ipad or cintiq?
-
I am new to illustrating and looking into getting an ipad pro or a cintiq. I have heard cintiqs are much better, however, I am on the go a lot. Any opinions on which would be better for starting out? Or any other suggestions besides these two. Thank you
-
@emily_elizabeth If you're on the go a lot then it's a good idea to get an ipad and use procreate. Base ipads use the pencil these days, so you don't need to spend the money on an ipad pro.
If you need photoshop, a cintiq tethered to a PC or mac is the way to go.
-
If you decide on the iPad, I would also suggest the Sketchboard Pro for iPad. I have one, and it works great when I’m sitting on the couch with my wife watching Netflix.
Good Luck
Wannabe Caricature Artist and Illustrator.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/doodlemick/
https://www.instagram.com/doodlemick619/ -
@emily_elizabeth I’m very new to digital art and I have found. the ipad to be way less intimidating. The cintiq’s are not so portable and the subscription fees for Photoshop were not something we could swing. Probably by the time I’m ready to make a career out of this, I’ll have to bite the bullet, but for now, I’m happy learning on the Procreate app. The guys actually addressed this question in a recent podcast. “To Adobe or not to Adobe.” I think Lee was the one who said that once you learn one program, its easier to learn the others, so hopefully I’ll be decently on my way by the time I get a cintiq. If you do get an IPad, I recommend getting a “paperlike” screen protector. It makes the texture of the screen so much better to draw on. I need a new one because mine is getting a bit worn down.
-
If you’re new to it, and on the fence, I would say iPad for sure. The mobility alone will be a difference you can’t ignore, and I think you’ll just end up being more able to spend the time you need to on it. If things go well in the future, the investment in both will be worth it.
Note, at times (both from youtube videos that individual SVS instructors have made, and the SVS podcast) SVS instructors will guide you away from the iPad as a digital drawing solution compared to PS on a cintiq. I feel like this comes from a place of day-in-day-out professional production, where it’s worth setting up a dedicated space/studio and a stationary cintiq area. But for those in our position of starting out, the iPad may sacrifice the do-everything-ness of photoshop, but in return you’ll get max approachability.
Also, get all the bell and whistle accessories you need - it all helps. The screen-protector that feels like paper is awesome - there are several options. Anything that makes it more likely you’ll spend time with it.
-
I completely agree with @tonydupreart
As a professional illustrator who draws full time for my job a Cintiq is a life saver for me and I couldn't live without it BUT I recommend an iPad for beginners because it's mobile, MUCH less expensive and can introduce you to all the things you'll need to know when you go to Photoshop but without a lot of tools you don't need that might over complicate things.
Even as a professional when I wanted to try procreate I bought an older model iPad so that I didn't spend a bunch of money on something I ended up not liking.
I will say, however, over you're ready to get Jobs Photoshop is the industry standard so you'll need it eventually, but the transition we'll be easier sheet using an ipad
-
@doodlemick I’ve been looking for an easel for my iPad it couldn’t find anything. I think this is the one I’ve been looking for!
-
@danielerossi I got my Sketchbook Pro during their original Kickstarter, and I love it. I mainly use it to sketch on the couch with while my wife and I are watching nexflix.
-
Hmmm, thank you all for your input. Can you not use photoshop on the ipad? Photoshop is what I know and would like to continue to use. I think I would prefer the cintiq, my concern is just being on the go so much. I guess the advice I am seeking is, can I accomplish the same things on an ipad as I can on a cintiq (using photoshop)? Thank you all so much!
-
@emily_elizabeth > Can you not use photoshop on the ipad?
Not really yet. They keep improving it, but I think Adobe is still not quite sure how to approach the different workflows. The amount of tools available I think start to make process issues on the iPad where on a PC it's not as much of a setback. Without the keyboard it's kinda rough.
Affinity is trying to also break into that market, and in my opinion has been a bit more successful.
Fresco was an app they built specifically for painting, but it isn't super good either.
Probably the best app that's on both platforms is Clip Studio.
I guess the advice I am seeking is, can I accomplish the same things on an ipad as I can on a cintiq (using photoshop)? Thank you all so much!
I'm going to say yes, but with a caveat.
You can 100% accomplish the same illustration related things on the iPad. Personally I like Procreate better than PS for the actual drawing process. The issue is going to be more on the process side, like color correcting, formatting, resizing, cropping, etc. People you work with might send you PSD files to work with and you won't be able to work with them all that well. Or maybe a publisher sends you a file to work within so you have all the margins correct. Since Photoshop is the industry standard, everyone is going to assume you have it and can work within it.
I would venture to guess if you asked pro illustrators that work 100% in procreate, they will probably also have photoshop for manipulation.
