Death In Application-ville

 

 

 

"Grid V.01"

Procreate

[Non-tech readers and / or non-digital-artists should feel free to skip this post.] For many years, I've been using an image manipulation app from the Apple App Store called "Stackables."  Stackables allows you to stack layers of textures, effects, image adjustments, and color renderings to create something quite different from your original image..  So - for example - I can start with the grid above created in Procreate (Thanks P) and then run it through the Glaze App and maybe the Brushstroke App and then finish it in Stackables.. I end up with the following image:

While the overall composition remains the same, the colors and surface texture change dramatically as a result of using Stackables. Pretty cool..  Sadly, the Stackables App and its sister App, Formulas, haven't been supported by the developer for years now and the Apps are no longer sold in the Apple App Store. Even sadder, the version of Stackables that I am currently using will no longer save modified images to the iPad's photo album. It's likely a result of the App no longer keeping pace with iOS updates..  I was about to pitch them both when I discovered that I could use the "Save changes as formula" function in Stackables (which still works..), open the base image in the Formulas App, and then use the formula I just saved in Stackables on the base image and then save the image out to the iPad with Formula's file save function (which still works).      I know - clunky as a motherfucker right?    But - if you've been using Stackables for as long as I have, you know that there's no real substitute out there for its unique (and powerful) function set. This kludgy partnership between Stackables and Formulas means that I'll be able to keep using Stackables on my images..    ...until the Formulas App finally gives up the ghost as well...        ~