Is Anybody Using iOS Apps to Create Art or Content?
Subtropic Pixel
Posts: 2,388
I just recently bought a new iPad Pro 12". I really think Apple did their homework on this one, particularly with the Apple Pencil interface. Overall, Apple hit most of the high points here and in fact, I think I finally have a tablet that would make an EXCELLENT graphic art computing device. Not to the exclusion of my Windows machines and their software, including DAZ Studio, but still...we've gone one step further into the future of artwork.
So I ask you all, do any of you use any iOS apps to create content or art of any kind, such as...
- Vector/drawn objects
- Digitally painted objects or scenes
- 3D modeled components
- Landscape components or scenes
- Texture files or UV maps
- Photo editing or special effects
- Layout work
- Any type of postwork
- Comic or illustrated artwork
- Full start-to-finish works of art
...and let's not restrict ourselves to the graphic arts...
- Music
- Sound tracks
- Audio special effects
- Web authoring
- "other"
I'm interested in any of this and more, and I'm especially curious about the software anybody is using. Bonus points if you somehow incorporate your DAZ Studio workflow into your process. 
Daz 3D is part of 
Connect
DAZ Productions, Inc.
7533 S Center View Ct #4664
West Jordan, UT 84084
Licensing Agreement | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | EULA
© 2025 Daz Productions Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Comments
Oh yeah, i think it often goes under radar/underappreciated. I mean, using tablets for creation instead of consuming. I only dealt with 9.7" iPads so can't comment on 12" one, and can't comment much on apple stylus yet as i only recently tried it. But, anyway, trying to remember... I'll write down quickest suggestions, and maybe expand it later.
1) Vector graphics
- iDraw, now known as Autodesk Graphic. Surely not as gigantic as Illustrator, but you can do things comfortably.
- Concepts. More like "hybrid", and it's not a replacement for vector-style or digitpaining-style; but something in it's own way. Nice app for sketching, prototyping etc. combining different approaches.
2) Digital painting
- Procreate. Really that good with good usability.
- MediBang Paint has some cool things some may prefer it for doing illustrations.
3) 3D stuff
Actually, hard to say. There are some apps which are useful for quick prototyping using basic forms, then you make a screenshot of it and postprocess/draw over it etc. But i'd say it's niche. As for something other, even less thoughts.
4) Quick photoedit
Used to use Snapseed, but moving forward Enlight now.
5) Combinations of premade assets
You may check Assembly for such fun if you're ok with something like that.
As for music, oh, oh, oh! It's even huger theme. It's one of reasons i still choose ios devices. Music making software started there in 2008 and progresses since then rapidly. But before recommending anything, need to know focus - is it composing or live perfomance, electronica or not etc. etc.
I sculpted a few things about two years ago on my iPad.
Luckily Apple deleted several apps from my account/library which I liked using, even though they worked on the newer OS, but Apple deemed as being nonfunctional and one of those apps was that one... So they saved me from actually using my iPad for more then a notebook and Internet terminal.
The new iPad sounds slick, but I really don't think I trust them anymore and I'm kinda sick of them knowing what's good for me.
Maybe in a few years when they want to make the current fine line pen look lame so they can sell a finer one on a more expensive iPad Pro, or whatever... When or if that pen makes it to a cheaper iPad, maybe I'll get that one.
Most of the drawing apps for the regular iPad were disappointing... Drawing a fine line with a normal sized finger sucks and is just frustrating.
Whatever anyone thinks of DAZ, so far at least they don't delete your stuff at their whim, which apparently Apple does.
So, after playing a bit more, I found that the iOS App Store has a lot of products that "went subscription." Some of these are not bad; maybe $10-$20 per year. But you may know that I am militantly anti-subscription. Angrily so, even if I may not let on to that in conversation. Yes, this includes even the DAZ platinum-whatever-whatever sub. I pay that one, but man oh man, it grinds my gears every year.
So on the app store, they have software subs at $9, $14, $20, and more PER MONTH. Some are actually quite onerous. And none of them will press my shirts or make my coffee in the morning.
I'm trying to remain enthusiastic, but right now the feeling of disappointment is greater. The app store USED to be affordable. It was one of the things that made buying an iPhone or iPad worthwhile in the long run.
Anyhow, with that in mind...
The app store shows one called "Draw - Formally know (sic) as iDraw!". It doesn't seem to be associated with Autodesk.
Autodesk does have a number of products in the app store. Several have a free component, but others have optional subs as much as $50 and $100 per year. I tell you, I see red when I see subscriptions that could add up to anything more than $20 per year and don't even want to look at these to see if their free features would be good enough. I know, I need to curb myself here and be more dispassionate in my analysis. I'm still working on that.
Concepts does indeed look interesting. Has optional packs, and doesn't seem to push a subscription, yay! On my short list to review.
An Apple Store Genius also suggested Procreate. I have obtained it and am playing around now with the inks.
This really looks interesting, especially their cloud storage implementation. Apparently no subscription, so it's on my list to investigate further.
On my first glance a week ago, most 3D software for iPad seemed to have subscription options. I set that category aside for now.
Both Snapseed and Enlight are intriguing, and neither has a subscription category. On my list!
This does look like fun, but under "Top In-App Purchases", it's not clear if some of those are subscription options, of if they are one-time charges for add-ons. I'm okay with buying add-ons. But when the descriptions are unclear, I immediately get suspicious. I'm cautiously optimistic about this one and will investigate more.
For composing, mostly. New Age is my life, but I like jazz, orchestral, rock, and anything you can dance to, from salsa to quickstep. On my iPad, I currently have Notion, Garageband, and Noise. I have some Roli Blocks for use with Noise, and that's a fascinating and immediate interface.
I'm always looking for "more", and in this case, I'm on the hunt for something that I can use to author music on the go, and later transfer it to one of my hosts such as Cubase, Sonar, Maschine, Ableton/Push for continued development. That's especially attractive to me...the idea of using my iPad for idea generation, and my Windows-based DAWs for extending those ideas.
Thanks!
Nothing like that has ever happened to me.
Well, the Apple pencil, although not perfect, is a HUGE step up from doing watercolors with my fingers. Indeed, the Apple Pencil is is promising for the future, too. It's much more responsive than my either my finger, big toe, or elbow. Sure, I'm still waiting for a perfect digitizer to wrap my digits around, but I think the state of tools now is good enough for me to get some work done while waiting for perfection. Remember the old saying: "Perfect is nice, but done is better!"
Again, never happened to me on either iPad or iPhone, and I also take backups.
No, not "Draw - Formally..."! What you've seen is some trash/scum/whatever!
You need to look for "Graphic - illustration and design" by Indeeo, inc. (though it has Autodesk's "a" logotype in icon), it should be $8.99 without subscription or in-apps.
I'll reply additionally later.
I just got an iPad pro with an Apple pencil. I've been playing around with a few free apps but everything I've read says Procreate is the way to go.
Okay, thanks!
Yep, that may well be true. It looks like they put a lot of effort into Procreate. Thanks!
One of reasons Procreate has respects from user is that developers care about what user say, including interface suggestions.
Btw, check out how stylus works in "paint" mode of built-in default apple Notes app :) Somehow it's great there in its own way.
I'll return for further replying later..
I might buy Procreate tonight. One question, do they have any filters like Photoshop or is it all painting/drawing? Are there any comic book features, like shapes, thought bubbles, etc? Adope Illistrator/Draw for the iPad has a few.
You might want to check out Comic Life and Comic Draw -- both are geared towards making comics (similar to the Mac and PC's Comic Life) and Comic Draw supports both sketching and painting inside the layout program and the Apple Pencil.
-- Walt Sterdan
It has a 14 day free trial so I guess I'll check it out. Is it easy to import Daz Renders?
How much does it cost after trial?
For non-vector artwork, I really like Sketchbook Pro. The iPad app is free (be sure to test it out), the mobile "Pro Tools" are a one-time in-app purchase ($6.99) and the subscription isn't needed -- it's geared towards the desktop version and running multiple versions on multiple platforms. If you're going straight iPad, you don't need a subscription.
Regardng Apple's removal of items from the store, so far I haven't lost anything yet (I started buying the first day they opened the store) and one of my oldest games still runs on my iPad Pro, though when it opens the app warns me that it may not run on future iterations of iOS and that the developer should update the app. I agree though, if an app still works they shouldn't delete it; by the same token, if a developer isn't actively supporting it, it's on life support anyway.
That said, I haven't been trying a lot of my older apps lately -- they are all downloaded to my computer, though, and nothing to the best of my knowledge has been removed.
A very interesting 3D app is:
http://www.theanimatorsmodeler.com/
I haven't tested the exported models for import into Daz Studio (you can download a freebie to test), but I think the app shows the capabilities for 3D character work. We're a long way from having Daz Studio running on an iPad, but I'd pay big bucks for the ability to make simple renders on my iPad Pro to use for backgrounds to sketch over. I could see doing a webcomic, for example, rendering my common characters in a "Daz Mobile" app, popping the render into Comic Draw and creating my sketch there, using the render as the model.
If I could do that, I'd spend way, way, way less time sitting in front of my computer (something I should really be doing anyway). Except for work, 3D is the only thing I do on my computer.
Shortly after the iPad came out, DAZ was looking for developers interested in using their models in gaming and they posted screenshots of Genesis (different morphs and characters, different poses, etc.) on an iPhone screen -- this was just after the first iPad came out -- and I've been lusting after that to this day. Daz Studio Mobile... I'd easily drop a hundred or two on it...
-- Walt Sterdan
Yes; in drawing mode, you just press and hold and it asks you if you want to paste an images from the clipboard or any of your photo albums.
-- Walt Sterdan
I believe the purchase is the only in-app purchase, $27.99. Seems pricey for an iPad app, but on the other hand it's a full app geared towards creating full comics on an iPad. Try the 14-day trial to see if it's worth it to you; after the trial, I believe the app still allows you to read and share comics, but not create them (I'm not 100% of the limits, as I purchased it the same day it came out).
-- Walt Sterdan
I forgot, the "paste" option to place an image inside Comic Draw also allows you to grab a pict from your camera...
-- Walt Stedan
You can always install a remote desktop server on your desktop, and the viewer on your iPad. That way you can control Daz Studio from the iPad, even though it is running on the desktop, and you could even render with your GPU if you have one. Not the same as a native app I know, but likely to be the only likely option for some time.
Thanks for the suggestion; I have "Screens" but I've never tried it anywhere except home (I think the lag over the internet would probably kill me), and if I'm home anyway I prefer to use the actual computer. The idea is to eliminate the computer as much as possible, directly or remotely. "Daz Mobile" (or "iDaz", or "Daz Lite") would be the way for me to go.
It is a good suggestion, though, thanks for thinking of it.
-- Walt Sterdan
I heard ?best? remote desktop app was Mac-only supported though.