The defining feature of SketchBook Designer 2014 is its dual workflow environment. Unlike standard raster programs (like Photoshop or SketchBook Pro) or strict vector programs (like Illustrator), Designer allows you to switch seamlessly between a Raster Layer and a Vector Layer.
For concept artists and industrial designers, this is a game-changer. You can sketch loosely with pressure-sensitive raster brushes to get your idea down, and then switch to a vector layer to create clean, scalable linework or mechanical shapes—without ever leaving the application. The "Interactive Stroke" system in the vector engine is incredibly smooth, feeling more like natural drawing than the node-pushing tedium often associated with vector art. Autodesk Sketchbook Designer 2014
Autodesk’s CAD DNA was visible here. The 2014 version included: The defining feature of SketchBook Designer 2014 is
Unlike the simplified layer palette of SketchBook Pro, Designer 2014 boasted a professional compositing engine. It supported: The 2014 version included: Unlike the simplified layer
The 2014 version built upon the vector capabilities introduced in previous iterations. It offered a robust set of spline tools that felt intuitive to artists used to drawing tablets. Unlike traditional vector software that relies heavily on the mouse and anchor points, SketchBook Designer’s vector tools were optimized for stylus input. Artists could draw smooth, bezier-curve lines that retained the "hand-drawn" feel but could be edited and scaled infinitely without quality loss.
This made it exceptionally popular among:
Autodesk SketchBook Designer 2014 was a professional raster and vector hybrid illustration application. Unlike the more widely known SketchBook Pro (focused on raster drawing), Designer was aimed at technical illustrators, industrial designers, and graphics artists who required the precision of vectors combined with the organic feel of raster brushes.