From the first moment, I knew. Drawing on an iPad with an Apple Pencil and doing it ungloved would not work. The glass of the iPad screen was so slick that it felt like the nib was performing the luge on the screen, and I was just trying to keep up. It was too much.
I’m one of those people who believes that life is about the art of experience. I revel in the feel of writing. I journal in a book I hand-bound using a fountain pen with a fine nib. The scritch of the pen on paper, the scent of the ink, and the aroma of the paper are a perfume I get off on.
When I draw on my iPad, I want to feel it. So, like many of us who use the iPad to make our living as an artist, I began the hunt for a screen protector that would replicate the feeling I get when I touch my mechanical pencil (Tül brand only, please) to my sketchpad.
What I found is that choosing the right screen protector for your iPad is like picking the perfect dance partner: you want someone who moves smoothly, doesn't step on your toes, and won't ghost you after a week. Today, we're throwing two contenders into the ring: the PaperLike screen protector and Astropad's Rock Paper Pencil. Let's see which one leads and which one needs to sit this one out.
PaperLike Screen Protector
I discovered the PaperLike through Teela Cunningham after she mentioned it during one of her tutorials. She praised it, so I looked it up online, read the numerous glowing reviews, and bought it.
Installation
Applying the PaperLike is akin to performing surgery—steady hands, a dust-free environment, and perhaps a prayer to the tech gods are recommended. I used PaperLike for three years and never once had a bubble-free installation. Inevitably, I had one small bubble I didn’t see during installation, which was always right in the middle of a drawing. It was irritating AF. Trust me on that.
That said, the video tutorial is easy to follow, and the stickers, cleaning wipes, and cloth in the install kit are wonderfully helpful.
Texture and Feel
True to its name, PaperLike aims to replicate the sensation of drawing on paper. The matte finish provides a tactile experience that enhances control and precision. However, in my own opinion, it doesn't perfectly mimic paper and introduces a slight graininess to the display. It is lightyears above the ice skating you’re doing, trying to draw with an ungloved iPad screen, but, at least to me, it doesn’t feel like paper or even paper-like. There is simply more friction present, making it easier to control your stylus.
Durability
Once you've successfully adhered the PaperLike to your iPad (and resisted the urge to throw it out the window), it proves to be a steadfast companion. The protector maintains its texture over time, though it can wear down Apple Pencil tips faster than expected. I found myself replacing tips every two to three months. The generally understood life of an Apple Pencil tip with heavy use is six months to a year. Needless to say, I was nowhere near that.
Another issue I found with the Paperlike was that it retained the tracks of my drawing. Think back to grade school days when you wrote something in your notebook, turned to the page under it, and shaded the same area, revealing the words you’d written on the page above. My PaperLike retained the tracks of my drawing just like that. This is probably a testament to the fact that I’m heavy-handed, but it doesn’t change the fact that I was looking through both the screen protector and the echoes of past drawings when in bright light.
Extras
When you buy a PaperLike, some lovely extras come with it. The first is that the package always includes a drawing from an artist. I still have the first one I received. A hand-lettered illustration about coffee and creativity from Stefan Kunz. Additionally, you get access to a bunch of free goodies such as Procreate brushes, a digital planner, wallpapers, and a digital journal. Also, their newsletter is stellar. I still crack open their newsletter like it’s the latest gossip rag every time it lands in my inbox. And each newsletter comes with even more free goodies!
Cost
At around $44.99 for a pack of two, PaperLike isn't a cheap dance partner. However, considering its quality and the fact that it comes in a duo pack, it offers reasonable value for those serious about their digital artistry. Also, considering that it’s roughly $22 for each protector, that’s more than competitive in the marketplace. When I used PaperLike, I took advantage of their Black Friday sale and changed my screen protector every six months.
Rock Paper Pencil by Astropad
The tech gods served up the Rock Paper Pencil to me through the wonders of the Instagram algorithm. Almost as soon as I began to feel like I needed to look elsewhere after years of using PaperLike and recommending it to many friends, I suddenly began seeing ads for the Rock Paper Pencil almost relentlessly. I ignored these for many months because I am very brand loyal 🤷🏻♀️. However, one ad finally caught me when it was showing the installation. This was right when I was drawing through a bubble in my PaperLike. So, I decided to give it a try.
Installation
Astropad's Rock Paper Pencil utilizes NanoCling technology (geek-speak static electricity), making installation a breeze compared to traditional adhesive protectors. The static cling application is forgiving, allowing for easy adjustments and a bubble-free finish without needing a cleanroom or a degree in screen protector application. Mine went on in seconds, no bubble, and yes, I did a little hallelujah dance when it happened.
Astropad’s website states you can remove and reinstall the protector at will. If you want to watch a movie, remove it and return it when you’re ready to sketch. I’m too lazy to do that, so I’ve never tested it.
Texture and Feel
Astropad claims to provide a realistic pen-on-paper feel by combining a matte screen protector with custom ballpoint Apple Pencil tips. For me, this protector feels the most like paper. The “bite” of the tip on the screen protector is visceral. It feels like I’m drawing when I use it. This gives me that tactile sensation I’ve been looking for and love when I draw in my analog sketchbook.
Durability
This protector is designed for the long haul. The combination of the reusable screen protector and the custom ballpoint Apple Pencil tips ensures a consistent drawing experience without significant wear and tear. I have been using my Rock Paper Pencil for nine months and have only just switched out my pencil tip, and the screen protector is still going strong. Best of all, the ghosts of past drawings are minimal and mostly confined to the upper right corner from using Colordrop in Procreate.
Extras
The Rock Paper Pencil also comes with free Procreate brushes and a course on digital ink illustration by Liz Kohler Brown.
Cost
Priced at approximately $41.99, the Rock Paper Pencil set sits in the mid-to-high range of screen protectors. However, this price includes the reusable screen protector and two custom Apple Pencil tips, offering a comprehensive package for digital artists. Is it pricey? Absolutely. Is it worth it? Absolutely. I again took advantage of their Black Friday sale and have a new protector and two tips waiting for when I’m ready to switch out my protector. At nine months, the one I have is still going strong, so I’m not sure when that will be yet.
The Winner?
Rock Paper Pencil wins hands down in the screen protectors battle. The tactile drawing experience is better, the durability is off the charts, and the price is comparable when you consider that it takes two PaperLike protectors to last as long as one Rock Paper Pencil. Subscribe to the PaperLike newsletter, though. You’ll thank me.
Janet “Toni” Federico, PMP, MBA, MFA, is an illustrator, surface designer, writer, and curriculum designer from Washington, DC, now based in the Midwest. Toni helps online course creators optimize their content to ensure students learn what is being taught. Toni’s courses have been used by the State of Texas, major insurance companies, and in her own work as a teaching artist.
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Toni’s info always pops up just when you need it. Very useful information. Thank you Toni!