Which iPad?

[ProG77]

Hi. Just wondering if people use an iPad for photo editing using LR or PS and if so, which one you’re using?

I’m looking at the iPad Pro 11” OR the iPad Air (the latest versions of both). I tend to use my MacBook Pro at the moment for all my editing but I just fancy having something I can use on the move. Also, which size is optimal? Will 128GB suffice or shall I go bigger?

Thanks.

 

[LongLensPhotography]

No idea why you can't use MBP on the move? But moving on... 11" is crazy tiny for editing. 13" is in fact crazy tiny but would be miles better. I just have a feeling you won't enjoy ipad restrictions and file management too much and lack of Lightroom Classic proper. Only the alternative version which I would suggest to try out on your MBP first... And my guess you will be relying on Adobe cloud A LOT from that point onwards so better make sure you have that 1TB and good network connection.

If you are set on tablet why not consider MS Surface or one of the clones?

 

[ProG77]

No idea why you can't use MBP on the move? But moving on... 11" is crazy tiny for editing. 13" is in fact crazy tiny but would be miles better. I just have a feeling you won't enjoy ipad restrictions and file management too much and lack of Lightroom Classic proper. Only the alternative version which I would suggest to try out on your MBP first... And my guess you will be relying on Adobe cloud A LOT from that point onwards so better make sure you have that 1TB and good network connection.

If you are set on tablet why not consider MS Surface or one of the clones?

Should have said that the reason I'm trying to move away from using my MBP for photo editing is because I also use it for all my work emails and call and I'm finding the editing is slowing down my laptop. Agree with you that 11" is small - I'm just about happy with 13" on the MBP, but reason for looking at an iPad is because I am travelling for 2 weeks in April, then in May, and will likely take a fair few shots so was hoping to be able to make some basic edits on an iPad rather than having to get my MBP out everywhere. I've sold my soul to Apple so I would be scared to move to a MS tablet ;-) I really should invest in an iMac sometime........

 

[LongLensPhotography]

I've sold my soul to Apple so I would be scared to move to a MS tablet ;-)

I was mac only when it came to laptops and PCs since 2008 and moved on last year. No big deal. LRc and PS look exactly the same. I would be more worried about moving from LRc to the mobile version unless you already use it.

 

[LCPete]

I have tried using my iPad Pro for editing on trips away using affinity photo
the actual editing works well on the iPad version of affinity (I don’t have adobe) but the copying of files from the camera to an external drive via iPad is painfully slow , copying to the iPad is fine it depends on how many photos you plan to take
I now would only use my MacBook for trips away iPad was too much hassle

 

[RichardC27]

I've been basically iPad only for over 2 years. I have an 11" iPad Pro (2018), and it's great. I can't imagine ever going back to sitting at a desk and editing with a mouse now. I only use LR, the iPad version of PS is terrible but Affinity Photo is apparently a very good PS alternative and works very well on the iPad. Since the LR workflow on the iPad is very heavily cloud storage based you should be ok with 128Gb. I've got a 256Gb iPad and it's nowhere near full, and I have access to my entire LR catalog with 12 years of images. One thing to factor in is the cost of the Apple Pencil. It's expensive but essential for photo editing. The lack of LR Classic is no issue at all, unless you do a lot of printing, HDR or Pano merging. Those things are missing from the iPad app, other than that it's fine. The iPad LR app (and the desktop app actually) make LR Classic feel like something from the last century.

For those saying the screen is too small, it isn't because you're sat a lot closer to it, essentially holding the image in your hands while you're editing. That said, when I eventually replace this iPad I will go for the 12.9" version.

If you want to save some cash the Air will be fine. You lose a couple of speakers, a 120Hz screen and a couple of other bits and pieces but functionally it will be identical to the iPad Pro. File management is absolutely fine, I can complete my entire editing, exporting, WordPress and Portfolio workflow solely on the iPad. iPadOS has its quirks but the main issue is that people expect to work exactly like MacOS / Windows, and it doesn't. But a lot of the stuff you'll see online about file management being impossible and all that simply isn't true, you just need to learn how the OS works the same as any other device. It could definitely be improved but it's far from the horror show some articles make it out to be

 

[LCPete]

I've been basically iPad only for over 2 years. I have an 11" iPad Pro (2018), and it's great. I can't imagine ever going back to sitting at a desk and editing with a mouse now. I only use LR, the iPad version of PS is terrible but Affinity Photo is apparently a very good PS alternative and works very well on the iPad. Since the LR workflow on the iPad is very heavily cloud storage based you should be ok with 128Gb. I've got a 256Gb iPad and it's nowhere near full, and I have access to my entire LR catalog with 12 years of images. One thing to factor in is the cost of the Apple Pencil. It's expensive but essential for photo editing. The lack of LR Classic is no issue at all, unless you do a lot of printing, HDR or Pano merging. Those things are missing from the iPad app, other than that it's fine. The iPad LR app (and the desktop app actually) make LR Classic feel like something from the last century.

For those saying the screen is too small, it isn't because you're sat a lot closer to it, essentially holding the image in your hands while you're editing. That said, when I eventually replace this iPad I will go for the 12.9" version.

If you want to save some cash the Air will be fine. You lose a couple of speakers, a 120Hz screen and a couple of other bits and pieces but functionally it will be identical to the iPad Pro. File management is absolutely fine, I can complete my entire editing, exporting, WordPress and Portofolio workflow solely on the iPad. iPadOS has its quirks but the main issue is that people expect to work exactly like MacOS / Windows, and it doesn't. But a lot of the stuff you'll see online about file management being impossible and all that simply isn't true, you just need to learn how the OS works the same as any other device. It could definitely be improved but it's far from the horror show some articles make it out to be

the iPad version of affinity is excellent you can do most things on it that you can on the desktop version
do you copy pictures from camera onto iPad?
have you tried downloading from camera to an external drive via the iPad Pro , I could never get that to work properly

 

[RichardC27]

the iPad version of affinity is excellent you can do most things on it that you can on the desktop version
do you copy pictures from camera onto iPad?
have you tried downloading from camera to an external drive via the iPad Pro , I could never get that to work properly

I have a USB-C hub / SD card reader so I use that to copy my files onto the iPad, it seems fast enough. I never use an external drive with the iPad itself, although I know that's possible but not something I've ever tried. I have 1Tb cloud storage with Lightroom so I just let the iPad upload all the files once I'm on a decent WiFi connection. Then I have LR Classic set to place all files synced from the cloud to an external drive connected to my Windows PC as an additional backup.

 

[LCPete]

I have a USB-C hub / SD card reader so I use that to copy my files onto the iPad, it seems fast enough. I never use an external drive with the iPad itself, although I know that's possible but not something I've ever tried. I have 1Tb cloud storage with Lightroom so I just let the iPad upload all the files once I'm on a decent WiFi connection. Then I have LR Classic set to place all files synced from the cloud to an external drive connected to my Windows PC as an additional backup.

Ahh I see thanks, that’s probably the best way to go
I have found that if the files are on the iPad itself editing works really well
I now use a laptop for editing mostly now though

 

[ProG77]

I've been basically iPad only for over 2 years. I have an 11" iPad Pro (2018), and it's great. I can't imagine ever going back to sitting at a desk and editing with a mouse now. I only use LR, the iPad version of PS is terrible but Affinity Photo is apparently a very good PS alternative and works very well on the iPad. Since the LR workflow on the iPad is very heavily cloud storage based you should be ok with 128Gb. I've got a 256Gb iPad and it's nowhere near full, and I have access to my entire LR catalog with 12 years of images. One thing to factor in is the cost of the Apple Pencil. It's expensive but essential for photo editing. The lack of LR Classic is no issue at all, unless you do a lot of printing, HDR or Pano merging. Those things are missing from the iPad app, other than that it's fine. The iPad LR app (and the desktop app actually) make LR Classic feel like something from the last century.

For those saying the screen is too small, it isn't because you're sat a lot closer to it, essentially holding the image in your hands while you're editing. That said, when I eventually replace this iPad I will go for the 12.9" version.

If you want to save some cash the Air will be fine. You lose a couple of speakers, a 120Hz screen and a couple of other bits and pieces but functionally it will be identical to the iPad Pro. File management is absolutely fine, I can complete my entire editing, exporting, WordPress and Portfolio workflow solely on the iPad. iPadOS has its quirks but the main issue is that people expect to work exactly like MacOS / Windows, and it doesn't. But a lot of the stuff you'll see online about file management being impossible and all that simply isn't true, you just need to learn how the OS works the same as any other device. It could definitely be improved but it's far from the horror show some articles make it out to be

Thank you for the very comprehensive feedback. I’ve now bought the 11” iPad Por with an Apple Pencil. So far, really impressed and free that LR seems to function really well on it. The pencil is going to take some getting used to however as I’ve never used an Apple Pencil before!

 

[RichardC27]

Thank you for the very comprehensive feedback. I’ve now bought the 11” iPad Por with an Apple Pencil. So far, really impressed and free that LR seems to function really well on it. The pencil is going to take some getting used to however as I’ve never used an Apple Pencil before!

It does take some getting used to but it's a great tool. You can make precise adjustments in LR by tapping on either end of the sliders to move them up or down in increments of 5. I tend to do that now rather than using the actual slider, it's a little more precise. The Pencil is wonderful for the brush and spot removal tools, and refining masks. Try it out for handwriting too, you can use to write on the iPad just like a piece of paper.