Procreate is overrated IMO

Wow, I totally get where you're coming from with your 'PROCREATE RANT'! It's easy to feel like Procreate is overrated when certain features just don't click with your workflow. I've definitely had my moments of frustration, especially when I started noticing how different the blending felt compared to traditional art or even other digital painting software. You hit the nail on the head about the blurring vs. blending issue. For many artists, the expectation is that a brush should naturally blend colors as you lay them down, creating smooth transitions. Procreate's reliance on the smudge tool for blending can feel like an extra, often clunky, step. It forces you to switch tools, breaking your flow, and sometimes, no matter what brush you use, the result feels less like natural color mixing and more like, well, smudging existing pixels. This can be a huge hurdle for achieving that soft, painterly look without feeling like you're fighting the software. I remember spending ages trying to get a smooth gradient, only to feel like I was just making a muddy mess. And let's not even get started on the selection and transformation tools! That pixelation issue when resizing or moving elements is a common pain point. While there are workarounds, like using the Freeform transform more carefully or or adjusting your canvas resolution from the start, it shouldn't be something you have to constantly battle. It feels like a fundamental flaw that can really undermine the quality of your work, especially when you're trying to refine details. It makes you wonder if the "magic" of Procreate is sometimes just clever marketing. Beyond those specific frustrations, I've heard (and experienced) other reasons why some artists feel Procreate might be overrated. For instance, the layer limit can be a real headache. On larger canvases or with older iPad models, hitting that layer cap too soon forces you to merge layers, making revisions incredibly difficult. It can stifle experimentation and creativity when you're constantly worried about running out of space. Also, for those who dabble in graphic design or need precise shapes, the lack of true vector capabilities can be a deal-breaker. While Procreate is raster-based for painting, having some basic vector tools for clean lines and scalable elements would elevate it immensely. If you're truly looking to ditch Procreate, you're not alone, and there are some fantastic alternatives out there that might better suit your style! Clip Studio Paint: This is a powerhouse, especially if you're into illustration, comics, or manga. It has incredibly robust blending options, a huge selection of customizable brushes that feel very natural, and excellent vector tools for crisp line art. It has a steeper learning curve and a subscription model for some features, but many artists swear by its comprehensive toolset. Affinity Designer: If vector graphics are important to you, or you need something more akin to Adobe Illustrator, Affinity Designer is brilliant. It offers both vector and raster capabilities within the same app, allowing for incredible flexibility. Its selection and transformation tools are far more precise, and you won't encounter the pixelation issues you mentioned. It's a one-time purchase, making it a great value. Artstudio Pro: Often hailed as a true Photoshop alternative on iPad, Artstudio Pro boasts an extensive feature set, including advanced blending modes, layer masks, and a highly customizable brush engine. It's packed with tools that might feel more familiar to those coming from desktop software. Concepts: While not a painting app in the traditional sense, if your primary love in Procreate is sketching, Concepts offers an infinite canvas and vector-based sketching, which means you can zoom in infinitely without pixelation. It's fantastic for brainstorming, technical drawings, and precise line work. Ibis Paint X: This is a popular free option, especially among artists who enjoy anime or manga styles. It's surprisingly feature-rich for a free app, offering a wide array of brushes, blending modes, and even video recording of your process. It's a great way to explore different tools without commitment. Each of these apps has its own strengths, and what feels "overrated" about Procreate to you might be another app's biggest selling point. I'd highly recommend downloading trial versions if available, or watching some YouTube reviews to see which one aligns best with your artistic needs. It's all about finding the tool that empowers your creativity, not hinders it! What have you tried so far, or what features are most important to you in a new drawing app?