A free online drawing app with layers

Layers let you sketch, ink and colour on separate sheets, so you can change one part of a drawing without touching the rest. Paint Studio gives you real layers in the browser, free and without an account.

What you can do with layers

• Add, duplicate, delete and reorder layers from the Layers panel, or with Ctrl+Shift+N (new) and Ctrl+J (duplicate).
• Hide a layer with its eye icon to compare versions or focus on one part.
• Set opacity per layer — useful for tracing over a reference image.
• Choose from 16 blend modes, including Multiply, Screen, Overlay, Soft light, Difference and Color.
• Merge down or flatten when you are finished.
• Rename layers by double-clicking their names.

A simple layered workflow

1. Sketch. Draw a rough sketch on the first layer with the Brush or Pencil, then lower its opacity.
2. Ink. Add a new layer above and trace clean lines. Turn on stroke smoothing in the options bar for steadier lines.
3. Colour. Add a layer under the ink layer and fill in colour with the Brush, Fill or Gradient tool.
4. Shade. Add a layer above the colour, set it to Multiply and paint shadows in a soft grey or blue.
5. Finish. Hide the sketch layer, then export with File › Export PNG, or choose Save project to keep every layer for later.

Export and keep your work

Export a flattened PNG, JPEG or WebP image at any time. PNG keeps transparency, so you can draw on a transparent canvas (File › New › Transparent) and drop the result onto other designs.

To come back to a drawing with its layers intact, use File › Save project, which downloads a .paint.json file you can open again later. Your current drawing is also kept in your browser automatically.

Frequently asked questions

Is Paint Studio free?

Yes. Paint Studio is free to use with no account, no watermark and no download.

How many layers can I use?

There is no fixed limit; it depends on your device memory and the size of your canvas.

Are my drawings uploaded?

No. Your drawing stays in your browser and only leaves your device when you export or save a file.