Alchemy is a deliberately cut-down and simple free sketching software that makes it very easy for those interesting in drawing on the computer to produce simple sketches and drawings. On their own website, they confess that Alchemy is not supposed to provide you with a finished piece of art, simply a sketched framework that you can work from when enhancing the image later on in another image program, like the free editing suite GIMP.
Here are some of the features of Alchemy Free Drawing Software:
- Interaction.
- Voice control.
- Draw “blind”. Turn off the display and see what happens.
- Generate random shapes.
- Draw symmetrical forms.
- Randomize and distort shapes.
- Record a drawing session.
- Auto-clear the canvas.
- Switch the canvas to open in a more “conventional” drawing program.
- Minimalist interface.
Minimalism Is the Key to Success with Alchemy
This free sketching environment relies on how minimalist it is. Every aspect of its interface is designed to stay out of the way of the main task, that being drawing the sketch on screen. Parts of the interface even disappear completely when you are sketching, only reappearing when you hover back over the area where it once was.
There are a series of tiny, but welcome features that make the experience slightly more than just simplicity. Perhaps the best of these is the chance to simply turn off the display and sketch “blind” into the darkness. This then will present you with an interesting shape, which you can then work with in order to test your creativity.
Final Thoughts
Alchemy’s free sketching environment is no doubt a useful tool for those possessing a creative mind. Instead of presenting you with a full fledged image editor, Alchemy focuses on giving you something more than a plain canvas. So, you are basically on your own while making sketches, with a little help from Alchemy. This is not an everyday drawing software for kids, but a helping hand for seasoned professionals.
