Kobo Sketch Pad Doodles!

Kasper Hviid · 05-02-2014, 01:19 PM

I have tried actually using one of the more obscure 'Beta features' on my Aura HD: The Sketch Pad!

To draw, I sometimes use my finger, other times a stylus. I also creates my own stylus using metallized film or conductive foam.

Like any other tool, this software has its own nature that the artist will need to accept. The strokes lacks precision, so you must forget about drawing perfect contour lines, and instead use repeated strokes and hatching to create various shades and plastic forms.

Sketch Pad will let you save your work - but you cannot reload a previously saved drawing. Nor is it possible to erase any mistakes you have made. Those features are perfect for sketching!

Sketch Pads only real drawback is the horizontal lines that appears randomly as you draw. You can sometimes make those unintended lines part of the drawing, but mustly they are just irritating!

Spoiler:

Ripplinger · 05-02-2014, 01:58 PM

Those are pretty good. I really miss that feature on the Sony PRS-350.

Once you do a drawing on the Kobo, it's pretty much handled like a book, even listed within Books and you can assign it to a shelf. And as you said, there is no option to erase or correct mistakes; and while you can load the picture to view it, you can't edit it again. Once it's saved it's done forever.

The 350 treats sketches as an image in its own category. You had full erase ability and could reload any image and edit it as many times as you wanted. And with the included stylus, you had better control over drawing. I used to draw on mine quite often, even used it to quickly jot down notes while I was out, it was a great feature.

In comparison, the Kobo is so limited that I never use it anymore at all.

TechniSol · 05-03-2014, 12:43 AM

Great images, very impressive considering the editing limitations. But, I'm forced to imagine that your abilities would be better than most on a device actually optimized for drawing like a tablet with a wacom digitizer or pen from Intuos.

Joques · 05-03-2014, 01:11 AM

TechniSol, I think you're missing the point :-) So much of art is enhanced rather than diminished by working within constraints.

Kasper, those were awesome! Thank you for sharing.

Kasper Hviid · 05-03-2014, 10:52 AM

Ripplinger, that Sony thing sounds like it got it right!

TechniSol, you're right, Sketch Pad doesn't stand a chance against hardware from Wacom. Yiynova makes some good tablets too. Even an ordinary ballpoint pen has better features than Kobo Sketch Pad:

BALLPOINT PEN FEATURES:
* Greater precision
* Can draw on paper surfaces of any sizes
* Pressure sensitive

But as Joques mentions, Sketchpad still has some crazy limitations that are interesting to try out, just like the drawing program Alchemy (al.chemy.org)

TechniSol · 05-03-2014, 11:39 AM

Joques,

I get it, I meant it only as a compliment. Maybe more a regret that I will never do so well. I'm pretty good for mechanical drawings, sketches of things I'm building, etc. But, I don't have the right kind of visual imagination to produce art rather than mere drawings. I've seen some really great drawings made with ballpoint pen... no erasing there either! Give me a pencil anyday -I'm bad enough when I can erase, smudge and blend...

I have a Lenovo X41 convertable, older laptop, but wacom digitizer built-in on the screen. Fun to play with, great for digital touchups, blemish removal, etc., but they never really seemed to get the pressure sensitivity to work right...

I so like the irony of the primitive limitations of sketch pad on a rather sophisticated electronic device. That definitely makes the sketches more interesting because I cannot imagine having the ability to do so well under such primitive constraints as no editing and no erasure.

Kasper Hviid · 05-03-2014, 01:37 PM

Mechanical drawing? I really like those. They're so insanely stylized, even more so than Superflat or Ligne Claire.

You're right, wacom pen pressure is not perfect. I think it helps to have some preset brushes with varied 'lead hardness'. At least that is what I tried with my collection of Photoshop pencils (WARNING: Female anatomy in link)

Yikes - my Sketch Pad froze in the middle of its first 'artistic nude'. :'-(

Kasper Hviid · 08-30-2014, 10:31 AM

I just remembered this old thread. Here's a Kobo-friendly .cbz comic with 10 of my fave sketches:

http://www.mediafire.com/download/t0...ad-doodles.cbz

Canuck_in_Japan · 08-30-2014, 12:02 PM

Congrats, those drawings are great! A new art form? Ebook sketches.

05-02-2014, 01:19 PM	#1
Kasper Hviid Zealot Posts: 141 Karma: 2784614 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: none	Kobo Sketch Pad Doodles! I have tried actually using one of the more obscure 'Beta features' on my Aura HD: The Sketch Pad! To draw, I sometimes use my finger, other times a stylus. I also creates my own stylus using metallized film or conductive foam. Like any other tool, this software has its own nature that the artist will need to accept. The strokes lacks precision, so you must forget about drawing perfect contour lines, and instead use repeated strokes and hatching to create various shades and plastic forms. Sketch Pad will let you save your work - but you cannot reload a previously saved drawing. Nor is it possible to erase any mistakes you have made. Those features are perfect for sketching! Sketch Pads only real drawback is the horizontal lines that appears randomly as you draw. You can sometimes make those unintended lines part of the drawing, but mustly they are just irritating! Spoiler: Last edited by Dr. Drib; 05-02-2014 at 02:09 PM.

05-03-2014, 11:39 AM	#6
TechniSol GranPohbah-Fezzes r cool! Posts: 1,056 Karma: 3151024 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Nook STRs, Kobo Touch, Kobo Glo	Joques, I get it, I meant it only as a compliment. Maybe more a regret that I will never do so well. I'm pretty good for mechanical drawings, sketches of things I'm building, etc. But, I don't have the right kind of visual imagination to produce art rather than mere drawings. I've seen some really great drawings made with ballpoint pen... no erasing there either! Give me a pencil anyday -I'm bad enough when I can erase, smudge and blend... I have a Lenovo X41 convertable, older laptop, but wacom digitizer built-in on the screen. Fun to play with, great for digital touchups, blemish removal, etc., but they never really seemed to get the pressure sensitivity to work right... I so like the irony of the primitive limitations of sketch pad on a rather sophisticated electronic device. That definitely makes the sketches more interesting because I cannot imagine having the ability to do so well under such primitive constraints as no editing and no erasure. Last edited by TechniSol; 05-03-2014 at 11:44 AM.

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05-02-2014, 01:58 PM	#2
Ripplinger 350 Hoarder Posts: 3,574 Karma: 8281267 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Midwest USA Device: Sony PRS-350, Kobo Glo & Glo HD, PW2	Those are pretty good. I really miss that feature on the Sony PRS-350. Once you do a drawing on the Kobo, it's pretty much handled like a book, even listed within Books and you can assign it to a shelf. And as you said, there is no option to erase or correct mistakes; and while you can load the picture to view it, you can't edit it again. Once it's saved it's done forever. The 350 treats sketches as an image in its own category. You had full erase ability and could reload any image and edit it as many times as you wanted. And with the included stylus, you had better control over drawing. I used to draw on mine quite often, even used it to quickly jot down notes while I was out, it was a great feature. In comparison, the Kobo is so limited that I never use it anymore at all.

05-03-2014, 12:43 AM	#3
TechniSol GranPohbah-Fezzes r cool! Posts: 1,056 Karma: 3151024 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Nook STRs, Kobo Touch, Kobo Glo	Great images, very impressive considering the editing limitations. But, I'm forced to imagine that your abilities would be better than most on a device actually optimized for drawing like a tablet with a wacom digitizer or pen from Intuos.

05-03-2014, 01:11 AM	#4
Joques Addict Posts: 294 Karma: 107414 Join Date: May 2013 Device: Kobo Glo	TechniSol, I think you're missing the point :-) So much of art is enhanced rather than diminished by working within constraints. Kasper, those were awesome! Thank you for sharing.

05-03-2014, 10:52 AM	#5
Kasper Hviid Zealot Posts: 141 Karma: 2784614 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: none	Ripplinger, that Sony thing sounds like it got it right! TechniSol, you're right, Sketch Pad doesn't stand a chance against hardware from Wacom. Yiynova makes some good tablets too. Even an ordinary ballpoint pen has better features than Kobo Sketch Pad: BALLPOINT PEN FEATURES: * Greater precision * Can draw on paper surfaces of any sizes * Pressure sensitive But as Joques mentions, Sketchpad still has some crazy limitations that are interesting to try out, just like the drawing program Alchemy (al.chemy.org)

05-03-2014, 01:37 PM	#7
Kasper Hviid Zealot Posts: 141 Karma: 2784614 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: none	Mechanical drawing? I really like those. They're so insanely stylized, even more so than Superflat or Ligne Claire. You're right, wacom pen pressure is not perfect. I think it helps to have some preset brushes with varied 'lead hardness'. At least that is what I tried with my collection of Photoshop pencils (WARNING: Female anatomy in link) Yikes - my Sketch Pad froze in the middle of its first 'artistic nude'. :'-(

08-30-2014, 10:31 AM	#8
Kasper Hviid Zealot Posts: 141 Karma: 2784614 Join Date: Nov 2012 Device: none	I just remembered this old thread. Here's a Kobo-friendly .cbz comic with 10 of my fave sketches: http://www.mediafire.com/download/t0...ad-doodles.cbz

08-30-2014, 12:02 PM	#9
Canuck_in_Japan Wizard Posts: 1,476 Karma: 14328611 Join Date: May 2009 Location: Tokyo, Japan Device: Aura, Aura H2O, Kindle PW3	Congrats, those drawings are great! A new art form? Ebook sketches.

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