Adobe Unleashes Free Fresco App to Woo Digital Artists
Adobe, the software giant known for Photoshop and Illustrator, is making a bold move in the digital art space by offering its Fresco app completely free. This strategic decision aims to attract illustrators and compete with popular apps like Procreate and Clip Studio Paint.
Fresco, designed for touch and stylus-supported devices on iPad, iPhone, and Windows PCs, previously operated on a tiered model. The app had a free version with limited features, while premium capabilities required a $9.99 annual subscription. This pricing structure contrasted with competitors like Procreate, which offered a one-time purchase model at $12.99.
Under the new initiative, all premium features in Fresco are now accessible at no cost. Users can enjoy expanded access to Adobe Fonts, a wider brush selection, and the ability to import custom brushes. Despite its 2019 launch, Fresco has struggled to gain the same recognition as Adobe’s flagship products.
The app boasts unique features such as reflective and rotation symmetry for mirroring artwork and quick animation capabilities with motion presets. These tools aim to set Fresco apart in a competitive landscape dominated by established players like Procreate, Clip Studio Paint, and Krita, which have cultivated strong user bases with their affordability and iPad support.
Adobe Fresco does hold some advantages over its rivals, including a desktop app and cloud storage integration. However, the company faces challenges in the digital art community, where some users have expressed concerns over Adobe’s broader corporate image.
Notably, Adobe has not yet integrated generative AI features into Fresco, a topic of contention among digital artists. This stands in contrast to Procreate, which has publicly opposed such tools.
As the digital illustration market continues to evolve, Adobe’s decision to make Fresco free could potentially attract new users to its ecosystem. The move signals the company’s commitment to competing in the increasingly crowded digital art software arena.
