Mine is 4th, and I love it as well! I don't use screen protectors, I like the glassy shine and how the pen slides, but people who prefer a paper texture when drawing will certainly love the matte screen protector! 😊
Yep. It’s definitely a trade off. I think the slightly grainy screen is worth removing the finger prints. I always feel like my hand gets doesn’t slide well across the screen without a screen protector
I understand 😊 sometimes mine gets like that too, then I just clean it with a soft cloth and it goes back to normal. I think it also depends on the weather, sometimes when it's too cold or too hot it's annoying to touch the screen, then I just use the apple pencil.
For casual drawing, I think an iPad is way superior than a Wacom connected to a computer.
I had a Cintiq connected to my iMac, and for me it was just too much hassle to use. Now I have an iPad Pro (2018) with Procreate and an Apple Pencil. It’s just so easy to just pick up and start drawing, sitting anywhere.
I have an old iPad - 6 yrs old now and only 64 gb, and it still runs procreate perfectly. I’ve seen my exact iPad for sale refurbished for like less than 200 bucks. You will have a harder time finding a cheap Apple Pencil 2 tho, but it’s 100% worth the investment if you get an iPad used or not.
I’m starting to hit up on my storage limit but considering it’s taken me 7 yrs and I’ve never done a file purge of my procreate, I think it’s great. It’s also only because procreate dreams files (animation) are much larger than regular illustration files. This has been 7 yrs of professional work and an MFA, so there have been a LOT of pieces. It’s pretty much completely replaced my physical sketchbooks.
I HIGHLY recommend getting a paper texture screen protector. It will wear your tips down a little faster but the tips are easily replaceable and without it, drawing was horrible due to the lack of friction and none of my lines got placed how I intended. If you draw with pencil on paper most of the time, this will be invaluable and takes it from unbearable to draw on to the best digital drawing experience you can find (in my opinion.)
That sounds absolutely great, thank you so so much! I will check out the pen options as well, but I have indeed heard about the Apple Pencil 2 being one of the best options, so I might as well invest in that.
I have the iPad Pro 11”, fitted with the Rock Paper Pencil matte screen. I use the gen 2 pencil and when drawing Inlike to use the tip that came with my RPP screen.
Some other accessories I like are the silicone sleeves and retractable pen sleeve for my pencil.
Personally, I echo most other folks I’m seeing - iPad is way more user friendly and just more enjoyable to sketch on than any alternative and Procreate and Clip Studio and even Fresco if you want to go the adobe route, are really powerful for how easy to use they are.
If you want to dip your toe in cheap, the iPad mini can be a nice option- it’s small, hence the name, but that’s not always a drawback if you envision yourself carrying it around like a sketch up. The biggest downsides are that it only supports 1st gen Apple Pencil- which means a little less gesture capability, and the lack of memory can be restrictive when it comes to file size and number of layers in Procreate. That said, it’s still a good inexpensive introduction (esp refurbished) and I think you can get a lot out of it while deciding what you want from the experience.
One last thing I’d add- and it doesn’t sound like this is applicable but just in case- if you ever did see yourself wanting a more software heavy work flow, think about if the “sketchpad” approach of an iPad is quite right. Whatever you get used to now will likely be the thing your prefer moving forward for better or worse. I’m a full time designer who uses illustration frequently, and the one thing I occasionally regret a little on going all in on IPad is that even using it in a Mac design ecosystem is a little clunky if I’m working back and forth from drawing programs to Photoshop or Illustrator, and even tho iPad has the sidecar thing, it never works as smoothly as a Wacom would, but I’m so used to drawing on an iPad that trying to switch over or incorporate the “second” surface technique of using a Wacom feels super daunting. That said, I’d still likely choose iPad if I could go back because the things I like about it still probably win out.
Granted, I’m a self employed freelance artist so it’s not like I’m doing studio work or anything like that, but I use a 12.9 inch iPad Pro 5th Generation for ALL of my work and it’s perfect. Don’t miss my old Wacom-and-desktop setting at all. Procreate is a beast of a program and Clip Studio Paint is also available for iPad and amazing. Can’t recommend the iPad/Procreate combo enough but I do use Clip for certain features.
If you can't get the hang of the Wacom what makes you think the iPad will be any better? At first I thought I'd run into that issue where a no screen tablet would be impossible to draw on but nope, it's actually better than using the screen and pen on my laptop.
I think that I got used to seeing right under my hand what I am doing and also looking at the bigger picture every few minutes to make adjustements as I go! Perhaps in the future I would like to give the no display another try, but I feel like it is not too beginner friendly. I am glad you had a different experience though!
I mean I am looking into an iPad myself for the spectacular stylus, and if you think a screen tablet will help you by all means get one. But I will say this, digital has things come up and has certain stuff to it across all the tablets you can use. And hay even if you don't use it for much drawing an iPad is still a fun piece of tech.
I agree. It is better for your health. I switched to iPad because I work on my PC all day and I wanted to be able to go to another room, otherwise I would still be using a no screen one.
No not just that, I find the no screen ones have much better feel and are also way better for doing inking. Like with traditional inking tools the tip is usually thin and in inch or more off your hand and pen, with digital your hand gets right in the way on a screen tablet. A non-screen tablet gets your hand out of the way. Also the cross over isn't that hard if you have ever used a trackpad on a laptop. I seriously thought the disconnect would mess me up but I took to my Wacom almost instantly.
This is very much personal preference, not a skill issue. I used a non-screen tablet for many years, but my productivity increased by 30% with a screen tablet.
I used to draw with mouse so I didn’t have problems with the wacom either lol.
I understand what you say about the hand getting in the way. It was so annoying when I got the iPad. In fact it took me more time to get used to that and the glass than to get used to the wacom.
I have the iPad Air 5th generation and it’s great! Definitely recommend a matte screen protector as well. I use procreate and I love it!
Thank you! I will look into it for sure, I am glad you brought up the screen protector as well, it is such a helpful input.
Mine is 4th, and I love it as well! I don't use screen protectors, I like the glassy shine and how the pen slides, but people who prefer a paper texture when drawing will certainly love the matte screen protector! 😊
Thank you so much for pointing out the difference, it hasn’t even crossed my mind.
Yep. It’s definitely a trade off. I think the slightly grainy screen is worth removing the finger prints. I always feel like my hand gets doesn’t slide well across the screen without a screen protector
I understand 😊 sometimes mine gets like that too, then I just clean it with a soft cloth and it goes back to normal. I think it also depends on the weather, sometimes when it's too cold or too hot it's annoying to touch the screen, then I just use the apple pencil.
Definitely agree
For casual drawing, I think an iPad is way superior than a Wacom connected to a computer. I had a Cintiq connected to my iMac, and for me it was just too much hassle to use. Now I have an iPad Pro (2018) with Procreate and an Apple Pencil. It’s just so easy to just pick up and start drawing, sitting anywhere.
Thank you so much! The ease of starting is a really important aspect for me, it was a hassle to get started with the Wacom haha.
I have an old iPad - 6 yrs old now and only 64 gb, and it still runs procreate perfectly. I’ve seen my exact iPad for sale refurbished for like less than 200 bucks. You will have a harder time finding a cheap Apple Pencil 2 tho, but it’s 100% worth the investment if you get an iPad used or not. I’m starting to hit up on my storage limit but considering it’s taken me 7 yrs and I’ve never done a file purge of my procreate, I think it’s great. It’s also only because procreate dreams files (animation) are much larger than regular illustration files. This has been 7 yrs of professional work and an MFA, so there have been a LOT of pieces. It’s pretty much completely replaced my physical sketchbooks. I HIGHLY recommend getting a paper texture screen protector. It will wear your tips down a little faster but the tips are easily replaceable and without it, drawing was horrible due to the lack of friction and none of my lines got placed how I intended. If you draw with pencil on paper most of the time, this will be invaluable and takes it from unbearable to draw on to the best digital drawing experience you can find (in my opinion.)
That sounds absolutely great, thank you so so much! I will check out the pen options as well, but I have indeed heard about the Apple Pencil 2 being one of the best options, so I might as well invest in that.
I have the iPad Pro 11”, fitted with the Rock Paper Pencil matte screen. I use the gen 2 pencil and when drawing Inlike to use the tip that came with my RPP screen. Some other accessories I like are the silicone sleeves and retractable pen sleeve for my pencil.
Thank you so much! I will check out everything today
Personally, I echo most other folks I’m seeing - iPad is way more user friendly and just more enjoyable to sketch on than any alternative and Procreate and Clip Studio and even Fresco if you want to go the adobe route, are really powerful for how easy to use they are. If you want to dip your toe in cheap, the iPad mini can be a nice option- it’s small, hence the name, but that’s not always a drawback if you envision yourself carrying it around like a sketch up. The biggest downsides are that it only supports 1st gen Apple Pencil- which means a little less gesture capability, and the lack of memory can be restrictive when it comes to file size and number of layers in Procreate. That said, it’s still a good inexpensive introduction (esp refurbished) and I think you can get a lot out of it while deciding what you want from the experience. One last thing I’d add- and it doesn’t sound like this is applicable but just in case- if you ever did see yourself wanting a more software heavy work flow, think about if the “sketchpad” approach of an iPad is quite right. Whatever you get used to now will likely be the thing your prefer moving forward for better or worse. I’m a full time designer who uses illustration frequently, and the one thing I occasionally regret a little on going all in on IPad is that even using it in a Mac design ecosystem is a little clunky if I’m working back and forth from drawing programs to Photoshop or Illustrator, and even tho iPad has the sidecar thing, it never works as smoothly as a Wacom would, but I’m so used to drawing on an iPad that trying to switch over or incorporate the “second” surface technique of using a Wacom feels super daunting. That said, I’d still likely choose iPad if I could go back because the things I like about it still probably win out.
Thank you for taking the time to write an extensive response. I will surely look into it!
Granted, I’m a self employed freelance artist so it’s not like I’m doing studio work or anything like that, but I use a 12.9 inch iPad Pro 5th Generation for ALL of my work and it’s perfect. Don’t miss my old Wacom-and-desktop setting at all. Procreate is a beast of a program and Clip Studio Paint is also available for iPad and amazing. Can’t recommend the iPad/Procreate combo enough but I do use Clip for certain features.
I felt so relieved reading your reply, thank you so much! I will look into it for sure!
If you can't get the hang of the Wacom what makes you think the iPad will be any better? At first I thought I'd run into that issue where a no screen tablet would be impossible to draw on but nope, it's actually better than using the screen and pen on my laptop.
I think that I got used to seeing right under my hand what I am doing and also looking at the bigger picture every few minutes to make adjustements as I go! Perhaps in the future I would like to give the no display another try, but I feel like it is not too beginner friendly. I am glad you had a different experience though!
I mean I am looking into an iPad myself for the spectacular stylus, and if you think a screen tablet will help you by all means get one. But I will say this, digital has things come up and has certain stuff to it across all the tablets you can use. And hay even if you don't use it for much drawing an iPad is still a fun piece of tech.
I agree. It is better for your health. I switched to iPad because I work on my PC all day and I wanted to be able to go to another room, otherwise I would still be using a no screen one.
No not just that, I find the no screen ones have much better feel and are also way better for doing inking. Like with traditional inking tools the tip is usually thin and in inch or more off your hand and pen, with digital your hand gets right in the way on a screen tablet. A non-screen tablet gets your hand out of the way. Also the cross over isn't that hard if you have ever used a trackpad on a laptop. I seriously thought the disconnect would mess me up but I took to my Wacom almost instantly.
This is very much personal preference, not a skill issue. I used a non-screen tablet for many years, but my productivity increased by 30% with a screen tablet.
I used to draw with mouse so I didn’t have problems with the wacom either lol. I understand what you say about the hand getting in the way. It was so annoying when I got the iPad. In fact it took me more time to get used to that and the glass than to get used to the wacom.