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I have a confession to make. While writing about today’s Black Friday iPad deals, I kept thinking about how I’ve never been much of an Apple person (until recently). Even though I minored in graphic design, I’ve been drawing digitally since the 90s, and I preferred to use a PC and a Wacom tablet rather than a Mac.
This put me at the top of my class at the university I attended because I was the only one around a Windows laptop in my art class; to the chagrin of my apple-using classmates and professors. But now I’ve switched completely to using an iPad Air (5th generation) and an Apple Pencil (2nd generation) for my digital creation needs. In my opinion, they are the best Apple products for digital photography and creation. So what convinced me that these devices are superior to Wacom?
Part of this shift is due to the fact that the iPad and Apple Pencil have come a long way in the past few years. My change of heart began in 2020 when I borrowed an iPad (10th generation) and an Apple Pencil (1st generation) for work and used them to test out drawing software like Photoshop for iPad, the free Adobe Fresco app, and Procreate. I didn’t expect much from the iPad at first, but once I started using it, it changed my life.
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Portable freedom and intuitive touch control
Together, the iPad and Apple Pencil are more portable than the average Wacom. The freedom of no longer having to own a large computer and separate graphics tablet is liberating. I loved curling up on the couch with my iPad and Apple Pencil or taking them with me wherever I went. Eventually, I found myself drawing on the iPad every night after work and looking forward to the next time I used it.
Being able to draw directly on the screen made it much easier to create precise strokes instead of drawing on a separate graphics tablet. In addition, I was surprised to find that the pressure level of the Apple Pencil and the pressure sensitivity of the iPad rival that of Wacom, which is the industry standard. The iPad’s touch controls also make it easy to rotate my photos without having to press buttons or awkward function keys.
As an artist, I like to look for references on the web when drawing animals, human gestures or landscapes. So, being able to pull up the trackpad directly on the iPad and switch between it and my drawing software is a very useful feature that was not possible with my Wacom Intuos. Of course, Wacom offers more expensive computer tablets (Pen Computers), but they are incredibly expensive and I think are more user-friendly than the iPad.
In addition, the types of software available are also reasons why drawing on the iPad has grown better than the Wacom. Procreate is hailed as one of the best creative software on the market today. It is currently only available for iPad. I was able to do so many styles and work with so many different features in this program to create projects that I really wanted. In addition, Adobe often works to release updates for Adobe Fresco, Illustrator for iPad, and Photoshop for iPad before other versions of the tablet are released, so working with iPad will give you the best benefits of this software.
Why you should avoid the Apple Pencil (1st generation).
The only thing I didn’t like about this Apple setup was how inconvenient it was to charge the Apple Pencil (1st generation). The tail end of the stylus has a Lightning key protected by a cap. To charge the drawing tool, remove the cover and plug the Pencil into the iPad’s Lightning port. Needless to say, it’s dangerous that the Apple Pencil sticks out so far from the iPad. A small wheel can easily damage the Apple Pencil holder or iPad port. It’s gotten to the point where I dread it when I need to charge the stylus. Fortunately, this flaw has been fixed in the Apple Pencil (2nd generation), which I’ll cover later.
After a few months of ecstasy, I had to return my borrowed iPad (10th generation) and Apple Pencil (1st generation). To be honest, I felt bare without them. Sometimes I just want to pull out my Wacom and hop on my computer like the old days, but the inconvenience of being tied to a desk and unable to draw on the screen is enough to make me give up on freedom. .
The best iPad and Apple Pencil for digital drawing
So I got my iPad Air (5th gen) and Apple Pencil (2nd gen) to fill the gap left behind. If you are interested in digital photography, I recommend getting these models as well. That’s because the latest Apple Pencil has a magnetic side that attaches to compatible iPads for wireless charging. Don’t worry about damaging it in port. Magnetically mount the iPad before connecting it at night and both devices are taken care of at the same time. That leaves you to find an iPad that works with the second-generation Apple Pencil.
Of the new iPads that support the Apple Pencil (2nd generation), I decided to go with the iPad Air (5th generation) because it’s relatively inexpensive but still provides a decent-sized 10.86-inch screen for drawing. I like that it has a USB-C port instead of a Lightning port.
Of course, if you want to save money, there’s also an iPad Mini with an 8.3-inch screen that works with the Apple Pencil (2nd generation), but I thought it would be too small for my needs. Additionally, if you’re willing to spend more, the iPad Pro is also a great drawing tool that works with the Apple Pencil (2nd generation). Of course, all iPads are quite expensive, so if you don’t mind working with the Apple Pencil (1st generation), it’s easier to get it and a compatible graphics tablet in your wallet. In any case, I’d still say the iPad and compatible Apple Pencil are much better than the Wacom tablet.
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