Apple Pencil Pro casts a fake shadow based on which tool you're using

AppleInsiderAppleInsider
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in General Discussion

A new video of the Apple Pencil Pro has surfaced, highlighting a nifty little feature that showcases Apple's commitment to detail.

White fountain pen on brown background and wireframe model of pen nib on grey background.
The Apple Pencil Pro casts contextual shadows based on which tool you have selected



Apple released the new Apple Pencil Pro, an upgraded version of its popular iPad stylus, alongside its new iPads released in early May. The new Apple Pencil has received a few notable features, such as Squeeze and Barrel Roll, making it a serious contender for digital artists.

But those weren't the only features that popped up, either. The Apple Pencil Pro now casts contextual digital shadows, too.

Snazzy Labs posted a video to X showcasing how a detailed shadow lets users know which tool they're using when the Apple Pencil Pro hovers over one of the new iPads.



X user Nicolas Alvarez rooted around in the PencilKit framework and found ten 3D models that Apple created for the feature. While it is a relatively small feature, it's notable because it offers visual confirmation of which tool a user has selected.

This isn't the first time we've seen Apple's "alternative tips" for the Apple Pencil, either. In January, a patent popped up showing "computer-generated tool heads," which may surface as a new feature for the Apple Vision Pro.



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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 4
    jpellinojpellino Posts: 704member
    Ya know...

    For someone who remembers what it took to draw a single static line on the screen on an Apple ][, this sort of thing is fundamentally amazing and also just plain amazing.  

    Glad there are still new things to try with interface elements.  


    DAalsethmattinozAlex1Nwatto_cobra
  • Reply 2 of 4
    cornchipcornchip Posts: 1,953member
    Incredible. Can’t wait to get my sketchin’ hand on that.
    watto_cobra
  • Reply 3 of 4
    9secondkox29secondkox2 Posts: 2,856member
    That's wild. This is the kind of thing I have always admired Apple for. Glad to seem it making a comeback.

    It's that nearly-imperceptible little something extra (that required a lot of investment) that makes it feel like magic.

    Apple = quality.
    Lettucewatto_cobra
  • Reply 4 of 4
    LettuceLettuce Posts: 12member
    Yes, Jobs excelled at having all Apple products have some spark of magic and delight, even if it were only small details. Every Apple product needs one small touch like this, and we need to see more. 
    watto_cobra
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