iPad Portfolio: Game Changer HD
After the iPad was announced I wrote about the potential for using an iPad as a portfolio… Well now the iPad is here (yes, i was one of the loser dorks standing in line at 6:30am) and I did a quick test with a few images to try it out.
I’m writing this on my iPad, and let me tell you, after only a day of use it’s still a major PITA. And don’t worry, I’m not going to talk about anything other than the iPad’s functionality as a portfolio… I’m quite certain there are thousands of iPad reviews out there by now for all the other stuff.
The main tools you use to get your images on the iPad is iPhoto (which I never use) and of course iTunes where you set up the syncing options for photos. Once the images are on the iPad, you’ll use the Photos app to display the images. As of this writing there are no other photo viewing apps, but that may change assuming Apple doesn’t consider it “core functionality” and reject any apps that do something the included Photos app does (only better).
The Photos app is pretty straight forward: find the portfolio you want to view, select an image and swipe left or right to view the previous/next image and pinch to zoom in and out. There are a few slideshow options if you want an automated presentation.
One thing I was worried about was the way the images would be displayed. On the iPhone, a vertical image when holding the iPhone vertically is displayed in the screen’s aspect ratio. So, an image that is not as “tall” would be cropped on the sides unless you “pinch” the image to see the whole thing (oddly enough, a horizontal image that isn’t as “wide” would be displayed properly when holding the iPhone horizontally). This is not a problem on the iPad, the full image is displayed regardless of it’s aspect ratio. I had visions (nightmares) of needing to add padding on the top and bottom of each image, so I’m glad I don’t need to do that.
Images look great on the iPad’s display; crisp, vibrant and sharp. There is a three dimensionality to the images and color seems accurate. I did have to make new versions of all the images I wanted on the iPad since most of my “web ready” images were at a lower resolution. I made them about twice as large as the iPad’s resolution so a viewer can zoom in and still see a sharp image. However, it looks like iPhoto reduces the size of the image during export because an image with 2000 pixels on the longest side zoomed in identically to the same image with 4000 pixels on the longest side. I chose to make my images with 2000 pixels on the longest side. One gripe (beside the iPhoto compression) is, the iPad will still let you zoom to a point where the image looks pixelated. I’d rather it stopped at 100% zoom. The order of images on the iPad is the order you arrange them in your iPhoto album, so it’s pretty easy to get your images in the order you want.
Overall i like the iPad as a impromptu portfolio… Not a main portfolio at this point, but a portfolio you can whip out during a meeting to show newer work when your printed portfolio is a bit out of date (and aren’t they always). But at this point it’s a bit simplistic to use as your real portfolio. Maybe that will change some day when new photo viewing apps arrive. But, personally i think I’ll always prefer a nice printed portfolio to images on a display.
And finally, for god’s sake, can we please stop using phrases like “game changer” or calling things “HD”! Enough already!
Everything in this post was done with an iPad or iPhone… Kinda cool. Although it did take about five times longer than normal and some things didn’t work as they should so I had to use slower more painstaking workarounds.
Here is a quick clip of my test portfolio being scrolled through:
httpvhd://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHjWmEufPDM
Visit my portfolio website here, buy custom prints here, and follow even more of my blathering on Twitter here.
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14 Responses to “iPad Portfolio: Game Changer HD”
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Do you have any idea how it would work with a PC? Can I just do everything threw iTunes? can I arrange photos into albums on the device? I was looking at just getting one of the flickr apps that will let me download all the images off my account since those are all the ready for screen display ones anyway.
I really really hope there are developers out there already working on a portfolio app, I want to be able to pull this device out of my messenger bag anywhere at anytime and be able to hand it to someone and have them use it. But I need that home button locked down, I don’t want them to be able to get out of the portfolio and into any other applications(namely my mail and junk) or just the inconvenience of them accidentally backing out and not knowing how to get back in.
Oh I dream of a day where I’d be able to literally loan a client the iPad and have a locked down app that allows them to make their photo selections. such a better solution than having to give them some sort of copy of my work or having to sit with them in person on my laptop.
Also you said that the photo app limits the resolution? I was kinda hoping I’d be able to show off the full resolution of my camera. I guess that’s the only way they could get it to scroll that fast. Still I would pay good money for something that did it better. I want all this functionality today damn it! although the stupid device isn’t even released in my region yet…
You guys or anyone else found a portfolio app for the Ipad? I find the Apple Photo app does not navigate quite the way I’d like. For example, once clients tap into an album I want them to start at the beginning rather than have the choice of tapping a thumbnail in the middle of the album. I also don’t like that there is a choice to be in ALBUMS or PHOTOS. If a client finds themselves in PHOTOS or doesn’t realize they shouldn’t be there, they will end up missing my intended ALBUM presentation. Also, if they back out and don’t know how to get back in. And lastly, if they don’t press the ON button when they are finished, when you press the ON button later (after it goes to sleep) the new client will be where the last client left off. And right now my instructions for using the device are on the First page wallpaper with all the Apps beside PHOTO on the next or third sliding screen. (I have only NOTES on the second sliding screen.)
Thanks,
Andrew
Hi Jeff,
I am really considering getting an iPad to show my work. It is really the only reason I can justify to buy one right now. I am wondering if you have had any face to face meetings with a potential client and their reaction?
I would also be interested to alternatives to showing your work through the built in photo app?
Lara, clients LOVE it. It’s clean and very creative. But there are the problems I indicated above. There’s the KEYNOTE application from Apple that might help with a few things, but a totally user friendly portfolio doesnt seem to be around yet. ie: give it to someone who knows nothing and have them navigate comfortably.
Anyone with more info, let us know?
I actually haven’t used it to show other people my work (other than friends and anyone who asks about the iPad).
I’m sure someone is bound to come out with a better photo viewing app. Right now it seems like the built in Photo app is the best bet.
I haven’t tried Keynote as Andrew mentioned.
Hey Jeff. Someone may have mentioned this already, but you can tell iTunes to sync with an image folder instead of syncing with iPhoto, and then you won’t have iPhoto messing with your images.
I got my iPad today. I love it. I did see a portfolio app, that was 24.95 and the reviews were really bad. I will check out keynote but I think the photo app is usable for now. I also have a livebooks site and they have a it so you can set it up for ipad/iphone display. Looks pretty nice… I will probably do my own review for my blog next week.
Lara Rossignol´s last blog ..More Finds of the Kawaii Kind
I posted my take on the ipad on my blog today and a little shout out to you
I got mine late last week and love it so far.
Lara Rossignol´s last blog ..The iPad According to Pie
“If someone builds it, it will come….”
Thanks Lara,
let us know what you discover for portfolio cases.
I bought a slick aluminum case from Pino Zagaro , engraved my name on it, bought and cut foam by myself to create a bed for the Ipad and the charger beneath. (No one has come close to using half of the juice on my Ipad – G2 in NYC had it for a week and apparently showed the entire creative department – individually – all 600 of my photos. It was still at %79 when i picked up.)
Then I bought a portfolio carrying case from Tenba, for the aluminum case.
People are more or less retarded about my presentation. The Ipad will get you jobs.
: )
Check out the Cooliris app for the iPad.
It’s a neat image and video browser that you can link to your Picasa or Flickr account.
I haven’t tested it out or seen if you can have a local favorite folder (with images), but I use the PC equivalent religiously.
Hope that helps.
-how
check out iProofPro, it seems like the best designed app out there, although a bit spendy
Check out PadFolios at the App Store, the new portfolio manager for the Apple iPad. http://bit.ly/b5XbY7 it is an amazing portfolio app for the ipad!!