Any help is appreciated

[macness]

So I’ve been toying around with photo editing for the past year and I’ve also made quite a few logos and advertisements all on my iPhone. I use apps like over, Photoshop mix, photoshop lite and Adobe spark. I would like to get a new device, but I’m having trouble choosing because I don’t know much about what software does what. I’m currently choosing between an iPad Pro and a Mack book pro 13”. It seems that things like cutting and pasting images or using the Laso tool on photoshop are a lot easier on the iPad Pro because of the Apple Pencil. Is it difficult to do things like that using the Mackbook trackpad? Also, what software do you guys use to make logos and and moving graphics for things like Instagram? I’ve been using adobe spark, but I noticed it’s not for MacOS. I also use LumaFusion for video editing. It seems like the iPad has a lot of apps for things like this, I’m just wondering what I will be using on a Mac. ** Also, this will be my main device as my old 2011 MBP is on its last legs**

 

[cmaier]

So I’ve been toying around with photo editing for the past year and I’ve also made quite a few logos and advertisements all on my iPhone. I use apps like over, Photoshop mix, photoshop lite and Adobe spark. I would like to get a new device, but I’m having trouble choosing because I don’t know much about what software does what. I’m currently choosing between an iPad Pro and a Mack book pro 13”. It seems that things like cutting and pasting images or using the Laso tool on photoshop are a lot easier on the iPad Pro because of the Apple Pencil. Is it difficult to do things like that using the Mackbook trackpad? Also, what software do you guys use to make logos and and moving graphics for things like Instagram? I’ve been using adobe spark, but I noticed it’s not for MacOS. I also use LumaFusion for video editing. It seems like the iPad has a lot of apps for things like this, I’m just wondering what I will be using on a Mac. ** Also, this will be my main device as my old 2011 MBP is on its last legs**

With a mac, you can always use a mouse, a Wacom tablet, etc. In some sense it may be easier on an ipad, but often times mac software has better selection tools.

 

[macness]

With a mac, you can always use a mouse, a Wacom tablet, etc. In some sense it may be easier on an ipad, but often times mac software has better selection tools.

What about just using the trackpad? I really don’t want to have to purchase a Wacom tablet as well

 

[cmaier]

What about just using the trackpad? I really don’t want to have to purchase a Wacom tablet as well

Certainly it’s easier with other input devices, but the mac trackpad is as good a trackpad as you can find, and I do selecting all the time with it.

 

[steveash]

Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator for Mac or PC are the industry standards for images and logos respectively. Affinity Photo and Designer for Mac or iPad are great alternatives at a lower price point.

 

[Ledgem]

A lot of what you're describing is easier on an iPad, but it doesn't have to be one or the other. If you use the latest version of macOS and iPad OS you have access to Sidecar, a feature that allows you to shift a window from your Mac screen onto your iPad. Then you can use your finger or Apple Pencil as input to do what ever you want, and when you're finished you can send the window back to the Mac.

I've done this a few times with Capture One, when I wanted to more precisely and more easily brush a masked layer. It's pretty effortless, although right now it still feels clunky enough that I don't do it often. Or maybe it's not fair to say that it's clunky, and it's really more just that I don't have my desk set up to easily swap between my iPad and my Mac, nor do I do enough brush work to really justify taking the time to move the program window between devices.

Long story short, upgrade your Mac, keep your iPad, and use them together to accomplish your goals.