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How do I use Capture One with Astropad Studio?

Learn how to optimize your Astropad Studio setup for Capture One

Updated over 2 months ago

Quick answer

📋 Optimize Capture One for Astropad Studio:

  • Customize workspace with floating panels for better iPad layout

  • Set up shortcuts for common tools (B for Draw Mask, E for Erase, etc.)

  • Use touch gestures for pinch-to-zoom and two-finger panning

  • Improve masking performance by adjusting Display Mask settings

🖥️ Workspace and Tool Panel Layout

Capture One allows you to customize your workspace layout. To get started:

Go to Window > Workspace and choose from preset arrangements:

  • Migration Workspace: Places catalog at the bottom

  • Default Workspace: Places catalog to the side

📋 Floating and Rearranged Panels

Float tools anywhere on your screen for easier access:

  • Go to Window > Create Floating Tool, or

  • Drag a tool panel from the Tool Tab column and drop it anywhere

💡 This keeps your most-used panels in view, helping you work more efficiently. The Astropad Workspace Sidebar can be placed on either side of your iPad or hidden with the red ring button.

⌨️ Customizing Shortcuts

Astropad Studio uses default shortcuts, so you'll need to customize them for your Capture One workflow:

  1. Open Workspace Sidebar in Astropad Studio

  2. Tap Edit Shortcuts

  3. Tap Add Shortcut or edit an existing one

  4. Return to Workspace view to use your new shortcuts

🎯 Recommended shortcuts:

  • B: Draw Mask

  • E: Erase Mask

  • M: Show/Hide Mask

  • G: Gradient Mask

  • W: White Balance

  • U: Luma Curve Point

  • P: Loupe

  • Delete: Delete

Suggested Magic Gestures:

Hover, Eraser, Right Click, Shift, Undo, Redo

👆 Using Touch Gestures

Astropad supports pinch-to-zoom and two-finger panning in Capture One. This allows you to hide scrollbars and keep your canvas uncluttered while editing.

🔧 If Touch Panning Isn't Working

Go to Capture One Preferences > General and disable "Zoom with scroll wheel". This will allow Astropad's touch gestures to function normally.

🎭 Improving Masking Performance

If masking feels slow (especially with large RAW files), try adjusting the Display Mask setting.

💡 Tip: Enabling "Never Display Mask" can sometimes reduce performance. Try switching to another setting to improve stroke response speed.

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