A first glance at Brushes 2
Brushes, the top-dog iPhone painting app by Steve Sprang is about to get an update soon. I was lucky to get my hands on it for the beta-test and here’s a preview of what to expect.
The layers
Probably the main feature and also the most anticipated one, Brushes now allows you to have up to four layers.
Brushes 2, layer-view
As you can see, in the layer-view, the layers fan out like a hand of cards, so you get a good and undistorted overview of your pieces. To call up this layer-view you press the new layer icon in the main-view which has a nice twist: it actually shows you which layer you are currently working on:
Main-view with the new layer icon
As in this case you would be working on the top layer of three. For a very good reason I love this icon 😉
Another cool thing: you can copy&paste layers, even between paintings; this alone opens up a whole new world to mashing up your artwork.
The transparencies
As you might have already noticed, the layer-view has another slider which lets you adjust every layer’s transparency; changes can be instantly checked in the preview thumb.
The transparency slider
The eraser
With the addition of layers, the brushes obviously need their invaluable companion, the eraser. So the whole brush selection pane received an overhaul:
The eraser
First off now you you can switch every brushtip to work as an eraser. You can adjust the intensity with the bottommost slider; this is actually the same slider you already know from the color menu which now is conveniently also available from this menu.
Brushtips
Notice two more things: there are steppers on either side of the size-slider as well as the actual size being shown on the top right of the screen. Very handy.
Somehow the brushtip-menu has become a bit more complex now, but I found I quickly adjusted to it.
Oh, one more thing: Brushes now zooms up to 1600% and still sticks to its three brush-tips.
In conclusion, this is a mighty free update to existing Brushes users, which amazingly is still as speedy as the version before. Brushes has been submitted to the App-Store and awaits blessing (aka approvement).
Check out the Brushes-pool for some Brushes2 work, like Susan Murtaugh’s recent fingerpaintings.
August 25th, 2009 at 08:15
Wow! I am not the luck one to join the beta test club. Just can’t not waiting more.
August 25th, 2009 at 14:45
Soon, it will be here soon. Nice report Benjamin
August 25th, 2009 at 21:44
Sounds fantastic. Layers too – and just as fast! Hope Apple hurries up and approves. I read a few days ago that two people have to approve each app submitted and I think they average around 20 minutes per app.
August 25th, 2009 at 21:56
Sorry. Apple must take less than 20 mins to vet an app. (I would have edited my comment but don’t think I can here.) Got my info from
http://www.mobilewhack.com/how-does-apple-approve-apps/
August 26th, 2009 at 15:17
I’ve been fortunate enough to be playing with the beta, as well, and as Benjamin says, it’s an amazing update. The interface feels right, the tools are more powerful than ever, and it just works exactly like I expect it to.
Steve Sprang, the developer of Brushes! deserves another huge round of kudos. It’s a fantastic update.
August 27th, 2009 at 01:02
Thanks for the peek!
August 28th, 2009 at 15:20
terrific. I like the new features.
Can’t wait for brushes 2！
August 30th, 2009 at 15:43
It’s there. In the app store. GET IT NOW!
September 2nd, 2009 at 07:35
Just got the update and it is truely amazing!
Many thanks