6h gen iPad, Apple Pencil and Procreate

[secretk]

Hello all,

I am sorry to post a new thread but I could not find an old one that fits in my with my needs. If you can find one feel free to point me out to it.

I am getting into digital art with my regular (6th gen) iPad and the apple pencil. Up to now I used free software called Ibis Paint x. I am starting to think if it makes sense to install Procreate. From pure features point of view Procreate sounds great. However I am not sure that this iPad can handle it and I don't want to pay for the app if in the end of the day I can't use it.

Is there any of you that have used Procreate on this iPad? Can you share your experience. For example how many layers can the app handle? I tend to use around 15 to 20 layers (still newbie, do a lot of things wrong and I can remove them easier if I have them in separate layers). Do you think that I will be able to create so many with this iPad?

Thanks a lot of anyone who can share some light to this.

 

[Kate.]

It depends on the size of your canvas and the DPI. A 4000x4000px. canvas at 300 DPi will allow you 8 layers. The base iPad (like the 9.7" Pro) is hamstrung by its 2GB RAM. If you plan to work on a smaller canvasses or use a lower resolution, you'll have more layers to play with. Layer restrictions aside, that iPad can definitely handle Procreate and run it smoothly.

 

[secretk]

It depends on the size of your canvas and the DPI. A 4000x4000px. canvas at 300 DPi will allow you 8 layers. The base iPad (like the 9.7" Pro) is hamstrung by its 2GB RAM. If you plan to work on a smaller canvasses or use a lower resolution, you'll have more layers to play with. Layer restrictions aside, that iPad can definitely handle Procreate and run it smoothly.

Thanks a lot for your response!

I currently do mostly postcards (so the canvas is something like 1181x1748). I assume such canvas can handle 15 layers?

 

[Kate.]

Thanks a lot for your response!

I currently do mostly postcards (so the canvas is something like 1181x1748). I assume such canvas can handle 15 layers?

Procreate is telling me 93 layers at 300 DPI. I think you'll be just fine if that's your preferred canvas size. For what it's worth, a standard 8x10 is 23.

By the the way, the Procreate website has a great, great forum with very helpful moderators and staff to answer questions if you have anything else pop up. Also: tutorials and free brushes and the like. It's worth taking a peek if you decide to go with Procreate.

 

[secretk]

Procreate is telling me 93 layers at 300 DPI. I think you'll be just fine if that's your preferred canvas size. For what it's worth, a standard 8x10 is 23.

By the the way, the Procreate website has a great, great forum with very helpful moderators and staff to answer questions if you have anything else pop up. Also: tutorials and free brushes and the like. It's worth taking a peak if you decide to go with Procreate.

Thanks a lot! I do plan to check out the forum there as well. I just wanted to make sure that it makes sense to use this regular iPad with the Procreate app. I am perfectly aware that he Pro is better, but it's just too expensive for me. Plus I am not an artist, this is just my hobby.

I have already downloaded their Artist's Handbook so that I can get an idea what the app can do and to decide for myself it's worth investing. As far as features go I love it. I just was not sure that I will be able to use them on the regular iPad.

So thanks for letting me know that it could work! I appreciate it!

 

[JP913]

I agree with the above statements!

From an artist standpoint, I try my hardest to work in as few layers as possible. It forces you to make decisions and commit to the piece.

I understand the idea of wanting the ability to move backwards to “fix” things, but I really try to view digital art like “traditional” art. Unlimited undos are awesome, a million layers are awesome, but mistakes are sometimes what’s best about art. Sometimes those mistakes takes the piece into a new, better place.

I’m not sure what kind of art you’re doing (I’m a cartoonist / illustrator - I draw comics) - you call yourself a newbie, and maybe you’re just referring to being a newbie at digital art. REGARDLESS, if you’re still a young artist, I highly suggest working traditionally to build your skills up before you dive headfirst into the digital realm. There’s an entire generation of young artists who will never pick up a paint brush because they have every paint brush at their disposal via Photoshop or Procreate.

That makes me sound like an old crank (I’m only 37!) but there’s benefits to knowing how oil paint works in real life before you use it in the digital world.

Anyway. Draw away! And delete some of those layers! Commit! Forget perfection!

 

[secretk]

I agree with the above statements!

From an artist standpoint, I try my hardest to work in as few layers as possible. It forces you to make decisions and commit to the piece.

This makes sense! And you are right that at some point I have to go into that direction too.

I understand the idea of wanting the ability to move backwards to “fix” things, but I really try to view digital art like “traditional” art. Unlimited undos are awesome, a million layers are awesome, but mistakes are sometimes what’s best about art. Sometimes those mistakes takes the piece into a new, better place.

That's true too. I guess as I am just experimenting with layers and effects I sometimes need to add a layer just to try out some function or something.

I’m not sure what kind of art you’re doing (I’m a cartoonist / illustrator - I draw comics) - you call yourself a newbie, and maybe you’re just referring to being a newbie at digital art. REGARDLESS, if you’re still a young artist, I highly suggest working traditionally to build your skills up before you dive headfirst into the digital realm. There’s an entire generation of young artists who will never pick up a paint brush because they have every paint brush at their disposal via Photoshop or Procreate.

Let's put it like that. I am not young - 32. I started with coloring adult books just few years back. It relaxes me. However I have wrist issues (too much using the mouse as I am on computer most of my time). Due to the nature of the regular art I find it strenuous for my hand - when it comes to background and stuff like that. Also I don't want to carry around my coloring books and supplies whenever I visit my parents as they pile up. Because of this I decided to try out digital art. It's easier for me to carry around iPad and Pencil than my books plus my fine tips plus my artist pens plus my pencils.

I am newbie in the sense that I am still learning quite basic stuff like layering, clipping masks etc. I also can't draw to save my life (no imagination). I try to not put too much pressure on myself though because this is just a hobby. I don't want it to be perfect, I want to have a hobby that relaxes me.

Basically I find drawings for postcards in Internet. I color them and then gift to people. Nothing major.

That makes me sound like an old crank (I’m only 37!) but there’s benefits to knowing how oil paint works in real life before you use it in the digital world.

Anyway. Draw away! And delete some of those layers! Commit! Forget perfection!

Thanks for taking the time and giving me advice!

 

[secretk]

So guys I ended up installing Procreate and I have been playing with it for the last month. I managed to color some Christmas cards that I gifted to close relatives, friends and co-workers.

I hope you don't mind me sharing some colored stuff.

Have in mind that they are just colored by me. I have not drawn them. Unfortunately I have no talent for this.

 

[kazmac]

I have some glitches with the 2018 iPad, Pencil and Procreate:

A little leg with the pencil (some times it pauses before drawing the line etc.), sometimes it won’t work (not often, but I think that is battery drain on the pencil), so I try to stick w/ four of five layers max. It’s the 2gb of RAM holding it back, but I can draw so, it’s all good.

For some reason, I prefer drawing on the 2018 iPad than the iPP.

I am glad you got your answers.

@secretk I doodle and sketch, but stopped wanting to be perfect. I do it for relaxation too.

 

[secretk]

I have some glitches with the 2018 iPad, Pencil and Procreate:

A little leg with the pencil (some times it pauses before drawing the line etc.), sometimes it won’t work (not often, but I think that is battery drain on the pencil), so I try to stick w/ four of five layers max. It’s the 2gb of RAM holding it back, but I can draw so, it’s all good.

Interesting. I have not noticed glitches with the pencil when its battery is low, but I have noticed such behavior with the iPad itself. I have noticed that once the battery gets to 12/13 % it starts closing apps even more aggressively.

Btw for now I have used no more than 10 layers. In most cases I use like 6/7 so no issues with the layers and the RAM here. However obviously my stuff is quite primitive. I bet people that are serious into art would want the Pro model that has more RAM.

For some reason, I prefer drawing on the 2018 iPad than the iPP.

Why do you think this is the case?

I am glad you got your answers.

@secretk I doodle and sketch, but stopped wanting to be perfect. I do it for relaxation too.

Thanks! Yeah there is no need to be perfect. After all this is not how we earn money. It's about the fun . What are you sketching?

 

[kazmac]

Interesting. I have not noticed glitches with the pencil when its battery is low, but I have noticed such behavior with the iPad itself. I have noticed that once the battery https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/share-your-drawings-with-ipad-pro-apple-pencil.1938898/gets to 12/13 % it starts closing apps even more aggressively.

Btw for now I have used no more than 10 layers. In most cases I use like 6/7 so no issues with the layers and the RAM here. However obviously my stuff is quite primitive. I bet people that are serious into art would want the Pro model that has more RAM.


Why do you think this is the case?

Thanks! Yeah there is no need to be perfect. After all this is not how we earn money. It's about the fun . What are you sketching?

I multitask, which is a hit on the memory. If I try to copy a photo, I have Procreate and iPhoto open and use split screen.

Drawing on the 2018, hmm. I don’t know. Sure, Promotion is nice and 4gb of RAM is great for a smoother experience, but I suppose I like working a little hard to get those lines in.

What do I draw: Copying images of fave film, comic characters, animals, and musicians or creating my own characters (right now, nature oriented and/or evil wizards. Playing with brushes in Procreate).

Lots of very, very talented people in this thread:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/share-your-drawings-with-ipad-pro-apple-pencil.1938898/

And I am now using the 2018 iPad instead of an iPP and no one has kicked me out that thread yet.

And btw I started drawing again last year decades after I last tried. You’re not old and neither am I.

 

[secretk]

I multitask, which is a hit on the memory. If I try to copy a photo, I have Procreate and iPhoto open and use split screen.

I see. I don't use split screen that much as I find 9.7 too small to use it in split screen. I do tend to use a lot of apps in the span of short time (for example in a period of 5 minutes I will use at least 4 or 5 apps). I agree with you - 2 GB RAM is not enough to handle that much of usage.

Drawing on the 2018, hmm. I don’t know. Sure, Promotion is nice and 4gb of RAM is great for a smoother experience, but I suppose I like working a little hard to get those lines in.

I see.

What do I draw: Copying images of fave film, comic characters, animals, and musicians or creating my own characters (right now, nature oriented and/or evil wizards. Playing with brushes in Procreate).

Sounds cool!

Lots of very, very talented people in this thread:
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/share-your-drawings-with-ipad-pro-apple-pencil.1938898/

Agree. Lots of talented people there .