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Pencil and Drawing differences in iPads

Hello,


So iPad Pros are perfect for drawing, it's pencil is sensitive, apps are great etc. but I am considering to buy a 5th generation iPad, I would like to use it for drawing purposes mostly. In this case, I want to ask how useful are previous iPads and can I use the new Apple Pencils with them, are they good enough to draw storyboards and sketches or illustrations? and lastly what are differences between latest iPad pros and previous iPads in term of drawing?

iPad (5th gen) Wi-Fi

Posted on Apr 18, 2021 10:44 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Apr 18, 2021 2:33 PM

The iPad 5th generation is not compatible to use the Apple pencil

Here is Apple document on the subject.

Apple Pencil compatibility - Apple Support


The drawing App you choose will determine the capabilities of drawing.

One of the better drawing programs is "procreate" You could research the abilities on their website Procreate® - Made for Artists.

Procreate has a minimum IOS version it will run on. Be sure whatever iPad you purchase it can run the latest IOS


4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Apr 18, 2021 2:33 PM in response to abseyhan

The iPad 5th generation is not compatible to use the Apple pencil

Here is Apple document on the subject.

Apple Pencil compatibility - Apple Support


The drawing App you choose will determine the capabilities of drawing.

One of the better drawing programs is "procreate" You could research the abilities on their website Procreate® - Made for Artists.

Procreate has a minimum IOS version it will run on. Be sure whatever iPad you purchase it can run the latest IOS


Apr 18, 2021 5:56 PM in response to abseyhan

All current iPad models, as well as all 2014-2019 all run the same full iPadOS.

All current iPad models all either use the original, 1st or newer 2nd gen Apple Pencil.

( iPad 8th gen and iPad Mini 5 all use the original, 1st gen Apple Pencil )

( 2018 and 2020 iPad Pro and 2020 iPad Air 4 models use the 2nd gen Apple Pencil )


So, iPads are more like cars, now.


You are paying for iPad optional features, now.



Do you want/need larger internal data storage space for data, like music. movies and photos/images and room for other types of data?


Do you need a larger or smaller iPad screen?


Do you need/want an iPad model in a variety of colors?


Do you want/need a bonded, laminated display?


Do you/want/need higher color gamut display with Tru-tone room brightness calibration?


Do you want/need faster, more powerful internal CPU?


Do you want/need more internal processing RAM?


Do you want/need better iPad cameras?


Do you want/need better/more iPad speakers?


Do you want/need the improved, 2nd gen Apple Pencil?


Do you want/need to have the new Magic Keyboard portfolio for the 2018/2020 iPad Pro/iPad Air 4 models?



All of these options are what you need to decide if you really need, or not, and to decide to pay for accordingly.

The more iPad features you decide you need, the more you pay.


It all comes down to how much money you are willing to spend on iPads with additional, premium features.


You can now pretty much do everything on any current iPad model, now.

All current iPad models are sufficiently powerful enough, today, to do pretty much any task put to them now.



https://www.apple.com/ipad/compare/



Purchase the largest internal data storage capacity iPad model you can afford as no Apple mobile iOS/iPadOS devices have ANY internal expandable storage.


Instead of a 2017 iPad 5th gen, you may want to look for the 2015-2017 iPad Pro models and 2018 and 2019 iPad 6th or 7th gen models ( the 7th gen iPads use a larger 10.2 inch diagonal screen, older standard iPad models use the smaller 9.7 inch diagonal screens ).

All of the iPad models I just immediately mentioned above all use the original, 1st gen Pencil.

Apr 18, 2021 5:44 PM in response to abseyhan

No Pencils are compatible with a 2017 5th gen iPad

That iPad model lacks the crucial and necessary internal screen hardware layer need for an Pencil to be recognised by an iPad's screen and to properly function/interact with an iPad’s screen.


The ONLY third party, smart Bluetooth stylus that I can, honestly, recommend that actually works well with any older iPad, that is NOT compatible with any Pencils, is the Adonit smart Bluetooth stylus.


https://www.adonit.net/jot/pixel/


This smart, Bluetooth stylus works across a wide range of iOS devices.

The Bluetooth connection is stable and its Bluetooth pressure sensing technology is very smooth, natural feeling and has consistent line drawing ability.

Plus it's a quality made, aluminum stylus with two programmable buttons.

I had been using this stylus for well over 3 years now and it is/was really good on my iPad Pro.


This stylus worked wonderfully for me with all compatible apps.


The Adonit Pixel works with iPads all the way back to the 2012, 1st gen iPad Mini and iPad 4th generation!

Has ON/OFF/app shortcut buttons.

Has a nice fine, textured pen tip AND a nice rubber grip.

Magnetically charges on its own magnetic charging adapterand has an auto 15 minute shutdown feature ( to preserve battery life ), charges in a hour, or so.

Has both a small USB charger that that plugs into any USB charging block OR you can purchase an optional charging dock.

I find it only lasts for anywhere between 9-12 hours, but Adonit claims up to 16 hours of continuous use on a single charge cycle.

Made of very high quality aluminum materials.


The Adonit Pixel ONLY works with approx. 24 of the major/popular drawing/sketching/painting apps (the Pixel works with, but currently no longer “officially” supported with Procreate, but it still works and works pretty well in Procreate ), and approx. half dozen of the popular note taking apps, a half dozen writing apps and about a half dozen PDF style/compatible apps.


You WILL have to perform some pairing and setup parameters in each of the Adonit Pixel compatible apps.

You just DO NOT simply turn on Bluetooth on an iDevice and turn on the Adonit stylus and start writing.

The Adonit Pixel stylus is NOT an Pencil in this regard/respect.


You have to initially Bluetooth pair the Adonit Pixel, setup the hand/palm position and in many apps, set up the stylus screen pressure sensitivity for each and every compatible app!

Once you have, initially, done all of this, all Adonit Pixel compatible apps will remember these settings for future use!

Some Adonit Pixel users claimed their stylus doesn’t work, but it does work well IF you properly know how to set up the Adonit Pixel!


If interested, to make sure you get the latest installed stylus firmware, you must order the Adonit Pixel stylus directly from the Adonit website, when possible and available.


This stylus has just become available, once again, after about year of absence from availability from Adonit.

So, get this stylus while it is in stock and while supplies last.


Apr 18, 2021 5:46 PM in response to abseyhan

Here’s my “up to date”, comprehensive, but still incomplete, list of Adonit Pixel compatible apps for the iPad/iPad Pro.


MOST apps listed support both screen pressure sensing and palm rejection, unless otherwise noted



Compatible Adonit Pixel apps for drawing


Animation Desk

Amaziograph

Adobe Photoshop Sketch ( palm rejection ONLY, with NO screen pressure sensing/line width variations with older iPad Pro models. Palm and screen pressure sensing/variable line width drawing and writing with all other non-Apple Pencil compatible iPad models.

A great app with a lot of free brushes without having to pay monthly to subscribe )


ArtRage

Art Studio Pro ( fully supports the Adonit Pixel and is just as great as Procreate on the iPad )

AutoDesk SketchBook

Colored Pencil

Comic Draw

Concepts

Forge ( drawing/sketching/concept/ideation app )

Interactive SketchBook

Medibang Paint

Procreate

(Adonit Pixel has been supported as an “unsupported stylus”, for some time now, but all Adonit Pixel stylus features still work as they should in Procreate, palm rejection IS improved using special, non-body electrical conducting, lycra-based material drawing glove )


Tayasui Sketches/Sketches Pro ( Full support for the Adonit Pixel )

Tayasui Sketches School ( FREE! )

( this new, free version works with this stylus, but without any palm rejection or pressure sensing, so you need to use a special, non-body electrical conducting drawing glove with the Sketches School version to lay your hand/palm down on the iPad’s screen while writing or drawing )


Vectornator

Zen Brush 2



Compatible Adonit Pixel apps for Notes and Notes with drawing types of apps.


INKredible

Note Shelf 2

Notes Writer ( palm rejection improved using special, non-electrical conducting, lycra-based material drawing glove )

QuickNotes X Pro ( palm rejection ONLY. No pressure sensing for light/dark or thin/thick lines )

uPad

Zoom Notes

PDF Pen


This is pretty much it for Adonit Pixel compatible note-taking apps.


This stylus works with other non-compatible apps, too, but without any palm rejection and/or pressure features.

You can use this stylus with other apps but will not be able to lay your palm on the screen, while you write or draw, unless you use special, non-body electrical conducting, lycra-based material drawing glove that works by isolating your hand/palm and allow you to lay your hand/palm on the screen as you draw in these non-compatible Adonit stylus apps.

Something like these found on Amazon.


https://www.amazon.com/AKX-Rejection-Drawing-Graphic-Sketching/dp/B08R6PWKC9/ref=sr_1_33_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=tablet+drawing+gloves&qid=1611535160&sr=8-33-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExMFg5WFBZWFpCS1kmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA5OTA2MzMxRUVYUURUMlAwVU4wJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAxNDY1NjMxVjg1NE45TVRXSUQ3JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmX25leHQmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl


https://www.amazon.com/Timebetter-Rejection-Drawing-Sketching-Suitable/dp/B08DKGHYMS/ref=sr_1_21?dchild=1&keywords=drawing+gloves&qid=1611533128&sr=8-21


Many more makers of these types of gloves found on Amazon and in different hand sizes, as well!



Best of Luck to You!

Pencil and Drawing differences in iPads

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