I’ve spent YEARS pursuing the “I want a portable ZBrush” dream. In the end, if you cannot clarify WHY and HOW you intend on leveraging the portability you seek, it’s going to be a long, costly, AND fruitless journey.
Of the three components you’ve mentioned, you’ll want to clarify the iPad Pro’s role. Intend on deploying it as a Wacom Cintiq replacement on-the-cheap? It’s not there. Is it do-able? Only to the extent you’ll want doctors to perform all future tracheotomies with coffee stirrers.
Apple SideCar AND Astropad do their wireless screen extension by live STREAMING video to the tablet. It HAS to do this at a high frame rate. Given a fixed bandwidth, it means either resolution or FPS will have to suffer. Although SideCar uses better streaming tech (HEVC), both only work in a forced 1366x1024 resolution. Try fitting ZBrush with all its UI splendor into THAT kind of container. It blows. A TON of stuff gets lopped off that will require memorizing ALL the keyboard shortcuts to compensate. Apple Pen(cil) pressure is passable for detailed sculpting, but if you’re spending 80% of this session reaching back over to the MacBook Pro’s keyboard, what’s the point of this exercise?? Why not display ZBrush in the MacBook Pro’s full native 3072x1920 glory if it’s already that close?
If I’ve made my point that Astropad and SideCar make poor Cintiq stand-ins, we look to the genuine Wacom Cintiq right? Not so fast. You stipulated portability. In my own search, I wanted high-res (preferably 4K), moderate screen size (16" target), and a SINGLE USB-C connection (or wireless). NONE of the Cintiqs could deliver. MOST of the models still require a godawful hydra-monstrosity cable solution simultaneously connecting to HDMI, USB, and outlet power. It’s 2020 Wacom. Learn to roll all that into ONE single USB-C cable.
End of day, I reflected on exactly how much I NEEDED the sculpt-on-screen experience. If I’m in front of my MacBook Pros… sculpting on a traditional Wacom Graphics Tablet is PERFECTLY FINE. If your employee melts down claiming they can’t do art without a Cintiq, tell them to go back to kindergarten where we ALL mastered hand-eye coordination. Based on this epiphany I retired an old Wacom Bamboo and upgraded to an Intuos Pro Medium. Since it’s not carrying a video signal, it works solidly in USB wired or Bluetooth wireless mode. I’m irked that Wacom and ZBrush are so damn cozy, but there’s no denying that their pen feel leads the pack.
If Wacom ever releases a Cintiq that hits ALL of my (above) trifecta requirements, I might entertain the idea but for now, the Intuos/MacBookPro combo doesn’t leave me wanting. This pairing remains true to the portability requirement; a solid amount of all-ZBrush work can be done in any space that has a bare table. No outlet needed. Nearly everything is wireless (mouse, earbuds, Intuos) so no cables to trip over.
The next-level strata of barebones sculpting portability reintroduces the iPad Pro. Ever since the first-gen 12.9" iPP, I’ve been wishing/hoping/praying ZBrush would play in this space. Short of that, some third party apps deserve a serious look (ESPECIALLY since they only cost $10-$15). Forger for iOS and Nomad Sculpt are eye-opening entries. You’re not going to get nano meshes, fiber meshes or cloth simulation – BUT these are apps that can absolutely knock out some impressive base meshes over a cramped economy-class dining tray. Once back at the office, AirDrop the OBJ or STL to the MacBook Pro and fire up ZBrush. IOW, the iPad solution lets you shed a lot of the encumbrances and focus on pure sculpting.
Daily Driver
- 2020 16" MacBook Pro, i9 2.4GHz 8-core, 32GB Ram, Radeon 5600 8GB, 2TB
- 2020 12.9" iPad Pro 512GB LTE (GPS chip)
- Apple Pencil 2
- Wacom Intuos Pro Medium
Previous Gear
- 2012 15" retina MacBook Pro, i7 quad 2.7GHz, 16GB Ram
- 2015 12.9" iPad Pro 128GB
- Apple Pencil 1
- Wacom Bamboo Pen & Touch
- Surface Pro 4, i7, 16GB Ram