Workflow question for tablet <> desktop

[Grasp]

Hi, I'm new, I have yet to try out Affinity, but the more I read about it the more I'm very interested. I'll give the trial a go for sure. I'm coming from only using Adobe the past 15years.

 

What's the workflow for going between ipad and Windows versions? I would love to use dropbox or an external drive and avoid locally stored files on the tablet

What about browsing RAWs on an ipad? I usually use Adobe Bridge to import selects from an SD Card , then Lightroom as a library.

 

Thank!s

 

Context:

- I'm keen to get away from my desk more, and so I'm looking into a tablet workflow. I currently don't own a tablet.

- I'm concerned such a workflow would mean doubling my subscription cost for Adobe's Cloud Storage, which is irritating when I have plenty on Dropbox. So now looking seriously at non Adobe options.

- I am a heavy photoshop user, I use lightroom CC Classic less and less, and now only as an organizer for raws and psds (I'm interested to hear Affinity also has an organizer in the works) 

- I've heard apparently ipad now supports external drives? any apple limitations on this?

- My suspicion is this would be an external drive workflow, as dropbox integration (especially with an organizer) would be wishful thinking.

[DM1]

The new iPads are very good, especially the Pro versions. Combined with an Apple Pencil using the Affinity apps is a great experience. The iPad versions have the majority of features offered in the desktop, with some minor differences. Also a different ui and OS make workflows a little different but quite workable.

Dropbox works perfectly for access and storage of files, though currently iCloud is needed to load brushes and assets (bug but in hand with devs).

Affinity have referred to producing a Digital Assets Management system but nothing available yet. Files app is able to view many (but not all) RAW files. I use an app called Documents for file management on the ipad, but no raw viewer. Worth keeping in mind that affinity photo on iPad uses Apple’s raw engine only, so you need to have a 'supported camera' or convert the raw into a supported format. There is a list of supported cameras on the forum.

For organising raw and other photos I have been testing a free app called Pixave. It works well but has not been actively supported for a while.

External drives such as the WD Wireless Pro work well with the iPads but newer iPads with USB and the new iPadOS should work well with all drives.

Cloud integration works very well on iPad. Below shows some of the access options available when opening a file from Affinity Photo.

[Grasp]

Thanks very much.

I've been playing around with my iPad Pro, it's a wonderful tool for sure. I was pleasantly surprised at Affinity as well. It's impressively fast on the iPad.

I have a non Adobe workflow concept that I'd like some feedback on.

- Affinity iPad & Affinity Desktop

- a DAM that has versions on iPad & Desktop

- This DAM uses a catalog file that I can pop into Dropbox, there by sourcing on multiple devices (Much like Lightroom Classic CC), but the iPad version needs to be able to be told to access that DAM on dropbox (i know what developers, and indeed apple can be like)

- Source files for the DAM (Raws) are in an external Drive that I can move between iPad & Desktop

- The DAM can read affinity photo files [not totally necessary, but i prefer the working file viewable rather than having multiple versions of exports, v4, v5, v6.. etc] (much like how PSDs are viewable in Lightroom - so you can see if the colours off compared to others, and go back in and tweak)

 

Is this possible? Recommended?

I don't do heavy edits on RAWs, I tend to make them neutral as I do a lot of retouching before the colour work, so I'm not to fussed by Affinity not having a great Develop module/persona.