DEV Community

Cover image for What’s New in ArtistAssistApp? November 2024 Enhancements Unveiled
Eugene Khyst
Eugene Khyst

Posted on

What’s New in ArtistAssistApp? November 2024 Enhancements Unveiled

ArtistAssistApp, also known as Artist Assist App, helps artists accurately mix any color from a photo, analyze tonal values, turn a photo into an outline, draw with the grid method, paint with a limited palette, simplify a photo, remove the background from an image, compare photos pairwise, and more.

It is now November 2024, and it's time to share the new features and improvements to the ArtistAssistApp added since the previous major release in July 2024.

ArtistAssistApp on Patreon

Probably the biggest change is that ArtistAssistApp now has a paid version. All ArtistAssistApp features are available for free without registration. However, the free version only offers a limited number of color brands. To get access to more than 140 color brands and all app features without ads, join ArtistAssistApp on Patreon as a paid member.

Thanks to the support of paid Patreon members, we can continue to develop the app.

New mediums: pastels

The app supports a variety of mediums, including watercolor paint, gouache, acrylic paint, acrylic gouache, oil paint, colored pencils, watercolor pencils, and now it also supports soft pastels, hard pastels, pastel pencils, and oil pastels.

New color brands: 140 color brands in total

The app has 140 color brands and more than 12,000 colors in total.

The free version of the app includes Rosa and Koh-i-Noor brands for all mediums:

  • Rosa Gallery Watercolours
  • Rosa Gallery Oil Colour
  • Rosa Gallery Acrylic
  • Rosa Studio Gouache
  • Koh-i-Noor Polycolor
  • Koh-i-Noor Mondeluz
  • Koh-I-Noor Gioconda Soft Pastel Pencils 8820
  • Koh-I-Noor Toison D'or Artists' Soft Pastels 8500
  • Koh-I-Noor Toison D'or Artists' Soft Pastels 8580
  • Koh-I-Noor Gioconda Hard Pastels 8100
  • Koh-I-Noor Gioconda Artist's Oil Pastels 8300

Scientifically proven model to simulate real color mixing

We have greatly improved the accuracy of color mixing and matching in ArtistAssistApp! ArtistAssistApp now uses a scientifically proven Kubelka-Munk model to simulate real color mixing. Previously, the color mixing was based on the weighted geometric mean of spectral reflectances (functions of wavelength). Working with colors' spectral reflectances instead of RGB or other color models made it simple to transition to the Kubelka-Munk model.

ArtistAssistApp real color mixing

ArtistAssistApp real color mixing

ArtistAssistApp real color mixing

More accurate color similarity calculation

The first version of ArtistAssistApp used CIEDE2000 for color difference calculation. Then, we transitioned to Oklab and Delta E OK, which worked well. But none of the formulas provide satisfactory results. The app now calculates the similarity of two colors using the geometric mean of Eucledean distance and the cosine similarity of their spectral reflectances. The results are absolutely amazing. Color matching accuracy was greatly increased.

Previously, ArtistAssistApp had problems finding a matching color mixture for very dark target colors. This problem has been fixed! Just look at the result of working with a limited palette. The app now accurately matches even the darkest parts of the image.

Before changes

ArtistAssistApp Color picker before changes

After changes

ArtistAssistApp Color picker after changes

The limited palette tool demonstrates the improvement in color matching. The app creates an image almost identical to the reference photo using only three primary colors!

Before changes

ArtistAssistApp Limited palette before changes

After changes

ArtistAssistApp Limited palette after changes

Displaying color similarities instead of confusing color differences

The app now displays color similarity as a percentage instead of a unclear and misunderstood color difference metric. 100% means a perfect match. 0% means completely different colors, like black and white.

Before changes

ArtistAssistApp color difference

After changes

ArtistAssistApp color similarity as a percentage

ArtistAssistApp color similarity as a percentage

Visual comparison of spectral reflectance curves

The app now computes color similarity by comparing the spectral reflectance curves, it makes sense to visualize them on the chart. You can check how similar the spectral reflectance curves of the target color and the suggested color mixture are.

ArtistAssistApp spectral reflectance curves

ArtistAssistApp spectral reflectance curves

Sharing color sets using QR code

Importing a color set from a laptop to an iPad or from a tablet to a smartphone is now super easy. Click the "Share" button and scan the QR code with the camera on the device you want to import the color set to. Simply open the link to import your color set to your new device.

ArtistAssistApp sharing a color set via QR code

Removing backgrounds from photos of your illustrations

Now, the app can remove the background from your illustrations. Some paintings, especially botanical illustrations and pet portraits, really shine on the snow-white background. You no longer need to manually erase the background on illustrations. Just open the new tab "Remove background", select a photo of your illustration, wait a bit, and download your illustration on a transparent background!

ArtistAssistApp background removal

ArtistAssistApp background removal

Printing large images on multiple pages

Do you print the image from the "Outline" tab? Have you ever wanted to trace a photo that is larger than the standard printer paper size?
ArtistAssistApp enables you to print a large image onto multiple pages using your home printer.

ArtistAssistApp printing large images on multiple pages

ArtistAssistApp printing large images on multiple pages

Try it now!

Try it now for free at https://app.artistassistapp.com to improve your painting and drawing skills and create stunning artworks.

Top comments (0)