Introduction
Welcome to my reMarkable review. Though I’m not overly confident of my reviewing capabilities, today I will be reviewing an incredible device called the “reMarkable Paper Pro”. I haven’t really seen this device reviewed in an artistic context (apart from the reMarkable 2 which I reviewed a few years ago - and loved), so there’s a good chance what I’m about to show you will be entirely new.
The new reMarkable Paper Pro in all its glory
What is it?
Let’s start with what it isn’t. It isn’t an iPad alternative, it isn’t a graphics tablet and it isn’t a device to browse the internet and keep up to date with social media. The reMarkable has been designed as a distraction free digital notebook that maintains the feel of traditional pen and paper, but with a host of digital upgrades. All of this is managed on an e-ink display which holds enough charge to last 2 weeks to a month (in my experience).
Here are some of the basics before we get to the arty stuff:
- Your digital notebook pages are backed up on the cloud and can be accessed on your phone via the reMarkable app, allowing you to remind yourself of your notes wherever you go. They can also be accessed through a desktop PC
- The notes can be converted to text and exported simply and quickly (honestly this saves me so much time)
- Pages can be tagged with key words to help you find similar or specific pages very easily
- You can create multiple notebooks within one; for example, I have all my work meetings in one notebook, my sketches in another, and my personal tasks in another, all on one device
It does so much more than this, but we’ll get to that. In essence it is a sketchbook on steroids, built to be convenient, lightweight, and practical - and it is exactly that.
Primarily the reMarkable is a note taking device
Why are 3dtotal reviewing it?
So why are we (an art website and publisher) reviewing the reMarkable. It sounds practical and like it could help anyone become organised, but what has that got to do with art?
The cornerstone principle that seems to guide the development of the reMarkable is to do simple things very well. They preserve as much as they can of the simplicity of a notebook or sketchbook, and expand that with features of benefit to the user.
For that reason they have created the most realistic, traditional feeling, digital sketchbook I have ever used.
Although it was created for note making and organisation, there are some great sketching tools on the reMarkable devices
If you’re reading this article I already know you’re thinking why not just use an iPad with Procreate (which is also my primary art making option). One thing I fail to do enough of with an iPad is sketch, practice, and explore ideas without over complicating the result. That is possibly more my fault than the iPad's, but the expanse of options on Procreate (which is the best painting software in my experience) often means I neglect simplistic tools and brushes, in favour of more complex textured brushes. This inevitably means I don’t really sketch as I used to on paper.
The reMarkable pencil on the screen feels uniquely like a pencil on paper. The tools are simplistic. We’ll cover this in detail later, but you can now also use colour on the reMarkable, which is an interesting and important development for the reMarkable Paper Pro.
The reMarkable is not an iPad and shouldn’t really be compared to it as their purposes and functions are very different
Basic functions for sketching
So hopefully that has caught your attention and at least perked up your interest. Below through a series of videos and photographs I’ll talk you through some of the features you can benefit from using the Paper Pro. Many will be familiar to you, but hopefully seeing these things in motion will help you familiarise yourself with the reMarkable.
Tool
Unlike Procreate or Photoshop the range of tools is very simplistic, focussing on what might be useful for note taking. The Pencil tool (as you will see later) has a super authentic appearance on the screen. The other tools are a variety of pens which can be adjusted to 3 varying sizes. All are very responsive to pressure.
The range of tools to use for sketching is fairly limited, much like how you might use a small combination of tools in a traditional sketchbook
Selections
Much like digital painting software, the reMarkable allows you to make selections and size and positioning adjustments. It also allows you to copy and paste elements around your drawing. When using the reMarkable it feels so much like a traditional sketchbook, that even though this is familiar, it feels like you're using magic on paper!
I’m sure you're familiar with selections and adjustments, but on this traditional feeling device it feels a bit like your magically editing a traditional sketch
Layers
Much like digital software the reMarkable allows you to work on multiple layers, although the maximum is 5. You can merge layers and delete them at will so I don’t find this restrictive considering the nature of the type of sketching you would do.
You can also change the template you are sketching or writing on. When sketching I usually use a blank page, but can easily switch to lined paper if I want to make some notes.
Layers work pretty much so as you would expect, but without layer modes and the option to adjust opacity, and so on
Undo and Redo
What is digital art without the mighty power of the undo button? Again, using this device feels so much like using paper that the Undo tool feels like magic when you do use it.
Eraser
Okay, no one reviewing a sketchbook would say “and you can also rub out your sketches”. But the pro pen allows you to use the end of the pen as if there is an eraser there. It just all adds to the feeling of using a traditional sketchbook, which is at the very core of why this is so good.
You can also adjust the Eraser tool to make selections which automatically delete too, which is pretty handy when your sketch is off to a bad start (which mine often seem to do).
I know it isn’t that exciting but it does continue to add to the overall feel of the reMarkable being like a traditional sketchbook
Snap to straight line
You digital artists out there will be familiar with this one. When you sketch an almost straight line and hold your pen on the screen, the reMarkable will turn your wobbly line into a nice straight one for you. Very simple, but really handy when creating geometric shapes.
This will be familiar to Procreate users, but is a really nice feature on the reMarkable
Colour
If you have used the reMarkable 2 for sketching you may feel that an option to use colour is part of what was missing. I actually didn’t feel that. I loved the simplicity of black and white as it made me feel like I was in a sketchbook. However on the Paper Pro they have added colour to the e-ink display.
The choice of colours to use is limited and dependant on the tool you use, but looks pretty cool on the screen
When you sketch in black the response on the screen is instant and impressive. When you use colour the mark appears on the screen immediately as you would expect, but takes a second or two to turn to the appropriate colour. This is a bit frustrating considering the impressive response the screen usually has.
This highlights the time it takes for the true colour to show on the screen
It isn’t a problem and the colour looks kind of cool on the screen (although very saturated and bright when exported). In my opinion the colour options work great for note making and organisation, but when it comes to sketching and art making, it is cool and handy, but not an important factor to consider when choosing this device.
The below images show the sketch as it was being done and then also the final sketch as exported from the reMarkable. The exported sketch is very saturated and loses the character of what you see on the device.
Upgrades
Maybe you’ve used a reMarkable before, so what makes the Paper Pro different? Well, it has the option of colour I just mentioned which might really appeal to you, but what else.
The screen is a bit bigger. I actually really like this. I always found the previous version a little small. This is a lovely size, but still small enough to slide in my bag.
The size difference between the reMarkable 2 and the Paper Pro
On the reMarkable 2, I added a pen holder to the cover as I felt the magnetic strip wasn’t strong enough to hold the pen for transport. The Paper Pro has the same magnetic strip on the side, but the new case is really great and holds the pen in place firmly which is a great and appreciated improvement, particularly when the leather cases are so beautifully made.
The new folio case is a huge improvement. It holds the pen in situ really well which was a problem on the reMarkable 2
There is a backlight. Living in the UK where the sun is out about 5 minutes a year, having something make the screen a bit more user friendly in low light is a welcome addition.
This is a bit of an unusual photo. I shut the curtains and turned out the lights to demonstrate how the backlight illuminates the screen, which works very, very well
Price
So here we get to some of the important stuff. The Paper Pro starts at £559 with options for the pro pen, leather folio etc all costing an additional amount. Your gut reaction (which I would understand) is that £559 is too much for a super cool sketchbook - even if it looks great.
However, if you are a student taking notes, work in an office environment, or manage staff, the additional benefits of the reMarkable really help make that price seem better and better.
I use mine every day. I can consolidate and organise ideas and take notes in meetings that I can export easily (saving me hours weekly). If I get a phone call when I’m at the shops, I can pop on the app, access the notebooks and give an answer immediately.
If you are an artist or sketcher that also has other responsibilities or tasks to manage, I’m sure you’ll find so many uses for this over many years that really justify that price point.
I would be less likely to use this as I love the pen on the screen, but the keyboard case is superb quality and probably one of the most satisfying keyboards I’ve ever used
Conclusion
I’ve had a reMarkable for years. I have hundreds of pages of notes and tasks that I can still navigate easily due to the tagging options. I feel more organised than I have ever been before, and it’s all in one tidy package instead of multiple notebooks which it would be by now.
Additionally, I love sketching on the reMarkable. I love that it is simple and clean and feels just like using a nice pad and pencil (but with some digital benefits). I love that it is uncluttered and simple and that the simplicity helps me explore creative solutions.
I love sketching on the reMarkable. I like the colours option but will always love it most for its authentic sketchbook feel
If you are like me (and I know many of you are) you buy a new sketchbook and do a beautiful sketch on page one. Then you get to page 2 and that one is a bit ropey. Then page 3 is awful and you can’t look at that sketchbook with anything but disgust. Dramatic I know, but I anticipate many of you will be familiar with that. Now I sketch on the reMarkable, those unwanted pages simply disappear and I still look at the reMarkable with excitement to look at what I have done before and think about what I might do next.
I use the reMarkable everyday. It helps me organise my work and home life and is an ever present tool for sketching ideas and having fun with. Honestly I think it is exceptional and if you use notebooks and sketchbooks, I think you will feel the same too.
If you can see a use for this in your daily life get one and try out sketching on it, I know you’re going to love it