Help us find and Mac and PC compatible multi-user drawing app
August 24, 2012 5:01 AM   Subscribe

My friend and I want to draw together. Two potential problems: First, I'm in Seattle, she's in Michigan.

Second, I'm a Mac and she's a PC.

What I'm looking for is an application that would allow either of us to host a drawing session, and a nice set of tools and features, like layers and export ability, and the ability to use a tablet. We don't need Photoshop-like capabilities, but something like Sketchbook from Autodesk would be nice. I'm open to something like Oekaki boards, and I'd be will to look into installing one on my WebFactional account if need be, but something a little easier would be preferred. In-browser apps are good, too, but I'd like to avoid Flash. Voice chat is not necessary.

What I am not looking for are digital white boards. Basically, we want to be able to draw semi-decent-looking pictures.
posted by gc to Computers & Internet (4 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
This probably isn't exactly what you're looking for, but if you both have smart phones you should definitely get the Draw Something app. It's like Pictionary, but you aren't restricted by time, which is nice if your partner lives in a different time zone. It's tons of fun to play and it definitely encourages drawing.
posted by nikkorizz at 6:06 AM on August 24, 2012


iScribble? Wikipedia has a good list of paint chat applications-- there are a bunch, so you should be able to find something to fit your needs.
posted by sonmi at 7:00 AM on August 24, 2012


From sonmi's list:

openCanvas
"openCanvas is a Japanese image editing program whose old freeware versions featured network support. One user could host a session and the program would accept up to 3 other users via incoming TCP connections. None of these features exist in openCanvas 2.x and later. Copies of oC11b72.exe (openCanvas 1.1b72) remain in wide circulation on the Internet because of this."

I've never used oC, but I know (from deviantArt) that it has tons of enthusiastic users because of the old freeware version's network support.
posted by xyzzy at 7:54 AM on August 24, 2012


Sketchbook is awesome! You don't mention why you have decided not to use it.

I use Sketchbook on the iPad, and (among many other options) it can export a layered file to Dropbox. Just create a Dropbox folder that you and she share, and then export/import the Sketchbook files back and forth. I don't know if the desktop version works the same, but you mention wanting something that will work with a tablet.
posted by ErikaB at 7:32 PM on August 24, 2012


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