AutoDesk Sketchbook is now free

AutoDesk Sketchbook is now free, you need to create a AutoDesk ID but otherwise its free to use.

Thanks GlenFX for pointing this out

It's free but has a 7 day trial?

Is it similar to photoshop or is it more something you'd need a wacom tablet to use?

I think you just need to get the ID in 7 days, I'll let you know if it croaks when the trial runs out lol

Its designed to work on any device so no it doesn't need a drawing tablet

I get the impression its a bit of software AutoDesk bought but can't compete with Adobe products or the free alternatives

Thanks for that! It seems that it's free indeed, u just need to make an Autodesk account. You can use a mouse, but a Wacom is highly recommended.

it work well on a Android tablet and stylus..
On the PC I invested in a cheap mouse pen, it was only £8 and its ... erm ... an improvement, both the mouse and the pen have advantages over each other..

I used to use a wacom bamboo one tablet as my mouse for a bit on an old laptop after the touchpad died. My wireless mouse had also died & I only had that laying around. Took a bit of getting used to, but wacom in mouse mode is surprisingly nice to use. You still use it like a mouse, but it's a lot more accurate as it's not some bulky thing in your hand. I wonder what it would have been like to use it for gaming with...

In regards to mouse versus touchpad: I found it much easier to use a touchpad in photoshop for cutting things out or tracing around things with the pen tool rather than with a mouse. I think it's the same reason why it was nicer to use the tablet than the mouse, just have more control.

I find the mouse pen more accurate than a regular mouse, the bug bare is having to put it down to type then getting it comfortable in the hand again.. the one I have the right click button is difficult to press
I can not use a touchpad, I find it very fustrating but I know loads of people who do great work using them.

You might be able to buy another pen. I know wacom sold different pens. The buttons on the pen that came with the tablet I had was ok, but a bit loose if anything.

I think I kept hold of the pen while typing, but that depends entirely on how you type. I only tend to use my forefingers & thumbs these days for typing. Eagle claw method.

I tried using pen mode as mouse & that didn't work very well at all because the mouse cursor jumps around the screen & the tablet surface area wasn't very large so it made it hard to correctly guess where I'd need to move the pen to for quick selections & so on without hovering.