Quick answer: To use ibis Paint X, download the free app, tap My Gallery and the + button to create a new canvas, then sketch on a layer with a pencil brush. Add a new layer for line art with the stabilizer turned up, fill flat colors on a layer below using the Fill tool with the reference set to the line layer, and shade on clipped layers set to Multiply. Export your finished artwork as PNG or JPEG, or share the automatic time-lapse recording of your drawing.
ibis Paint X has become one of the most downloaded drawing apps on phones and tablets, largely because it packs a serious set of tools into a free, touch-friendly package. It has thousands of brushes, layers with blend modes, filters, rulers, and a feature many artists love: it records your drawing process automatically and can export it as a video.
This guide shows how to use ibis Paint X from download to finished artwork, with clear steps for sketching, inking, coloring, rendering, copying and exporting, plus tips for printing and drawing ideas to practice. If you prefer a structured course or book alongside the app, our guide to the best ibis Paint X tutorials for beginners rounds up the most helpful learning resources.
How to Download ibis Paint X
- iPhone and iPad: Download ibis Paint X from the App Store.
- Android: Download it from Google Play.
- Windows PC: The developer has released a Windows version of ibisPaint, available through its official channels such as the Microsoft Store. Check the official ibisPaint website for current platform availability before downloading from anywhere else.
The free version shows ads. Paid options, such as an ad-removal add-on and a Prime membership, remove ads and unlock extra features and materials. What each option includes changes over time, so check the app’s store page.
ibis Paint X download on PC: a caution
Older tutorials suggest running the Android version through an emulator. Now that an official Windows version exists, that workaround is rarely necessary. Avoid unofficial download sites, which may bundle unwanted software.
Understanding the ibis Paint X Interface
| Area | What it contains |
|---|---|
| Toolbar (bottom on phones) | Tool selection, brush settings, color, layers, undo/redo, and a back button |
| Tool selection window | Brush, Eraser, Smudge, Blur, Fill, Lasso, Magic Wand, Transform, Filter, Text, Frame Divider and more |
| Brush window | Brush categories, size, opacity and brush parameters |
| Layer window | Layer list, blend modes, opacity, clipping, alpha lock and layer actions |
| Stabilizer and rulers | Smoothing for lines and ruler or symmetry guides |
On tablets the layout is roomier, with tools along the sides. The tool names are the same.
How to Use ibis Paint X: Your First Drawing Step by Step
Step 1: Create a canvas
Open the app, tap My Gallery, then the + button. Choose a preset size or set custom dimensions. For screen use, around 2000 pixels on the long side is a good start. For print, enter the final size with a high DPI, such as 300 or 350. Larger canvases limit how many layers you can use, especially on phones.
Step 2: Sketch
Choose a pencil brush from the brush window. Sketch loosely on the first layer. When done, open the layer window and lower the sketch layer’s opacity to about 25 percent.
Step 3: Ink the line art
Add a new layer with the + in the layer window. Choose a pen brush such as a dip pen or G-pen. Open the stabilizer setting and raise it for smoother lines; values in the middle range suit most hands, while high values smooth more but lag behind your stroke. Ink your final lines, then hide the sketch layer.
Step 4: Fill flat colors
- Add a new layer and drag it below the line art.
- Choose the Fill tool (bucket).
- Set the reference to the line art layer (or Canvas) so fills stop at your lines even though you are on a different layer.
- Adjust the gap closing and expansion settings to avoid white halos at the edges.
- Tap areas to fill. Use a brush to fix any spots the fill misses.
Step 5: Shade with clipping
Add a layer above the flats and turn on Clipping. Set its blend mode to Multiply and paint shadows with a soft or hard brush in a muted color. Anything you paint stays inside the flats below.
Step 6: Add highlights and light
Add another clipped layer set to Add (Glow), Screen or Overlay and paint highlights. A low-opacity Overlay layer across the whole image can unify colors.
Step 7: Background and finishing
Add a background layer at the bottom, apply filters such as blur or color adjustment if needed, and sign your artwork.
Step 8: Save and export
Your work saves in My Gallery automatically. To export, return to My Gallery, select the artwork and use the share or export options to save as PNG, transparent PNG, JPEG or PSD. You can also export the time-lapse video of your process.
How to Render on ibis Paint X
“Rendering” means building up form, light and detail after flats. A simple rendering workflow in ibis Paint X:
- Decide the light source and stick to it.
- Base shadow layer: clipped, Multiply, one shadow color across all shadowed areas.
- Ambient occlusion: clipped, Multiply, darker color in deep creases and contact points.
- Light layer: clipped, Add (Glow) or Screen, warm color on lit areas.
- Rim light: a thin bright edge on the side opposite the main light, for drama.
- Blend: use the Blur tool, a soft eraser or the Smudge tool to soften transitions where needed.
- Line art color: clip a layer to the line art and tint lines near light areas for a softer, painted look.
How to Copy in ibis Paint X
Copy part of a layer
- Choose the Lasso or Magic Wand tool and select the area.
- Open the layer window and use the copy option (or the selection toolbar where available).
- Use paste to place the copy on a new layer, then move it with the Transform tool.
Duplicate a whole layer
In the layer window, select the layer and tap the duplicate option. This is handy for testing a color change while keeping the original.
Copy between canvases
Copy a selection, return to My Gallery, open another artwork and paste it onto a new layer.
Menu icons have shifted between versions, so if an option is not where you expect, check the layer window’s menu and the selection area icons.
How to Paint in ibis Paint (Painterly Style)
Not every piece needs line art. For a painted look:
- Block in large color shapes on one or two layers with a textured brush.
- Use the Smudge tool or a blending brush to merge edges.
- Paint lighter details on top, keeping brushstrokes visible.
- Pick colors directly from the canvas with the eyedropper to keep harmony.
- Add a paper or canvas texture layer set to Multiply or Overlay at low opacity.
Useful ibis Paint X Features to Learn Next
Rulers and symmetry
Straight, circle, ellipse, radial and symmetry rulers help with clean lines, mandalas and mirrored designs. Perspective guides help with backgrounds.
Frame divider and comic tools
Divide a canvas into comic panels quickly, add speech balloons and use screentone materials.
Filters
Adjust hue, saturation, brightness, apply blurs, glows, line art extraction and many stylized effects. Line art extraction can turn a photographed pencil sketch into clean lines to color.
Materials
Patterns, tones and backgrounds are available in the materials library; some require an account or membership.
Alpha lock
Locks transparent areas of a layer so you can recolor shapes without painting outside them. It is a quick alternative to clipping layers for simple recolors.
Blend Modes Worth Knowing
| Blend mode | What it does | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Normal | Paints as-is | Flats, line art, most painting |
| Multiply | Darkens; white becomes invisible | Shadows, line art over color, textures |
| Screen | Lightens softly | Haze, soft light, atmosphere |
| Add (Glow) | Strong brightening | Glows, sparkles, magic effects, highlights |
| Overlay | Boosts contrast and tints | Color grading over the whole piece |
| Color | Changes hue without changing values | Quick recolors and tinting grayscale work |
Layer Organization Habits
- Name layers as you create them: “Lines,” “Skin,” “Hair shadow.”
- Use folders to group a character’s layers separately from the background.
- Merge when finished with a section to free up layer capacity on large canvases.
- Keep the sketch hidden rather than deleted until the piece is done, in case you need to check proportions.
How to Print From ibis Paint X
- Start with the right canvas. Set the final print size and 300 DPI before you draw. Enlarging later reduces quality.
- Export a PNG for maximum quality, or a high-quality JPEG for smaller files.
- Check color. Phone and tablet screens are bright; prints often look darker. Do a small test print first.
- Print from your device via a compatible printer, or send the file to a print shop or print-on-demand service.
ibis Paint X Drawing Ideas to Practice
| Idea | Skill it builds |
|---|---|
| Character head turnaround (front, three-quarter, side) | Line art and proportions |
| Simple sphere and cube lit from one side | Rendering with Multiply and Add layers |
| Chibi character with flat colors | Fill tool and clipping |
| Mandala with the radial symmetry ruler | Rulers and clean lines |
| Night sky landscape | Gradients, glow layers, texture brushes |
| Four-panel comic strip | Frame divider, text, screentones |
| Redraw an old sketch | Tracking your progress |
Working through projects like these in order builds skills faster than random practice. Guided lessons help even more, and our roundup of the top ibis Paint X tutorials and courses points to resources that follow a logical progression.
Phone vs Tablet: Getting the Best Experience
ibis Paint X works on phones, but a tablet with a pressure-sensitive stylus makes a big difference for line quality and comfort. On a phone, keep canvases moderate in size, use the stabilizer generously, and zoom in for detail. A simple capacitive stylus is better than a finger for accuracy even without pressure. On a tablet, enable palm rejection in the app’s settings if available so your hand does not leave stray marks.
Troubleshooting Common ibis Paint X Problems
Fill tool leaves gaps or halos
Check that the reference is set to the line art layer or canvas, increase expansion slightly, and make sure your line art has no gaps.
Lines are shaky
Raise the stabilizer. Zoom out when drawing long lines, and draw with confident, quick strokes.
Cannot add more layers
The canvas is too large for your device’s memory. Merge finished layers or start future projects at a smaller size.
Stylus pressure not working
Check the app’s stylus settings and connect any supported Bluetooth stylus. Some basic styluses do not support pressure.
Ads interrupting work
Ads appear in the free version. The ad-removal add-on or Prime membership removes them.
FAQs
Is ibis Paint X free?
Yes. The app is free with ads. Optional purchases remove ads and unlock extra features and materials.
What is the difference between ibis Paint and ibis Paint X?
On iOS, ibis Paint was historically a paid version and ibis Paint X the free, ad-supported version. Core features are very similar; the main differences relate to ads and purchase options.
Can I use ibis Paint X on a PC?
A Windows version of ibisPaint has been released. Check the official ibisPaint website or the Microsoft Store for the current version.
How do I undo in ibis Paint X?
Tap the undo arrow in the toolbar, or use a two-finger tap if gestures are enabled. Redo with the forward arrow or a three-finger tap.
Can I export a PSD from ibis Paint X?
Yes. ibis Paint X can export PSD files so you can continue in other programs, though some app-specific features may not carry over exactly.
Does ibis Paint X record my drawing?
Yes. It records your drawing process automatically, and you can export the time-lapse as a video from My Gallery.
Final Thoughts
Learning how to use ibis Paint X comes down to a dependable layer routine: sketch, stabilized line art, referenced fills, clipped shading and clean exports. Once that feels natural, explore rulers, filters, rendering layers and comic tools. For structured lessons that build on these basics, see our guide to the best ibis Paint X tutorial resources for beginners.
