Adobe has made a bold move to attract more users to its creative software platform by making its dedicated drawing and painting app, Adobe Fresco, entirely free. This decision could significantly impact the competitive landscape in the digital art community.

Fresco, which competes with popular apps like Procreate and Clip Studio Paint, offers a range of tools for both digital art and simulating real-world materials. Previously, access to premium features like a wider brush selection and the ability to import custom brushes required a subscription. However, Adobe has now removed this paywall, making all of Fresco’s features available to everyone at no cost.

This move is particularly significant considering the growing popularity of digital art apps among both hobbyists and professionals. Apps like Procreate and Clip Studio Paint have gained a strong following due to their affordability, ease of use, and support for iPads. The ability to create high-quality digital art on a tablet has made them attractive options for many artists.

While Fresco has some unique features, such as reflective and rotation symmetry and the ability to quickly animate drawings, it has faced challenges in competing with more established apps like Photoshop and Illustrator. Adobe’s decision to make Fresco free could be seen as an attempt to increase its visibility and attract new users.

However, the competitive landscape is already fierce. Procreate, in particular, has a dedicated user base due to its pricing and vocal opposition to generative AI tools. This stance has resonated with many artists who are concerned about the potential impact of AI on the creative industry.

Fresco’s free status, combined with its desktop app and cloud storage support, could make it a more attractive option for some users. However, it remains to be seen whether this move will be enough to significantly impact Adobe’s market share in the digital art community.