used to the ability to just move drawing around in Sketchology though I couldn't go back. Then again I wrote Sketchology so there'd be a problem if that wasn't the case... :)

Re: Show HN: Sketchology

#64

Post by alexmorse »

This is what I've been looking for since the iPad came out. Your brushes aren't as good as Paper, but the zoom feature is killer and makes the iPad a real drawing tool for the first time.

Re: Show HN: Sketchology

#67

Post by alex_c »

mickrobk wrote: post #60
alex_c wrote: post #51

Very, very cool. It "feels" great to use it - the lines look smooth and satisfying to draw. I can see this being a lot of fun to use for random doodling. The simplicity is also great - it does exactly what it needs to, and no more. Only one problem: I have zero artistic talent or ability. I've often wanted to start practicing drawing, but it was never THAT high a priority, and I never put in the effort to get a pad,…

Having recently taught myself to draw (somewhat) I know where you're coming from. From a design perspective this is a super challenging problem though. I actually spent a while trying to come up with an introduction to the app that would do a drawing tutorial of sorts. (Along the lines of http://www.drawastickman.com/episode1 ) - but the line between the app telling you what to do and guiding you is very thin, especi…

Yeah, I understand what you mean - the devil is in the details.

There are two possible kinds of guidance, I think. One would be actual tutorials - draw a circle, the circle becomes the head, etc. - with the goal of teaching technique and building up skill.

The second would be aimed more at motivation and inspiration - getting people to draw something every day, no matter what their technique is or how good they are. Maybe it's a "Seinfeld calendar"-like nudge to draw every day, maybe it's a "daily challenge" or "idea of the day" for various skill levels.

Easy to say, of course, but much tougher to get it right in practice, especially with the level of simplicity and elegance you have right now. Maybe it's a completely separate app, but I think there's a lot of potential there if someone can get it right.

Re: Show HN: Sketchology

#69

Post by micheljansen »

mickrobk wrote: post #62
micheljansen wrote: post #56

I much prefer Sketchology's freely zoomable canvases over a fixed canvas, but somehow the brush styles don't look as nice as 53 Paper ( http://www.fiftythree.com/paper ). I don't know how to better explain this, but can Sketchology be configured to produce similar results?

No it can't, more than it is already at least. I'd definitely put Paper by 53 in the top spot for drawing feel on the iPad though by a fairly wide margin - second to Sketchology :D - I might have a slight bias though. The way Paper implemented their tools is pretty interesting. I'd put the #1 feeling difference as due to their automatic layering system. (The most recent line you draw in Paper is not always on top.) T…

Thanks for the extensive reply. I haven't been able to try Sketchology yet, as I'm waiting to get my iPad back after repair, but when I do, I will pay attention to the responsiveness you mention. Snappiness is definitely important.

I am far from an artist, and I mostly use Paper to sketch out rough interfaces and interaction impressions, and I always like how Paper somehow makes my stuff look nicer than it should. I'm terrible at space planning though, so I'd pick function over style any day :)

Re: Show HN: Sketchology

#70

Post by gcb0 »

i was actually trying to use sketchbookX from autodesk to take quick notes and draw schema diagrams.

the lack of boundaries will make me continue to use your app! it is how i ever felt those apps should work in the first place. you nailed it.

only critic i have now: the fake width of the traces are ok for testing out the app. do a few swipes and something similar to a brush drawing appears. nice. but using speed for that is completely unintuitive and impossible to "use".. no way to make a thin straight line (have to do it slow, so it ends up jittered) and no way to do a short bold line (no way to get to speed). either find a way to get finger pressure or just leave it flat.

and a feature request: add simple text tool so my schema designs are easier to do :)

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