Quick answer
🎨 Using Illustrator with Astropad Studio? Turn your iPad into a powerful vector design tool! Optimize workspace layout, set up custom shortcuts, and enable pressure sensitivity for the best Illustrator experience.
💡 Key setup tips:
Custom shortcuts: Replace default Photoshop shortcuts with Illustrator tools (P, A, V, B)
Pressure sensitivity: Requires Wacom driver installation for full functionality
Magic Gestures: Enable hover, eraser, and modifier keys
Performance: Disable GPU Performance if drawing feels laggy
Setting Up Your Illustrator Workspace
🖥️ Panel Arrangement
🖥️ Panel Arrangement
Optimize your Illustrator workspace for iPad use:
Move panels: Place toolbars and panels anywhere around canvas
Position naturally: Arrange most-used panels on left, right, or floating
Shortcuts Sidebar: Position Astropad's sidebar on either side of iPad
Hide/show: Tap red ring button to hide sidebar, drag ring to reposition
💡 Recommended layout: Shortcuts Sidebar on left, Illustrator panels on right for optimal workflow
Custom Shortcuts for Illustrator
⚙️ Replacing Default Shortcuts
⚙️ Replacing Default Shortcuts
Astropad's defaults are designed for Photoshop - customize for Illustrator:
Recommended Illustrator shortcuts:
P: Pen Tool
–: Delete Anchor Point Tool
A: Direct Selection Tool
V: Selection Tool
Command Z: Undo
Shift Z: Redo
B: Brush Tool
Shift E: Eraser Tool
🔧 How to Change Shortcuts
🔧 How to Change Shortcuts
Open Preferences: Launch Astropad's Preferences on your Mac
Select slot: Click a slot in the Shortcuts Sidebar
Set shortcut: Tap "Set" and press the shortcut on your Mac
Save changes: New shortcut is immediately available
Magic Gestures for Illustrator
✨ Recommended Magic Gestures
✨ Recommended Magic Gestures
Enable these essential gestures for vector work:
Hover: Navigate without drawing lines
Eraser: Quick eraser access
Option: Modifier key for tool variations
Shift: Constraint and precision modifier
Undo: Quick mistake correction
Redo: Restore changes
👆 Touch Gestures
👆 Touch Gestures
Canvas Navigation
Control your Illustrator canvas intuitively:
Zoom: Pinch with two fingers
Pan: Slide with two fingers
Rotate: Twist with two fingers
No scrollbars needed: Your fingers control everything
Quick Keys and Keyboard
⌨️ On-Screen Controls
Quick Keys:
Located at bottom of Shortcuts Sidebar
Available keys: Command, Option, Control, Shift
Toggle: Enable/disable with a tap
Customizable: Adjust buttons to your preferences
On-Screen Keyboard:
Access: Tap "Keyboard" in Shortcuts Sidebar or Quick Keys
Full functionality: Complete keyboard including F-keys
F-keys: Enable from Astropad's settings menu
Pressure Sensitivity Setup
🖊️ Enabling Pressure Sensitivity
Illustrator doesn't detect iPad pressure by default, but there's a workaround:
Requirements:
Install Wacom driver: Download from Wacom support (no Wacom tablet needed)
Get Illustrator 2020: Request and install Adobe Illustrator 2020 or later
Restart Mac: Restart after driver installation
Configure Brush Options:
Open Brush Options in Illustrator
Set to Pressure: Change "Fixed" to "Pressure"
Adjust variation: Configure stroke variation settings as desired
🔗 Need detailed steps?
Performance Optimization
🚀 If Illustrator Feels Slow
Drawing feeling laggy? Try disabling GPU acceleration:
Open Preferences: Go to Illustrator's Preferences
Navigate to GPU: Select "GPU Performance"
Disable GPU: Uncheck "GPU Performance"
Restart Illustrator: Relaunch for changes to take effect
💡 Why this helps: GPU acceleration can sometimes cause lag with Astropad connections.