Digital Drawing Tablet Reviews

If you love 3D sculpting or modeling in Blender, Zbrush, Sculptris, SketchUP, Maya….. you need a drawing tablet.

Drawing tablets and pens have always been the popular choice by animators and visual effects artists.

Working with tablets makes your work easier and allow you to create perfect models through various tools.

What is a drawing tablet?

drawing tablet is basically a computer input device which is used used for digital drawing. It is also called pen tablet, graphic tablet, or digital art pad.

You require a Stylus (Pen) to use it, it utilizes pressure sensitivity, and the tablet itself usually comes with a lot more function buttons (hotkeys).

The pen also acts like a computer mouse, giving you the ability to left and right click by using a button on the side of the pen.

It can be a drawing tablet with screen or without screen. The screen drawing tablets still needs to be connected to a computer to function, whether its a PC or Mac.

Blender vs Zbrush

Both ZBrush and Blender are amazing 3D modeling software. They are similar in the aspect of sculpting and modeling but are quite different at the core.

ZBrush is a sculpting program from Pixologic famous for its perfect digital sculpting technique. On the other hand, Blender is an open-source 3D modeling program famous for its modeling, sculpting, animating, rigging, concept arts, and storyboarding.

Blender is free to use, while ZBrush costs money. This can be a major consideration for some people, as free software is always appealing.

ZBrush is a much more robust and feature-rich program than Blender, so it may be worth the investment for serious 3D modelers.

ZBrush is better suited for modeling intricate details, while Blender is better for more general modeling.

If you’re looking to create models with a lot of small details, ZBrush is the better option. However, if you need to create simpler models or don’t need as much detail, Blender will probably serve you better.

Blender has an integrated game engine, which can be used for creating games or prototypes. ZBrush does not have this capability, so it’s not as good of an option for game development.

Both programs have a learning curve and take some time to master. But they have active communities of users who are willing to help beginners get started.

If you need to sketch a quick concept, with simple but efficient tools: choose Sculptris! which is a very feature limited version of Zbrush, but it’s free.

Are drawing tablets and pens good for 3D modeling?

In the past, most modeling work was done with a simple mouse, a keyboard. As technology evolves, 3D modeling has taken a different shape and modelers are asked to be more resourceful than their counterparts were back in the day.

You’ll be very hard-pressed to find mice useful in 3D sculpting. Sculpting essentially requires a stylus, for best (most natural) results. 3D modeling is close to drawing so you are basically using a pen to sculpt.

If you are a 3D designer or digital artist working with a tablet is more efficient and comfortable than a mouse, especially when you use it for longer period of time. You can use it for making 3D sculpted models in softwares like zbrush, Sculptris, SketchUP, Maya, and blender…

The digital pens have a natural feel that can give you better control in drawing objects or characters. The tablet lets you work as if you are drawing on paper which allows the modeler to freely move their hand in a more natural way.

The pressure sensitivity of digital pen can be mapped to such functions as the strength or size of your stroke (The harder you push the bigger the effect). This allows you to more organically dictate how much of an effect you will have on your model as you perform such tasks as sculpting or texturing.

And you can even customize the buttons on the tablet with your favorite shortcuts conformed to individual software. Hence, with the drawing tablet, you can unleash your creativity in a whole new level. And that too, with such an extent of convenience and efficiency you never knew could be possible!

Tasks such as sculpting and texturing are probably the most suited to tasks for a Drawing Tablet and you can really benefit from using one. The pressure sensitivity helps adjust brush strength whereas the precision helps get each stroke to look exactly how you want it to.

If the tasks you are performing in 3D program only rely on clicking buttons or dragging items it really isn’t necessary. Such tasks include animation, composition and rendering.

Screen tablet vs Screenless tablet

The screenless pen tablet get connected to a computer through a USB cable or through wireless (2.4GHz wifi or bluetooth). Looking at the screen while drawing takes getting used to. but it takes up less workspace, cheaper, better for ergonomics.

Usually the disconnect between drawing on a non-screen tablet and seeing the results on your computer monitor goes away with very little practice. Some people even prefer it as neither your hand or your pen will ever cover what you are drawing.

A display tablet is a tablet that allows users to draw directly on the screen of that tablet. It’s More costly, takes more workspace, ergonomics require some setup (keyboard placement, screen placement, practicing good posture), the hand in the way thing.

But the advantages are 1:1 Interaction with the digital clay when sculpting, larger work area (though you mostly use the middle part), generally pen displays come with better colors than computer.

Even though there are many great tablets for 3D modeling that aren’t display tablets, display tablets have an advantage as it’s easier to do 3D modeling when you can draw directly on a tablet’s screen. It makes work more intuitive and you feel more connected as you are not working on a surface separate from what you look at.

I am not saying you cannot do 3D animation with a drawing tablet, many do, but if you get a chance compare working on both types. Not everyone prefers a heavier, larger, more fragile tablet however.

What should I look for in a drawing tablet for 3D modeling?

Before you go and purchase a drawing tablet for 3D modeling and sculpting, you need to know that there are certain features that a tablet for 3D modeling should have. These features can differentiate what tablet is good for 3D modeling and what tablet isn’t.

Here are a list of features you should consider when picking which tablet to buy:

Size options

Drawing tablet works in absolute mode, each point on the tablet maps to a point on the screen. for optimal experience and precision, buy a tablet that matches (roughly) your monitor dimensions.

Generally, with drawing tablets, the bigger the device, the larger the drawing area. However, as the surface area increases so does the price of the tablet.

The working area you should opt for is dependent on your convenience, preference, mobility, desk space, and the magnitude of artworks or sculptures you need to create.

You’d require larger models for producing bigger artwork as it’ll require wider hand movements and vice versa. But smaller ones can be ideal for portable use or when you are short on space.

Stylus Pen

The Pen is one of the biggest factors to consider when purchasing a tablet. It has to be comfortable to hold for extended periods of time. It needs to feel natural and fit in with your workflow.

The pens come in 2 types. Battery-Free Electromagnetic Resonance pens which as the name suggest do not require to be charged and pens with batteries requiring charging.

Opting for battery-free ones would be a smarter move as it would eliminate the hassle of recharging. It relies on the electromagnetic signal being sent from the pen to the tablet.

Other features you need to consider are the pen’s pressure sensitivity, resolution (Lines Per Inch), Responsiveness (Report Rate Speed), tilt function support, etc.

Pressure Senstivity

High levels of pressure indicate a more sensitive stylus which can detect even the faintest difference between the pressures exerted.

It can provide the most detailed outputs as you’d be able to produce lines of a more versatile range of thicknesses and opacities.

When purchasing a drawing tablet it is pretty standard to have 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity this is basically a measure of how responsive a brush is to pressure. Some cheaper ones with will have half of that with 4096 levels.

8192 levels is preferred for 3D Program however 4096 is adequate. This ensures if you need to make any adjustments to the pressure curve (how hard you need to press to get the desired result) you still have a reasonable amount of levels to do so.

Responsiveness

Report Rate Speed measures how many times per second the tablet sends information about the stylus position & pressure back to the computer. Usually, above 200+ RPS is ideal for drawing.

The tablet for 3D modeling should also be highly responsive to your pen strokes or other inputs. This is crucial for receiving the most realistic sculpting/drawing feel as a laggy device will not only be annoying and time-consuming, but will also result in inaccurate outputs.

Lines Per Inch

Lines per inch (LPI) refers to the resolution of a drawing tablet. The LPI determine how well a tablet can pick accurate strokes and tiny details.

For 3D modeling, you need a tablet with at least 2540 LPI. This LPI is sufficient to provide enough detail for your sculptures and illustrations. Depending on what you want, you can go for tablets with higher LPI, even reaching 5080 LPI.

Tilt Function

You will also note that a lot of the pens have tilt senstivity support. This is irrelevant in 3D Program as it is not supported so don’t be concerned over this function.

Tilt support on a drawing tablet just means that when the pen is tilted, it will result in a different size of the brush. It’s definitely not necessary, but can sometimes make drawing with a tablet feel more “organic” or similar to traditional art tools.

Hotkeys

Hotkey and shortcut keys is where having a tablet for 3D modeling can really come in useful. The need for keys to navigate, masking, smoothing and even undoing soon add up. the more the better.

Wireless Connectivity

this is one of the things that can make a noticeable difference in terms of comfort while using the graphics tablet. A wireless drawing tablet is always a good thing as it reduces the amount of cables over your desk and allows you to work more comfortably.

The wireless tablet can connect to your computer wirelessly via 2.4GHz Wifi technology or Bluetooth technology, with a wireless range of up to 10 meters.

Your non-screen pen tablet can operate wirelessly or in USB cable mode, but not both at the same time.

Pen display monitors generally use 3 cables to connect: a HDMI cable for video, a USB cable for data, and a separate power supply cable.

Some screen tablets however include a convenient 3-in-1 cable that incorporates the 3 functions in one cable, reducing the amount of cables over your desk and helping you keep a much tidier workspace.

Some newest pen display models support usb-c connection, which hailed as one connection to rule them all, it was developed to handle power, data and video, and it was drop-dead simple to use. you just need one cable to connect to your laptop.

Compatibility

The drawing tablets on the market are compatible with almost all operating systems, including the Windows, Linux and Mac OS.

Some new models even support Android and chrome OS devices. Therefore, no need to fret over that since you can connect to practically any device and resume your work.

Basically, any tablet that is compliant with a stylus is good enough for using 3D modeling programs.

Other features to Consider When Buying pen display monitor

A good tablet (≤22-inch) has a screen resolution of at least 1920 x 1080 or more, so that the colors are sharp and crisp.

If two screens both with a 1080p Full HD resolution. the smaller monitor will have a more densely packed pixel density, resulting in smoother lines and sharper images.

The color gamut describes a range of colors within the spectrum of colors, or a color space, that can be reproduced on an output device. The most commonly known color gamut might be “NTSC” ,“sRGB” and “Adobe RGB”.

In-Plane Switching (IPS) panels are the ideal panel technology for monitors for graphic design because they feature a brighter display and higher color accuracy, giving you a clear and real-life color image.

Compared to non-laminated screen, full-laminated screen can effectively reduces parallax and brings the pen tip closer to the cursor, allowing for more accurate positioning.

A matte display comes with an anti-glare coating that helps minimize reflections on your screen. but the image quality in displays with matte finish is not as sharp or bright as a glossy screen.

6 Best Drawing Tablets for 3D Sculpting & Modeling

Choose between Pen tablets without a screen, or a screen graphic tablet for ZBrush and Blender, whichever you choose, there is definitely something for you.

If money is not the problem and you need the best drawing tablet, get a Wacom. Wacom is the industry standard and they make fine products.

If you are a beginner then XPPen is the best option. XPPen is a nice option for the drawing purpose with reasonable price. which might give you a bit more for the same price.

As a leading graphic tablet manufacturer, XPPen tablets allows you to draw, paint, and create amazing artworks. you really can’t go wrong with either one.

1. XPPen Deco 03

The XPPen Deco 03 is one of the best tablets for 3D sculpting. This tablet comes with a bunch of features that make it excellent for professional 3D modeling work. Best of all, it is quite affordable.

It features a 10 x 5.62 inches active area with papery texture surface, so you have plenty of space to create and get work done.

The Deco 03 tablet can be used wirelessly or wired. For wired use, you simply need to connect the USB cable a PC. For wireless use, the tablet has an ISM 2.4G USB receiver.

The battery of the Deco 03 tablet charges quite fast. With 2 hours of charging, the tablet will be good for use for up to 16 hours.

The tablet features 6 programmable shortcut keys and a red roller wheel. This will make your sculpting work easier.

This stylus P05 does not need to be charged since it is battery-free. and it has a high 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity. Therefore, your strokes will feel natural and the drawings or 3D models come out life-like.

2. XPPen Deco Pro

The XPPen Deco Pro tablet features a very sleek and unique design with silver aluminum alloy casing, which gives this tablet a much more beautiful and durable feel.

It has 8 programmable keys for functionality, however what is really cool is the double wheel deign. You could map one to brush size the other to zooming for instance.

The Deco Pro is available in two sizes, small (9″ x 5″ drawing surface) or medium (11″ x 6″ drawing surface), but these should not be confused with Wacom’s small and medium sizes as XPPen’s small and medium sizes are much larger!

The Deco Pro MW & Deco Pro SW version features Bluetooth connection option. So you can work wirelessly by pairing your tablet to a computer by Bluetooth.

It comes with PA1 battery-free stylus which has 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity, has virtually no lag, and has a natural tilt response, making each stroke more organic.

Compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome OS. It is even compatible with Android OS, so you can connect it to your Phone or tablet.

3. XPPen Artist 13 (2nd Gen)

The XPPen Artist 13 (2nd Generation) is a well-positioned entry into the budget drawing tablet market that costs only $300.

The 13.3-inch display size with 1920 X 1080 pixels of resolution is ideal to carry around.

The tablet’s color gamut is incredibly high with 96% Adobe RGB. The screen shows 16.7 million colors. Therefore, you can be as creative as you want when it comes to coloring your models.

The fully laminated technology and anti-glare screen coating reduces parallax to create a pen-to-paper feel.

It comes with 9 fully customizable express keys on the left side. It allows for different key setup for different programs.

It can connects with a single USB-C cable or 3-in-1 Cable to your computer. but the single USB-C cable is sold separately.

The Artist 13 (2nd Gen) tablet offers precision control when sketching, sculpting, or drawing when bundled with the stylus X3 Elite.

The stylus is powered by the X3 smart chip, without the spring mechanism, have a reduced initial activation force to just 3g. offers better stabilization, sensitive and accurate.

The device offers three other display size variants – 10.1-inch, 11.9-inch and 15.4-inch. which has almost same technical specifications.

4. XPPen Artist 15.6 Pro

The XPPen Artist 15.6 Pro is a 15.6-Inch creative graphic display with 1920×1080 FHD resolution.

The color gamut is also incredibly high with 120% sRGB. Showing you 16.7 million colors on the screen, this is loved by professionals who work in 3D animation and have to deal with multiple colors and shades.

On the Artist 15.6 Pro tablet, the glass and LCD panel are laminated into one piece, which reduces or eliminates parallax. the parallax will not bother you.

The pre-applied, and replaceable film cover’s anti-glare properties reduce reflections considerably.

The tablet has 8 fully customizable shortcut keys, alongside the unique red dial, which can be programmed to zoom in and out, alter brush sizes, and so on.

The stylus is battery-free and boasts 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, as well as 60 degrees of tilt functionality. It is easy to maneuver, and you can change the angle at which you work.

The Artist 15.6 Pro is unquestionably an excellent product and value for money for all the 3D artists and designers out there.

It also offers two other display size variants – 11.6-inch and 13.3-inch. which has almost same tech specs.

5. XPPen Artist 22R Pro

With a 21.5-inch IPS screen, you get a lot of space to let your creative juices flow.

The resolution of XPPen Artist 22R Pro tablet is 1920 x 1080 pixels. and will display sharp images and provide a good drawing experience.

The tablet performs great in terms of vibrancy and color accuracy. Its display is capable of producing rich colors that cover 88% NTSC – 120% sRGB color space.

This tablet includes an adjustable stand that allows you to adjust your work level. It is compatible with popular 3D software packages.

It includes 20 customizable hotkeys and 2 red-ringed rotary wheels that can be customized in the tablet’s driver settings.

The pen is battery free and has all the features of more expensive tablets like 8192 points of pressure senstivity, 60-degree tilt functionality, 200RPS report rate.

The buttons on the side of the pen can be assigned to things like mouse clicks etc. It comes with an artist glove included for less resistance while working.

This model is ideal for those who want a big screen to work on. The larger the work area, the more control you have over your final outcome.

If you don’t need the hotkeys, you can get the XPPen Artist 22 (2nd generation) in the same size at a much lower price than the Artist 22R Pro.

6. XPPen Artist 24 Pro

This is a huge, heavy, well-built monitor. Boasting a 23.8-inch workspace with the attached adjustable stand. the monitor can adjust from 16 degrees up to 90.

The tablet’s screen resolution is 2560 x 1440. This high resolution allows you to create models with superior color quality. Your modes will be both vibrant and detailed.

The XPPen Artist 24 Pro has a 90% Adobe RGB color coverage, looks very vibrant, and is capable of displaying subtle differences between the color tone which are not distinguishable on generic computer monitors.

It comes with a textured film overlay bringing the feel of drawing on paper. This helps to give it a real pen on paper feel, which always works to bring out the most natural finishes.

It has 20 customizable keys on the two side of the tablet as well as 2 red dial wheels for changing brush size, etc.

The PA2 battery-free stylus provides 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity as well as tilt response, ensuring superior definition of even the finest lines.

XPPen provide a non shortcut key version and you can save $100.

Conclusion

The possibilities of drawing tablet are endless! you can draw, you can retouch or restore pictures, you can make digital paintings with greater accuracy than a mouse, you can make past of your design work flow be faster, you can use it as a mouse and click on things, scroll things.

Pen Tablets are great for 3d art they aren’t only used for 2d. If you are a professional, beginner, or hobbyist I can almost assure you will see the benefit in having one provided you are performing the kinds of tasks that will best utilize its features.

They are a really fun tool to use and one I personally couldnt function without one. I have a XPPen Artist 15.6 Pro tablet and use it daily for Blender work. It is most useful for sculpting, texture painting, and grease pencil.

At the end, it will really come down to preference and what you’re able to get used to and be comfortable with. Kindly take note that these are just tools and won’t be an instant thing that will make you a good sculptor. Good luck with your decision and happy sculpting!

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Tattoos are a great way to express yourself and your personality. those with tattoos are usually very proud of them.

Tattoos have become less taboo and more of a trend in recent years.

Tattooing is a permanent choice, so it is important that the design is well thought out and executed flawlessly. one thing that remains the same about getting inked is the ability to design your own meaningful tattoo.

When it comes to sketching out a tattoo design, artists have a few different options for tools. The most common and classic tool is the pen and paper method.

Using a pen and paper gives the artist a lot of control when it comes to the line work and details of the tattoo.

Another popular method is using a computer program to design the tattoo. This can be anything from a basic drawing program to a more complex tattoo specific program.

This method is becoming more and more popular as it gives the artist a lot of freedom to experiment with the design and make changes quickly and easily.

Tattoo artists print the design on a special transfer paper, then transfer it to the client’s skin. This makes any tattoo designed in art programs like Photoshop easy to get permanently drawn onto your skin.

I loves the fact that it saves on paper and sketching time and it’s so easy to add layers and remove lines. Being digital it’s backed up in the cloud, so I’m not hunting through masses of paper trying to find that sketch, for the client who’s in the waiting room !

Tattoos are art just like anything else, they just have different styles and rules that make them special. Once you get the hang of drawing and coloring and shading in general, you can apply what you’ve learned to tattoo styles.

7 Best Tattoo Design Software & Apps

Whether you’re a tattoo artist or someone looking to get a tattoo, there are plenty of design apps to aid your decision.

While using an app from the Apple App Store or Google Play is the most common, many revert to using software like Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop. That being said, you should use the option that best fits your budget and skills in technology.

Procreate

Procreate is great for “painterly” work and pencil sketching because of the minimalist interface, Available only on iPad, and packed with features artists and creative professionals love.

One of the biggest advantages of this app is that the default brush sets are beautiful and they are fully customisable.

Moreover, you can create your own brush/ brush set to meet your own drawing needs.

Moreover, the powerful “Adjustment” function located at the top left corner in Procreate (icon looks like a magic wand),

allows you to apply various effect to the selected layer, including Blurs, Sharpen, Noise, Hue, Saturation, Brightness, etc.

In almost no time at all, Procreate has become the essential tool for digital illustration on the iPad due to its intuitive interface and the variety of resources and artistic styles for which it can be used.

Designing digitally makes it easy to create perfect lines for stencils, present work to clients, and quickly resize designs during an appointment.

Adobe Fresco

Adobe Fresco replaced the two previous mobile drawing apps from Adobe, Photoshop Sketch, and Illustrator Draw. both were discontinued for iOS and Android and are no longer available for download.

Adobe Fresco is a powerful new iPad app that combines your favorite Photoshop brushes with vector brushes and Live brushes.

This new functionality allows you to “paint with watercolors and oils that blossom, blend, smear, and smudge just like the real thing.” Since vector brushes are also an option, you can create crisp, clean lines that are infinitely scalable so you can print your masterpieces at an size.

Adobe Fresco has the power of the Photoshop painting engine. It’s USP, the “real-time brushes” that duplicate the communication of ink or paint with paper. Its element of the specialist system jobt hat Adobe brands like Sensei.

Adobe Fresco is free for the basic version, but like all things Adobe, there’s a monthly fee for more advanced features and Photoshop Creative Cloud integration. If you have an iPad and an Apple Pencil, it’s worth downloading the trial just to check it out.

Some tattoo flash I did on Adobe Fresco. It’s got a super neat watercolor live brush. Works like a charm!

Clip Studio Paint

Clip Studio Paint Pro is the perfect program for artists on a budget since it doesn’t cost very much but still provides plenty of vector and brush tools for you to create professional-looking comics.

For more detailed work for both lineart and painting, I prefer CSP due to it’s more advanced features. I don’t use CSP for manga/comics or animation, but I use it kind of like a better Photoshop geared towards illustration and general digital art.

It is definitely more complex and takes a lot of time to learn, but it has a lot of features that Procreate just doesn’t even try to have.

For example, the vector options alone would probably be worth the price for you. You can draw a line and then pull/adjust it into place. The inking brushes are extremely smooth and crisp. Anything that involves inkwork is going to be better on CSP than Procreate.

The most impressive feature of this is how easy it is to draw. The brushes “feel” natural and drawing is smooth. Changing sizes and shapes are intuitive and line weights react excellent from graphic tablets.

Available on Windows, macOS, iPad, iPhone, Android & Chromebook. You don’t need a new device to make pro art!

Adobe Photoshop CC

Photoshop is one of the most popular and powerful photo editing software programs used by tattoo artists. It allows them to create custom designs and make changes to existing designs.

In addition to providing a complete photo editing experience, Photoshop is a great drawing program for improving drawings. Many digital artists use this system to make beautiful images.

You can use it to draw up all kinds of tattoo designs and ideas. The program features layers, freely zoom for finer details, and a variety of other drawing tools. The Pen tool and Freeform tool can be used for drawing on a blank canvas.

There are several painting tools available in the Photoshop application. The Brush and Pencil tools are used as traditional drawing features to apply color with strokes. You can use the Eraser, Blur, and Smudge tools to modify the image further.

Making tattoo art in Photoshop is a lot more straightforward than you probably think it is.

Adobe illustrator CC

Adobe Illustrator is a magical software. Rich in features and functionalities, it provides infinite opportunities for designers to create any sort of design. The interface is intuitive, the toolset is impressive, and the number of tutorials you can refer to whenever you are stuck with your design makes it a top-choice for every designer.

you can create a tattoo vector illustration in Adobe Illustrator. it has powerful shape tools. you can make curves faster, shade with mask and blob brush, and color quickly.

Adobe Illustrator CC is an industry-standard tool in vector drawing and editing for professional design and artwork.

Rich in features and functionalities, it provides infinite opportunities for designers to create any sort of design. The interface is intuitive, the toolset is impressive, and the number of tutorials you can refer to whenever you are stuck with your design makes it a top-choice for every designer.

you can create a tattoo vector illustration in Adobe Illustrator. it has powerful shape tools. you can make curves faster, shade with mask and blob brush, and color quickly.

I have used Adobe Photoshop for sketching, Then I transfared the sketch into Adeobe Illustrator. Inking process is important for defining outer lines of your artwork. Try to crate all lines as clean as possible when inking process. This will huge impact your final result of artwork.

Medibang Paint Pro

If you’re looking for a free app to draw and design your tattoos, then MediBang Paint is the one for you. Initially created as a comic creation app, MediBang is a great graphic app that you can use to design a tattoo for yourself or your clients.

It offers multiplatform support and is available for Android, iOS devices (iPhone and iPad), Windows, and macOS. You can use the app to draw and paint gorgeous tattoos. Start a design on your PC, then take it over to your iPad or Android tablet with ease.

You can use it to import photos to help create or design a photo tattoo. MediBang also has a network of users that you can share your work with when you create an account. That’s a great way to get your work out there, besides the traditional social media route.

While the app does have ads, they don’t disrupt the creative process. It may not replace the likes of Photoshop or the beloved Procreate. However, MediBang is a simple, yet powerful drawing app that any tattoo lover or artist would enjoy.

Autodesk Sketchbook Pro

Autodesk Sketchbook is one of the easiest to grasp designing/ sketching apps out there. Used by concept artists, designers, architects, and even Tattoo Artists. it is one of the go-to options for deigning.

It lets you create basic sketches and convert them into intricate designs with minimal efforts. It is opted by professionals looking for clarity and speed when working on their stylistic projects.

Users can also capture ideas on the go since the software lets users use device cameras as scanners.

It helps digital artists and illustrators design with professional-grade perspective tools and intuitive user interface.

Works with graphics tablets. Changing the size of the brush is very intuitive – this operation can be performed using a keyboard shortcut or a special toolbox.

It is a popular app suitable for all systems – iOS, Mac OS, Windows and Android. You can sketch, draw, and paint on any platform it’s badass !

what drawing tablets do tattoo artists use?

If you’re a graphic designer, illustrator, or digital tattoo artist you’ll know that a drawing tablet can boost your creativity and streamline your workflow.

You can use a graphic tablet such as Wacom or XPPen to create and use calligraphic brushes in digital painting software.

Almost all graphics tablets for tattoo design have a number of sensitivity levels (some as few as 2000, others can go over 8,000.

A pen with high pressure sensitivity picks up even light pen strokes, making it easy to create different shades and shapes without digital augmentation.

In the same vein, many pro-grade tablet pens feature “60-degree tilt,” which allows you to press down on the pen tip from many angles, offering much a wider range of marks, and less frustration.

Before we jump in, it’s important to make sure you understand the difference between the different types of graphics tablets.

There are 3 types of drawing Tablets for Tattoo Sketches:

Classic drawing pad

Don’t have screens are more common and affordable. They’re basically large, pressure-sensitive trackpads that you control with a special stylus.

Using a classic Pen tablet for beginners like xppen deco 01 v2 can still work really well, but it takes some time to get used the hand-to-eye coordination.

Screenless is a great affordable option for a beginner don’t concern yourself with what the pros are using get what works for you and fits your needs now. Your equipment will grow with your skills as and when required.

Pen display monitor

Built-in external monitors that hook up to your computer. Drawing directly on the screen is really nice to have, similar to the pen-to-paper drawing, however, these tablets also come at a much higher price tag.

They offer a natural experience and help take your creative ideas and illustrations to the next level. Apart from looking stunning, you can draw or paint directly on the screen using your favourite 2D Software or 3D Software which makes it more intuitive and responsive for the digital tattoo artist to use.

I recommend that tattoo artists use drawing tablets with display, the possibilities presented by having a digital surface with countless colors and hues means that anyone with enough skill and creativity can find a way to apply digital capabilities to physical objects.

XPPen is a great brand, and I recommend their Artist line there’s a variety of sizes there, so just browse the specs and see what best suits you. Their products are quality and their customer service (should you ever need them) is good too. XPPen Artist have to be plugged to your computer and to the wall to work, but give you the freedom to use all your desktop apps.

Standalone Pen Computer

The main want/need for this type of tablet is to be portable, and have a decent battery life. This is because the tattoo artist wants to continue drawing the hours away from the comfort of being outside, or in different areas of their house without needing to be plugged in.

Standalone drawing tablets, such as the iPad Pro, Surface pro, and samsung galaxy tab, function without being connected to a laptop. extremely portable, good battery life, and works great, so you can draw on the go.

This types of tablets also comes with a pressure-sensitive stylus offering features designed to replicate the experience of drawing, writing and sketching on paper, with a real pen or pencil.

The ability to take a picture (fitted with a camera) and instantly edit it, or use it as a template for an illustration or concept drawing, is priceless for many creative users, such as tattoo artists, muralists, and sculptors.

One of the main disadvantages of buying a standalone drawing tablet like iPad for drawing is the cost. Even the cheapest iPads are much more expensive than other drawing tablets, which is why it’s best to think about how you want to use your tablet before you set a budget.

6 Best drawing tablets for Tattoo Artists: Reviews & Recommendations

Now that you know the basics, it’s time to go out and pick the best drawing tablet for you.

1. iPad Pro

iPad Pro with apple pencil is a great tool for tattoo work and can make creation of any tattoo design a lot easier and less time consuming.

The 12.9 inch large screen will feel as big as a laptop, plus apple pencil will blow your mind with on intuitive and reactive it is. Procreate drawing app is great for doodling, sketching, and doing linework .

As far as screen quality goes ipad pro is great, it’s a glass screen, offering a resolution of 2048×2732 pixels at a pixel density of 264 pixels per inch (ppi). plus the super retina hd display tech of apple is supposed to be really good.

The display can refresh at up to 120Hz and supports dynamic refresh rate switching. It also has lower reflections, DCI-P3 color space, True Tone, and HDR video.

Apple Pencil is considered one of the most advanced styluses in the market and known for its consistent, smooth, and reliable performance.

Drawing has a better feel thanks to the speedier processor. The higher refresh rate also ensures that latency when using the Apple Pencil is reduced further to 20 ms.

As for the cameras themselves, the rear-mounted 12MP wide and 10-MP ultra-wide sensors take great photos.

2. Samsung Galaxy tab S8 Ultra

Incredibly slim, sleek design, a brilliant, punchy screen that’s expansive – perfect for watching, photo editing, or sketching on, and plenty of power help Samsung’s Galaxy tab S8 Ultra stand out.

With Samsung’s AMOLED screen technology, which is incredibly deep, vibrant, and rich, which is one of the finest and most color-accurate displays out there with support for HDR10+.

The 14.6-inch display supports a resolution of 2960 x1848, plus the high 120 Hz refresh rate makes every touch and pen input interaction feel very smooth.

The display looks beautiful. Bezels are thin. Colours are vibrant and display is bright. All visuals look sharp.

The included S Pen is well built, has a matte textured surface, nice to hold, has one side button and a firm rubberised tip.

The S Pen is almost cylindrical, and it feels more natural on first use given the softer, more pen-like tip. supports up to 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity with tilt recognition – and it works great.

This is the best Android tablet for creating digital art and tattoo design.

3. Surface Pro 8

The Surface Pro 8 is an excellent tablet that comes with Windows 11. Digital creatives will love the power on offer here in a tablet form factor, but you’ll need to spend extra for a stylus.

It comes with a 13-inch PixelSense display with a resolution of 2,880 x 1,920, and at this screen size, that leads to a fantastic looking display with pin-sharp details.

On some models you can now up the refresh rate from 60Hz to 120Hz. it makes using a stylus for doodling even more responsive.

The most advanced versions featured an Intel Core i7-1185G7 processor with integrated Iris graphics, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage. You can opt for an i5 model with half the RAM and storage, but performance will take a hit.

The image is very sharp, because there with a good 10MP rear-facing webcam and a 5-megapixel front-facing camera, which can capture video/image in 1080p.

Surface Pro 8 battery lasts only 6~8 hours on average use but advertised to last 16hr! Good tablet, good pen, not so good battery life.

If you want a capable tablet but don’t want to switch to iOS or Android, the Surface Pro 8 is a great choice.

Unlike iPads or Android tablets which run mobile operating systems, the Surface Pro 8 isn’t limited to mobile apps. So, you can run full Windows apps such as Adobe Photoshop, while still benefitting from the slim and light tablet form.

4. XPPen Artist (2nd generation) series

The XPPen Artist (2nd generation) is a pen display. Basically a second monitor that plugs into you Windows or Mac computer allowing you to draw in it with the included pen.

The resolution of these displays are FHD, that’s 1920 x 1080 pixels. On the 10.1” / 11.9” / 13.3” / 15.4” display of the XPPen Artist 10 (2nd gen) / Artist 12 (2nd gen) / Artist 13 (2nd gen) / Artist 16 (2nd gen) that looks really nice and crisp.

The IPS panel can reproduce 1.67 billion colors and features ≥ 90% Adobe RGB color gamut the colors and accuracy are amazing.

XPPen Artist (2nd generation) series is equipped with an anti-glare glass, which makes the screen can virtually eliminate reflections and reduce eye strain.

The display is laminated so there’s no gap between the line and the pen tip. it’s meant to remove parallax, ensures the cursor will always follow the pen nib closely.

The X3-Smart-Chip battery-free digital pen is a very popular stylus amongst artists and is known for its accurate tracking and well-balanced pressure sensitivity.

Initial activation force of the pen is low to 3g and thin lines can be drawn easily even with a thick brush selected.

The tablet also comes in four colors: Black, Blue, Pink, and Green. which is quite rare to find.

This tablet is compatible with windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Linux, as well as Android phones / tablets both via USB-C or HDMI wired connectivity.

It also comes loaded with ≥ 6 customizable express keys that you can set for general usage and your most-used tools/key commands to keep keyboard use to a minimum while working.

The reverse side of the tablet features four rubber feet to help keep it secure on most desks/tabletops to avoid any slips and shakes while editing.

On paper the XPPen Artist (2nd generation) looks very good indeed. It’s commonly agreed that XPPen do a good line in affordable and good quality screen drawing tablets.

5. XPPen Artist Pro series

It is very important for a drawing tablet to have a color-accurate screen. The XPPen Artist 12 Pro / Artist 13.3 Pro / Artist 15.6 Pro comes with a 11.6″ / 13.3″ / 15.6″ screen which covers 100% sRGB / 120% sRGB / 120% sRGB color space. it is decent enough.

The screen’s quite sharp thanks to the FHD resolution of 1920×1080 pixels, the colors are pretty punchy for an IPS panel, and it gets sufficiently bright.

The fully laminated display technology reduced the parallax to the lowest level, which means a thinner profile, improved display quality, better outdoor visibility, wider viewer angle, more accuracy. Drawing experience are really good.

XPPen provide a high-quality matte screen protector for the Artist 12 Pro / Artist 13.3 Pro / Artist 15.6 Pro drawing monitors, it support anti-glare and radiation protection. Plus you get extra scratch and drop resistance and an oleophobic coating to see off greasy fingerprints, too.

The Artist 12 Pro / Artist 13.3 Pro / Artist 15.6 Pro comes with some of the very unique features – like the red roller wheel, combine with other 8 programmable shortcut buttons on the tablet. you can get things done faster with the quick access to shortcuts.

Features a non-slip rubber grip design, the Battery-free digital pen PA2 will bring you a comfortable & stable grip that helps to relax your mind and enable you to come up with more creative ideas.

The 200PPS data transfer rates, 5080LPI in resolution, ±60° tilt function and 8192 levels of pen pressure sensitivity allow getting a professional level of drawing (make the thinner line with one simple movement).

XPPen’s Artist Pro tablet is one of the most compelling entry-level graphics displays on the market. It’s lightweight, well-built, highly customizable, color-accurate, and all for a reasonable price.

6. XPPen Deco MW / Deco LW

Loved for its thin and light design, the XPPen Deco MW / Deco LW comes in 4 gorgeous colors: Black, blue, green, and pink.

The XPPen Deco MW / Deco LW has a active drawing area of 8″ x 5″ / 10″ x 6″. It’s light, thin, and easy to maneuver around on the desk, but has rubber feet to help keep it from sliding.

The tablet’s enhanced effective surface also gives more friction to the tips, which gives a feel that is similar to writing on paper with a pencil.

There are a row of eight express (shortcut) keys along the side. The tablet can be turned so the keys are on the left or right side depending on if you are right or left-handed.

This tablet has a resolution of 5,080 lines per inch, and the pen has 8,192 pressure levels and can be used tilted down up to 60 degrees on either side.

The battery-free Stylus used the X3 Smart Chip has a more stable pen tip, less latency and better durability, as well as improved precision.

The XPPen Deco MW / Deco LW packs a 1,000 mAh battery which can last up to 10 hours of continuous use. This operates the Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity that uses significantly minimal power while maintaining very low latency.

This tablet is compatible with windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Linux, as well as Android phones or tablets both via Bluetooth or wired connectivity.

The two XPPen Deco MW & Deco LW tablets are thin, lightweight and stylish. But yet feels solid due to a high-quality plastic build.

It works flawlessly and provides a professional experience at lower cost.

Final Verdict

I make this guide for anyone wanting to learn or improve designing tattoos.

Some drawing tablets are ideal for beginners while others boast advanced features and technology that are suitable for professionals.

I’m a professional artist and for me, a PC and dedicated drawing tablet like wacom cintiq or XPPen Artist is an absolute must, while the iPad is nice to have but not necessary.

Personally, it feels more natural drawing on a screen tablet than an iPad because of that- a matte screen protector could help with that (I have one on my iPad).

There are professionals who can use iPads for their main workflow so it really depends on you!

Pen displays generally speaking provide better value for money simply because it’s cheaper. Eg a XPPen Artist 15.6 Pro 15.6-inch pen display is around US$370. And there are so many brands to choose from.

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Many photographers, illustrators, artists, and graphic designers often use drawing tablets for digital illustration or photo retouching jobs because it is more convenient and enjoyable than just using a mouse.

By using a drawing tablet and computer program you can select from all sorts of different tools and settings. Choose from endless brushes including watercolour, calligraphy and even chalk. Then there are the limitless colour selections on offer.

The freedom to not only draw with any pen, whether it’s a fine fountain pen or a thick marker, but also edit your designs however you please, whether that’s increasing their size, duplicating sections, or changing colours, the power to create the most amazing designs is at your fingertips.

Drawing Tablets have two types of connections: standard corded and wireless Bluetooth. The main limitation of the cable is the distance in which its transmissions can travel.

You require a wireless portable graphic tablet if you’re operating as an artist or visual developer. This convenient tool lets you mark wherever you are and make digital skills with comfort.

The most reasonable wireless bluetooth drawing tablets for laptop are lightweight, responsive, and make editing effortless. It’s a stage up from your traditional pen and paper, permitting you to perform on the go. Then, you can mail it to customers or transfer it on social media in moments.

Wireless Support

Having wireless connectivity is a very nice feature. It’s both nice if you plan to place the tablet on your lap, or in case you plan to carry it around with your laptop.

It makes it easier to move it around, so you will appreciate it if you plan to use wireless drawing tablet with your laptop on the go.

The Wireless drawing tablet connects wirelessly via the USB dongle or bluetooth. But it still giving users the option to use the wired USB connection when desired.

In case the tablet’s battery needs to recharge, you can still use it while you’re charging it. You can turn wireless off via the switch on the side in case you don’t want to use it as well.

Now to be honest, while wireless connectivity is lovely, especially when it doesn’t cost much. It sometimes doesn’t work as reliably as cable. It depends on the tablet.

Wireless USB vs Bluetooth USB connector

Bluetooth and WiFi (2.4GHz) are extra norms for wireless transmission.

Bluetooth advancement is helpful when communicating data between two or more appliances that are around each other when the pace is not a problem, such as printers, telephones, headsets, and modems. It is excellently done to low-bandwidth applications like driving sound data with telephones or byte data with hand-held computers (transmitting files) or keyboard and mice.

Wi-Fi (2.4GHz) is excellently done for working full-scale webs because it enables a more direct link, more helpful content from the ground station and more useful wireless protection (if configured correctly) than Bluetooth.

Different wireless tablets like the XP-Pen Deco Mini7w links utilize a wireless USB receiver. The receiver ought to be bonded to the USB port of your tablet.

This gets to the foremost point, the enclosed wireless connector has a USB type A plug, which is fast disappearing from most of the current laptops.

Most computers and portable appliances marketed nowadays come only with a Type-C USB port. This implies you have to utilize a dongle or a USB Hub, which is not an excellent answer.

Wireless drawing tablet with screen

Classic pen display monitors like Wacom Cintiq series and XPPen Artist series must be connected to a computer before you can draw.

Portable standalone drawing tablets like the iPad Pro, Surface pro, samsung Galaxy Tab that use a self-powered input device and active pen to transmit signals directly to your tablet.

In other words, standalone tablets cut out the middle man, enabling the best possible finishes on your digital artwork, even when you’re on the go. All without a piece of bulky equipment in sight!

However, standalone tablets can be expensive, with prices rising up to $400 or more for pro-level models. So, before you buy a graphics tablet, you need to have a clear idea of exactly what you need.

About XPPen

When it comes to drawing tablets or pen displays, Wacom is the first name to come to mind. Wacom is still “king of the hill” but they are flipping expensive.

If you are looking to get started with Digital Painting on a budget, then check out XPPen Drawing Tablets.

XP-Pen is a one of the leading brands when it comes to drawing tablets. Their products are ideal for digital artists and photographers alike, making the process of creating art on a computer a more enjoyable and seamless experience.

The main selling points for the XPPen screenless tablets are the battery-free stylus with high pen pressure levels and tilt recognition, bluetooth connection and nice looking design.

Here are our top picks for the best XPPen wireless drawing tablets:

1. XPPen Star 05

The XPPen Star 05 is a beautiful device. It is a sleek off-black, and very smooth. The beveled edges are a nice touch. It’s overall design is very minimalist, it is just so good looking.

The 2.4 GHz wireless feature well is worth every penny as it is highly responsive. For those who want finer detail control without having to zoom in constantly on your work: this is your graphics pad. It’s very solid and has good battery life when charged and not tethered for use.

In regards to size, the Star 05 is 11.7 x 7 x 0.4 inches. With an Active Area of 8 x 5 inches, it is pretty large- which in this case is a good thing! While it isn’t the biggest tablet, it’s not too small; nearly perfect in size actually.

Instead of shortcut buttons, this tablet has 6 touch-sensitive shortcut keys! You can customize two keys to switch between options like zoom in/out, undo/redo, or even increase/decrease brush size! It’s very handy.

The lightweight feel and simple shape of this stylus pen may feel a bit strange at first, however the P03 stylus has no battery and never needs to be recharged.

With 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity, the stylus is very responsive. the pen movements are very accurate. You can make the tiniest lines, like quotation marks, and they will show up just where you wanted them.

2. XP-Pen Star 06

Its massive drawing area of 10 x 6 inches, sleek form factor, excellent stylus, and overall good drawing performance are the main selling points of XPPen Star 06 tablet.

The haptic and overall built quality seems very good. The 4 rubber feet on the back design to prevent it from moving around on the table. The drawing surface itself duels good too, its not slippy and has a little grip while you draw on it.

The 2.4GHz wireless function works well with excellent 1050mAh lithium battery life. harging does not take long and battery life up to 16 hours is satisfactory.

If you’re someone who does a lot of zooming and brush size changing, the wheel function is a life-saver. Thanks to the fact that the 6 hotkeys lay on the side, access is convenient. Making workflow easier.

The included P01 battery-free stylus enables uninterrupted drawing. 8192 pressure sensitivity does feel different. It’s convenient to get broad strokes.

Unless you need tilt or touch support along with all these functions, there’s no need to get the pricey Wacom Intuos Pro. It works the same way.

3. XPPen Deco Mini7W

XP-Pen Deco mini7w Wireless tablet is one of the most pocket-friendly drawing tablets in the market.

The XPPen Deco Mini7w comes with an active drawing area of 7 x 4.37 Inches. This is considered a ideal size for both working on laptop screens and external monitors.

The tablet feels solid which does not even flex on pressing. It has round corners and beveled edges with four large rubber pads at the back help the tablet to firmly grip the surface.

The Deco Mini 7W drawing tablet provides up to 10 hours of wireless use and takes 2 hours to charge. The Deco Mini 7W drawing tablet has stable, 10-meter range wireless connection, thanks to using 2.4Ghz radio frequency connection.

The P05D digital pen feels solid and has 8192 levels of pen pressure sensitivity which allows you to easily make variable pen strokes when drawing. It also offers 60 degrees of tilt which means you can add shade just like a real pencil.

The battery-free stylus covered with a rubber material that’s very soft, which makes the whole drawing experience much more comfortable. It feels very nice in your hands and also easier to grab..

You can now use Chrome OS & Android OS on your XPPen Deco mini7W, allowing you to write and create digitally effortlessly.

With its compact size and wireless connectivity available at a budget price, there’s no need to worry about budget or workspace.

4. XPPen Deco 03

The design of XPPen Deco 03 looks sleek and minimalist. Design and build quality are Really solid!

The working area is 10 x 5.62 inches and it comes with large bezels that you can rest your hands on. Drawing surface is matte and has a nice texture to draw on.

The red dial is responsive and a really distinct aspect of the table, it really gives it personality. The other 6 buttons are clicky and give nice feedback when pressed.

Talking about wireless it comes with a small 2.4 Ghz dongle like if it was a wireless mouse, and there is no input lag at all!

The P05 Stylus is well built, sturdy and has a nice weight. The surface is smooth matte and the grip section has a matte rubberised texture to it.

The battery-free stylus comes with 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity, which is very sensitive, the lines are smooth and tapers nicely when drawing.

The Deco 03 is one of the higher-spec graphics tablets in the XP-Pen range and offers a feature-set comparable to market-leaders, with the exception of tilt-detection on the pen — something that’s only really relevant to professional digital artists and illustrators, and is available in the newer XP-Pen Deco series.

5. XPPen Deco MW

A beautiful tablet, in both size and color. The XPPen Deco MW comes in four color variants: Black, blue, green and pink. It’s active area is 8 x 5 inches.

The XPPen Deco MW tablet is compact, thin, light weight and bluetooth enabled. And the fact that you can still use it while it is charging makes it worth it right there.

8 Programmable function keys work a treat and can be customised in the driver for different software packages. makes it easy to open apps, change brushes, swap through open apps, etc., it’s perfect.

X3-Smart-Chip is a bonus, enhancing the pen performance across the board. which comes with a more subtle initial pressure sensitivity and a much shorter tip retraction.

The Deco MW tablet is compatible with mac, Windows, Linux, chromebook, and android OS. and works great for drawing, photo editing, comic and manga artwork.

This is a great tablet for retouching photos pen point accuracy, long lasting battery and conivent in tight spaces and on the go.

6. XPPen Deco LW

The XPPen Deco LW tablet’s build quality is fantastic, and comes in four color options: Black, blue, green and pink.

Thin, lightweight yet well-built tablet with large drawing area of 10 x 6 inches. the drawing surface is slightly rough, providing a pencil-on-paper feel.

Enjoy the convenience of wireless creating with built in Bluetooth connection, so it’s simple to use almost anywhere.

The Deco LW tablet comes with 8 express keys, you can apply different settings on a per application basis giving you access to the hotkeys you use most in whatever software you are using.

The pen is powered by the same X3-smart-Chip inside which supports tilt and 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity. Its initial activation force is just 3g which captures every nuance of pen pressure.

This is a beautiful pen tablet with Bluetooth and fantastic drawing performance. Ergonomic pen and tablet, for both right- and left-handed artists.

7. XPPen Deco Pro SW & Deco Pro MW

XPPen improves on its excellent Deco Pro tablet by adding relatively seamless Bluetooth connectivity.

The XPPen Deco Pro SW & Deco Pro MW is a nice looking tablet with solid build quality that also performs really well at drawing.

The metal body and wonderful finishing make this feel like a premium product. The build quality for the whole tablet feels sturdy and classy, high end.

The Deco Pro, available in two size variants: small version ( 9 × 5 inches of active area) and medium version (11 × 6 inches of active area) , gives pro and amateur artists and photographers enough working space.

One additional cool way XPPen Deco Pro has made it different is their creation of the double Dial wheels ! the Dial is an accessory built for your non-drawing hand. It functions as a navigational device for your application tools.Helping you pick colors, changes brushes or brush size and much more.

The PA1 battery-free stylus provides 8192 pressure sensitivity and 60 degrees of tilt function, It’s pleasant to use and makes editing fine details easier thank to the 8,192 levels of pressure. With tilt sensitivity you can change the angle of the pen to control things like opacity.

The XP-Pen Deco Pro is a great tablet that is an absolute bargain at its price point (especially when compared to offerings from Wacom Intuos Pro).

Final Words

It is without a doubt that pen tablets are among the most useful photo editing and retouching tools for photographers, graphic artists, and illustrators.

The ability to use it as a precision tool to make specific changes in the same way that we illustrate with pen and paper has an irreplaceable value.

Online teaching or distance learning is aided by the wireless drawing tablet. Teachers can annotate, write comments, solve Math problems, and draw with the tablet while students can easily take down notes with it.

Pen tablets come in a wide range of sizes that aim to fit the preference of individual users. Generally speaking, you’ll want the graphic tablet size to be close to the size of your monitor.

The advanced technology doesn’t necessarily mean that it is a better option because in creative tools, user preference and experience is still the most important factor.

For those looking for a simple and affordable alternative to the Wacom Intuos and Intuos Pro line, the XPPen Star & Deco series is highly rated amongst artists.

Easy to set up, Very portable, Can be used wirelessly via Bluetooth or dongle. Using a XPPen wireless drawing tablet to help expand the types of images you create.

Overall, XPPen tablets are a good way to get into digital art. Particularly if you want something affordable, or if you just don’t want a Wacom tablet.

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There is nothing like drawing and painting directly on screen! Which allows you to work directly on your images via a display and pressure-sensitive stylus, giving you a real-world, natural-style workflow for painting and retouching that’s hard to beat.

XPPen offer quality pen display drawing pad for Beginner and Professional Artists. and both of their premium lines of tablet are highly respected – Deco, their screenless tablets, and Artist, their display tablets.

With a Deco, there is a hand-to-screen disconnect to get used to, moving your hand on the tablet to imitate brushstrokes while looking at your screen to see the results.

The Artist line, cranks it up a notch. It’s the same tablet experience, except you are drawing directly on screen. Using a Artist feels more like real drawing and painting.

I have used a XPPen Artist for a number of years owning the 22″ and then the 24″. These tablets always retailed for over $1,000.

I just received the new XPPen Artist 16 (2nd Generation) and it has far exceeded my expectations. The response-rate is fast, the pen tip accuracy is better, it’s lightweight and it’s the perfect size for me.

This is my third product from XP-PEN and I am completely impressed with the brand’s performance and pricing.

In this Article, I’m going to look at the product more from a design perspective.

Introduce

XPPen Artist 16 (2nd Generation) is a 15.4″ creative pen display designed to help you make your imagination come to life in rich color and sharp detail.

It comes with the super responsive X3-Smart-Chip Stylus – so you can create with incredible control and high accuracy and offers the familiar feel of pen on paper with the boundless potential of digital creativity.

The 2nd Generation version of the XPPen Artist 16 is a refresh of the previous generation and costs $399.99. XPPen took a lot of the feedback from users and used it to improve upon the device.

The Artist 16 (2nd Generation) is a fantastic tool for digital sketching, illustration and technical drawing and incorporates XPPen’s many years of experience and know-how in building products that make creativity more natural and productive.

Click here to visit the XPPen’s official site if you want more information: https://www.xp-pen.com/product/1203.html

Unboxing

The packaging just felt fancy, super high quality, and really pretty to boot.

Once open, the first thing you find inside the box is the tablet. The tablet is covered in a plastic bag.

This tablet also comes with Stylus, Quick Guide, 18 months warranty card in the US, 3-in-1 USB Cable, USB Extension Cable, Power Adapter, 3 Power Plug, Cleaning Cloth, Black Drawing Glove and 8 additional standard nibs.

The ACS05 foldable adjustable tablet stand, Protective Case and the single USB-C to USB-C Cable are optional which not included.

Overall, I’m extremely happy with the tablet and the addition items in the tablet.

Design

The XPPen Artist 16 (2nd Generation) includes an attractive but compact design, making it easy to incorporate the tablet into a workspace.

The enclosure is machined from a solid piece of plastic, giving it a very durable and professional feel.

Four gorgeous colors are available to fit your personal style: Black, blue, green, and pink. the green one is really aesthetic.

There are eight shortcut buttons on the display’s left side that can be programmed to carry out simple tasks.

On the right side, you’ll find several buttons and connectivity options. There is the power and a pair of dedicated brightness buttons starting from the top. Below are two USB-C ports connecting the pen display to the computer.

Behind the tablet are 4 large rubber feet to prevent it from sliding around on table.

I was a little shocked by the weight of the tablet, I figured it would be super light and slight playable which is a big plus for transport.

If you’re looking for a pen display to use on the go with a laptop, you should definitely check the Artist 16 (2nd Generation) out – you won’t be disappointed.

Connections

The connections are fantastic, including USB type-c. not providing a USB-C to USB-C cable with the tablet seems like an oversight.

The USB-C to USB-C cable for connection shoule be full-featured. In this case, “full-featured” means a cable that’s rated for power, video, and data transfer.

With the apple Macbook Pro, I can easily use the USB type-c cable to connect the XPPen Artist 16 (2nd Gen) tablet. So easy and convenient.

I can also use the pen display with the desktop computer with the HDMI connection (3-in-1 cable).

The included 3-in-1 cable is USB-C port on the pen display’s end and has a separate HDMI and two USB-A (power and data) plugs on the other.

The HDMI plug and black USB Type-A plug need to be connected directly into your computer. However, the red USB Type-A plug is only used for power delivery. The USB extension power cable gets you about three extra feet of reach.

If you don’t have an extra USB port on your laptop, you can use a simple USB-C adapter.

Driver Download and Install

Once I downloaded the driver from XPPen’s official site, installed, and restarted, it didn’t take long at all to get started at all.

The driver functions as expected, allowing pen calibration, canvas area and pen pressure customization, and setting up the dedicated shortcut buttons.

Of those, we get eight on the tablet and an additional two on the pen. these buttons can be programmed to activate shortcuts and other commands.

Compatibility

The XPPen Artist 16 (2nd Gen) will work with pretty much any computer. It’s compatible with Windows, Mac, Chrome OS, Linux, and even Android OS. If your device has the necessary ports, you shouldn’t have any issues. The same is true for your software. You can dig right in and start working in all Adobe software, GIMP, MediBang, Krita, and others.

The operating systems I’ve tested are MacOS and Windows 11. I have seen reviews of people using this with a Android phone or another tablet out and about on the go, but I don’t use it with Linux and Android devices so I can’t say much.

Screen Technology

The XPPen Artist 16 (2nd Gen) have a beautiful, vibrant screen. which is pleasant and really smooth.

This pen display uses a 15.4-inch IPS panel that supports 1920×1080 resolution. the high-definition provides outstanding clarity and color.

The screen response is fantastic, thanks to it being fully laminated, eliminating any air gap between the screen and the touch-sensitive sensor.

The tablet can reproduce 94% of the Adobe RGB color range, equivalent to 90% of NTSC or 127% of sRGB. It means a screen with colors you can trust compared with a regular monitor. which is an extremely useful function when you publish a lot on the internet.

XPPen Artist 16 (2nd Gen)’s wide color fidelity improves a photographer’s workflow and helps guarantee better results every time. Photo prints that always look right make this a photographer’s favorite.

Even out of the box, the colors look accurate. Of course, I recommend you calibrate the monitor before starting to work with it. I use X-Rite i1 Display to calibrate my monitors, and after the calibration, I can say that the display looks even better. The contrast and sharpness are both perfect for photo editing.

It has a glossy display and, rather than an etched glass screen, but it comes with an anti-glare textured matte screen protective film.

The onscreen feel is a very personal choice. the matte screen protective film makes drawing more natural and can help deal with glare issues.

The Screen protector also protect screen from irreversible damage such as scratches, dings, and harsh cleaning chemicals.

Stylus with X3 Smart Chip

Its companion stylus, the X3 Elite, provides 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity, a low activation force, and tilt recognition of even the lightest pen strokes. As with other pens in the XPPen family, you don’t have to charge it.

It reacts to as little as 3 grams of Initial activation force with ten times better sensitivity, so “artwork can be produced with a featherlight stroke.

The nib has less retraction of about only 0.6 mm when pressed against the screen, and lines appear instantly upon the slightest touch of the surface. The pen is also very light and handles perfectly.

This new X3 smart chip technology certainly makes the stylus very responsive that shows while carefully crafting sun-shadow ink line transitions or adding rapid brush strokes for color texturing.

The super precise pen is combined with virtually no parallax and just enough screen resolution, allowing the artist to achieve exact line placement when needed!

Drawing Performance

For the past few weeks I have been using the Artist 16 (2nd Gen) Display Tablet by XP-PEN and I must say I was really impressed by the drawing experience.

This product’s build is elegant, The screen feels so nice to glide the pen on. There’s very little parallax, and the beautiful matte etched screen protector creates a drawing experience that feels natural.

It has such a high color accuracy and such good contrast that – when combined with the provided pixel density – it makes you completely forget that you’re working on a screen.

The tablet runs smoothly – of course this also has to do with the computer you plug it into – it has no lag, working on the screen surface is really comfortable & the pressure sensitivity is really great.

Having used XPPen tablets since the 22″ Artist 22 (2nd Generation), I have become used to the fluid drawing experience that the EMR (Electro Magnetic Resonance) pens provide. The pens don’t have batteries and are well balanced with a comfortable feel and never need to be charged.

When in Photoshop, there are so many tools that take advantage of pressure sensitivity, that I can’t image drawing or retouching without one.

The pen has minimal initial activation force. As long as the pen tip touches the drawing surface, even without any pressure applied, you can get a line. The pen is very sensitive at low pressure levels.

Lines can transition from thin to thick and back smoothly. Curves turn smoothly. It’s easy to maintain consistent pressure. Drawing performance is consistent and predictable.

I did not experience any glitches with various drawing software I’ve tested, namely Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Affinity Photo, Affinity Designer, Medibang Paint Pro, Clip Studio Paint and Krita. Pressure and tilt sensitivity work as expected.

The overall drawing experience is excellent. Lines come out exactly the way I expect them to.

The Digital Artwork made by this tablet:

The shortcut buttons are such a life saver! They don’t wobble, are large, and have a delightful, rubbery feel with a satisfying click when pressed.

The included Drawing Glove is made of Lycra which is an elastic material that provides comfort and flexibility, it fits my hand perfectly, keep sweat off of my tablet and help me draw smoothly.

XP-PEN’s attractive design and attention to detail are admirable, especially considering the company’s target user base at this price point.

Final Verdict

XPPen Artist 16 (2nd Gen) is a good looking graphic tablet with solid build quality. I really love my new tablet so much, it has given me the ability to create the art I’ve always wanted.

The Drawing performance is consistent and predictable, in other words, excellent. I did not encounter any glitches with the various drawing software I’ve tested.

My overall experience is very positive. The product works as expected so this review is easy to make.

The only downside is perhaps the limited number of physical shortcut buttons. If you need more than 8 buttons, you can purchase the optional XP-Pen AC19 Wireless Shortcut Remote.

So if you’re interested in looking to get more hands-on with your work in a digital way, with one of the best and most affordable pen tablets on the market right now I think you are really going to like this product.

You can decide whether this is worth the money based on the experience I’ve shared.

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From first impressions I think the XP-Pen Deco L & Deco LW looks like a decent tablet, I personally recommend it – XP-Pen‘s quality is now up with Wacom’s, but it has similar specs and a bigger surface for the same price!

The XP-Pen Deco L & Deco LW tablets have a slim design and are made with premium materials. Both models are available in four colors, including Black, blue, green, and pink.

XP-Pen has a few types of pen tablet, If you have much more budget you can buy a larger drawing tablet with screen , which most artists would prefer.

Drawing Tablet –What the Heck is it and why Would you Need it?

Good question, and I’m glad you asked! graphics drawing pad takes the place of a mouse and mouse pad for a computer. The tablet portion acts as your mouse pad. The pen acts as your mouse. It gives the user a ton of control over the cursor.

That control over the cursor is something that is a complete godsend when dealing with designs and artwork on the computer. Graphic designing becomes a breeze with the Graphics Tablet.

It’s the perfect way for me to combine my technological expertise with the creative side I’ve always had.

Advantages of XP-Pen Deco L & Deco LW

1. Bluetooth Connection

XP-Pen Deco LW can be used wirelessly via Bluetooth connectivity. working wirelessly really adds to quality-of-life when making art for long hours.

Being able to move around and work in lots of positions easily is a massive boon to those who make a lot of digital art.

If you’re on a budget and don’t care about wireless, save money and go for the cheaper XP-Pen Deco L. If you want a wireless drawing tablet, go for the XP-Pen Deco LW with Bluetooth.

2. Large Working Area

The XP-Pen Deco L & Deco LW has a huge active drawing surface of 10x 6 inches, allowing you to do large brushstrokes and easily use your whole arm, shoulder and elbow when drawing and painting, as well as make smaller delicate strokes a bit easier.

If you have a larger budget and plan to use your tablet daily, I would get a larger tablet like the XP-Pen Deco L & Deco LW. because drawing for long periods is easier and healthier on a larger tablet.

3. Bundled Free Drawing Software

With Deco L & Deco LW, XP-Pen has kindly bundled free software so you can get right to making art.

You get ArtRage Lite, Zoner Photo Studio X, and Explain Everything (online whiteboard) for free.‍

While you do pay bigger bucks for a XP-Pen tablet, this really adds a lot of value to the purchase – especially since ArtRage Lite suit for the beginners.

4. Advanced X3 Elite Stylus

The X3 Elite Stylus has a few advantages over the old stylus models.

Mainly the new X3-Smart-Chip Stylus delivers a fully upgraded drawing experience with a more subtle initial pressure sensitivity and a much shorter tip retraction.

Aside from this, the X3 Elite Stylus also comes with 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity and 60 degrees of tilt function, which you can easily shape subtle lines, crafting your unique masterpieces.

Thanks to the elimination of wear-prone spring parts, the upgraded internal structure prevents the nib from moving unnecessarily and doubles the lifespan of the stylus.

5. Eight shortcut keys programmable

New models of Deco L & Deco LW tablets have their customizable keys at the top edge of the tablet. which offers eight programmable keys to trigger macros, shortcuts, and applications, select tools or open files or directories.

While this might be an attempt to make the Deco L & Deco LW more accessible for both left handed and right handed people, having the buttons on the side makes them more accessible and easier to use.

With Deco L & Deco LW you’re able to just rotate the tablet so the buttons are either on the left or right, and in the settings change the orientation of the tablet to left or right handed.

6. Drawing Experience

From the very first moment I picked up the X3 Elite pen and started drawing with it on the tablet surface, it felt natural. It flowed smoothly and was surprisingly precise in its resolution and highly sensitive to pressure, even light pressure.

My first impression was “wow! this is fun!!” It came very easily to me and felt very similar to the feel I was used to in using pastel crayons on paper.

The pressure sensitivity was essential – it enabled me to forget that I was working in a digital world and instead just draw like I normally would.

my XP-Pen Deco L & Deco LW is an indispensable part of my computer set up whether working in my studio on my iMac, or traveling the world with my MacBook Air.

I love the A4 sized Deco L & Deco LW since provides the perfect balance of convenience, ease-of-use and portability without being too small. In other words it’s very comfortable.

Comfort is, for me, a key ingredient for digital creativity. When I am comfortable I can paint for hours without any adverse physical fatigue or stress, and I can also forget the digital and be focused and immersed in the zone of making art.

What more motivation can you have than well designed and effective tools, like the Deco L & Deco LW, that empower your creativity and are fun to use!

Conclusion

Do you have a passion for art, photography, or design? Maybe prefer something a little more larger?

Well, if you are looking for a grand format tablet the XP-Pen Deco L & Deco LW can help you unleash your creative passion.

Just Live, dare, and create with Deco L & Deco LW!

Product Page: https://www.xp-pen.com/product/1168.html

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