The Pencil, a stylus by Fiftythree, the makers of the app Paper, is going to receive a big update. (Click Image To Enlarge)
THANKS TO APPLE UNLOCKING THE IPAD'S POTENTIAL, FIFTYTHREE'S PENCIL WILL SOON GET EVEN BETTER
Today, the iPad stylus takes another step away from stupid stick and closer to expressive artistic tool. FiftyThree's Pencil--a wooden stylus made for the impressive iPad sketching app Paper--will soon allow you to vary the width of your line as naturally as drawing with a real pencil or marker.
As the video shows, you simply tilt the tip of the Pencil to go from fine point to thick line while sketching on screen--just as you would with the real thing. In other words, digital drawing on the iPad can feel a step more intuitive than it has.
By tilting the tip, you'll be able to draw a line of varying thickness. You know, just like a real pencil. (Click Image To Enlarge)
The update actually comes largely of Apple. (Click Image To Enlarge)
In iOS8, the company unlocked the capacity for the screen to recognize objects of various width. (Click Image To Enlarge)
While the Paper app--also developed by FiftyThree--has some incredible algorithms inside that enable intuitive color mixing and for you to rest the palm of your hand on the screen as you draw, this update actually comes largely as courtesy of Apple. Amongst countless updates in iOS 8 is a powerful feature that most of us missed: The iPad’s touch screen can now recognize objects of various size. So instead of treating a thumb or pinky as the same sized orb, it can accommodate the precision necessary for the Pencil’s tip to begin simulating the multitude of subtle thicknesses we’d find in any natural drawing tool.
For these analog-digital hybrid drawing tools, this could lead to a wave of more naturalistic sketching experiences. (Click Image To Enlarge)
Eventually, these tools could get so good that we won't be able to distinguish Paper from paper. (Click Image To Enlarge)
If you already own a Pencil, there’s no need to buy anything new. Free software will update the feel of the hardware. Timing will coincide with the public release of iOS 8 in the fall.
Courtesy of an article dated June 17, 2014 appearing in Fast Company Design
Comments