Podcast Title: The Good Ship Illustration
Episode Title: What tech do you use as an illustrator? Featuring Helen's 25 year-old Epson scanner that WILL NOT DIE
Release Date: January 17, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of The Good Ship Illustration, hosts Helen Stephens, Katie Chappell, and Tanya Willis delve into the technological tools and setups they utilize in their illustration careers. With over 70 years of combined experience, the trio offers insightful discussions on hardware choices, software preferences, and the challenges of maintaining an efficient workflow as modern illustrators.

Individual Tech Setups

Katie's Tech Arsenal

Katie begins by sharing her reliance on the iPad for her creative work. She transitioned from a second-hand, smaller model to a substantial 12.9-inch iPad in 2020, which she praises for its durability despite frequent use:

Katie [01:17]: "I've got my iPad in 2020 and it's still going strong. It's four years of being battered... and it's totally fine."

Complementing her iPad, Katie uses a MacBook Pro for all her business-related tasks, emphasizing the importance of having reliable storage solutions through Dropbox:

Katie [01:19]: "I put everything on Dropbox because I work from home sometimes, I work from the studio, sometimes I travel a lot."

In her studio, she employs a desktop setup with dual monitors to enhance her workflow, particularly benefiting her ADHD by allowing multiple windows to be open simultaneously:

Katie [02:09]: "I got a second monitor because apparently it's good for ADHD... it's great for putting post-it notes on."

Helen's Enduring Equipment

Helen showcases her impressive dedication to longevity with a nearly 25-year-old Epson scanner that remains functional despite numerous drops:

Helen [05:25]: "It's an Epson style stylus photo scanner... I've dropped the scanner on the floor numerous times. Still going strong."

Her primary creative process involves traditional paper drawing, which she scans and edits using Affinity or Photoshop. Helen also utilizes a large Mac for managing her digital tasks and mentions her extensive use of Dropbox for storage:

Helen [04:34]: "I use it to scan all of my work, get it in on Affinity or Photoshop... then that goes off to print."

Tanya's Traditional Approach

Tanya sticks to Photoshop and Illustrator, leveraging the pen tool despite her reservations about the software's vector capabilities. She relies on a MacBook Pro for mobility, aiming to incorporate residencies and travel into her career:

Tanya [11:38]: "I use a Wacom stylus and an Intuos pad... and I use my laptop to power Photoshop."

She expresses a longing for more intuitive tools like Procreate but acknowledges her deep-rooted muscle memory in Photoshop, making the transition challenging:

Tanya [14:57]: "I've got a mental block. I just can't use Procreate because I'm so 25 years trained in Photoshop."

Software Preferences and Usage

Procreate vs. Traditional Software

Katie advocates for Procreate on the iPad for live scribing, highlighting its integration with virtual webcam software like ECAMM Live to share her drawing process during events:

Katie [03:53]: "I use [ECAMM Live]. It basically turns... instead of seeing your face, it shows your iPad screen."

Conversely, Helen shares her mixed feelings about Procreate. While she appreciates its capabilities for digital display, she prefers traditional paper drawing for its tactile authenticity:

Helen [05:34]: "There’s something magic about the Apple pen and the weight of it in your hand and how it genuinely feels like you’re drawing on a piece of paper."

Tanya remains hesitant to adopt Procreate, favoring the familiarity of Photoshop and her Wacom stylus despite the interface's complexities:

Tanya [15:19]: "I use Photoshop, but it's not even real vector stuff... I'm stuck there forever now."

Animation and Editing Tools

Katie utilizes Procreate for animation, subsequently editing her work with Adobe Rush for streamlined, user-friendly video production:

Katie [04:34]: "Adobe Rush is like trim, chop, speed up, slow down. So it's really good if you want to do easy peasy editing."

Challenges with Digital Tools

Screen Size and Hardware Limitations

A recurring theme is the frustration with screen sizes. Katie desires a larger iPad for enhanced drawing space, while Helen finds dual monitors essential but occasionally forgets to use them due to ADHD:

Katie [20:22]: "Please make a massive iPad as big as the biggest Mac... I want a massive one."

Helen echoes the sentiment, expressing a wish for an iPad comparable to the size of a picture book to better handle detailed illustrations:

Helen [08:29]: "I wish they'd make a bigger one... a bit bigger so you could draw 110."

Software Constraints and File Management

The hosts discuss the technical limitations of Procreate, especially concerning CMYK color profiles for print publishing:

Helen [09:09]: "I'm working on in CMYK on it, but apparently CMYK on Procreate is not as good as CMYK on other software."

Tanya highlights issues with Photoshop's vector tools, leading to frustrations with the software's raster-centric design:

Tanya [11:37]: "I'm stuck there forever now... drag longingly at the Apple pencil."

Additionally, managing storage remains a significant hurdle, with Katie lamenting the rapid filling of her MacBook Pro despite diligent use of Dropbox:

Katie [16:53]: "There's nothing worse than when you're trying to work on something and it's like memory full."

Publishing Workflow

Color Management and File Formats

When discussing publishing, Helen emphasizes the importance of communicating with publishers about software compatibility and file formats. Despite concerns, her Procreate files have been accepted by publishers like Walker Books without color issues:

Helen [10:46]: "I think you should always discuss it with your publisher and say, I’m going to use Procreate. Are you happy with that?"

The trio also touches upon the necessity of sending non-layered files, typically in TIFF format, to avoid complications during the publishing process:

Helen [11:31]: "I just save it as a TIFF and send it."

Storage and Archiving Physical Artwork

Helen candidly discusses the overwhelming accumulation of physical artwork, describing her home as a "fire hazard" due to the sheer volume of folders:

Helen [19:11]: "Our house is a fire hazard... every year two more massive folders get added to the cupboard under the stairs."

The conversation pivots to potential storage solutions, with playful suggestions but no definitive answers:

Helen [19:58]: "Maybe I'll have a bonfire on purpose."

Humorous Notes and Audience Engagement

Throughout the episode, the hosts engage in light-hearted banter, addressing their collective aversion to quizzes and joking about creating a "Maxi Pad" to satisfy their needs for larger drawing surfaces:

Helen [20:22]: "Please make a massive iPad as big as the biggest Mac... I want a massive one."

Katie [20:32]: "Call it the Maxi Pad, it'll be brilliant."

Conclusion

The episode concludes with the trio acknowledging their struggles with current technology while humorously contemplating future innovations. Their candid discussions offer a relatable glimpse into the daily tech challenges faced by modern illustrators, emphasizing the balance between traditional methods and evolving digital tools.

Notable Quotes:

• Katie [01:17]: "It's four years of being battered... and it's totally fine."

• Helen [05:25]: "I've dropped the scanner on the floor numerous times. Still going strong."

• Katie [03:53]: "Instead of seeing your face, it shows your iPad screen."

• Helen [08:29]: "I wish they'd make a bigger one... so you could draw 110."

• Tanya [15:19]: "I'm stuck there forever now."

This episode provides valuable insights into the practical aspects of an illustrator's tech setup, highlighting both the benefits and limitations of current tools. Whether you're a seasoned illustrator or just starting, the hosts' experiences offer guidance and provoke thought on optimizing your own creative workflow.