When Image Playground was first introduced in June as one of the key Apple Intelligence features, Apple said that it would generate images in three styles: animation, illustration, and sketch.
The version of Image Playground available in the iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 betas only offers animation and illustration as style options, but Apple is planning to add the sketch style to Image Playground in the future.
As of right now, sketch can be used as an option in Image Wand in the developer and public betas of iOS 18.2, but it does not appear that it is ready for Image Playground just yet. Image Wand is the feature that allows users to add a drawing to written notes, either by sketching out an idea or referencing words in the note.
Apple did recently remove sketch from the Image Playground app description, but that's just because it's not yet in the Image Playground app.
Sketch is described as a "highly detailed and academic" style that "produces gorgeous drawings on stark backgrounds." It is distinct from the illustration style that has strong outlines, bold colors, and simple shapes, and the animation style that has a "whimsical, 3D cartoon look."
Image Playground and Image Wand will be released to the public in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 in December.
Update: This article has been updated to clarify that the sketch style has not been removed entirely and that it will be coming to Image Playground at a later time. The prior version of this article suggested that sketch had been entirely removed.
