The Apple iPad Pro is changing the way photographers organize their images, thanks to a touch user interface, Apple Pencil, and great apps now available for iOS. The maturity of the platform pushes mobile photo editing much further back in 2010 than it did in the early days of the iPad. With the better 9.7-inch iPad Pro and Pencil on both the smaller iPad Pro and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, amateurs and professionals alike can achieve great results. Many amateur enthusiasts can only take advantage of the iPad Pro. Professionals can use it while away from their desktop or laptop computer to make quick edits, edit and share photos, even if they have the extra power of a desktop or laptop photo editing environment.
We will look at some of the best photo editing apps. Next, we’ll list a few accessories that can make photo editing easier. Finally, we will recommend a simple workflow for beginner iPad Pro photo editors. We will focus on beginners, as professionals are likely to already have a good workflow.
iPad Pro Photo Editing Apps
There are several useful and powerful photo apps for iPad Pro. Let’s start with pixel generator ($4.99) does a great job of photo editing on its own. Users can import photos from iPad’s camera, iCloud Drive, Photos, or create an image from scratch. This last option lets you create something using the artistic tools in the app.
Pixelmator includes:
Pixelmator also brings iOS 9 compatibility, allowing you to access the app’s filters from the iOS 9 Photos app. You cannot use more advanced Pixelmator features unless you open them directly in Pixelmator. If all you want to do is add filters, this is a great way to do it efficiently from the iOS 9 Photos app.
The iOS 9 Photos app organizes your photos and offers some simple photo editing and sharing features. However Adobe Lightroom Mobile The (free) app does a better job of all three.
Use the built-in ready-made filters to quickly add a specific look to a photo.
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Mobile works like a computer program. Organize photos and group them into collections. Adobe provided the demo below at its 2015 Max conference.
These collections can be synced with Adobe’s Creative Cloud apps installed on other mobile devices or a computer. One of the users Creative Cloud subscription This starts at $10 per month and costs up to $70 per month with access to all Adobe apps as well as Adobe Stock photos.
Built-in editing tools turn an average photo into something special with the right adjustments. Once the user learns to use the program, they can do amazing things using touch. Moving the adjustment sliders by touch feels more organic than trying to drag them on the computer with the mouse.
I took the photo below recently on Ocracoke Island off the coast of North Carolina. I edited with Lightroom. It wasn’t a great shot, but thanks to the tools in Lightroom it’s not bad for 15 minutes of work on the iPad Pro.
A third app that deserves mention comes from Google. snapseed (Free) also handles iPad Pro photo editing with simple tools as well as some advanced features. Every editing tool comes with X and Y axis manipulation. Swipe up and down to select the editing tools in this section. For example, under Image Adjustment, swipe up and down to select…
Scroll until you see the shadows. Then swipe left and right to decrease or increase the levels of the darker areas (shadows) of the photo.
The app also includes filters that quickly apply several settings at once. When the user applies a filter, there is a series of thumbnails at the bottom of the screen. Select them and then fine-tune the filter by swiping left or right to decrease or increase the extent to which the filter is applied.
Snapseed’s touch-focused adjustment tools make it easier to edit photos than using a mouse on a computer or a trackpad on a laptop.
A few other honorable mention editors include: Polarr Photo Editor (Free) is an advanced photo editor with professional-grade editing features. Also, big camera+ ($2.99) Tap Tap Tap app includes some great photo editing tools.
iPad Pro Photo Editing Accessories
No one needs any accessories to edit photos on an iPad Pro, but a few will make life easier. Firstly, Lightning – SD Card Camera Reader from Apple. For $29, the fastest and easiest way to import photos from your point-and-shoot or DSLR camera.
It plugs into the iPad Pro, and when the iPad Pro finds pictures on the card, it opens the Photos app and offers to import all or just the ones you want to work with.
Then take apple pencil ($99) because it gives the user fine control over drawing and retouching. Adobe supports this in some mobile iOS creative apps. At launch the Pen was difficult to find, but by the time you read this, its usability may be slack.
A third great product comes from TwelveSouth, which makes some of the best iPad accessories. this TwelveSouth ParcSlope ($49.99) stand holds iPad Pro at a nice 18-degree angle; Perfect for working with your photos on iPad Pro, whether you’re using the Pen or your fingers.
A eye-fi card (starting at $29.99 for 8GB) will help users easily move photos from camera to iPad Pro. The SD card includes built-in Wi-Fi. Be careful because this drains the battery faster than a traditional SD card.
iPad Pro Photo Editing Workflow
Photographers use different steps in their photography workflow. However, here are a few general steps everyone should follow.
- Import and backup photos to iPad Pro.
- Organize them and choose the best shots to edit first while marking the ones you don’t want to mess with.
- Process photos using digital photo editing tools.
- Share the best photos.
- Go back to the shots you didn’t select or reject in step 2 and repeat steps 3 and 4 to find the photos you want to work on further to turn them into usable images.
We don’t have the time or space to go over the above steps in detail, but let’s look at them briefly.
Import and Backup Photos
A photographer imports photos and backs them up differently depending on where the shots came from.
Edit Photos
My favorite photo editing tool on iPad is the Lightroom Mobile app. Follow the link to learn more about it and how to use it.
The video above shows the iPhone app, but it works the same on the iPad Pro. It also syncs with the desktop version on Mac or Windows.
if you don’t subscribe Adobe Creative CloudConsider doing it. Lightroom and Photoshop on PC and mobile versions are just $9.99 a month to get. The full suite will cost $40 per month for programs and access to mobile apps. Add Adobe Stock Photos for $30.
For those who can afford an additional $10 per month, the Lightroom Mobile app offers the best solution for editing photos, making basic edits, and syncing with your desktop system.
After importing the photos, tag or select the best shots you want to work on. Also, tag the shots you don’t want to mess with, like blurry shots or images that don’t work. Lightroom mobile calls this by rejecting the photo.
Once you’re done choosing the best shots and rejecting unnecessary shots, take another look. This second round focuses on images that you can turn into quality works of art or that you want to keep for memories, even if they are not the best paintings.
In Lightroom or Photos, the user can create collections and tag shots with objects or locations. In Photos, do this by pressing the Select button and then select the shots you want to work with and tap the Add button and add the shots to an album or create a new one. Lightroom offers a similar feature.
Photo Processing
We will not talk about Photo Processing in detail. Every app works differently and user must learn how to master their favorite app. Here are the steps most users should follow:
- Crop the image.
- Fix photo temperature (warm or cold).
- Correct exposure, color, and saturation.
- Fix imperfections such as dust spots, distracting backgrounds or red eyes.
- Add creative touches like photo filters or lens flare.
- Share the picture.
Share the Best Photos
Find a good online photo sharing service. Professionals like it 500px (It’s free), but this can be intimidating for beginners. The best online shots usually come from 500px. flickr It also offers a nice photo sharing service. Some like to use Facebook, iCloud photo sharing or Google Photos. Flickr’s app will automatically upload photos from the iPad’s Photos. Then select photos from within the app and create a collection, make them visible to the public or with Flickr followers, and/or share the link of the photo collection to social networks such as Facebook or Twitter.
Note that you can still share photos in print form. Users can get a nice photo printer that supports iOS printing or use a good photo printing service. One of our favorite services for printing digital photos is Apple’s photo printing service. Using iCloud sharing, the photographer can create beautiful prints, photobooks, cards, and digital shares.
Apple’s service does not allow photographers to print directly from the iPad Pro. Users will need to edit the footage and then sync it using iCloud’s sync services built into Photos. Next, open the Mac OS X version of Photos and select the photos. From the Photos File menu, choose Photo Book, Card, Calendar, Slideshow or Create Print.
Upload your photos to SizzelPix! to get a large beautiful metal canvas print.
SizzelPix! It offers a beautiful and unique way to display your artworks. They print your photo on a large “durable yet lightweight metal base”. The company prints images on metal canvas from 18 inches to 6 feet, with prices starting at $199. Derrick Story, one of the top Photography podcasters/bloggers, recommends them on his site. Web site. The company offers multiple hanging and framing options. They look amazing.
A few other services come with apps you can install. They include…
Many will also force the user to sync photos with the service and use the browser to order prints.
Finally, consider a Mosaic photo book. upload photos using the application of the service. Then order the book, which costs around $20 and arrives within a week.
