Handy Art Reference Tool
Factsheet
Developers:
Mike Monroe & Scott McKie
Belief Engine
Based in Redmond, Washington
Release date:
November, 2012
Platforms:
Website:
Description
Handy Art Reference tool is designed to be a quick and mobile-friendly tool for artists. It contains several pose-able limbs that can be rotated and lit interactively for precise reference. Also included are numerous 3D busts of human heads, animal skulls, and props that can also be assembled.
Understanding the shapes that light and shadow create on the form is very important, so the 3 point lighting rig is also customizable so you can light the models accordingly- especially useful for painting!
If you’re an artist and ever wanted to use decent hand reference without having to awkwardly pose your hand in front of a mirror, this app was made for you! Perfect for comic book artist, painters, or just casual sketchers.
History
Handy was built out of Mike Monroe’s desire for quick and easy on-the-go reference when it came to one of those most expressive and perspectively complex parts of the body- the hands. Over time additional models, such as 3D heads, skulls, and feet were added (some as IAP). In 2015 the anatomical learning service Anatomy Next collaborated with Handy, and permitted use of some of their highly detailed head models & scans to be included in the app.
Handy was initially designed to be mobile only- for instances when reference material was necessary but a mirror or other reference materials were not convenient. Originally released on iOS in 2012, Handy was then ported to Android less than a year later. In 2015 it was contracted by Microsoft also be ported to Windows Phone & Windows Desktop, with the latter remaining after Windows Phone was retired. In 2018 Scott McKie joined development and ported Handy to macOS.
Features
- Fully pose-able 3D male and female hands & feet, with a large assortment of various poses
- Several 3D human head busts & skulls
- Over 10 animal skulls (as a separate IAP purchase)
- Props for hands including weapons and various 3D primitives
- Customizable lighting, with support for sub surface scattering effects
- Assemble custom scenes of heads, props, & lighting, and save it for later convenience.
Videos
V1 Trailer - YouTube
V5 Update Trailer - YouTube
Images
Logos & Icons
Selected Articles & Mentions
“Thanks to this useful app, drawing realistic hands can become a whole lot easier.” – ImagineFX Magazine
“Pencillers, inkers, and colorists should all give this a look!” – Tony Moore, Tony Moore Illustration
Handy Art Reference Tool Credits
Mike Monroe
Lead Development, Belief Engine
Scott McKie
Additional Development, Belief Engine
Pedro Baltazar
Shader Development, Independent
Dan Moyer
Modelling & Texturing Assistance, Independent
Anatomy Next
Supplying their incredibly great 3D models, Anatomy Next
Alex Toufaili
Rigging, Independent
Misty Loreen
Rigging, Independent
Alex Hogan
Rigging & Additional Development, Independent