How do you use iPad in your workflow?

>>> To think it was "horsepower" that the MkI lacked to enable serious RAW editing just shows a

complete ignorance of the user interface and the current small touch screen interactivity.

 

No. The user interface potential is clearly there. Look at some of the great photo editors already out there.

Fortunately there are creative tablet software designers who have thought outside the box pushing and

refining great user interface ideas, rather than be restricted adopting re-purposed desktop/laptop non-touch

UI metaphors of the past.

 

Look at the user interface for Brushes, an iPad app my wife and thousands of other painters use to "paint"

amazing works with just a finger. There are at least a dozen other painting apps similarly out there. They're great because they don't embrace/rely on old UI methods from the non-touch desktop era.

 

It is horsepower that's lacking if you insist on super-fluid real-time update nondestructive instruction-based editing with multiple brushes each, each controlling multiple parameters (exposure, clarity, sharpness, etc), which LR and Ap are built upon.

 

If you're willing to give that up for simple pixel-based destructive can't-go-back editing, easy. There are plenty of apps out there. Not something I'm interested in though. And for sure many other photographers aren't interested as well.

<p>Brad,</p>

<p>Even if they make a seamless LR4 interface for the iPad 4, or whatever, if the screen is "only" 9.7 inches I won't be using it. 9.7 inches is too small for serious editing, especially if you consider that includes your interface, yes you can add keyboards, Wacoms, trackpads etc but if you do, it rather misses the point. When they make 24" touch screens for image editing then it is worth looking at. Most people I know into serious editing are running two screens, a 22" or 24" monitor for the image and another one, or a laptop, for the tools, I don't want 40"+ of screen real estate squashed down to 9.7" and fit my input methods in there too. Anybody that thinks they can do serious editing on a 9.7" touchscreen, is not, a serious editor.</p>

<p>It is not the touchscreen potential, that will grow and grow, it is the screen size. And conversely if they made a 24" iPad I wouldn't want it :-).</p>

>>> Even if they make a seamless LR4 interface for the iPad 4, or whatever, if the screen is "only" 9.7

inches I won't be using it. 9.7 inches is too small for serious editing,

 

Right, but that's not the point. If you're at home with large screens, like most people have today, there's no

incentive to use a tablet. Why would you?

 

I'm talking about having a device for editing in the field. With a 10+ hour battery, built-in no-contract month-to-

month 3G access, and weighing 1+ pounds. LR4 on such a device in the field would be great for me, even

with a 9.7" screen.

<p>I love the iPad because I don't treat it like a computer.</p>

<p>When I want to process image files I use a computer. The iPad is useful for on-the-go communications, maps, notes, navigation, helpful apps, a nice collection of music and a showcase of selected photos. </p>

<p>By comparison, I bought a Windows Netbook last fall. I wanted the ability to view and back up image files in the field. What an piece of useless crapola! Tiny low-resolution screen, clunky battery-laden body, toy keyboard, wretched pointing tool - AND - it doesn't run ANYTHING! Forget about Photoshop or any other useful program. It won't even run a word processor. I ended up selling it to a guy who planned to install LINUX on it.</p>

<p>Try using a laptop (even a small one) while standing in line or on a moving train, and you'll realize very quickly how awesomely useful and convenient the iPad is. Just don't mistake it for a computer.</p>

<p><em>When you can buy a new notebook computer for around $500, why would you bother? </em></p>

<p>For me, it's because the iPad is just "on". No waiting. It's great for pulling out in the middle of crowds or the car and having the internet there in heartbeat. Opening and getting to business on a laptop on the other-hand is a two-handed production that takes a few minutes.</p>

<p>I'd love a tablet that ran a computer OS and Lightroom. It'd be great to tether to and have clients view while shooting. And the screen is definitely bigger than the back of my dslr for chimping and deleting. I'm all for it, just not with one running a phone OS.</p>

<p>As the owner of an iPad, a new 11" MacBook Air, a 24" iMac and a bunch of other Macs around the office, I feel obligated to comment on my experiences. <br>

We got the iPad to show off my books which are available from Apple and Amazon as eBooks and to develop APPs for our technical specialty (fiber optics.) Having had one for about 9 months now, I can assure you that it will not replace your computer that does photo editing. However, it is the best experience ever for reading, web browsing and short emails. It makes a dandy navigation device as you can actually see the map, but it helps if you have a passenger holding it. I have stored some photos for demos on it and the display is soooo nice. I occasionally download photos from cameras just to view them, not archive them.<br>

I use the Macbook Air for my email because I have lots of archived emails (15+ years) and documents I need when I travel. I use the iMac for graphics, including photo editing, writing and publishing. <br>

When I travel, I will always have the iPad because it can keep me connected and up to date. I usually have the MacBook Air too, since the combo stills weighs much less than a typical laptop.<br>

Personally, I don't think I would give up any of them. Right tool for the job, eh, Mr. Natural?<br>

Funny, I still don't have an iPhone. Maybe 5G.</p>

>>> I love the iPad because I don't treat it like a computer.

 

That's key and something many people don't understand. It's about interacting with (your) data in a new

and very personal way.

 

Here's an example. Last week I met with a photo editor of a local publication. Over coffee I gave her my

iPad which has six different portfolio photosets of mine. Being able to hold it in your hand up close,

intuitively swiping photos, displayed on a gorgeous high quality IPS screen (where almost all laptops use

inferior TN-based LCD panels) is a great experience. That personal engagement is far different than

viewing photos on a laptop.

<p>I'm thinking the best use of the iPad in a photo workflow is as a portfolio device. I've talked to a few people using it for that and it makes a very nice presentation device. It also seems to be a great general content consuming device for internet little apps for doing things, while having connectivity, but does not seem to really be or meant to be a "substitute" for a laptop in terms of doing work on it. And that's ok, people who have them really love it for what it brings. For me, I they are just priced way too high. Though people that have them don't think so at all.</p>

<blockquote>

<p><a href="../photodb/user?user_id=153336">Brad -</a> <a href="../member-status-icons"><img title="Frequent poster" src="../v3graphics/member-status-icons/1roll.gif" alt="" /></a>, Mar 16, 2011; 10:29 a.m.<br>

>>> I love the iPad because I don't treat it like a computer.<br>

That's key and something many people don't understand. It's about interacting with (your) data in a new and very personal way.</p>

 

</blockquote>

<p>I agree. I was scooting about the Swiss alps a few months back with a workshop group, and we used an iPad in the van and in cafes to download and select images from participants work during the course of the day. Being able to turn the iPad over and see stuff invert to show folks on the other side of the table, have first-timers use it inutuitively to select images etc was a great time-saver.</p>

<p>Once back to base we synced the iPad with an iMac and had all the images self-sort in iPhoto based on camera serial numbers and were able to review batches of individuals work really easily. Those whose work we'd not managed to download/select we passed the iPad around during review and they quickly and easily selected the images they wanted to have reviewed. </p>

<p>Made the job easier than any other method I've ever used.</p>

<p> </p>

<p><em>Even if they make a seamless LR4 interface for the iPad 4, or whatever, if the screen is "only" 9.7 inches I won't be using it.</em></p>

<p>I bet I could change your mind. :)</p>

<p>I'll bet you couldn't. As some people say the iPad can do nothing the iPod Touch can't do, so why buy a device that is so much bigger? Screen real estate, for me, and it is very personal, I find a 9.7 the smallest I am interested in, but I can't envision being able to work on that small a space, view yes, work, not interested. Heck I find my 17" laptop a bore to do <em>"serious work"</em> on.</p>

>>> I'll bet you couldn't. As some people say the iPad can do nothing the iPod Touch can't do, so why buy a device

that is so much bigger?

 

You buy it exactly for that reason. More screen space provides a much better experience and user interface

possibilities. And a great IPS screen. Also, no-contract month-to-month 3G access for use in the field.

 

There are lots of apps developed to take advantage of the larger screen space that would make no sense at all on a

smaller device. ArtRage, a very sophisticated painting program is just one example. Other apps used by doctors to

access patient records, scans, etc are another category. In fact they're part of the curriculum at Stanford's medical

school.

 

>>> I find a 9.7 the smallest I am interested in, but I can't envision being able to work on that small a space, view

yes, work, not interested.

 

And lots of people can't envision painting on an iPad. But loads do and create impressive "paintings." Tons of people

would be all over a LR iPad version, including myself. No doubt Adobe is working on it. Again, it would be for use in

the field, not at home where everyone has large monitors and desktop computers.

<p>Brad,</p>

<p>I was only relaying my personal feelings, as I said. I also don't doubt that a LR4 Mobile, or something like it, will be available for an iPad 4, or that touch screen tablets are the growth market and the direction most personal computing will go, all I said was, when it does happen I am not interested in using a 9.7" screen with a touchscreen interface to do "serious imaging work" on, I didn't say nobody would be, just that I wouldn't. As a very happy iPad user I know, even in the field, I can't trust myself to make editing decisions on that device, but then I am a RAW shooter who never deletes a file until it has been downloaded to my computer, even lens cap shots.</p>

<p>Scott, do you use a smarphone already? I use mine to show portfolios and images and share my files and share surfing. I'm always passing my phone around. This is where tablets shine. Do you chimp and delete and show others your images from your little tiny lcd screen on the back of your camera? Do you use LR at all, for editing and picking and apply presets and maybe publish to the 'net or social sites? Or shooting tethered, wired or wireless, and i could on but once you had it for a awhile, you'd be hooked. I'm looking forward to them having real OS's on them and being able to create data.</p>

<p>Asus has a nice tablet with a digi pen (think wacom), i-5 processor, 4 gigs of ram, 12", Windows 7, hdmi, wifi, blue tooth etc etc. iPad will catch up soon, i think many will be using them for photography</p>

<p>http://www.tabletpcinfos.com/473/asus-eee-slate-ep-121-windows-7-tablet-with-intel-core-i5-processor/</p>

<p>Garrison,</p>

<p>No, I don't own a smartphone, they are too small for me to consider smart. Yes, I use my iPad to show my images, I know that is one small area where they shine, I also know many others. As I have already said, I do not chimp and delete, ever. No I don't show others my camera screen, I use my EyeFi card to send the images direct to the iPad wirelessly for others to hold and see. Yes I use LR, I would never upload anything without it going through my backed up library. I don't publish to net or social sites on the fly, and don't want to. I shoot both tethered to a laptop and wirelessly to the iPad, both have their uses and can be very effective.</p>

<p>How many ways do I have to say the same thing? <strong>I have an iPad and really like it,</strong> it has many uses for many different people, I use it a lot in my photography, but, <strong>I will never be interested in doing "serious image editing work" with one, </strong>I am sure others might.</p>

<p>okay, i'll shut up.</p>

<p>to be honest I had expected a bit more from the second version. It seems to be a bit too expensive for merely displaying slideshows especially since it's considerably more expensive over here.<br>

<br /> So I decided to go another way and instead bought a Samsung notebook 2Gb/250Gb and 10,1 screen, an extremely pocketable HD of 200 Gb and upgraded my 16Gb itouch to the 4G/64Gb one all for less than the new iPad. Since then I've been a week to Paris backed up my photos every evening and went on the internet every time I felt like it.<br>

<br /> I have to admit the iPad looks and feels extremely sexy but as far as usability is concerned, especially in light of the current retail price, there are a lot more and better options, at least as far as I'm concerned.</p>

<p>I have contracts and model releases available for signing on my ipad, I have square for credit cards, and use the ipad to demonstrate some of my work. It is a shame that Apple has taken away the ability to read cards other than sd, prior to the new updates one could do raw images in the ipad (CF). Waiting for the day when adobe may create an application for lightroom on either the ipad or any of the new android tablets that are starting to appear, when that happens I will switch tablets if it is only available on the android tablets.</p>

<p>Advanced amateur here, and one who has been calling the iPad a "large iPod Touch" when it first came out.<br /> With that clarified, I have decided to buy one of the new iPad2 as soon as they become available here, after playing with my son's iPad for a few days. For photography purposes, I plan to use it as follows:</p>

<ul>

<li>Vacations: I shoot about 500-800 pictures during our week-long vacations. So far, I had to carry my MacBook Pro, to copy the pictures to it, every evening. I never edit them on the MacBook, I just upload them there for security reasons. The iPad should cover that need nicely, with less weight. If my calculations are correct, even a 16GB iPad should be able to store my week's collection at 12MB per picture.</li>

<li>View/show my pictures: Yes, I know, they'll be limited to the jpg version embedded in the nef file, but that's OK for me during vacations. After I get home, I can import them from the iPad to my iMac, and do all the editing I want. Then I can export 1024x768 versions to download in the iPad for showing/viewing.</li>

</ul>

<p>I believe the iPad should cover those needs just fine. I just wish Apple's camera kit had a CF card reader too, instead of just an SD card one. I hate connecting my camera to the iPad with a cable.</p>

<p>John,</p>

<p>I don't use the cable to the camera, I use the mini USB socket that also comes with the camera connector kit, I plug a card reader into that and the iPad reads my CF cards fine.</p>

<p>I agree with everyone who notes that an iPad is excellent for sharing portfolios. You hand it to someone, and even if they've never used one, they start flipping through the photos immediately. It's fun to hold and use even when you're standing up. The iPad is more of a "hand-top" device than a "laptop" device.</p>

<p>I have an iPhone, but I would never show my portfolio on it. It would be like looking at a stamp collection.</p>

<p>Tablets are a new class of device. I take mine everywhere and use it constantly. That was never the case with any laptop that I've ever owned. I have instant access to email, music, photos, maps, apps, video, and the vast majority of the Internet (sans sites that rely heavily on flash). I rarely carry my laptop anymore. It feels like a brick.</p>

<blockquote>

<p>I love the iPad because I don't treat it like a computer.</p>

</blockquote>

<p>That is the key and that's what my friends that have one say. It's a brand new paradigm in computing. But not having one, I don't quite get it yet. But I was playing with one today a first version, and I can see it is a different type of machine. It's NOT a laptop replacement. What I've been saying is that for the 700 or 800 USD it costs for the 3G 64GB version, you can have a MBP for not too much more or a Macbook for just a very little more. But I'm beginning to see that I'm missing the point of the use for the iPad. It's more of a consumer tool, not so much a content creator tool at the same time of providing access and display of content, it also allows you all kinds of connectivity of various sorts. But I still personally think it's over priced although people are buying them like crazy in the midst of a down economy. If I got one, I'd probably go for a 32 without 3G. Does anyone know if they have been jail broken yet?</p>

<p>Sorry to take us back to photography, but...</p>

<p>How do you wirelessly send a RAW file from your camera to the iPAD?</p>

<p>Ziggy,</p>

<p>First, are you using or happy to jailbreak your iPad, if you are then <a href="http://fstoppers.com/ipad/">this is how</a>.</p>

<p>If you are not happy to crack your iPad <a href="http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_page.asp?cid=7-10055-10851">this is how</a>.</p>

<p>I jailbroke mine and can wirelessly receive RAW images on the iPad anywhere without a router. Enjoy.</p>