The JMerton Sketchbook Shorts Series — Featuring Callipeg Animation on the iPad
The idea behind the Sketchbook Shorts series hits on several goals I want to develop:
• Practice animation regularly
• Learn Callipeg animation software
• Build the habit of posting consistently
• Keep each project low-impact in terms of time
• Slowly build an audience while gathering real-world feedback
It’s a lightweight way to stay creative, improve my skills, and share the learning process as it unfolds.
I’m creating these animation experiments using iPad-based animation software. At the moment, I’m working in Callipeg. I loved using Procreate Dreams, but its lack of a lasso tool (reportedly coming in a future update) sent me searching for an alternative.
I’ve previously used FlipaClip, which is a great app and does include a lasso tool, but where Procreate Dreams excelled with its layer system, FlipaClip felt more limited. I also experimented with RoughAnimator, which has a lot of strengths and is especially impressive considering it was created by a single developer. It offers both a lasso tool and layers, but lacks the tweening features that Procreate Dreams includes.
It was while reading comments in a community forum about Procreate Dreams that I first heard Callipeg mentioned. I tried it, and it checked all the boxes: lasso tools, layers, and tweening. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that instead of bumping into limitations, I kept discovering thoughtful, unexpected features—like the “Out of Pegs” tool, which lets you shift an onion skin independently. Small details, but incredibly useful ones.
