Sketchsoft releases Feather 1.0
Sketchsoft has released Feather 1.0, the first official release of its 3D sketching app for iPad.
It’s a major update, adding support for pressure sensitive sketching, a 3D Liquify tool, a new lighting system, and post effects including glow and depth of field.
The release also makes Feather, which was previously available free, a paid app.
Create 3D sketches using an interesting two-stage workflow
First released in 2022, Feather lets artists create 3D concept designs on iPads.
It uses an interesting workflow, in which you first draw 3D guide surfaces, then draw strokes on top of the guides, rotating the developing sketch in 3D using touch gestures.
The 3D models can be exported to other DCC apps in glTF or OBJ format, while a free Blender add-on makes it easier to edit assets created in Feather in the open-source 3D software.
Users can also export 2D images, videos and turntable animations directly from the app.
You can find more details in our original story on Feather.
First commercial release makes Feather a fully offline iPad app
Feather 1.0’s version number is confusing, since the previous release was Feather 1.5: the ‘1.0’ signals that this is the first official, commercial release.
Structurally, it’s a major update, making Feather a fully offline app, introducing a new dark UI mode, and making sketching “up to 20 times faster”.
New options for creating and saving 3D guides
As well as creating 3D guides freehand, by drawing and connecting curves, it is now possible to use geometric primitives – cubes, pyramids, spheres and toruses – as readymade guides.
It’s also possible to save and reuse guides.
Pressure-sensitive sketching and new 3D Liquify tool
The brush toolset is now pressure sensitive, with users able to vary the width or opacity of strokes according to how hard they press down with the Apple Pencil stylus.
It’s also possible to deform strokes interactively in 3D, using a new Liquify tool.
Shed lights and cast shadows with Feather: on development#feather3d #3dsketchbook #f3d #3DCG pic.twitter.com/c33QuvglLD
— Feather 3D (@feather_3d) October 24, 2024
Light 3D sketches and apply glow and depth of field
There are also new options for modifying the look of sketches after they have been created.
A new lighting toolset makes it possible to light a sketch in 3D, adjusting the direction, intensity and color of the light, as shown in the video above.
It is also now possible to apply post effects to the rendered sketch, including glow, grain and depth of field.
Web edition ‘temporarily discontinued’
The web version of Feather – it used to be available as a Chrome web app, making it possible to use on Windows and Android tablets – has been temporarily discontinued.
According to a statement on the Sketchsoft website, “as a small team, Sketchsoft isn’t yet able to support two products simultaneously”.
The web version remains the company’s “goal and future”, and will be brought back once any initial stability or performance issues with the iPad app have been resolved.
Price and system requirements
Feather 1.0 is compatible with iPadOS 16.0+. A perpetual license costs $14.99.
Read a full list of new features in Feather 1.0
Download 3D sketching app Feather from the App Store
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