Yes you read that correctly. I’ve often seen questions come up where an artist is trying to decide between getting an iPad or a pen display to hook up to their computer. But what if you could use your iPad as a sort of mini Cintiq as well, killing two goblins with one swing of the sword? Well you can with apps like those listed below.
Now, you can enjoy the portability of an iPad or Galaxy tablet, but also use it with your computer software when you sit down at your desk.
If you are looking for drawing tablet options, head on over here.
First some important info…
I’m testing the 2020 12.9″ iPad Pro and an Asus TUF FX504GE gaming laptop running Windows 10.
This has been my experience with the different apps with only that combination. Things may perform differently with your hardware and software combination. I haven’t had the opportunity to test out other tablets or Mac with this. So it’s good to research a bit more. Head over to Reddit and check if your combo would work before you make any purchases.
Software tested includes Adobe Photoshop 2014, Sketchbook, Clip Studio Paint EX, and Krita 5. I briefly testedBlender with Astropad and found that it worked well.
I tested both the wireless and USB connections. USB will be the best option to ensure lower latency. The performance on Wi-Fi will depend on how good your network is. Connecting through a 5Ghz band is recommended.
Now, onto the meat and axes of turning that iPad into a Cintiq.
EasyCanvas – recommended for Galaxy Tab users
http://www.easynlight.com/en/easycanvas/
Wonderfully smooth and responsive in most apps. There’s a decent trial and a cheap annual subscription.
Krita, CSP, Sketchbook, Photoshop: All worked well. Minimal latency. Great drawing experience.
Touch gestures: Yes
Display: Extend, mirror, OR mirror a specific display if you are using more than one. For example, I have two monitors, and instead of having my iPad as a third, I can rather select one of the other two displays to mirror.
Price: $6/y or $15 once-off. Free 3-day trial
I wrote a more in-depth piece on using EasyCanvas with a Samsung Galaxy Tab over on Android Police which you can find here.
If you are interested in knowing more about the iPad Pro for digital art, then check out my review here.
Duet Pro
https://www.duetdisplay.com/pro
The base app of Duet Display turns your iPad into a second screen. If you want more touch gestures, tilt, and pressure sensitivity to be able to draw, you’ll have to sign up for Duet Pro which also has an annual subscription. I expected this to perform better than it did, but in some instances, it did well.
Krita: Unusable. Not registering strokes most of the time. CSP: Performed well. Pressure and tilt worked as expected. With low latency, the drawing experience was quite smooth. Photoshop: Unusable. In PS, I had issues with blotching at the start of my lines and the interface becoming unresponsive at times.
Price: $10 base app. $20-30/y for Pro. No free trial on the base app, 7 days on Pro.
Touch Gestures: Yes
Display: Able to extend and mirror.
Connection: Wi-Fi and USB.
Windows, Mac, iOS and Android compatible.
Astropad Studio – recommended for iPad users
https://astropad.com/projectblue/
For a while, Astropad has only been available for Mac users but now it’s here for Windows too. The software was impressive while in beta as Project Blue, but the official Windows release and v5.1 update take it to the next level. It’s highly customizable so you can set it up to suit your workflow in the different apps you use. You also get a crisper display with Astropad in comparison to EasyCanvas. Read our more detailed feature on Astropad Studio here.
Krita, CSP, Sketchbook, Photoshop: These worked well.
Display: Only mirrors display, but can mirror a selected display if you are using multiple monitors. Add Luna display dongle for extended display feature.
Connection: Wi-Fi and USB.
Touch gestures: Yes
Price: $15 per month, or $8.33 monthly with an annual plan.
Trial: 30 days
Super Display
SuperDisplay does the job of turning your Android device into a second screen for your Windows machine. If EasyCanvas doesn’t perform well, then this would be the next option to look at. With limited on-screen shortcut buttons, you’ll likely want a keyboard or controller off to the side for your shortcuts.
Available for Windows + Android only.
Display: Duplicate and Extend
Connection: WiFi and USB
Touch Gestures: Yes
Price: $15 once-off
Trial period: 3 days
Wrapping up…
So can an iPad or Galaxy Tab replace a dedicated pen display like a Cintiq for your computer? I’d say almost! This really depends on your needs and how you like to work. In terms of size, you’re limited to a maximum of 12.9″ in the iPad Pro. The drawing size is fine, but it’s in the software’s interface and toolbars that you are going to feel it a bit as they shrink on smaller screens. As a novice or hobbyist, this is really not a big deal at all. Professional artists are likely to want a bigger screen to work on though.
I was very impressed with the low latency and drawing experience of both EasyCanvas, and Astropad Studio too, but the latter takes the win here. I was a bit disappointed by Duet Pro, but it may perform better on a different combination of devices. Unfortunately, the lack of a full free trial of the base app together with the Pro features works against it.
So, if you have a computer and a stand-alone tablet already, I would definitely say try one of these software options. It might not suit everybody’s needs but I was pleasantly surprised, and am excited to knock out a few paintings pretending my iPad is a little Cintiq.
