Whether you are a tattoo artist sizing up a stencil, a hobbyist looking to sketch your favorite anime character, or a baker trying to outline a design on a cake, you've likely run into the same problem: getting the proportions right is hard.
The solution is in your pocket. Using an app to trace photos on paper has completely replaced the need for traditional tracing tools. But with so many options on the App Store, which one should you choose?
The Problem with Most Tracing Apps
If you search the App Store for an AR drawing app or a camera projector, you will be hit with dozens of results. Apps like ARtie Lab, Da Vinci Eye, and Sketchar dominate the charts.
However, practically all of these apps share a massive downside: aggressive paywalls.
Many users download what they think is a free app, only to find that tracing their own photos from their camera roll requires a $9.99/week or $14.99/month subscription. For a utility that simply uses your phone's camera to overlay an image, these prices are unjustifiable for casual artists.
What Makes a Great Trace on Paper App?
When evaluating an app to trace photos on paper, there are three core features you must look for:
- Custom Photo Import: The ability to select any photo from your gallery, not just the app's pre-selected templates.
- Opacity Control: A smooth slider that lets you balance the visibility of your photo and your physical paper.
- Screen Lock: The most important feature. Once you align your paper, you need to lock the screen so the image doesn't shift if you accidentally touch the display.
The Verdict: Drawello
If you want the best features without the ridiculous weekly subscription, Drawello is the premier choice.
Drawello was built specifically to be the ultimate free trace on paper app. It includes high-fidelity camera projection, unlimited gallery imports, precision opacity sliders, and a robust screen-lock feature—everything you need to trace perfectly, with zero paywalls.
Get Drawello for Free
Join the waitlist today to be the first to download the ultimate free AR drawing app.
How It Works
Using Drawello is incredibly simple. Just open the app, pick a photo, and set your phone on a cup or stand so it points down at your sketchbook. Look through your phone screen, and trace the digital outline directly onto the physical paper below.
It is the fastest, easiest, and cheapest way to get perfect proportions every time.