iPad Pro vs Wacom (smallVersion) vs cintque

Whitney Simms

I’ve heard you guys and the big guys talk about the preferences for these tablets. I have a pretty clear idea of why it works for illustration. I’m transitioning to surface design. I like people in the flourish community so far, but I don’t have the history with those guys yet. I would love to hear what you guys thought about it in the vector programs.

A tablet makes things go faster in pattern making. They prefer vector based programs. Which now I have to learn. Totally fine. Not scared. But what do you guys think? How are the vector programs on those tablets. The iPad you can’t use illustrator. But there are still come good programs they say.

Here are my questions

iPad- positives- portability

Negatives- now I will have to learn more than one program to use it. The ipad app and illustrator on the computer.
I’ll have to air drop files back and forth to work on both devices

Wacom- pros-won’t have to files back and forth
Only have to learn one new program

Cons- stuck at the computer and the house to work on projects.
Not sure if my older Mac will work with new software

$- baby step the cost while my business is small. I can get it now.
I’m primarily using it for cutting and pasting patterns. What if I love illustrator and want to use it more. Then I’m bummed my screen is little

$$$-(continue) a true investment in my work. Won’t have to buy a new one for a super long time.

MichaelaH

I have Ipad Pro, Wacom Intuos(use it as my mouse) and Wacom Cintiq. I started illustrating in photoshop 2 years ago, but mainly for the last 10 years I was/am working in Adobe Illustrator with vectors, the most time only on Wacom Intuos. When I am doing some designs, I start with sketch in photoshop on cintiq(22") and than make the rest in AI with Intuos, sometimes on cintiq. I Pad, I hated it to move the files and I was so used to AI, so I never work vectors on Ipad, only on my windows. I Use Ipad only for vacation and sketching.
I bought the cintiq 2 years ago, before I worked only with intuos and was happy with it for my verctor designs.
Hope it helps.

Whitney Simms

@MichaelaH that helps soooo much! I was worried about the file thing. I really create in watercolor. I just need to move things around. I’m definitely leaning to the Intuos now! Thanks! That will save me tons if it can get me through the next couple years or longer.

MichaelaH

@Whitney-Simms I don't know about working water colors and "illustrator/vectors", does it work? I never found brushes or this effects there, I know vectors more as flat style.... For drawing watercolor is Ipad really great, I there are many great apps with great water color brushes, but all no vector. I have my water color brushes in photoshop, but the effect isn't there like on Ipad.
About the intuos, I love it, but I don't have the problem with drawing and my eye/hand coordination...a lot of ppl have this problem. For drawing in classical style are cintiq and ipad better, you draw there as on paper. For me vectors are lines and flat surfaces/designs, so i don't need the feeling like drawing and I am happy with intuos for it. Intuos is also my mouse, I don't use mouse anmyore, I am much faster with pen :).
I don't know if You really want to go to vectors direction, than intuos is ok. If you do illustrations and You want to do them digital, than I would go for Ipad or cintiq.
Mabye you have some friend who has intuos? I had the old wacom bamboo fun for almost 6 years, before I bought intuos and it served its purpose greatly.

Whitney Simms

@MichaelaH that makes more sense. It’s one of those things where I’m trying to follow what Bonnie Christine says is the industry standard. But another illustrator doesn’t use vectors at all. Ohn Mar Win has a style very similar to mine and she uses an iPad. Ah! It’s so confusing. I think I’ll just stick with the iPad Pro. It sounds fun to work with. Bonnie Christine’s style is very graphic, but still soft and delicate, just not watercolors.

jdubz

If the medium will remain in vector format, then I'd go with the Intuous simply due to the cost savings. The iPad is not ideal for that, not because of the file limitation, but just in the types of programs that it's good at. You can use Dropbox for example on an iPad and have all your artwork easily saving and syncing with other devices.

I just feel like both the Cintiq/iPad's capabilities are largely going to waste from a cost perspective and you're not getting any gain from it. I'd go for a used one on ebay. They're ridiculously durable.

The workflow that probably is the most simple for that setup is for portability just sketch on traditional paper/pencil/pen, then snap a picture of it with your phone and bring that into Illustrator to begin creating the final vector piece.

BichonBistro

@Whitney-Simms while you are weighing your options, it’s only $19.99 for a robust ipad vector app I bought to convert a Procreate drawing to a vector logo. It’s called Affinity Designer. Exposure to the potential of this app was the only good thing that came out of that fiasco . The gestures are very similar to Procreate,so the learning curve wasn’t too bad.

Check out #affinitydesigner on instagram for incredible art created using the app. Artist https://instagram.com/jhonatan.ssilva?igshid=1wkntxp44jldc has a really cute penguin (process video) that looks as if it could have been done in Procreate. I have a CS5 version of Adobe Illustrator and could never master the pen tool (maybe because I was using a mouse ). Affinity Designer with my apple pencil is less intimidating. I prefer working in traditional watercolor over digital, so I relate to your process and Affinity Designer might be a way to get comfortable with the idea of vector before making the bigger investment in the hardware/software for your mac.