Are Adult Coloring Books Being Replaced by Coloring Apps?
While adult coloring books have been more popular in recent years, the trend may be starting to fizzle out. This may be partly due to the growing popularity of coloring apps.
In a world where technology is ever-present, it’s no surprise that there are apps for just about everything—including coloring. People love to color for multiple reasons. Some do it as a hobby, whereas others do it for therapy, handling stress & anxiety, relaxation, mindfulness, and the list goes on. Many therapists recommend coloring for the reasons mentioned above, but can you reap the same benefits from a coloring app as traditional coloring on a book? Let’s take a look.
Availability & Variety
Books are available in many formats (paperback, hardcover, spiral bound), sizes, themes, and complexity. You name it, and you will have a coloring book available.
Size and format don’t apply to coloring apps, but apps are catching up on variety and themes. Usually, with an app, you can fiddle around more, recolor an object multiple times if you don’t like it, undo any changes, or clear it all to start over again. They also come with different brushes that can make the coloring experience more enjoyable.
Portability
Even though coloring books are usually not that bulky, most fall under 100 pages. You can throw a coloring book and coloring supplies in your bag and take them wherever you go. On the other hand, using an app requires a big enough screen to draw on and a stencil to draw with. For many people, a tablet is sufficient and easy to throw in a bag or carry in hand. Two problems arise with electronic equipment, though: internet and battery. Some apps may require you to connect to the internet to use them, and with an electronic device, you need to be able to charge it. You don’t have those problems with coloring books.
Cost
You can find coloring books for anywhere between $5 – $50, but most coloring books are within the price range of $5-$10. You can get decent coloring books under $10 in your area of interest. But we can’t forget the coloring supplies – colored pencils, markers, and crayons. You can go as fancy as you want or just get a basic coloring pencil or marker set.
On the other hand, many coloring apps you can download for free to try out, but if you want to take this hobby seriously, then a monthly/yearly subscription will probably be needed. Then you will be hit with in-app purchases, locked templates, locked colors, and unpleasant ads.
The starting cost may seem a bit more for coloring books because of the coloring supplies needed, but once bought, these will last a long time. This is not the case with apps; in the long run, these will cost more.
Display
Don’t we all love to show off our prized possessions? One of the great things about coloring books is that when you are finished with a page, you can take it out and frame it- display it proudly in your home and smile every time you glance at it, or give it as a gift to a loved one.
Coloring apps allow you to share with your friends or post on social media, but to display the page more personally, you have to make a bit of extra effort in printing it.
Time
No doubt coloring in a book takes longer, sometimes hours or even days.
Apps, on the other hand, are pretty quick. Just tap, and a whole area is filled with color.
Why Do You Color?
This is the main deciding factor for which form of coloring is best for you.
If you have taken up coloring as a hobby, you can enjoy both physical books as well as apps. One or the other will be available to you at any time.
If you have taken up coloring for its therapeutic benefits, then physical books have the upper hand here. Many people choose coloring books when they want to step away from technology and take a break from their screens. Parents who like to color with their kids also find coloring books a better option.
For some people, there’s just no substitution for the feeling of holding a pencil or crayon in their hand and coloring in the lines. There’s something satisfying about completing a page in a physical book that you just can’t get from an app.
Apps don’t have the same effect as physical books, and at times they can be frustrating when you can’t get the exact color you want from the options. However, some people might not like the time it takes to color on a physical page.
Conclusion:
There are pros and cons to coloring in a book and coloring on an app. Physical books might be better for you if you like portability and low costs. But if you’re looking for more features and limitless pages, an app may be just the thing. In my opinion, I would love to go with a coloring book because the charm you get with physical colors in your hand can rarely be felt while coloring on an app. it is also scientifically proven that the use of pen and paper can increase your neural activity, relieve inner tension, improve brain activity, and help relieve insomnia. If you are feeling down, just grab a couple of colored pencils and a coloring book. Moreover, you can reduce screen time by preferring a coloring book over an app, as it would be more relaxing for your eyes. It really comes down to personal preference in the end and what fits you best.