iPad Pro Resources
What seemed like an impulse buy, has really blossomed into an (almost) essential part of my lettering and design process. I’ve really come to love owning an iPad Pro. Even with this $100 pencil. *eye roll*
Starting out, I was skeptical with my first couple of projects because it didn’t feel like the “real thing.” It’s a totally different feeling compared to using a pen and paper….and duh, Adrian, it’s supposed to be. It’s an iPad, not pen & paper.
But through research and trial and error, I’ve come across a TON of resources for it, which have really made creating on the iPad Pro a lot more efficient and fun. I’ve listed some of my favorites apps, resources and materials below. Hopefully these will be as helpful to you as they are to me.
Some of the links provided are affiliate links. This means by purchasing through the link provided, I will receive a small commission, at no extra charge to you. Now that the ~ legalities ~ are out of the way, let’s get into it.
Software
Procreate ($10)
If you have an iPad or are thinking about getting one then I’m pretty sure you’ve heard of this app. This app has been my go to for lettering and creating on the iPad. Not only is it FILLED with features for creating, it also has a built in time-lapse feature, which records every step of your project, giving you that much more content to share.
WIP. Let’s remain civil, shall we?
Pros:
Clean, intuitive interface & shortcuts/gestures
Tons of resources (tutorials, brushes, templates, etc.)
Great value (one-time purchase)
Includes animation tools
.PSD export capable
Cons:
Raster based (not really a con if expected)
Adobe Fresco (Free*)
Of course you can’t create a digital art list without Adobe. This is a great app for creating raster or vector-based artwork. While the free version is very capable, with a paid subscription, you unlock more features (more brushes, cloud storage if you’re into that kind of thing, and the ability to import Photoshop brushes, which is really dope if you’ve been using custom PS brushes and don’t want to have to search for alternatives like you would in Procreate. It also syncs with your Creative Cloud subscription so you can continue your work in Photoshop, with all of the layers intact.
Pros:
Ability to import Photoshop brushes
Vector and Raster-based
Great value (Free)
Resizable canvases
.PSD/.AI export capable
Syncs with Adobe Creative Cloud
Cons:
Not as intuitive as Procreate
Free version doesn’t allow you to import Photoshop brushes
RoughAnimator ($7)
Whenever I want to add some literal movement to my lettering pieces on my iPad I pull up RoughAnimator. It’s a frame by frame animation app with a ton of settings for creating those hand drawn animations. You can even import videos for rotoscoping – if you’re into that kind of thing. I’m fairly new to animation so I can’t give you a solid pros and cons list compared to other animation apps, but I’m having a lot of fun animating with it.
Created with RoughAnimator | Instagram post
Procreate now has the ability to do frame by frame animation, and while their version is more intuitive and less intimidating, RoughAnimator is still a solid buy if you want a more robust approach to strictly animating.
Procreate Resources
Young Vegas Brush Pack ($12-50)
Shameless plug. Yeah, yeah yeah. In all seriousness though, I really love Procreate. But after using it, I found they didn’t have the type of lettering brushes I wanted to use. So, naturally I decided to create them myself. If you’ve read my last blog post on my favorite brush pens, you know I have a lot of go-to lettering pens. These brushes not only emulate those brush pens but they also have some added texture and dimension to make up for the glass screen you’re drawing on.
McToothy Brush Pack ($12-50)
Another plug, really? Yes, really. I made these brushes for a reason, lol. McToothy has become a go-to brush pack when I need to add some subtle texture when working on the iPad. I’m really enjoying seeing how far I can push these brushes and if you’re a fan of texture, I think you’ll enjoy them, too.
Dead Hand Brushes ($12)
I find myself going to these brushes more and more when I’m using my iPad. My favorite is the Sudenofuke Wet. I haven’t found a brush like it. I’d definitely recommend this brush pack if you’re into lettering and want those familiar textures found in brush pens.
Image provided by jbdsgns.com
Ian Barnard’s Lettering Toolbox (Free)
I mainly use this resource for the lettering guides. Not only are different angled guides included, you can also adjust them for the perfect x-height. This toolbox also comes with a ton of additional resources – texture brushes, lettering worksheets for practicing and samples for every brush he has available for sale. This toolbox is free, all you have to do is sign-up for his newsletter, but if you do enjoy these, show some support and share/purchase the full product. (This is not a promotion, well…a paid promotion. Definitely a great resource to have though)
True Grit Texture Supply Sampler (Free)
True Grit has some DOPE textures to choose from. AND they’re not all just for Procreate. If you sign up for their newsletter, you can actually try a sample pack of their products, which include Photoshop, Illustrator AND Procreate textures. If you like these, show some support and make a purchase. (Again, not sponsored) My favorites have been Mixed Grit and Vector Savior.
Image provided by True Grit Texture Supply
BakerOner Spray Brush Pack V2 ($22)
This brush pack is a lot of fun. It emulates spray paint beautifully. If you use spray paint and want varying spray caps and spray the default procreate brush can’t quite reach, check this pack out. He also has some newer packs that you may be interested in!
Image provided by BakerOner
Materials
Crazy looking Naruto/Digimon Glove ($8)
I’m going to be 100% honest with you. This is THE goofiest looking thing I own. This glove reminds me of rolling backpacks and stiff denim pants (not a euphemism). What’s the point of this? Other than becoming an instant runway model, it’s used to keep your hand/palm from making unwanted marks on your artwork. In the event that your favorite app doesn’t have the option to toggle palm rejection, this will be a lifesaver. You no longer have to worry about those stray marks or why your portrait of Rosie O’Donnell now has an extra ear.
Paperlike Screen Protector ($32)
This screen protector has really made a difference for my iPad lettering. It’s a matte screen protector that adds a bit of resistance to your screen. If you’re like me and feel like you’re skating or gliding too much across the screen, give this a shot. They come in packs of two, too – in case you’re also like me and mess up the first application. Air bubbles, amirite?
Honorable mentions:
Affinity Designer ($20)
Affinity is making a lot of waves, and rightfully so. This vector based app is filled with so many features I refuse to type them all out. I’m looking forward to trying this app soon. You can checkout some of the reviews for this here, here and here. This may be the most robust vector app available.
Vectornator X (Free)
Vectornator is a great app. You can change/tweak anchor points and bezier curves, combine/edits shapes with a pathfinder tool, send straight to Illustrator and import from Creative Cloud, too. I thought drawing vector points with the pen tool would be cumbersome, but oddly enough, it’s actually smooth and therapeutic. Definitely worth giving a try.
*takes a deep breath* So, that’s it. If you’re still reading this, wow. You must have really needed some suggestions. Let me know what you think of these apps and if they work for you. Also feel free to let me know if I’m completely wrong with my suggestions or missed any of your must have resources.
Originally posted 8.8.19
3.2.24 - Updated reviews, links and resources