I was pleasantly surprised at how well creative apps worked on my iPod touch, and I found myself really enjoying creating art on it. Sitting at a computer always makes me feel like I'm working--painting on the iPod touch feels more like getting away from work. I can paint, draw, and sketch anywhere - and without the expense, storage requirements, and mess of using traditional art supplies.
So, getting back to the iPad... digital art is really the only area where I see much appeal for this new device. I do a lot of reading on my iPod touch, and to me it's the perfect size for that. The iPad is too big for reading in bed or taking into a waiting room. Gaming... most of the games I enjoy are fine on the smaller iPod touch screen. For work tasks, I have a much more powerful desktop computer, and a laptop to use when I travel.
The iPad is way too big to carry everywhere I go, but that is precisely what I do with my iPod touch. I have even stopped buying clothes without pockets so I can easily have my iPod on me at all times--including around the house! You never know when you'll need to Google something on TV, add something to a list, or look up a conversion for a recipe.
We've learned that existing apps for iPhone and iPod touch will work on the iPad, but they will have to either run in a small window, or run full screen at half the resolution (by using pixel doubling). Yuck. What use is that for a painting app? None.
It remains to be seen whether all the cool art apps I've been reviewing will come out for the larger screen of the iPad. And if they do, will the small-screen versions be kicked to the curb? (Any app developers care to comment?)
Another appealing aspect of iPhone apps is their low cost... will iPad apps cost more?
At this point, I have zero desire for an iPad. How about you? Vote in the poll or add a comment below.
Related:
• Why Would a Designer Want an iPad?
Update 6/5/10: If you've got an iPad, feel free to write a review of the iPad Art Apps you've tried.
• Write a Review: iPad Apps for Digital Artists
I agree with everything that u have said, and I just wish they could make some thing about for all the digital artists. Because It would be a great hit. Also if the Ipad could have applications, I would buy it with no doubt, and install any art programs. But that would involve memory right?
I just hope that some day Apple company make something for us, that digital artists. But hey! I got hopes for them to update later on this new Ipad.
Is the screen pressure-sensitive? Will it work with a stylus? These 2 features would be required, in my opinion.
I have no doubt the ipad will become a revolutionary artists’ tool. In my work now I am either locked to my desk working on a Cintiq or struggling with my slate tablet PC with it’s clunky interface and pen-lag — so can’t wait to get my hands on ipad. I fully anticipate working on the ipad everyday. Yes the iphone apps will have to be enlarged and move as close as possible to their full OSX cousins (Photoshop is probably way further ahead on this than we know — check out their simple yet pretty neat little iphone app). Flash animation or a “flipbook” ipad app will be out there before you know it. And I am also sure that a pen-stylus will be out there in seconds — even if it has to be 3rd party at first. Please correct me or give us more info if you know better.
There is the Pogo stylus that works on iPod touch and iPhone. I just got one and will be writing about it soon. The iPad screen is a bit different from what I understand, so I don’t know if the Pogo would work on it. But I’m sure someone will come out with a stylus eventually. The problem with a stylus is that it can’t do multi-touch, so you still have to use your fingers for some things.
I don’t think it is pressure sensitive.
The thing that will make Brushes an authentic art solution on the iPad is the exporting algorithm. It literally repaints the image stroke by stroke upon export.
So if you export a 6x image from the current iPhone app, you end up with a really beautiful 1920×2880 image with hi res brush marks. Only problem is that the brush strokes aren’t overly smooth because it was painted on a tiny screen. The iPad will make this brilliant little app graduate to being a way to paint large, vivid illustrations.
The Pogo Sketch is nice, but I suspect someone will come out with a more pen-like stylus for this.
The iPad could represent a chance to take my art back out of the office (like I used to with a sketch pad in the park) without much investment. It is something I’ve dreamt of for years. Not a tablet computer, just a simple, portable art pad with a beautiful screen and good battery life.
There will be a large sacrifice in functionality compared to Photoshop, Painter, etc. However, portability makes that a worthy sacrifice. I never had all that when I drew with a pencil either, and will just continue work in post.
Obviously, I’m sold, but rightfully so I believe. I deserve to spend this summer out and about after camping in the office for the whole year of ‘09
One of the things I am looking forward to is the blending of publishing technology with artistic apps. It looks like there may be a file type that will work directly from indesign that will allow import of digital magazines.
I am sure though as an artist I will still be using Ipod touch apps for my “field” artistic endeavors.
Tim
I do believe the iPad will be aimed at least partially at artists since Steve Jobs demonstrated Brushes when he demoed the iPad the other day. And don’t be too quick to judge the iPad as an unsuitable reading device. Although it will certainly be harder to carry around with you, if you enjoy reading the iPod in bed I bet you’ll enjoy the iPad even more.
The ipad is a good idea but is too large. THE ipad is too cumbersom as is. It (ipad) should be the same size as the small Kindle. I like my ipod and would welcome a smaller more portable ipad.
Personally (and maybe because I am over fifty) I like the larger screen size-but I am hoping that the next version has a drawing stylus-like a wacom on the go with web capabilities-if I were waccom right now I would be shaking in my boots at the prospect.
It needs to run OS X but doesnt is the problem. Then u cud buy photoshop series or transfer from existing. If they make an app that’s comparible then i will get it, til then i will wait. And an aftermarket hard-flip-case with extra battery charge would be nice, like the one for my iphone.
I liked this piece. I wrote something on the same subject:
doodl.es/blog/
My main concern with regards to the iPad as an artist’s tool is the lack of a stylus. I have no doubts that people and companies will be flooding the App Store with dazzling apps such as Brushes and Sketchbook Mobile. The device has the ability with the right apps, but it’s how the user will relate to the apps on the device that bothers me. There are some styluses out and do work- they just don’t work well. It’s said that the squeeky wheel gets the oil, well, this squeeky wheel wants an iPen!
Thanks for the good read! Good to find others out there who share similar concerns
- Jonathan
doodl.es
I use a Pogo Sketch stylus on the iPod touch and it works better than a finger, but it’s still a fairly inelegant workaround.
Because Apple’s touch devices use multi-touch capacitive displays, they are not pressure sensitive and cannot be used with sharp styluses. It has to be the sausage stylus.
Having said that, OF COURSE the painting and drawing apps will be ported to the iPad.
Microsoft’s Courier device is looks better suited to painting and drawing… If their lovely concept videos can be realised as actual products. (Some of the interface elements have been lifted directly from Apple apps).
Apple really blew it with their anti-stylus mentality. Also, the technology in the screen is not sensitive enough for a pointed stylus. Thus, the ipad will not be the artists’s dream digital sketchpad.
You’d be surprised how good it actually is for digital artwork. The iPod Touch and iPhone run the same apps but will never be art tools in my eyes again after getting my hands on an iPad.
doodl.es/blog
I believe the iPad will soon became the default machine for a whole host of creative types…
http://tinyurl.com/herestothecrazyones
Check out OmniSketch at http://OmniSketch.com. The new version should be approved soon and has 18 brushes, slide show, online gallery and more.
Check out some videos here: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=ADCB136C54B12D8A
@Northorn: Would love to have you submit a review of Omnisketch. You can do so here: http://graphicssoft.about.com/u/reviews/designandcreate/ipad-art-apps/form.htm
I use Sketchbook and Adobe ideas. both are great apps for artists. You can create pretty decent paintings with Sketchbook . I use the Dagi stylus for drawing and it works perfectly.
The SIZE of the iPad is an irrelevant issue if you are employing it for art. All artists carry their canvas and paints with them and photographers must carry a camera. Both of these are usually an inconvenience to lug around but hey, once you are USING them it’s great that you brought them along!
Also, the Pogo stylus works great as a brush and is very useful with some of the apps because our fingers can be just too large. One drawback is that it’s head is still a bit on the large size so any detail work must be done with the screen expanded. Not a serious problem once you get the hang of it!