Clicker Paint
© 2007 Crick Software, Inc.
Designed to work with the talking word processor Clicker, Clicker Paint will also function as a limited stand-alone drawing program. But it also has limited features, compared with other drawing programs. This can be both a curse and a blessing. For example, while teachers may have a good deal of control over the libraries of clipart, the selections are very small. The good part of this is that the interface is very gimmick-free, unlike KidPix. We tested the Mac version, and found the installation process to be complex, requiring the entry of a 16 digit code. Next, you select a project shape, from three choices; a rather cryptic operation for younger children. When in the drawing screen, it is easy to simply start drawing, but getting to the clip art requires understanding the menus. This program is really designed to be an add-on to Clicker. You can import any graphic format, or export in several formats, including JPEG. There are also some nice management features, such as the ability to limit the clip art gallery to just a handful of theme-related images. There's also a two-switch option setting. While Clicker Paint is clearly not for everyone, it is worth investigating if you're looking for a no-frills drawing program, and are currently using Clicker. A Single User license is $99, lab packs for five users are $229, and a site license for 30 users is $799.
$99, Windows, Mac OSX
Teaches: creativity, art, drawing, language
CTR Rating: 72%