#Online sketchpad for stylus full#
#Online sketchpad for stylus pro#
#Online sketchpad for stylus professional#

Astropad relies on a companion app running on your Mac and can connect via USB or wirelessly.

#Online sketchpad for stylus pro#

Astropad has been optimized for use with the iPad Pro and Apple Pencil, and this is the best way to use the app. You can use the Apple Pencil or simply draw with your finger or a cheap capacitive stylus ( but not a smart third-party stylus). That includes the second-gen iPad mini, original iPad Air, fifth-gen iPad, and any model of iPad Pro. You only need a 2013 Mac model running OS X El Capitan (10.11) or newer, with support for iPads running iOS 9.1 or later. Unlike Sidecar, Astropad has much broader support in terms of hardware. Astropad now has two tiers: a one-off $30 purchase that includes core functionality, and a $12/month (or $80/year) subscription plan that includes many more features. It first appeared in 2015, long before Sidecar existed, bringing graphics tablet-like functionality to anyone with a compatible Mac and an iPad.

Drawing is possible using the Apple Pencil in Mac apps that already support stylus input, including Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.Īstropad is the original iPad drawing tablet app. One of the best things about Sidecar is that you can use it as a proper second display, rather than just mirroring what's on-screen. You'll also need to be using the same Apple ID on both devices, and be within 30 ft (10 meters) of your Mac for wireless to work. Sidecar with the 2016 MacBook Pro, 2016 MacBook, 2018 MacBook Air, 2017 iMac or 2015 Retina iMac, the iMac Pro, 2018 Mac mini, and 2019 Mac Pro or later. Speaking of the Mac, you'll need a fairly recent model that's running macOS Catalina or later. You can use it wirelessly or plug it directly into your Mac using the USB cable that came with it, which means you can power your tablet while you work on it.

Since Sidecar is a first-party solution, it generally works very well (especially compared to some third-party alternatives). You can find out which iPad you have under Settings > General > About. It works with the iPad Pro, third-gen iPad Air, fifth-gen iPad mini, or sixth-gen iPad or newer. Sidecar is Apple's attempt at turning the iPad into a second display for use with compatible Macs. Perfect for: Mac users with a recent model iPad and Apple Pencil. Certain apps may work better than others with your particular hardware or preferred creative apps, so testing is essential here to avoid disappointment. Lastly, all of these apps were designed to work with the Mac first and foremost, which means Windows support isn't as mature. Things like nearby wireless interference or lots of network activity can slow wireless performance down so a stress test may be in order. Make sure you fully test wireless performance if you intend to rely on it.

#Online sketchpad for stylus professional#

Confirm that your solution works with your preferred creative apps, whether that's free tools like Inkscape and GIMP or professional apps from Adobe or Affinity.

#Online sketchpad for stylus full#

Before you sign up for a subscription or pay a one-off fee, make sure you thoroughly test the full set of features. With the exception of Sidecar (Apple's own free solution), all of the products listed below have some sort of free trial. There are a few different options for achieving this, so we'll weigh up the pros and cons of each approach.