The power of AR comes into play in iScape, which makes home-landscaping easier than ever
Price: Free to download
Subscription: $30/£30 monthly for pro features
Version: 4.13.6
Size: 172 MB
Seller: iScape Holdings Inc.
Platform: iPhone & iPad
Landscaping can be tricky business – especially at the planning stage. Trying to envisage what your garden might look like full of new scrubs, plants, and trees can be downright impossible. Fortunately for those of us who can’t afford a professional landscaper, an app called iScape can help.
iScape.
iScape takes the pain out of landscaping (and gardening more generally) by leveraging the power of augmented reality (AR) on your iPhone or iPad. The app encourages you to take an AR scan of your garden or land, then allows you to drop plants from its huge library in any place you like. By doing so, you can gain a pretty good idea of what the finished product might look like.
Placing objects.
The AR side to iScape works a treat thanks to its implementation of Apple’s ARKit. Scanning is effortless and placed objects stay put – though, at times, they might appear to levitate somewhat if your lawn isn’t quite so cropped. For free, users can access a smallish range of plants, shrubs, trees, and garden furniture. For a monthly fee, you get a huge library of objects to choose from.
A pro subscription doesn’t just expand the plant library – it also lets you create an unlimited number of designs, export plant lists from the app, and insert your own images into AR-scanned landscapes.
If you own an older device or are worried about the neighbors seeing you AR-scan your garden, it’s possible to use iScape with a simple photograph of your outdoor space. The app still lets you drop plants on the image and the overall effect is good (though not quite so fun as the app’s AR mode).
2D mode.
Images can be shared with friends and family, and you can even collaborate on the same project to get the design just right. iScape also includes blog posts full to the brim with planting ideas, which are perfect if you’re looking for a dash of botanical inspiration.
Get inspired.
iScape is a great app for would-be landscapers and professionals alike. Its design is clear and its interface is well-thought-out. The app is really easy to use – even for those of you who’ve never dabbled with AR before.
And best of all, you can take iScape for a spin free of charge. As mentioned, to unlock the app’s full potential, you’ll need to subscribe for $30/£30 per month (though a one-month free trial is available).