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iPad Got apple pencil on a whim, what do you use it for?
- Thread starter phillyman
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Curious as to which application you use? Good Notes, Notability, Apple Notes, OneNote? Other?
I have used all of them. I've settled on GoodNotes for a number of years now as it best replicates the feel of digital paper with a consistent, simple UI.
I see the utility for many artists. My primary use for drawing is for explaining concepts or brainstorming so I prefer speed and tactility as that's what I'm used to. I don't like tools getting in the way of whatever it is I'm trying to solve and I feel like digital drawing tools always get in my way for that context.
i think it's definitely up to the individual. i don't doubt for some people a real pen is going to work better. for me its the exact opposite. the digital medium, especially as a whiteboard for working through ideas, is firing up procreate is unbeatable for me.
Your comment clicked with a thought I have been having recently about the difference between digital and "analog" notetaking. As much as I enjoy the benefits of digital notetaking, I've had this pull to go back to dead-tree notetaking... and no, my recent acquisition of an audio cassette player has nothing to do with it... "hey you kids! Get off my lawn!"
I've seen a lot of "I'm not the target audience," followed by a list of particular things they don't do/apps they don't use. As someone who also bought Pencil on a whim (years ago, when I got my first-gen iPad Pro 12.9"), I've come to the conclusion that "target audience" is "people who regularly use pencil/pen and paper." I'm not one of those people.
I've been keyboard-centric as far back as I recall - began my transition in the 1970s when I learned to touch type, and it accelerated with the advent of the PC. Since my handwriting is not wonderful, any opportunity for improved legibility is a plus. When PDAs came along, I wasn't thrilled with the stylus - virtual keyboard was more to my liking.
While I do use the iPad's virtual keyboard, being a touch typist I much prefer the physical keyboard (Apple Smart Keyboard in my case). Other than writing the occasional paper check (I write too few to bother printing them) signing for a credit card transaction or using my fingers on touchscreens, I'm keyboard/mouse all the way.
When I take notes, it's typed directly. Although handwriting conversion is now easy, I got into the habit of typing everything initially (rather than transcribe handwritten notes later) back when handwriting conversion was hit-and-miss. So anytime there's notes to be taken, I'm typing away.
When I tried to make use of Pencil it was just too much mental retraining - I had to remember to use the Pencil rather than stick to my very well-practiced habits. Yes, I'm an old dog. While I'm not beyond learning new tricks, for now Pencil still doesn't do it for me. I may give it another try someday, and I'd probably start with photo editing.
I've been keyboard-centric as far back as I recall - began my transition in the 1970s when I learned to touch type, and it accelerated with the advent of the PC. Since my handwriting is not wonderful, any opportunity for improved legibility is a plus. When PDAs came along, I wasn't thrilled with the stylus - virtual keyboard was more to my liking.
While I do use the iPad's virtual keyboard, being a touch typist I much prefer the physical keyboard (Apple Smart Keyboard in my case). Other than writing the occasional paper check (I write too few to bother printing them) signing for a credit card transaction or using my fingers on touchscreens, I'm keyboard/mouse all the way.
When I take notes, it's typed directly. Although handwriting conversion is now easy, I got into the habit of typing everything initially (rather than transcribe handwritten notes later) back when handwriting conversion was hit-and-miss. So anytime there's notes to be taken, I'm typing away.
When I tried to make use of Pencil it was just too much mental retraining - I had to remember to use the Pencil rather than stick to my very well-practiced habits. Yes, I'm an old dog. While I'm not beyond learning new tricks, for now Pencil still doesn't do it for me. I may give it another try someday, and I'd probably start with photo editing.
This is one of the best takes in this thread. Thanks.
I'm one of those odd birds that were formally trained in touch typing *AND* have impeccable handwriting because both were taught in elementary school. They were also requirements for the early years on my career because all source code had to be handwritten on coding sheets that were then peer reviewed before entering the code onto punch cards.
I love the Apple Smart Keyboard (I had it for my 12.9 Pro) and haven't found another keyboard option for any tablet that is comparable. Although the Galaxy Tab S6 is my primary tablet, I've been thinking about getting the 8th gen iPad and a Smart Keyboard for it.
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It is funny how on one side I am not the target audience for the Apple Pencil in the sense that I am not the person to draw or be into graphics side of creativity and yet I bought the iPad because of the Pencil.
At work I used to print a lot of articles with the aim to read, highlight and annotate them. This is how I consume content and learn new things. I ended up with pile of papers that I could not organize or manage. It was a mess, plus I do not have that much space at work to keep all of that. I could not throw them out either because my notes were on the printed paper. When I study and learn new things I prefer handwriting to typing. However going through university and at work I have piles of notebooks that I cannot use as efficiently as I would want to. So this is why I decided to buy an iPad with Pencil. It gives me the possibility to have digital notebooks (that are searchable thanks to OCR), but also to store all those articles as PDF files and annotate and highlight directly on the device.
I also like reading books and I prefer to use the pencil for highlighting compared to my fingers.
I also dabbled into digital planners. It gives me the possibility to write down what I plan to do but in a digital way where I can carry one easily my planner with me. It is also accessible on my phone so it is like I have it everywhere with me. Paper notebooks are a bit more difficult to carry on.
Lastly I do play with Procreate from time to time but honestly this is rather rare these days.
Overall one key use case for my iPad is being digital notebook and book reader and this is where I need the pencil.
At work I used to print a lot of articles with the aim to read, highlight and annotate them. This is how I consume content and learn new things. I ended up with pile of papers that I could not organize or manage. It was a mess, plus I do not have that much space at work to keep all of that. I could not throw them out either because my notes were on the printed paper. When I study and learn new things I prefer handwriting to typing. However going through university and at work I have piles of notebooks that I cannot use as efficiently as I would want to. So this is why I decided to buy an iPad with Pencil. It gives me the possibility to have digital notebooks (that are searchable thanks to OCR), but also to store all those articles as PDF files and annotate and highlight directly on the device.
I also like reading books and I prefer to use the pencil for highlighting compared to my fingers.
I also dabbled into digital planners. It gives me the possibility to write down what I plan to do but in a digital way where I can carry one easily my planner with me. It is also accessible on my phone so it is like I have it everywhere with me. Paper notebooks are a bit more difficult to carry on.
Lastly I do play with Procreate from time to time but honestly this is rather rare these days.
Overall one key use case for my iPad is being digital notebook and book reader and this is where I need the pencil.
4-6 hours a day on zoom calls for taking notes in Apple Notes. Love ability to color code and go back and wipe out sections I don’t need or transfer to a reminder.
Im a touch typist and can type at conversation speed. But that isn’t note taking, that is transcription. When taking notes I circle important terms and underline follow ups, interject inspiration etc. It is a completely different mind exercise and way of listening.
Im a touch typist and can type at conversation speed. But that isn’t note taking, that is transcription. When taking notes I circle important terms and underline follow ups, interject inspiration etc. It is a completely different mind exercise and way of listening.
Of all the posts here this one is definitely not made up. No one could come up with such an unique usage.
Writing, drawing, highlighting, underlining…in short everything I’d use a normal pencil for…what else?
Funny enough, I love it‘s accuracy for playing clash of clans & boom beach! It’s also handy for productivity, occasionally in conjunction with a swipe keyboard and annotating PDF documents. Another obvious benefit is being able to sign & have clients sign digital documents and then readily email or text them a signed copy of said document if you aim to reduce your paper footprint. I work in the construction industry so I prepare plenty of contracts and invoices.
I’m not their targeted demographic either but I heavily use the native Notes app and being able to go straight to a new note from the locked screen is a major time saver for me. I was able to get it for $90 and another for free so my hubby is enjoying one, too. Plus we play a lot of games on our iPad Pro’s so the pencils keep us from smudging our screens.
While my impatience makes me currently avoid traditional etc., I know a few artists who cannot adapt to digital.
I love the Undos and using a piece of art as a perpetual template for character designs is wonderful.
And yeah I’d rather not clean up that charcoal or water color mess, I‘ll just pretend I cleaned it up. ?
I also use the pencil for signatures, pdf mark up and notes.
Was going to tag you for comments if I hadn't found your comment here!
Definitely agree. A nice Japanese gel .38 or even .5 if I'm feeling like it - beats the Apple Pencil any day in terms of handwriting clarity and amount of information I can get on a page. I prefer pen and paper by far.
What makes me use the iPad is - ability to digitize my notes and have it accessible on my Mac/iPhone/iPad, able to search for what I write days, months, years later and send it to other people who need it. So I use it most of the time now just for convenience factor. I've gotten used to it but I definitely prefer pen and paper - but I almost never use ink/paper these days. Still, every now and then I'll get out a notepad, take out my Jotter (with Uniball Jetstream .38 refill) or Uniball Signo and really go to town.
My choice used to be a Uniball UB-150 .. then the Signo and there was another one I do not recall now, it was over 20 years ago. Dang, now I gotta search the name of that pen. Other than these, I am partial to fountain pens.
Exactly this, using my iPad Pro and the Pencil as a whiteboard has been (and probably will be) a great help working with my students during lockdowns. Also: grading papers and signing documents. From time to time highlighting stuff in PDFs for my research. So, nothing related to art whatsoever, mostly note taking/highlighting and as an interactive whiteboard on Zoom.
You could use Apple notes as sort of endless paper with the pencil. Pretty capable these days.