Autodesk’s SketchBook Pro for iPad uses the same paint engine as its desktop companion, SketchBook Pro, and is similar to its iPhone app, SketchBook Mobile for iPhone. The iPad app features a. Astropad is an iOS app that turns your iPad into a drawing tablet. This app gives you the ability to freely draw, sketch, paint on your iPad which shows up on your Mac computer or laptop. It works only with Mac OS which means it works on any Mac book, MacBook Pro, iMac or mac pro made from 2003 – present model. When in use, you can use your iPad to mirror your Mac display or as a second display for additional screen space. Or you can use your iPad as a graphics tablet for drawing with your Apple Pencil. While the app has supported the iPad Pro’s native resolution since the hardware’s release, the developer has further improved the in-app graphics on the iPad giving you much crisper results, and one would think that this could adversely affect the otherwise remarkable latency between the iPad and Mac that Astropad is famous for, but as it turns out, it doesn’t.
The iPad Pro is a great drawing tablet. Not only does the tablet come with the most unique stylus (digital pen) available in the market, Apple also offers a wide variety of free apps that allow artists to turn their ideas into incredible artworks.
One thing should be mentioned though, the fact that the iPad Pro is a tablet and not a full-on computer means the device has certain limitations that regular drawing tablets don’t.
You must be asking yourself: Limitations? Like what?
Well, most professional artists tend to work with industry-grade software like Adobe Photoshop, Adobe illustrator, Corel Painter, Maya, ZBrush and so on.
Due to the fact that tablets have limited resources such as memory and hard disk space, they simply don’t offer the computer power needed to run the programs mentioned above. This is why people who own an iPad Pro are always looking for alternatives to the traditional Adobe Suite.
That being said, the iPad Pro (see price on Amazon) is still great for creating illustrations and artwork in general. Some apps offered by Apple are incredibly intuitive and, when it comes to user experience and speed, are even better than more consolidated programs such as Photoshop.
What are the advantages of the iPad Pro?
To begin with, the fact that the tablet is very compact allows you to take it anywhere you go. And unlike most drawing tablets out there, you don’t even need a computer to use it.
As long as your iPad is charged and you have your stylus (pen) with you, you’re ready to create all kinds of art pieces, from minimalistic vector art to complex illustrations just as intricate as the ones produced with more resource intensive software like Photoshop.
Another advantage that must be mentioned is that all Apple products are highly intuitive, things simply work. You don’t have to worry about software or hardware configurations, you don’t need to deal with weird behavior from your device. Most of the times, all you have to do is install your favorite illustration app and start drawing right away.
Not to mention the that fact that the stylus (pen) that is used with the iPad Pro is extremely different, in a good way, from all the other pens that come with other more traditional drawing tablets.
How is the iPad Pro stylus (pen) any better than the others?
Like I said before, Apple is a pretty original company and they go out of their way to do things differently, but not only that, they strive to make their products significantly better than the ones from their rivals.
What I found most striking about their stylus is that while companies such as Wacom and Huion sell their tablets with digital “pens”, Apple decided to create something more similar to a “pencil”, hence the name Apple Pencil.
I don’t know about you, but I grew up drawing with pencils, not pens. And I found that the slim and smooth feel of the Apple Pencil allows for a much more comfortable experience than the one I usually have with regular digital pens.
I firmly believe that the closer the feeling of drawing with real paper and pencil, the better.
https://oyxwpic.weebly.com/best-app-store-games-mac-free.html. Apple was so careful and delicate in their approach that the Apple Pencil doesn’t even have any buttons, but it still offers all the advantages that pens with buttons have.
How is that possible?
Well, the screen of the iPhone is perfectly flat, right?
But you can still click “virtual” buttons, right?
With the Apple Pencil is the exact same thing, although the buttons don’t really exist, you can tap the body of the pencil twice in order to change from one tool to another.
This is such a great idea, but no other company has done it. You only get this kind of smart design with the iPad Pro.
Another awesome feature is the wireless charge.
How cool is that?!
You can literally charge your Apple Pencil simply by putting is close to the tablet. Even though this is not the best scenario (since some drawing tablet pens don’t have to be charged at all), it still takes the prize as the most amazing one. I absolutely hate wires!
One more amazing thing about the Apple Pencil is that it has three characteristics that are vital for a comfortable drawing experience:
1 – There’s almost no lag. In my opinion there’s no lag at all, because I can’t feel it, but since Apple can’t state that, they simply say that the lag is minimum.
2 – The pressure sensitivity of the pencil is amazing. All you have to do is slightly press the pencil against the screen and the line immediately becomes thicker.
The third characteristic is what sets the Apple Pencil apart from all the other stylus. Really. I don’t know why, but other companies still didn’t manage to do this right:
3–Tilting the Apple Pencil generates a different kind of line, just like what happens when you tilt a real pencil. This feature is used for coloring (shading) artwork.
Are there any disadvantages to the apple pencil?
I can only think of three, really:
1 – The pencil needs to be recharged.
2 – The Apple Pencil is sold separately, it’s a completely individual device.
3 – Once you use the Apple Pencil; you will get the feeling that all the pens you have (from other drawing tablets) are not as good.
What are the disadvantages of the iPad Pro?
As I’m sure you are very aware of, Apple products are known for their quality, not their price.
The iPad Pro is rather expensive, especially if you compare it to regular drawing tablets. Check out this post about the 10 cheapest drawing tablets and you will immediately understand what I’m talking about.
One more thing worth mentioning, yeah…yeah….the iPad Pro is great, but it’s still a tablet. It has its limitations and you can’t really install whatever you want in it. You will always be restricted to Apple apps.
Besides the software restrictions, unlike desktop computers, the iPad doesn’t allow hardware upgrades, so you’re pretty much stuck with the resources of your iPad Pro forever. Eventually your device will become old and you will have to buy a new one, which, for sure, will be even more expensive.
The screen of the iPad Pro is just like an iPhone screen: perfectly flat and has glass-like texture. Some people doesn’t like to draw on slippery surfaces like that, so…if you’re one of these people, you will have to get a textured screen protector.
Another detail regarding the screen, it shines a lot, just like glass. If you’re planning on drawing outdoors, you will also need a matte screen protector to avoid glare.
I have already mentioned the computer power limitations of tablets in general, but how does this affect your life as an artist?
There will always be some restrictions regarding canvas size and amount of layers.
If you need to create illustrations that are particularly large, the iPad Pro is definitely not the way to go. Also, if you are those highly organized artists who love to create a new layer for each detail of your illustrations, the iPad Pro will severely limit that aspect of your work.
In my opinion these are not particularly serious issues, but you should definitely take them into consideration if you’re considering buying an iPad Pro.
Last, but not least, most drawing apps will only save files in RGB format. RGB is the standard for the web, but not for printing. You would normally expect print-ready files to be in CYMK format. In order to do that, you will most likely need to export your illustrations to a computer, convert them from RGB to CYMK and only then will they be perfectly print-ready.
Which drawing software is the best for the iPad Pro?
Have you ever seen those amazing illustrators on Instagram that make videos showing their creation process from beginning to end?
Almost all of them use Procreate.
What is Procreate?
Harmony remote app mac. It’s the most popular drawing app for the iPad Pro. It was developed by some really creative people from Australia and it makes the drawing process as enjoyable as it gets.
Drawing with Procreate almost feels like playing a game. Once you get the hang of it, you will be able to create really rich illustrations at record speed. For someone whose livelihood depends on drawing, this app is a gift from the heavens.
Among the most useful features from Procreate I would definitely mention the line “correction” and the ability to apply textures extremely easily.
In case you have no idea of what I’m talking about, here’s how the line correction works:
Imagine you’re trying to draw a perfectly straight line with your bare hands.
Have you imagined it?
![Use Ipad Pro As Drawing Tablet For Mac App Use Ipad Pro As Drawing Tablet For Mac App](/uploads/1/3/4/2/134296087/656720681.jpg)
The line isn’t perfectly straight, right? We are not machines; our lines are a little inconsistent. But Procreate can fix that if you want to. And it does automatically. The result is that you get very beautiful and symmetrical designs. The same goes for circles, triangles, curves and so on.
Here are some beautiful illustrations made with Procreate (you may click the name of the artist to visit the gallery):
If you would like to see more illustrations made with the iPad Pro and Procreate, click here to visit the app’s gallery
Should you buy an iPad Pro?
I believe that the advantages of this awesome tablet far outweigh its disadvantages. If you have the means to buy the iPad Pro, go for it. Despite its limitations, no other tablet will provide you as much fun drawing as this one.
(Check the iPad Pro price on Amazon)
Conclusion
Like any other electronic device, the iPad Pro has its advantages and disadvantages. However, whenever you buy an Apple product you know that you’re buying quality and this is not always true for other brands out there, especially within the drawing tablet industry.
Besides, the iPad Pro is much more than a drawing tablet, it’s a who entertainment unit. You can watch movies in it, listen to music (even while drawing), play games and so on.
The only good reason not to get an iPad Pro is if you don’t have enough money to afford it.
![Drawing Drawing](/uploads/1/3/4/2/134296087/670266630.jpg)
Do you have any questions? In case you do so, make sure to leave a comment below!
Take care and let’s keep on creating!
Bruno Santos
Duet Display is one of the most popular apps that turns your iPad as a second display for your PC and Mac. On Mac, at least, the arrival of Sidecar mode makes third-party solutions somewhat questionable. But here in Windows-land, Duet is a great means of augmenting your productivity through your iPad.
While Duet Display meets this requirement, but by way of a pricier Duet Pro subscription service targeted specifically towards designers and artists. Is this the best option?
This is where EasyCanvas comes into the picture. EasyCanvas is the new kid on the block. However, it has two main advantages over Duet. For starters, its primary focus is on providing a great drawing experience, as opposed to being a secondary display. The second advantage is that it’s not subscription-based. Yes, where Duet charges a hefty yearly fee to access Duet Pro, EasyCanvas charges a fixed $15, and that’s all there is.
So, which is betters for using iPad Pro as a drawing tablet for PC
With that kind of a value proposition in mind, I just had to get my hands on both and try them out. Which is better, Duet or EasyCanvas? And even if Duet Pro’s paid subscription were to offer more functionality, is EasyCanvas good enough to be a worthy alternative? Let’s find out.
Duet Display Pro vs EasyCanvas
1. Pricing Model
Winner: EasyCanvas
This one’s an EasyCanvas victory, hands-down. Duet Display tries to fob off drawing support and stylus pressure sensitivity as ‘Pro” value additions that command an additional yearly subscription cost. EasyCanvas simply does all this for free after purchasing the app.
Duet Display costs $20 for the base app and a further $20 per year for added Pro functionality. What exactly are you getting for this extra amount? Duet claims that Pro mode adds in pressure and tilt sensitivity, together with palm rejection. Together with the lag-free video output, this is supposed to add up to a pro-friendly drawing solution.
But what about EasyCanvas? As long as it offers something broadly comparable to Duet, the value proposition is a moot point. Well, the good news is that EasyCanvas is on equal footing with Duet when it comes to features. It’s also got a 14-day free trial so you can always switch over if there’s something about it that’s a dealbreaker for you.
EasyCanvas has all of the Duet goodies but at a lower price
You get all the core goodies: tilt sensitivity, pressure sensitivity, and palm rejection. In addition, you also get support for the Wacom pen, whereas Duet is tailored specifically for Apple Pencil. EasyCanvas’ menu selection allows you to switch between the three: Wacom pen mode, Apple pencil mode, and finger touch mode.
2. Installation and Setup
Winner: Duet Display Pro
This isn’t usually a point of comparison I do when evaluating two different pieces of software. However, neither Duet Display nor EasyCanvas is your usual iPad app. Both require a bit of extra effort to set up, particularly on the primary device. You have to first install the desktop app for Duet and EasyCanvas respectively from their websites. It goes without saying that you’ll need iTunes installed, too, to ensure that the Apple mobile device driver is installed.
Duet Display supports more platforms than EasyCanvas
Keep in mind here that EasyCanvas only supports machines on Windows 8 and higher. Of course, no one’s actually on Windows 8. But there are plenty of 7 users still clinging to enhanced privacy and a lack of forced updates. You won’t be able to use EasyCanvas at all, unfortunately. I tried it out on an aging Intel Atom netbook with Windows 7 and got an error message for my trouble.
Installation was pain-free for both. But EasyCanvas has a few extra steps
Duet’s ease of use isn’t just limited to the installation process. I’m used to a prolonged config time for these kind of things: it takes a lot of work to get a DS4 controller working with your PC, for install. Duet surprised me, though. Once installed, it appears as a system tray icon. There’s no desktop app or dedicated settings. All you do is connect your iPad via USB when Duet is running and you’re good to go. It turns the iPad into a secondary display.
EasyCanvas was similarly easy to set up. Once the desktop app’s installed, you fire it up and it shows up as a tray icon. You get your secondary display when you connect your iPad. There are a few more steps here, though. EasyCanvas’ tray icon has a Display settings option that you can use for limited customization.
Support for the Wacom Bamboo Pen makes initial setup a bit more complicated on EasyCanvas
Apart from this, there’s an extra step required to pair input devices. The input device selection at the top left corner lets you switch between Apple Pencil, Wacom Bamboo Stylus, and finger input. Apple Pencil pairing works out of the box: if your Pencil is paired with your iPad it will just work with EasyCanvas. Wacom Bamboo pairing is a bit more complicated. You’ll need to tap on the pairing icon, then tap on a circle on the display with your Wacom stylus.
We’re giving the edge to Duet here. While EasyCanvas’ has more features, Duet just works out of the box. You install and run Duet, you connect your iPad and fire up the app and that’s it.
3. User Experience
Winner: Tie
We’re calling a tie in this category but the truth is a bit more complicated. Both of these solutions support hardware acceleration. This is, in fact, the only way that they’re able to pipe your primary display over with low-latency. The issue here is that hardware acceleration is highly dependent on your desktop configuration. The Intel Atom system gave wildly differing results in comparison with my main Ryzen work system. If you have a slower laptop or entry-level desktop, neither of these may be an optimal solution because there’d just be too much lag.
Using Ipad Pro As Drawing Tablet For Mac
Your mileage may vary: faster PCs work better with both apps
Paired with the premium Ryzen-based system, results were comparable between the two. Both Duet and EasyCanvas delivered what I’d consider usable performance for drawing and writing. I’m not an artist. I can’t draw much apart from simple stick figures. I am an author, however. I often handwrite first drafts and stray thoughts. It’s always been a bit of an inconvenience getting these onto a computer and I’ve lost some work that way.
Some amount of input lag is always present
As a writing and drawing tools, both Duet and EasyCanvas offered comparable performance. I’ve used stylus-based devices for quite some time. While I don’t own a capacitive stylus, I found that the writing experience was reasonable, even with finger touch. This was especially so considering the iPad Pro’s bigger 10.5 inch display. For stylus owners, pressure and tilt sensitivity are equally present in both EasyCanvas and Duet. If lag weren’t such a problem, this would allow for a really good approximation of a real drawing or writing experience.
Lag is, however, an issue with both software solutions. Performance benefits from hardware acceleration. This meant that it was considerably worse on the Atom netbook, to the point of being near-useless for art or design. This applied to both apps. Both were considerably faster when connected to a dedicated desktop system, though. There was still some perceptible lag, though, especially with faster pen strokes. This wasn’t a big deal for my writing use case. I was able to write quite fine with finger touch.
Use-cases that don’t depend on lag, like display extending, work great
This small-medium level of lag is perfectly fine, though, if you just want to use the iPad as a secondary display. Duet extends your display out of the box. So if you don’t want to use the drawing features at all, your iPad can turn into a good, if smallish secondary display. You could have YouTube open there while you’ve got your work apps on your main display, for example.
With EasyCanvas, things aren’t so straightforward. The EasyCanvas app itself only supports mirroring. This is fine if all you want is a drawing tablet replacement. If you want second-screen functionality, though, you’ll have to drop an another $9.99 on TwoMon the company’s second-screen software. This would bring the total price up to $25 dollars. That’s still a better deal than $40 for Duet and a one-year Pro subscription.
Closing Words
The bottom line here is that both apps deliver comparable performance. Both Duet and EasyCanvas support tilt and pressure sensitivity, together with palm recognition. The wired USB setup is a huge step up, performance-wise from remote desktop solutions like Splashtop. Real-life performance, though, is strongly dependent on your host system’s configuration. If you’ve got a high-end rig, you’ll have a very usable experience.
Use Ipad As Drawing Pad
https://oyxwpic.weebly.com/chrome-app-folder-mac.html. However, laptops and entry-level desktops might just be too laggy for drawing and writing, though. But no amount of hardware gets rid of the base level of input lag present in both apps. I suspect stylus users would have some trouble adapting, especially when migrating from a dedicated drawing tablet. Both hand in comparable performance for sketching and writing. With so many similarities, it then comes down to price more than anything else.
Apple Drawing Tablets
This is where EasyCanvas wins out. If all you want is an alternative to a Wacom digitizer, EasyCanvas costs just $15 by itself. There’s no recurring subscription fee here. If you want screen extension functionality, you’ll have to pony up an extra $9 for TwoMon. Duet Display Pro includes both of these. However, it costs $20 for the base app, plus $20 per year for the Pro subscription Considering this, I’d suggest simply opting for EasyCanvas. It has a 14-day free trial. You can work with it to find out if the limitations (mainly lag) are a dealbreaker or not.