Applications That Will Utilize iPadOS Towards A Greater Potential For Designers

As iPad becomes a staple of future computing, designers, along with other forms of artists, have an array of options regarding the production of their work.

Image courtesy of Apple.

The functionality of the iPad has adapted greatly for the imminent future. With the addition of iPadOS, a new operating system geared towards advancing user ability on iPad, the lineup has never been as sophisticated than before. As stated in my previous article, with the progress of the iPad Pro lineup, along with a new software entry, iPad is, in fact, the subsequent formation of computing. Any professional in the computer industry needs correct software. While the background of the initial default software configuration is sufficiently significant, third-party assistance adds to the level of advancement. With Apple’s App Store, now configured more bounteously for iPadOS, developers can further elevate the experience for any user by creating redefining applications within any genre of work. One of the most relevant classes in technology, that many developers deal with, is design.

The design of any application is as important as its purpose. Both user experience and interface designers have to collaborate to create experiences like no other when dealing with any application. With the inclusion of iPadOS, into the allocation of the iPad Pro lineup, the chances of advancing the skills of design increases drastically. Adobe’s entrants for design creativity, with its application Photoshop, and Affinity’s lineup, composed of Photo and Designer, are exemplary applications that could drive iPadOS towards its fullest potential in design.

ADOBE

The full Adobe Photoshop experience in the next generation of computing.

Image courtesy of The Verge.

Photoshop is one of the prime tools of designing. It is not just for graphic design, but rather for both user experience and interfaces too. Adobe’s flagship has been lurking within the presence of Windows and macOS software for PCs and Macs. Now when a product, such as iPad Pro, arrives on the doorstep with the immensely powerful spec filled machinery it is, a need for expansion is necessitated. Adobe, as of now in Apple’s App Store, have developed apps that are spin-offs of their larger flagship applications. Apps such as Photoshop Mix and Illustrator Draw don’t have the complete experience compared to their PC and Mac variants. The factor of smaller versions of flagship applications is soon to change towards the Adobe Creative Cloud, as the California company announced that they would be introducing Photoshop for iPad that retains the true nature of its Mac variant.

The new Photoshop for iPad is set to bring an unprecedented amount of features and tools, that the macOS variant already has. Features arriving include unlimited layers, syncing .psd files to and from the Adobe Creative Cloud, and an overall similar user experience as the desktop version. The highlight, about transferring .psd files from Photoshop on iPad to Photoshop on a desktop practice, is one of the appealing ways that make this upcoming release close to home. The yet-to-be-released app from Adobe is an exceptional fit for the ecosystem built within iPadOS. It is like nothing that we have ever seen before…or has it?

AFFINITY (and beyond!)

Known as one of the best alternatives for Photoshop on iPad, Affinity Photo could still hold the acknowledgement around the newly established environment of iPadOS.

Image courtesy of Serif.

From a company that holds knowledge of software development, from 1987, comes a designer’s ecstasy. Serif’s Affinity Photo application is, as of now, the most strongest alternative to Photoshop on iPad. Until recently, Photo was the only option to obtain a Photoshop-like experience for iPad, with its own unique set of features such as opening and syncing .psd files to other software that run them and live brush settings plus filters. The veteran quality of the program makes it first in line towards becoming a robust tool used for designers of all types. The versatile default operating system is an equilibrium to Photo due to a more standard computing experience. In a nutshell, future updates from Affinity should make Photo a well-to-do companion with iPadOS. Serif does not stop here though…

Affinity Designer’s vector based software is a key element for user interface design.

Image courtesy of Serif.

Affinity Designer is a design software from the corresponding company that delivered Affinity Photo for iPad. Just as how Photo was to Photoshop, Designer concurs with Adobe Illustrator. The biggest indication of this is due to its vector-based tools that allow designers to render their vector treatments using state of the art tools. Using Metal, a graphics engine, Designer turns into a powerhouse. The fluidness of the application lets any project get completed swiftly. Features such as advanced grids, snapping and alignment, unlimited artboards, linked symbols and constraints, and a comprehensive toolset for vectors, elevate a desktop class experience in iPadOS. Just like its cousin, Affinity Photo, Designer is a known veteran within the third-party design community. It is this fact that makes the application a formidable accessory for iPadOS. For the future of user interface elements alone, this is a great option to acquire for iPads running on iPadOS.

A closing statement

With entries of software applications from Adobe and Affinity, designers of various prototypes can rely on the best tools for their projects. Adobe Photoshop for iPad, releasing later this year, has established desktop Photoshop capabilities that will be ideal for iPadOS. Affinity Photo and Designer’s veteran status provides an opportunity for the latest updates regarding the status of design tools towards the immediate future. All three programs consist of redefining ways to advance design projects for any classification of designer. Since they are all exceptional prospects, engage judiciously.