The units of the Galaxy Note series, and also specifically the Galaxy Note 10.1 is of course not a full Cintiq graphic tablet replacement because the processing power of the Galaxy Note series, it can not really compete with that of a modern PC.
However, they are to hold on at home or abroad, ideas to make detailed sketches, and they imagine before, and then to paint the graphics on the PC with Photoshop to end. For more the note-row is also not intended.
Actually it is not even intended.
Samsung was all about the handwriting recognition, and therefore to make notes with eg Wegbeschreibungsskizzen, or to write texts for study and work, and to provide you with formulas and tables, or order make architects, or craftsmen on site a photo and still the same with arrows and can assign notes. Or to simply save paper, and all texts have this to be able, without much drag around with you. Photoshop Touch is that, and there are pure signs apps such as SketchBook This is actually already more than could be expected. Especially if you add to this considering that most people anyway are of the opinion that draw more kids stuff is, and you as an adult for this kind of stuff but does not have time. Therefore, all the reviews may be just a bleating at a high level.
That was me all right even before buying the GN10.1. Nevertheless, mostly it is hoped that more of it. The internet can not really informative read about you, in as far as the Galaxy Note 10.1 is suitable for Digital Painting. Also trying out in the shop, you can not figure it out. That is why my review is a little more extensive, and also includes the issues a little off topic appear. Also I write across about the Galaxy Note 10.1 and the Galaxy Note smartphone since I own both, the functions (with a few exceptions) are the same, and together form a symbiosis both devices, which is a great added value.
The following graphic apps I have tested extensively:
- "Photoshop Touch" Unfortunately has the on the GN 10.1 preinstalled app the same bugs I already noticed on the Galaxy Note:
1. Smudge darkens strongly after, and is actually used only as a Dodge.
2. slight aberrations when zooming.
3. When drawing with the airbrush, a straight line will be drawn to the starting point.
4. The gradient of brush and airbrush is not good enough, and you see little circles of different color gradation.
5. The worst mistake Adobe has done is that you usually characterized with a slightly darker color than you have selected with the eyedropper. If at least this error would resolved, I would be more than satisfied with this app.
6. The stylus does not begin to draw on immediately, but only when it has covered a distance of a few millimeters. The distance from the starting point of the line then moves to fast. Points and even small circles so you can not draw, or only in the zoomed image. This is probably because, that Samsung has placed the Screenshoot function on the pen button. If you press the pen button, and the screen is touched with the stylus, a Screenshoot is made. Adobe has also placed the color picker on the pen button. If you want to pick a color with the pen out of the painted image, just the screen with the pen has to be touched, and then the pen button can be pressed. This results in the problem just described, because otherwise each would be times when painted Farbenaufpicken a point.
Since the Screenshoot but triggered only after 3 seconds, it would have been no problem if you only could push the button, and then, touch the color pecks.
(I hope you can follow me in the explanation of the problem.)
7. spidery strokes.
Nevertheless Photoshop Touch is a great Grafikapp, and you can arrange with the mistakes halfway, if you have no other app for drawing.
"Photoshop Touch" but enjoys a graphics filter function and abundance.
A "Pen only mode" does not exist. A Lasso tool is of course available, and an editing function of the cut image content. The resolution of the image can be very large. (12 megapixel) The number of layers (levels) is then, however, limited to 3. It can be a picture from the Gallery are loaded as a new layer.
-In "SketchBook Pro" have the soft brushes a fine gradient and can be quite large. For this, however, the maximum image resolution is 2560x2560 pixels only.
The number of layers is large, but is limited in the highest resolution 3.
"Autodesk" has introduced the first "Pen only mode". So there are no problems when placing the ball of the thumb. The app works in terms of the range of functions, unfortunately slimmed.
Unfortunately adds Sketchbook images in JPG add vertical stripes. For further processing on the PC, or in another app on the 10.1, the images should be saved in lossless PNG format. Unfortunately stores sketchbook images in PNG format from cross, bringing a little trouble in the presentation in the gallery, and during further processing in eg Photoshop Touch with him. Unfortunately, there is no exemption Tool. But it is by the function to turn individual layers, move, and resize the like possible.
-In "Paint Layer" are the soft Brushes unfortunately puny small, but have a subtle gradient. The functional scope is quite large.
It can be painted images with much higher resolution than in sketchbook.
However, the app crashes after exporting images from more than 5000x5000 pixels.
A "Pen Only Mode" is also available. A Lasso tool for cropping and editing of image contents is available. Sorry, no image from the Gallery can be loaded as a new layer.
- "TVPaint" is an old acquaintance from Amiga times. It is a professional graphics program, and has an incredible wealth of functions. It is drawing on the PC at the next, as it 1: 1 converted from your PC to the Tablet. In addition, it is also a full entertainment program.
The soft brushes can at lower resolutions (eg. To 2400x1600) be huge in size, but are unfortunately rather coarse and at higher resolutions then of course very slow.
The resolution can be very large, and the number of layers also. A "Pen only mode" there is not unfortunately. A Lasso tool and an editing of the image detail is available.
TVPaint can not be obtained from PlayStore. You can download the free beta version of the app, which runs until November only once, available from the website of the developer.
- "Clover Paint" comes in the ways of operation on the tablet one step further as SketchBook Pro. There is also a "Pen only mode" The function range is enormous. The soft brushes are quite small, but have a subtle gradient.
The resolution can be very large, and the number of layers. A Lasso tool and an editing function for the shot is available. It can also be an image from the Gallery are loaded as a new layer. Unfortunately appear exported images until you restart the device in the Gallery.
So something like a smudge, or Smudgetool or something for color mixing, there are in all 5 graphics apps on the tablet version. Unfortunately, this does not as good as the smudge tool in Photoshop (Elements) PC version. When I think what I can do everything in Photoshop on the PC with the smudge tool, which is a major limitation for me. However, the smudge of Clover Paint and TVPaint already halfway useful, but it is nowhere near as good as the real Photoshop.
PSD files can produce all 5 Apps. So you can save the painted image with multiple layers, and edit on your PC with Photoshop on.
TVPaint and Clover Paint support a Bluetooth keyboard for shortcuts. Although I've only been tested in TVPaint. At Clover Paint even the hardware buttons on the tablet can be used for functions. The volume rocker I have so busy that when I say "quiet" press on, the brush size can be changed, and when I press "loud" on, I can change the pressure sensitivity. The pipette or the Eyedropper I have put on the pen button. At Clover Paint works unlike Photoshop Touch wonderful. I am considering whether I for Clover Paint a hinged case with Bluetooth keyboard attached in the lid buy. Then I could possibly, when the lid is opened, and the keyboard is then on the back of the tablet, prove it with some key functions, and then to call directly when holding the tablet.
Actually, you can draw well with any of these apps. But each has its strengths and weaknesses.
Unlike programs for the PC, the apps for smartphones and tablets cost just one apple and an egg. Therefore, a bad buy is easier to get over. Since there are free updates from time to time, changes in the functions of course somewhat often.
The problem is that there is no proper guidance are in Android Apps. Although there are quick reference guides and tutorials, but these are not just Extensively. So you can just play around, or search the Internet for answers.
Since Android is a relatively open system, the images can be changed around as desired in the folders of graphics apps in the file manager. Where the File Browser is not exactly comfortable. But there are better file manager in the Play Store. PSD files are usually reduced to a level when loading with another Grafikapp.
To edit an image with multiple layers in PSD format on the PC on, it can be transferred to the PC via the Dropbox cloud, Bluetooth, or DirektWifi. But you can also connect the tablet to the USB port of the PC, and copy the images (also in PSD format) from the folders of graphics apps or from the Gallery to the hard disk.
The possibility of launching the palm of your hand as you draw, works well, but also has its pitfalls. Normal it is so that the palm is ignored as soon as the distance between pen tip and display is less than 1cm. When GN10.1 but annoying that right-handed while the system tray get in the way, which then always pops up briefly. Lefthanded solve happy times unintentionally a Screenshoot from. Although the Handball ID is suppressed on the system tray, but all too often, keeping the pin too far removed from the display. However, this happens less and less over time because it has eventually become accustomed to pay attention to set up the pen always in front of the palm of your hand (almost).
In Sketchbook, Paint Layer and Clover Paint can define that the heel of your hand is totally ignored, even if the pin is far above the screen, which can be a very relaxed drawing. Something then called "Pen ony mode". With 2 fingers can still into the picture and out, and the image section to be moved without causing her fingers slightly painted. Unfortunately, the palm is sometimes interpreted as 2 fingers and displaces the image. The system tray bother doing well still.
The best solution to the system tray provides problem Clover Paint. It suppresses the "Auto-rotate function" of the tablets. If one turns around it tilts only the font of the buttons of the user interface, so you can put the tablet upside down, and the system tray no longer interferes.
The image can be zoomed, moved and rotated with 2 fingers. Together with the "Pen only mode" which is to draw the best way .. It can even be set so that you can use the tool buttons than with a stylus.
When the Galaxy Note 10.1 uses the stylus seems a (detachable) point if you hold the stylus across the screen that shows exactly where one comes up with the pen tip. Based on the point you can draw very precise sketches, and indeed, as usual from the PC, draw lines at the exact spot on, where you finish it, even if the line is so thin.
When Galaxy Note smartphone (GT-N7000) you can choose whether you are right-handed or left-handed, then this point seems a bit left or right on the pen tip. So this is the drawing, when the pen is held at an angle, exactly in the right place. When GN10.1 can not adjust to that. The item appears exactly under the tip, even if you hold the pen at an angle. Actually, that's just as well, because otherwise it is a problem when drawing when you rotate the tablet around thereby.
The pressure sensitivity of GN10.1 is specified with 1024 pressure points. Unlike the 128 pressure levels of the Galaxy Notes, you can work with it well. Although, my Bamboo graphics tablet for the PC has better pressure sensitivity, as the GN10.1. Although this has only 256 pressure levels. The pressure sensitivity functions only in a relatively small area. So it is with most graphics apps not possible, how to draw in Photoshop on the PC with a Wacom graphics tablet with slight pressure of the pen a bright thin line seamlessly with stronger pressure slowly becomes a thick dark Brush. In TVPaint and Clover Paint can the pressure sensitivity exactly adjust to then draw almost as usual on the PC.
The display resolution is only 1280 x 800 pixels is sufficient. My laptop has a similar low resolution over a larger area, but has for a not so sharp display as the Galaxy Note 10.1. That is why the low resolution falls during GN10.1 already on sometimes. With a bigger resolution would have the tablet, because of the built-in Wacom technology, certainly much more expensive. On the internet pages with very small print this when the tablet upright keeps barely legible. But you can zoom in. Although very little work could ultra crisp in portrait format, I would anyway zoom. Held horizontally, the small font razor is sharp because they will then be displayed naturally bigger. In addition, the font can be enlarged in the settings, but will only work where this is also provided.
While drawing thin lines one sees stairs gradations. For hatches with very thin strokes in black color, something like a moire is visible. Thus, if the individual pixels of the bars merge, and cross-lines, or form surfaces. So you should not in high resolution with minimum stroke width characters, otherwise the lines are not displayed correctly. When the line width a bit thicker sets, and the opacity slightly reduced, this is no longer a problem. Then you can no longer see to the stairs hardly gradations. With resolutions up to 2500x2500 pixels Afterwards no pulling of the line is noticeable even during fast squiggle drawing. The pressure sensitivity and the fade in and out of the line is the same as that of a real mechanical pencil. Curves and circles also have the quick draw no corners.
Especially Layer Paint stings when drawing sketches out. One can it create incredibly detailed sketches in a resolution of 5000x5000 pixels, for example. It is then as if to draw with a very thin pencil. This can be marked with very fine-grained hatching actually very detailed sketches. On a sheet of paper, it does not get much better. Here you can quickly draw with the pen. A tightening of the line (ie a lag) is at such a high resolution, if you draw too quickly but fixable. Sometimes the app also swallowed, and the lines are drawn only after a short pause. Otherwise you can with the other apps (except for Photoshop Touch) clean, fine drawing, thin lines quickly. Most to draw anyway in the zoomed image, and from the sketch nothing remains at the end in the final image anyway left. With a ready-drawn image, or even in a photo, the resolution of the screen is above reproach. At least with photos I took with the Galaxy Note smartphone and transferred to the GN 10.1.
More important than the screen resolution, the resolution is the one image can be painted. This is not bound by Android on the screen resolution of the tablet, and can be much larger.
The GN10.1 tablet has only 16GB of internal memory, which is sufficient. While it is possible an SD card with a maximum of 64 GB insert, it only data can be stored. (Pictures, music, text, etc.) from Android 4.0 to it, copy protection reasons, no more apps are outsourced. This works only if you rootet the device. But I do not trust SD card when it comes to durability, anyway. The SD card is therefore not a memory expansion!
There are provided a plurality of (hard and soft) Replacement tips for the pen. There is also a larger nachzukaufen 'grip, pen-like stylus replacement. There is also a Bluetooth pen, with which you can call if you have the 3G version of GN10.1.
The of the Galaxy Note smartphone battery is removable. I have it bought a 5000mA battery. If it is empty, I can just use the original battery charged. At the Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet battery, is (as is common with all Tablets unfortunately) not replaceable. Since I did not constantly carry around the tablet with me, and I'm not always depend on how the smart phone that the battery still has juice, which is to get over. But you can order by drawing a whole night before. (About 7 hours) Charging but takes almost as long.
The question of the robustness of the GN10.1, because of the plastic back is unnecessary, in my opinion, because anyway every tablet owner or a stable Case Flipcover buys so that the screen is protected. The original Samsung is perfectly adequate, and makes the device not much thicker. This allows the tablet also up. That the back is not made of aluminum, then sees the Flipcover eh no more, and no longer can push this up then.
Tip: If you really want to do with the tablet a photo, you should fold up when the Flipcovers, press with the ring finger, the back beside the lens to the housing, otherwise the Photo light illuminates the room is not right.
Sorry, an error in the AirView function has crept in after the last update to Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean, in which the screen as you draw with the pen, at irregular intervals, fails. But what is not a crash of the device, or app. After pressing the on / off button, the app is right back without any data has been lost. If that bothers you, AirView can turn. But then also the cursor of the pen is turned off. Most graphics apps can but represent their own cursor. Meanwhile, the pin accuracy has been improved, so that one actually needs no more cursors.
In any case, now is doing something at last in the field of mobile Digital Painting.
There are more and more tablet PCs with stylus operation on the market. Especially Windows 8 tablets. (Surface Pro, Serie7 Slate, etc.) It is interesting to the newly introduced "Ativ Tab 3", in which a Samsung Windows has squeezed into the housing of the Galaxy Note 10.1 8 PC. Whether the pre-installed 30 days version of Photoshop Elements 11 it runs fast enough remains to be seen. (Only 2GB RAM, Atom processor Intel Dual Core, approximately 700 Euros, Resolution: 1366x768) If so, then I might sell my GN10.1 Tablet. However, I would greatly miss the function of Clover Paint, to be able to rotate the image with your fingers. As well as the other amenities of graphics apps. An absolute but unfortunately very expensive dream is probably the new Ativ Q, which plus keyboard in a tablet with a screen resolution of 3200 x 1800 pixels, combines an i5 processor with real Windows 8 and Android.
Meanwhile there is also pressure-sensitive pens with a fine tip for the iPad that work via Bluetooth, and a clip-on sensor. (However, these are very expensive, and are currently supported by only a few, or only the included app.)
Meanwhile, the price of GN10.1, for the WiFi-only version, already dropped to just 400 euros. It must also be borne in mind, who needs something better for mobile drawing, has more than 1000, -Euro spend, and is usually not really mobile.
(Size, weight, battery life)
Finally, I have to say:
If you resign yourself to the restrictions, such as smaller and slower Brushes, compared with graphics programs on the PC, and not quite as good pressure sensitivity of the pen, then you can take the Galaxy Note 10.1 as a favorable "Cintiq" replacement, actually satisfied be, and it is even without any restrictions so mobile. A picture in good resolution is to draw completely finished possible but more difficult than with Photoshop on the PC. Pure drawing on the tablet, and also on the smartphone definitely makes fun. Especially with Clover Paint. The tablet on the sofa drawing, instead of having to sit at the desk, and to have to look no cooking duels on television while visiting the parents, is already great. Using your fingers, the image as a photo turn over, in this case, and to zoom out, with the middle finger of the hand with which you hold the tablet, which is always close to the volume rocker, you need only tap to the brush size and the change opacity, and with the pin to pick the colors directly from the image that just does crazy fun, and raises the Digital Painting hobby to a whole new level. When the tablet then the Galaxy Note, or the Galaxy Note2 has, and the images on smartphone and tablet can draw alternates, plus with the same sign-app that is just awesome.
But when I sit down again in front of my laptop, I notice again and again, the ease with which I can draw in Photoshop images, for which I need on the tablet longer, and how great the really small difference of pressure sensitivity between SP's on the gn10. 1 and the pin of my Wacom graphics tablets then it is. Add to this that the really brilliant screen of GN10.1 representing all incredibly sharp and beautiful colors, apparently swallowed details, in that the colors are too intense. What struck me as I have an image I have drawn on the GN10.1, loaded onto the PC. Several fingertips Large bright dots that are apparently originated when I with 2 fingers to zoom in on Photoshop Touch or TVPaint the image, and the app had recognized every now and then a finger, and had then naturally drawn to the color previously selected a bright spot , (Such a thing can "Fashion Pen only" not happen with sketchbook and Clover Paint by.)
A difference in color with almost same color can be determined, on the GN10.1 not, or only on the PC. The color display of GN 10.1 screen is therefore not realistic. But that is on some tablets from other manufacturers that way. In contrast, the Galaxy Note smartphone has the truer color screen, if I disregard time of the above-described image defects in the dark areas.
Unfortunately, it is in the general public be better at if the screen displays gaudy colorful images, rather than realistic colors.
At the end just no way around it, again to edit the image on the PC.
But what takes only a few minutes. Therefore this is not a big shortage. In addition, it is better to convert the image on the PC in Photoshop in the JPG format for the Internet, as Photoshop has the better compression methods.
The S-Note app:
One can move freely on the page as in a desktop publishing program images and of course write texts of different size, font and color in boxes and these boxes. Or simply the page full review. For this you can still draw sketches free. By conformability lines, squares, circles or arrows can be straightened. Formulas can be written clean.
The S-Note app crashes, but from now and then. One should caching frequently. The "Pen only mode" unfortunately does not work in lower writing field. The handwriting recognition works well. But you should, if you want to use them as often as possible to use for practice handwriting recognition in order to cope. If not, you have to get used some letters easy to write in block letters. Annoying is that if they do not put the punctuation to a set fast enough, in between a space is set. I can by hand, after a long exercise time, do not write faster than on the onscreen keyboard. But it's at least more fun. Which strikes me that the character recognition is apparently depending on weather conditions. Otherwise I can not explain why I can sometimes scribble down all the texts in Sauklaue, and everything will be recognized on other days but, in a program written in calligraphy word such as "Galaxy", this and that are not recognized x G.
The operation of the App is hakelig. If one uses it constantly, you always got along better with it. Otherwise there are similar apps PlayStore such as Lecture Notes. Handwriting recognition with the S-Pen works App independently in almost all apps, and in (almost) every field where entered on the GN 10.1 something, or can be written into it. Even in websites. The documents created with S-Note, if you saves as a PDF or JPEG file strong compression artifacts. But what bothers only when you zoom in the document. Otherwise it looks on the tablet still good. As an expression looks like I do not know. Interesting is also the possibility of anything on the tablet is somehow represented, cut with the pen, and insert these Screenshoot via the clipboard into a document. To this end, the possibility of the tablets is interesting to be able to use 2 apps such as the web browser, Google Maps, or an image from the Gallery, and the S Note app side by side on one screen, which of course only works with apps that which also support. In view of the cascade can even quite many apps run like on the PC in windows. Here you can tell, although the low resolution of the screen, but the text can be read on the web pages still.
The documents can not be edited on the PC in other word processors, which should also be clear well, and also not be possible otherwise. However, one can send the created document as a PDF or JPEG file or as editable plain text email. The thing with the plain text I noticed only now, otherwise I would not write this text on my laptop with Wordpad, but on the tablet, and then sent him via Direct Wifi to the laptop.
Otherwise, you can see the documents if they are stored as JPEG, of course edit in Photoshop. There is also the S-Note also for Windows 8. I'm going to assume that you can load and edit the files produced the S-grade internal order.
If you without S-Note runs, sometimes tapping on the display with the pressed button pin two, a yellow Post-it note appears on which you write notes and then save. Auch kann von einigen Apps, wie zB dem Terminkalender (S-Planer) des Tablets, über ein Menü auf die Notizfunktion zugegriffen werden Die Post-it Zettel können dann zB. in den Terminen abgespeichert werden.
Die Möglichkeit, genau wie bei einem Terminkalender aus Papier, Randnotizen direkt mit dem Stift auf die Monatsansicht zu kritzeln, finde ich extrem nützlich. Auch wenn in den Tagesfeldern kein Platz mehr ist, passt immer noch ein rotes Sternchen hinein Am Rand kann man dann irgendwo zB "Grill nicht vergessen" hinschreiben.
Bewertung des GN 10.1:
Einerseits würde ich nur 4 Sterne geben, da es noch Raum nach oben gibt. Andererseits ist das GN10.1 zur Zeit ein absolutes Novum, auf das ich lange gewartet habe. Ich vergebe wohlwollend 5 Sterne, auch dafür dass Samsung ein bezahlbares Gerät hergestellt hat, welches es bei der Masse der Tabletnutzer schwer hat bzw. hatte sich durchzusetzen, aber die Bedürfnisse einiger Weniger die einen Digitizerstift zu schätzen wissen, berücksichtigt hat.
