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How to Learn Autodesk SketchBook for Free

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Autodesk SketchBook Pro is a user friendly bitmap/raster based digital painting software. SketchBook has a huge collection of tools and features like; customized brushes, annotation, symmetrical drawing, rotate canvas, texture brushes, layers, multi-monitor support and french curves and some of these tools and features. Autodesk SketchBook is available for desktop computers as well as mobile devices.

Learning Autodesk SketchBook is very useful for any digital artist working in any of the avenues of digital art, it’s also very helpful for hobbyists who are just trying to learn digital art (as the software is very easy to learn and use) or for anyone who needs to create a quick illustration for any use.

The aim of this post is to present and compare between free online sources that beginners can rely on to learn Autodesk SketchBook, the sources stated here are full-structured courses that beginners can follow along.

If you just want the bottom line (the road map to learn Autodesk SketchBook) and you don’t wish to read the entire article then go to the “Bottom Line” section at the end of the article.

Getting Started with Autodesk SketchBook from Scratch

Autodesk SketchBook Website  

Autodesk SketchBook Website is the first free online outlet where beginners can start learning Autodesk SketchBook through video tutorials, you don’t have to register to have access to the training.

Structure: The “Tips, Tricks and How-to videos” portion of the training which is the portion recommended for beginners is divided into 5 sections, each section is divided into lessons that covers the various topics in Autodesk SketchBook.

Interface: The interface is very simple, just click on the section you’re interested in and you’ll be directed to the page where the lessons reside.

1 - Autodesk Sketchbook website trainingNow, the pros and cons;

Pros

  1. Free.
  2. The training familiarize beginners with the topics they should learn in order to start using Autodesk SketchBook.

Cons

  1. The training doesn’t cover every aspect of the software.
  2. The training isn’t well organized for beginners.

Verdict: This is the best outlet for beginners to start learning Autodesk SketchBook through video tutorials.

Ray Wenderlich

Ray Wenderlich is the second free online outlet where beginners can start learning Autodesk SketchBook through a text based tutorial, you don’t have to register to have access to the training.

Structure: The training has no real structure as it’s more of a “learn by drawing” so users are familiarized with the software through drawing an alien.

Interface: The interface is very simple, the entire training is in a single web page that beginners should follow from beginning to end.

 2 - Ray Wenderlich Autodesk SketchBook trainingNow, the pros and cons:

Pros

  1. Free.
  2. The training is very easy to follow along.

Cons

  1. The training concentrates on using Autodesk SketchBook on the iPad.

Verdict: This is the best outlet for beginners to start learning Autodesk SketchBook through a text based tutorial.

Instructables

Instructables is the third free online outlet where beginners can start learning Autodesk SketchBook through a text based tutorial, you don’t have to register to have access to the training.

Structure: As the above outlet the training has no real structure as it’s more of a “learn by drawing”, so users are familiarized with the software through drawing a zombie.

Interface: The interface is very simple, the entire training is in a single web page that beginners should follow from beginning to end.

3 - Instructables Autodesk SketchBook trainingNow, the pros and cons:

Pros

  1. Free.
  2. The training is well-organized for beginners.

Cons

  1. The training concentrates on using Autodesk SketchBook on the iPad.

Verdict: This is an excellent outlet for beginners to start learning Autodesk SketchBook through a text based tutorial.

Toon Box Studios YouTube Channel

Toon Box Studios YouTube Channel is the fourth free online outlet where beginners can start learning Autodesk SketchBook through video tutorials, you don’t have to register to have access to the training.

Structure: The training is divided into 9 video lessons, each lesson covers certain topics in Autodesk SketchBook.

Interface: Standard YouTube interface.

 4 - Toon Box Studios YouTube Channel Sktchbook TrainingNow, the pros and cons:

Pros

  1. Free.
  2. The training familiarize beginners with the topics they should be learn in order to start using Autodesk SketchBook.

Cons

  1. The training isn’t well-structured for beginners.

Verdict: This is an excellent outlet for beginners to start learning Autodesk SketchBook through video tutorials.

Bottom Line

The recipe for learning Autodesk SketchBook:

  1. Autodesk SketchBook Website is the best outlet for beginners to start learning Autodesk SketchBook through a video tutorial.
  2. Ray Wenderlich is the best outlet for beginners to start learning Autodesk SketchBook through a text-based tutorial.

Remember that the first step is always the toughest step, and the aim of this post is to provide you with resources that will help you take your first step in learning Autodesk SketchBook.