Squeaking noise drawing with iPad Pro 2020 & Pencil 2.

A monitor has deleted almost this entire thread, including all of mine. Wow. They don’t want us discussing it. There were many replies and many suggestions about how to work with the existing issue so that our iPads worked better. Those tips were GOOD!

But any writing I have tried that is not entirely innocuous will no longer post here, and my first post yesterday was indeed removed. Don’t know what the words are that triggers it, but I’m not going to try to figure it out. Too much effort already.

Unfortunately the same issue on my 12.9" 2018 manufactured Dec 2018. Only the right drawing angle and avoid touching the display helps. So I’m using the Magic Trackpad to avoid fingerprints. I never liked screen protectors. Even without screen protector the pencil tip wears in 2-3 months and has to be replaced. I hope the will use another coating on 5. Gen. iPad Pro 12.9". Although most people I know are using an mate protector for drawing so newer noticed this issue.

The only thing that has worked for me is a tempered glass screen protector. But that’s a band-aid fix. I wish Apple would step up and address the issue. Just sent back my third replacement. Very disappointing since I wanted to be able to use the pencil. I have the magic keyboard and like it but cad modeling and even just scrolling pages is no go with the pencil.

(To ipartcars & bookpower too)

It’s the same Apple tip on both Pencil 1 and Pencil 2. I think the only difference between the pencils is how they charge; the flat side on Pencil 2 is a magnetic charging surface (for iPad Pros GEN 4 only), vs the end lightning plug on Pencil 1 (which works on all newer iPads).

First thing Apple did for the screeching on my first GEN 4 iPad was replace my whole pencil*. They later sent me a box of tips (same replacement tip used for both pencils). Neither the pencil nor tips were the problem, ever. Wonder if anyone has tried a non-Apple pencil though?

* My puppy ate the whole tip down to the metal on pencil #2! Had to buy a new one. Same screeching issues with #3.

It is normal to need to replace the tip after a few months as the plastic does wear down and/or roughen with use (as any type of pencil would). And any little grain of dust or dirt stuck on it will damage it, so wipe it off periodically. The replacement tips are 4 for $19, which is a fair deal. Note that you can indeed get bad tips right out of the box... in my first box of tips, 2 were rough from the get-go.

I too originally had an iPad GEN 3 (December 2018). Never had a bit of trouble with screeching or scratching. I am convinced it is the new “oleographic” coating on the GEN 4 screen.

Go ahead and try rubbing your finger on any area that screeches or feels a little rough. See if that helps, at least for that area.

No mention of the screen attributes on the GEN 5. Anyone hear anything?

My 3. Gen 12.7" iPad Pro had exact the same issue as your 4. Gen iPad Pro. Maybe there are different display manufacturers? Even after cleaning without touching the display it builds up some noticeable resistance after a while that cause the squeaking noise. Cleaning these areas again with a microfiber cloth helps. How is the drawing experience on an "normal" iPad Pro? Similar to drawing on tempered glass or clear foil protector?

For those who are struggling with the issue: After a few months, I can have to say that the problem is completely gone. I had it for a few days, then I installed the "paperlike" screen protector (a matte membrane) and still had it. After a couple more days of vigorous use (painting on the ipad) it stopped however. I'm certain that it had to do with my skin oils creating a protective coat that prevents the awful noise. gross, I know

It sounds silly, but I suggest everyone who has the issue to spend some days rubbing their hands all over the display.

I'm also curious to hear if there are people who have had the ipad for some time (eg. a month of use) but the issue persisted. Like me people who solve their problems rarely come back to give feedback.

I’ve had my iPad since last fall. I am on number three which doesn’t squeak as badly as number two, but number two squeaked worse than number one. I always try to keep the screen extremely clean so my pencil glides, As my work is highly detailed with very very fine lines. A workaround of having to smear skin oils on the glass that is supposed to be with a fingerprint proof coating defeats the purpose - even if it works. should not have to do anything like that to begin with. Having to buy a screen protector that makes the linework of my illustrations fuzzy is also counterproductive.

Wow, that’s a bummer. Hoping Apple will acknowledge the problem as more people buy the GEN five and start talking about it even more. A recall with replacement glass would be ideal… And would restore my faith in them quite a bit.

I would had loved my latest gen ipad to be as squeak-proof as my cheap 9.7" ipad. Lets hope Apple improves on that aspect soon and make us all happy without having to resort to ...skin and snake oil solutions.

I can't call it a defect, since for most people it's not a problem, but definitely a manufacturing process "insensitivity". It's very frustrating buying an expensive product that was meant to make life easier, in the process realise that it has some deal-breaking traits that the company doesn't seem to care about fixing.

I also understand how altering the dynamics, texture or the appearance of the painting medium in any way (in this case, by adding a screen-protector) might be killing all the pleasure or productivity while working. I recently tried some dry chalky pastels and the powdery feel made me want to rip my arms off. Sadly some things don't work for us.

For my use case I find the diffusion of the screen-protector "charming" and not the least prohibiting. Here's a a recording of my ipad where I am comparing a part of the display that has the protector on, and a circular area that doesn't. I am zooming out a grid of black and white dots of 1px diameter each, it can't get finer than that. The circular cutout diameter is 1cm (0.4") so this is a real close up video here - you can even see the individual pixels of the retina display. I'm more frustrated by procreate's aliasing/moire-inducing zooming technology than by the diffusion caused by the protector to be honest.

I've also stopped cleaning my screen protector! I used to wipe my old ipad daily and even clean it with dish-soap once in a while, and the least fingerprint would show. Now that I don't clean it EVER (only wipe it a little once a month to get dust particles and dried saliva droplets off) fingerprints are invisible. The display apparently is evenly coated in grease. Think of it as a frying pan - From what I hear people in the US go to considerable lengths to protect the grease buildup on it - iPad are designed in California so ...perhaps it explains :)

Regarding friction/resistance/gliding: Again, I know nothing of your art habits and work style so I'm always speaking judging by myself, knowing that nothing that I say might work for you.

In the past I was drawing on my old ipad using a smudge protection glove (3 finger glove) which would allow me to glide my wrist freely on the display without friction from sweat and the large contact surface. Come to think about it, before the ipad, while I was using wacoms, I was used to drawing without resting my wrist on the display, and only using my pinky to pivot, but the touch-screen would be confused and assume that I was doing two finger gestures! I had to relearn and use the wrist, and then had to deal with friction. Hence the glove.

So in your case, I wonder if saturating the display with handoil™ (we might have found a successful product for a niche market here!) and then using a glove, might compensate for the loss of ease-of-gliding..!? dunno!

I hope you find your solution Lizzieat, because if I had to keep up with the squeaking a day longer, I wouldn't be using the ipad for art. It gave me shivers like people scratching their nails on the blackboard.

Thanks for the tips, F_Kal. I’m learning to stop any motion that triggers a squeal before it can get any worse. Keeping strokes slower helps. Not swiping emails away helps. Other than that, I’ve given up (for now). I’m really disappointed that the issue wasn’t addressed with the new iPad Pro!

The “new ice” skating/skittering on the Zagg screen protector was from the Pencil slip-sliding away. It was WAY to sleek a surface for fine motor control. Every tiny movement in my hand that was always steady and stable on the ipad screen was wobbly beyond tolerance on the Zagg. I’ve never experienced anything like it before.

I too use gloves while working, for the same reasons as you. It keeps the screen cleaner too. I finally found a “marching band” glove on Amazon with longer wrists, so the edge of the ipad doesn’t dig into my wrist as much. I cut off the fingertips only for my index and middle fingers so there’s no accidental double tap erasing, etc. I use shorter, cheaper gloves on my left hand with more fingers exposed, but not all. I also use old, thick socks with the toes cut off to cushion my wrists. (I’m very tactilely sensitive.)

I’m glad the matte screen protector works for you. It’s just not my style. Of note: I don’t actually smear my finger oils all over the screen. I just rub a finger on a small area of the screen if I get the lightly lumpy buildup feeling on the glass - only on that section. I still clean it to a shine every single day. I’ve found that allowing any buildup of oils makes dust/dirt stick to it, risking scratches.

I use Procreate for some illustrations, mostly portraits. But for the really high res work, I use Astropad on my iPad to mirror my big iMac screen and draw directly in Photoshop. Recently Procreate has corrupted a couple of drawings when saved as PSDs. (which my clients prefer); not good! I ended up airdropping jpegs to my iMac and continued the work there. And Procreate only supports RGB art, not the Grayscale most of my b/w work is done in.

Have you seen the custom-designed “Sketchboard Pro” for 12.9” ipad pros only? I bought one the second I read about it in Wired and haven’t looked back. It’s an incredibly versatile, well made portable drawing board with a center inset that holds the ipad perfectly flush, so no digging into wrists, you can rest your entire arm on it, works in landscape and portrait mode, has adjustable tilt, has a channel for the charging cable… the inventors thought of everything! I use it every single day (and don’t need socks for my wrists while using it!).

thank you Lizzieat for sharing insights in how you work, interesting solutions!

I never thought that oils might attract dust/dirt! Than again I do use a screen protector - plus I am not that precious about keeping my device from aging :) I used to keep my iphone without any screen protector in the same pocket with my keys and 6 years later that I threw it away there were only invisible microscratches.

Awesome to hear the sketchboard pro is working for you, I am still eagerly waiting for mine to arrive; there was a big mixup with EU customers and customs charges so they are still ironing it out... I can't wait to get my hands on it though!

You’re welcome! That’s great you’ve already heard about the sketchboard pro and have ordered it. You won’t regret it for a second. I ordered the kit that included the carrying case which is convenient… Or at least will be when travel is a safer thing to do.

I didn’t realize you were in the EU. Do you mind if I ask which country?

I just received the iPad Pro 11 inch last night and immediately noticed this - I even removed the paperlike screen protector thinking that was the cause. This morning, I switched the tip of my old apple pencil (gen1) to the new apple pencil (gen2) that seemed to do the trick. They look identical, so I'm not sure what exactly Apple changed and why!!?