The Crayola ColorStudio HD appcessory is a large digital stylus with multi-faceted coloring capabilities. The stylus works in conjunction with the Apple iPad and a corresponding app (Crayola ColorStudio HD – free). The pen itself is about the same size as a Crayola coloring marker and comes equipped with a snazzy LED light that changes color behind the logo. Crayola and Griffin cleverly use the bottom of the stylus as an “on” button, although the cap won’t attach to the bottom like on a classic marker.
The tip of the stylus itself is a bit bulky, especially when trying to color between lines. Almost knowing this was the case, the iPad app has a built-in setting that keeps coloring within lines of the same object within bounds. Without this function turned on, I found the stylus frustrating to use, especially when trying to fill in small details. I should note that this could partially be attributed to my expectations as a 24-year-old, and not a 4-year-old. The app does allow users to just use their finger to color, which I actually preferred most of the time over the stylus.
The app itself is equipped with just about every color imaginable, and various coloring tools, including: crayons, markers, colored pencil and more. Happily, the app also comes with a large selection of drawings to color-in, easily classified into fun categories for kids to choose from. If none of them seem appealing, or if your child is a bit of an abstract artist, there’s also an option to color on a blank page. My favorite part of the app is the ability to create a unique coloring page using the preloaded sketched backgrounds and objects. Kids can really have a blast creating their own story lines and then coloring them in.
The bottom line:
The Crayola ColorStudio HD appcessory stylus is a fantastic idea for a modern take on the coloring book. That being said, I think there’s room for improvement on the stylus itself. The tip of the stylus is bulky and doesn’t interact well with the drawings, especially coloring in small details. On the other hand, I would wholeheartedly recommend downloading the free Crayola ColorStudio HD app for iPad. The app offers hours of entertainment and creativity, assuming your battery life lasts that long.