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    Adobe Fresco preview

    Adobe Fresco Review and verdict 2026

    Adobe drawing and digital painting app, often used on tablets.

    Adobe Fresco

    ToolTrim Verdict
    4.1/5
    Very good

    Fresco makes sense when stylus drawing/painting is central and you're in the Adobe ecosystem; otherwise, an alternative like Procreate may suffice.

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    Our take

    Understanding Adobe Fresco.

    Adobe's digital drawing app (vector and raster) with live brushes, for illustration on tablet and desktop.

    Practical uses

    • Paint an illustrationA stylus using realistic media.
    • Combine vector and raster brushes in one drawing.
    • Import Photoshop brushes to draw on iPad.

    Pros and cons

    What Adobe Fresco does especially well — and the limits to anticipate.

    Pros

    • Live Brushes and realistic rendering (watercolor, oil).
    • Vector and raster brushes combined.
    • Photoshop compatibility (brushes, files).
    • Available on iPad, iPhone and Windows.

    Cons

    • Available via the Creative Cloud subscription.
    • Most relevant with a stylus/tablet.
    • Less versatile than a full image editor.

    Adobe Fresco: when it makes sense.

    Fresco makes sense when stylus drawing/painting is central and you're in the Adobe ecosystem; otherwise, an alternative like Procreate may suffice.

    Keep if

    You draw or paint with a stylus, notably on iPad.. You want vector and raster brushes combined, with realistic media.

    Challenge if

    You don't draw by hand.. You prefer Procreate or an alternative.

    Our verdict on Adobe Fresco.

    Why this verdict

    Very good

    Adobe Fresco is fairly easy to replace with an alternative, a free tier to test before paying, clearly documented use cases.