What it does
ibisPaint is a drawing app for desktop and mobile devices, with brushes, clipping layers, rulers and manga tools. Its export options include PNG, JPEG and Photoshop files.
Start in My Gallery, choose Create New Canvas, then use Any Size for your own dimensions. Select Brush from Tool Select to begin drawing.
For shading, add a layer above the undercoat, make it current and enable Clipping. Shadows and patterns on that layer stay within the undercoat’s painted area, leaving the base colour separate.
The export route matters. Back > Save Image exports from the canvas. To preserve layers in a PSD, return to My Gallery, select the artwork and choose Share > Image (PNG/JPEG/PSD). A PSD exported directly from the canvas is flattened.
On mobile, ibisPaint X allows unlimited drawing time with ads. The paid app or ad-removal purchase removes those ads; Premium is a separate monthly or yearly membership with additional tools and 20 GB of cloud storage. The Windows and Mac demo allows one hour per day, with a one-time Pro upgrade for unlimited use. Purchases do not transfer between desktop and mobile stores, although the cloud-storage benefit can be shared through an ibis account.
Strengths
- Clipping keeps shading separate from the underlying colour.
- Gallery export can preserve layers in a Photoshop file.
- The free mobile version has no daily drawing-time limit.
Watch out for
- The free mobile version displays ads, while the desktop demo has a daily time limit.
- Ad removal does not unlock Premium tools, and store purchases do not transfer across platforms.
Best for
- Layered character illustration
- Drawing manga on a phone or tablet
Sources
- ibisPaint: Download for desktop and mobile (Oct 27, 2026)
- ibisPaint: Creating a new canvas (Oct 27, 2026)
- ibisPaint: Turn Clipping On (Oct 27, 2026)
- ibisPaint: Exporting an artwork (Oct 27, 2026)
- ibisPaint: Premium Membership and Ad Removal for mobile (Oct 27, 2026)
- ibisPaint: Premium Membership and Pro Upgrade for Windows and Mac (Oct 27, 2026)