Concepts App Reviews

Love this drafting idea and design app!

I would gladly pay $20 to unlock everything in this app. Unfortunately, I will never pay a recurring fee. Think about that.

When first attempting to work in CONCEPTS, I found it to be very UN-intuitive because it departs from the typical menu items, layout, and color pickers seen in so many other apps. But once you spend some time and become familiar with the ability to choose presets from the spinning tool wheel, and use the Selection Tool to select, resize, or redefine the attributes of a single stroke or elements you easily begin to be awed by its potential. Vector graphics are “device independent” which means that even something created on an iPhone with CONCEPTS can be rendered billboard-size. Having this flexibility on an iOS device is mind-boggling. Other powerful features are layers, opacity, Precision Mode, and multiple Export modes. I have been able to EXPORT (within iPhone) as Transparent PNG to PHOTOS, then via AirDrop, EXPORT it to iPad, and further import art into Procreate as a 2484 x 4416 pixel image. Initially, CONCEPTS’ creators hampered the program with a lack of video tutorials for those confounded by the un-intuitive interface. That has gotten better but has yet to equal the clarity of tutorials found on lynda.com with highly articulate tutorials where the speaker tells you how tools are specifically used. That was a breakthrough for me. Some tools like the Selection Tool ARE very clunky, and the PEN continues to mystify with line weights that taper or dont taper depending on the selected line weight. There is a learning curve to CONCEPTS because it is SO different but its power is enormous. And to the credit of its creators, IT IS RAPIDLY BEING IMPROVED! There have been many changes in the past two months to improve its interface. It is AMAZING.

I bought this app years ago and it was fantastic. Now, they have redone the app and filled it with micro transactions. I used to be able to draw a circle in this app. Now they want me to pay extra money (on top of purchasing the app) to be able to use the circle tool. So frustrating. At least grandfather me in to having basic shapes unlocked. Do not bother with this app. Your workflow will constantly be interrupted with prompts to purchase features that should be included by default.

I bought the app and its pro-pack because of some the reviews I read. The features are too basic even with the pro pack -- basic shapes have to purchased, to use library of figures additional purchase is needed. Theres at least one more review with similar complains.

Im all for paying for quality apps / software, but these guys take it a bit far. So many of the features are paid and you can easily wind up shelling out $20 on this app just to get some basic functionality to it. I think the idea of buying shape packs is cool... but forcing us to buy basic shapes like squares / circles is a bit of a low blow. And I mean $2 for basic shapes? Come on... You want to make your own shape packs to reuse? Thats going to be another $3. The app works really well, and I really like it. But paying for every little thing is a bit ridiculous.

Just make an app with a price, instead of a bunch of in app purchases...seriously! Second you cant even try the app out, you can modify them once & only once then it prompts you to buy the pro pack, you cant even test the app out & make an informed decision if you want to buy it. I wish I had whatever these devs are smoking

I dont like their payment model. I paid for the app -- which is universal for iPad & iPhone -- and then purchased the Pro upgrade, which AFTER purchase declares that *isnt* universal, so limited to my iPhone. And still not clear what the Pro pack is... apparently it doesnt include the PDF export??!! They really seem to be intentionally obfuscating their purchase model. Just tell me how much the app is upfront like were both grown ups.

Please note that the Pro Pack add-on does not include the recently added ability to export to PDF. Youd think that would be included for those users that purchased the earlier export options found in the Pro Pack.

I bought Concept when it first came out. Early on, and really for the first year, the app wasnt great. It was clunky, and needed work. I left it alone for quite a while in favor of other apps. Picked it up again today and theyve made a ton of great improvements. The zoom and scaling features are perfect. The pen tool becoming more fine the closer you zoom in is an excellent idea that I wish would be implemented in ALL drawing apps and software. Its really a much improved app. While before, I wasnt happy with my purchase, but now Im glad I own it. If you use the iPad for concepting, graphic design, ad design, and other more precise and rigid layout type art....give this one a try!

Hey developers, heres a "Concept" for you guys; dont take an app that is great and break it into myriad of micro transactions for the sake of monetizing. Maybe, just maybe, include everything in one price and let it be that. This app is useless without most of the features youre charging for as IAPs.

Everyone else is SOL. The learning curve is ridiculously long but there is a library of how-to videos, a small PDF manual and embedded email (thats difficult to find) with a respectable response time. All I wanted to do was design a simple table for my woodshop by drawing freehand snapped lines to graph paper where each square equals a quarter-inch. But the app is over-engineered for simple precision like that. Id have to spend a week learning to do something far more sooner done with pencil, basic graph paper and a ruler. I couldnt figure out the scaling but unable to draw snapped lines together it was pointless to put that cart before the horse. After an evening of using my Apple pen and clumsy fingers, I moved on in my search for a drawing app that is an inexpensive digital version of my drafting table. Note that you are charged for "objects" with which you draw stuff. The basic app is just freehand. I had to lose 8 bucks just to so I could draw a snapped line and square. Implied is that youll spend money in quantities that are a function of the complexity of what you want to draw. Finally, the app is pretty stable given its high complexity. It only bombed once.

Almost everything about this app is perfect. Id like to see a fill tool, or a fill option for closed paths. Also a way to condense a selection (i.e. A drawing with complex eraser layer) into a standalone path (i.e. Just paths no eraser layer) this would be especially helpful for custom Objects

Simply the best most versatile drawing/conceptualization tool Ive used on any platform. Especially on the larger iPad pro w/pencil. I do wish they would allow for unlimited private object libraries though for a single purchase. Otherwise its just stupendous.

I love this app but they have an in-app purchase system that turns this into a money pit. Basic shapes are NOT included with the professional version. In order to get shapes you not only have to buy one of many shape packages, you have to separately buy several packs just to get a complete set. The obvious "money greed" of this app may have me requesting a refund. I would rather pay more for a REAL pro pack than to be "nickel and dimed" after shelling out for their so-called "PRO" pack.

This one doesnt compare well with the more complete art apps. To me its meant more for lots of quick ideas, and its great for that. The alignment tools are not built for precision like most other apps but for drawing speed, which I appreciate massively. I go to Concepts first thing when starting a new project (or just thinking on the go). I do wish there was more ways to quickly reorganize individual concepts, both within a project and cross-projects. Pressing and holding gets tedious when you need to move more than a few drawings over several projects. Sometimes the selection of Copic colors feels strangely limiting. There are lots of reds and greens but not as many good blues, yellows, greens, and oranges which I tend to prefer sketching with.

Excellent way to work or play! While there is a learning curve,its so remarkably close to all the past Pc functions that figuring it out for youre fingers is a snap! After a little practice I find myself flowing through drawing using multitouch functions ambidexriously as fast as needed during most of recent moments of inspiration. Practice definitely make perfect!!! Keep up the great work!!!!

A more in depth built in user guide would be nice but other than that I love it

As far as vector drawing apps go, Concepts is right up there with Graphic as my favorite. It has a beautiful interface and great tools. But it is really pricy. To get every feature available youd have to spend over $30 of in app purchases. Whereas apps like Graphic and Procreate include every feature for around $10-12 all in. My biggest requests are more layer features like Graphic has (ie, layer masks, alpha lock, blend modes, etc) I would also love more brush options (for blending) and more Text options (i.e., more fonts, gradient fill, shadow drops, and wrapping text along shapes and lines) But other than those missing features and the cost of all the add ons, its really good.

This app is well thought out and very deep in capability. It is a challenge to use it on an iPhone 6S Plus, but its a great thing