What sketching app helps improve my digital painting workflow?

[PaisleyQM]

I’ve been trying to get more consistent with my digital painting lately, but I keep hitting a wall where my sketches feel stiff and lifeless when I bring them into my main software. I’m wondering if anyone else has found that switching to a dedicated sketching app for the initial loose phase makes a real difference for their workflow.

[Dennis_T]

I tried switching to a dedicated sketching app for the loose phase and it did loosen the lines for me. The brush feels lighter and I can just flow shapes without stressing about perfect strokes.

[Mila_L]

I kept using the same main software but started a quick warm up pass in a sketching app first. It helped a little but the stiffness came back once I opened the main file.

[MasonC]

Could the real issue be how I judge forms or lighting rather than the tool I sketch with?

[Jack54]

I set a timer for 10 minutes in the sketching app and tracked whether my gesture lines improved in the next pass. It barely moved the needle, so I paused the experiment.