Build a stronger drawing.
Set a grid for your canvas proportions. Adjust the columns, line color and opacity without changing your source image.
A reference beside your easel
Your photo.
Your canvas.
A clearer way to see.
Bring a photo into your studio. Find the proportions, read the light and shadow, and compare your painting as it grows — with reference tools that stay close to your work.
Designed for iPhone and iPad. Contact QDEE for availability.
GridFind your proportions
ValueRead light and shadow
CheckCompare work in progress
Local-firstWork without an account
Three tools. Your own process.
See what matters before your next brushstroke.
Use the tool that helps with the painting in front of you. There is no fixed sequence to follow.
Make light and dark easier to read.
View your reference in grayscale or simplify it to 2–5 values. Adjust the view when you need to study a shape or shadow.
Step back. Compare. Keep painting.
Add a photo of your work in progress, align it with your reference, and compare with an overlay or a side-by-side view on a wide screen.
From a photo to a useful reference
Start with the picture you want to paint.
No account setup. No need to organize a whole library before beginning. Start with one image and return to your study when you are ready.
Choose your own photo
Import from Photos or Files and confirm the crop and canvas proportions.
Find your working view
Use Grid, Value or Check as needed. Keep the screen awake during an active Studio session.
Save, export and return
Resume your local project or export a Grid or Value PNG through the system share sheet.
Inside your reference workflow
A closer look at your studio tools.
Owner-supplied promotional artwork for iPhone and iPad, framed for the web. Open an image to see the full artwork.
Proportions that fit your canvas
Work with a grid suited to your paper or canvas, including a partial final row when the proportions need it.
Study the big value shapes
Simplify light and shadow so you can focus on the main shapes before the small details.
Compare your painting as it develops
Use a work-in-progress image to revisit the relationship between your painting and its reference.
Keep your references useful beyond the screen
Export Grid or Value images and choose where to save or share them.
Your work belongs with you
A local studio. A backup you control.
Projects, reference images and work-in-progress photos are stored in the app on your device. The core tools do not require an account or upload your images to a developer server.
Read the privacy policy →- Edits are stored as settings; your imported source stays unchanged.
- Export one backup ZIP, including your project data and image files, to a location you choose.
- Deleting the app removes its local data. Export a current backup first and keep it outside the app.
Before you begin
Who is this for?
People drawing or painting from photographs on paper or canvas. The app provides a reference beside your work; you make the artistic decisions.
Can I use the tools offline?
Grid, Value, Check and local projects work on the device. An image or backup stored in iCloud may need internet to download. Support links also need a connection.
Will it change my source photo?
The app keeps its imported source image unchanged and stores adjustments separately. Exported images are separate files.
Does a backup include my images?
The portable ZIP includes project records and the app-owned reference and work-in-progress image files. Save it outside the app so it remains available after deleting the app.
Does it provide paint-mixing recipes?
The current tools focus on Grid, Value and Check. Automatic physical paint-mixing recipes are not part of this version.
Where can I ask about downloading it?
Contact QDEE below for current availability. This page does not offer a Store download or an online purchase.
Talk to QDEE
Make more time for the painting.
Ask about Artist Reference Studio, report a problem, or suggest an improvement.
Having a problem or feeling dissatisfied? Tell us directly. We’ll work to fix it and update the app. Thank you for helping us improve.