Ask HN: What tools do you use for mobile apps design?

14 points by aladial 13 years ago | 11 comments

I'm sure every designer has its weapon of choice but what is it in your case? If you're working with an app developer what are the deliverables? How do you manage revisions?

I know, there are a lot of questions but I would really appreciate your feedback!

mgrassotti 13 years ago |

Used to recommend just paper, but these days my favorite is http://popapp.in - basically you sketch app screens on paper, snap photo of each page and then stitch them together. it's not going to help with process but is a great way to nail down an idea

aladial 13 years ago | |

Nice app, thanks for sharing. But that works for wireframing. If you're planning to give a different look and feel than the default iOS or Android theme I'm sure you use different tools.

healthenclave 13 years ago |

Well you could use the usual Photoshop, illustrator .... But also check PaintCode it's a mac only app that helps create vector based UI (in objective-c) for iOs only.

Love to have something similar for Android (no sencha) 'cause the UI for android can be a serious pain.

Basically PaintCode can import svg and photoshop layers and convert them into objective c code. Which can be easily reused, and reconfigured for any new resolution that may come out.

It's not perfect but it's pretty neat http://www.paintcodeapp.com/

aladial 13 years ago | |

Basically you're saying "multiple apps". Is that cumbersome?

hboon 13 years ago |

I have become a quite a fan of http://www.bohemiancoding.com/sketch/. It's more or less a cleaner and updated version of Fireworks which Adobe has left to rot.

signalsignal 13 years ago |

Inkscape for vector files and Gimp for all other stuff. I create all my own graphics and it looks very acceptable. For repetitive work I use scripts, command line programs via MacPorts, or put together my own from Automater.

pdenya 13 years ago |

I use photoshop. I don't manage revisions effectively for PSDs. It hasn't been a concern for me in the past but if there was an easy way I'd probably use it.

chudi 13 years ago |

For wireframes we use balsamiq and for graphics we try to stick with svg, if we cant, png for each screen resolution that we target. Hope it helps!

aladial 13 years ago | |

I actually meant what tools you use to create the svg/png files...

chudi 13 years ago | | |

oh sorry! Photoshop! and Illustrator

meerita 13 years ago |

Illustrator.