Artists using the iPad Pro 2020 12.9-inch model require precise color accuracy to ensure their digital artwork looks as intended across different devices and displays. Setting up your device correctly can significantly enhance your creative process and output quality.

Understanding Display Calibration

The iPad Pro 2020 features a Liquid Retina display with P3 wide color support and True Tone technology. Proper calibration involves adjusting display settings to match standard color profiles, ensuring consistency and accuracy in your artwork.

  • Enable True Tone: This adjusts the display's color temperature based on ambient lighting, providing a more natural viewing experience. However, for critical color work, consider disabling it.
  • Disable True Tone for Accurate Colors: Go to Settings > Display > True Tone, and toggle it off.
  • Use a Color Calibration App: Apps like DisplayCAL or Calibrite can help create custom profiles for your iPad, although limited by iOS restrictions.
  • Adjust Brightness: Set the brightness to a comfortable level, ideally around 50-70%, to avoid color distortion caused by high or low brightness.
  • Enable Night Shift (Optional): For working in low-light environments, Night Shift can reduce blue light, but disable it during color-critical tasks.

Using External Devices for Better Color Accuracy

Since iOS limits direct color calibration, many artists connect external color calibration tools or monitors to their workflow. Using an external monitor with professional calibration capabilities can significantly improve color fidelity.

  • BenQ SW271
  • Eizo ColorEdge series
  • Dell UltraSharp U2723QE

Connect these monitors via compatible adapters or docking stations for a more accurate color representation during editing and creation.

Color Profile Settings in Creative Apps

Many creative applications allow you to select color profiles. For best results, choose sRGB or Adobe RGB profiles within your drawing or photo editing apps to ensure consistency across devices.

  • Procreate: Use the color profile settings within the app to select sRGB or Adobe RGB.
  • Adobe Photoshop: Set the color space to Adobe RGB or sRGB in document settings.
  • Affinity Designer: Adjust color profiles in color management settings.

Conclusion

Achieving optimal color accuracy on the iPad Pro 2020 12.9 involves disabling automatic adjustments like True Tone, calibrating your display as much as possible, and selecting appropriate color profiles within your creative software. For professional work, consider integrating external calibration tools and monitors to ensure your artwork looks consistent everywhere.