# Deep 3D Sketching Apps 'Mental Canvas' Lets Users Add Depth to Their 2D Sketches By Joey Haar | Published 2016-11-14 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mental-canvas References: [archdaily](http://www.archdaily.com/799167/mental-canvas-new-drawing-app-shows-how-digital-software-will-save-sketching-not-destroy-it) & [mentalcanvas](http://mentalcanvas.com/) Sketching is as old as pens and paper and even [3D sketching](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/3d-cloudbased-design-tools) has existed for decades, but Mental Canvas is an app that gracefully combines the two techniques, giving designers and architects a simple and effective way to visualize their ideas. The biggest benefit of Mental Canvas is its flexibility. As opposed to programs that incorporate CAD modelling, which is far from intuitive, sketching on Mental Canvas is just like sketching on a piece of 2D paper. Users can add an extra dimension by adding layers of transparent canvasses on top of one another at different angles within a 3D space. While drawing on Mental Canvas is thus very similar to normal sketching, the app offers benefits from a visual perspective, because it allows users to go deep into the [virtual space](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scrintal) and view the project from new angles. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 5.8/10 - Popularity: 78% | Activity: 87% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **3D Sketching Apps:** The evolution of 2D sketches through 3D sketching apps offers a more immersive and versatile experience for designers and architects. - **Intuitive CAD Modelling:** The rise of 3D sketching apps highlights the need for more intuitive CAD modelling tools to cater to the growing demand for immersive design experiences. - **Layered Canvasses:** The use of layered canvasses in 3D sketching apps offers a new way to incorporate depth and perspective in artistic and design projects. ### Who This Affects Most - **Architecture:** 3D sketching apps like Mental Canvas offer architects a new way to visualize and communicate their designs to clients in a more immersive and engaging way. - **Product Design:** 3D sketching apps provide product designers with a more versatile and efficient way to sketch and prototype their ideas in a virtual environment. - **Animation:** The layered canvas feature in 3D sketching apps can also be applied in the animation industry to create more dynamic and immersive visual storytelling experiences. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Doodling Mental Health Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/scribble-journey-app.md) - [Creative Infinite Whiteboard Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/freeform-app.md) - [Mobile 3D Scanning Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/realityscan.md) - [Digital AI-Generated Art](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/picsart-1.md) - [3D-Rendering VR Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/prospect-irisvr.md) - [Professional Drawing Tablet Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/astropad-slate.md) - [Sketch-to-Art AI Tools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sketch-to-logo.md) - [Hybrid Virtual Brainstorming Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/postit-note-app.md) - [AI-Fueled Digital Art Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/drawww.md)