Your iPad is already a pretty complete little studio. Add a Catsights portable display and it gets even better — you get a big second screen for references and tools, while the iPad keeps doing what it does best: being a canvas under your Apple Pencil.
Here's how to set it up.
The connection
This part is refreshingly simple. Connect the Catsights display to your iPad with the included USB-C cable, and that's basically it.
A couple of things to check:
- Your iPad needs a USB-C port. iPad Pro and iPad Air (4th generation and later) have one, and they support external displays natively. If your iPad has a Lightning port, this particular setup won't work.
- The display runs off the iPad's power, so there's no separate power cable to find. If you're drawing for a long stretch, plug a USB-C adapter into the hub to keep everything topped up.
Once connected, the display shows up as a second screen — no app, no drivers, no configuration.
A drawing workflow that clicks
This is where the pairing gets fun. Keep your drawing on the iPad with Apple Pencil, and put everything else on the Catsights display:
- Reference images — pull up the photo or sketch you're working from, and keep it full-size next to your canvas.
- Tutorials and videos — follow along step by step without pausing your work.
- Tool palettes and panels — with Procreate, Affinity Designer, or Adobe Fresco, move brushes, layers, and color pickers off your drawing surface so your canvas stays clean.
The result is a setup that feels a lot like a proper desktop drawing station — your art on one screen, everything else on the other, nothing covering your work.
Stage Manager for more room
If you want even more space, iPadOS 16 and later brings full external display support through Stage Manager. Turn it on and you can:
- Arrange up to four windows on the Catsights display — keep your main canvas on the iPad, and use the external screen for a browser, notes, chat, or reference apps.
- Move apps between screens freely — drag a window from the iPad over to the display, or bring one back.
This turns the whole thing into a proper multitasking desk: iPad as your primary canvas, external screen as your command center.
A note on the touchscreen
The Catsights display is a touchscreen, but on an iPad your hands and Apple Pencil naturally live on the iPad's own screen. Think of the external display as pure extra space — references, tools, and windows sitting right beside your artwork, with the drawing itself on the iPad.
Is this setup for you?
This pairing is a natural fit if you:
- Draw or paint on an iPad and keep running out of room for references and palettes.
- Want a bigger workspace when you're on the go, without carrying a separate computer.
- Follow along with tutorials or courses while you create.
The iPad is great on its own. Pair it with a portable display and it becomes a full creative workstation you can set up anywhere — your art in front of you, and everything else within reach.