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Review of graphics tablets for beginners If you have decided to buy yourself a graphics tablet for beginners, but don’t know how to approach it, welcome! We have developed the main criteria and nuances for choosing graphics tablets for beginners. Perhaps this information will also be useful for people knowledgeable in the field of digital art. The range of graphics tablets, like the market as a whole, is constantly expanding and increasing, as a result of which it will be difficult for uninformed people to keep track and understand all the devices. Companies like Wacom, Huion and XP-Pen offer the widest range of graphics tablets to choose from, which can only benefit the budding artist. To decide how to choose a graphics tablet for a designer or for solving other creative tasks, you need to study these devices in more detail. Designers have long divided these devices into several categories depending on their purpose: Drawing tablets. They are used for learning and developing basic skills, and are often purchased as an additional gadget for creativity and hobbies. Often the functionality of budget models is limited, but there are options with a good range of options that will please beginners. It doesn’t really matter what type of art the graphics tablet will be used in. Graphic tablets, or rather programs used in the work of artists, are capable of imitating various paints and dyes, as well as the paper and canvas themselves. Most computer mice cannot replicate the feel of using brushes, pens, or pencils. It's easy to figure it out if you try them for yourself. Good news for you - drawing peripherals with digitizers have been available on the market for decades. A little history and theory The great-grandfather of the modern graphics tablet appeared back in 1888 and was called “Teleautograph”. Well, the first graphics tablet that vaguely resembled current tablets was assembled in 1957. Digitizers are divided into two components: the “canvas” and the “pen”. The canvas in this case is a large square rectangle that reads the movements of the “handle” from its surface and converts them into a picture on the computer screen. And the pen is a stylus, which, as you already understood, sends signals to the surface of the digitizer. The process of creating paintings using these devices is as simple as using classic pens and paper, the only difference is that after purchasing a graphics tablet there is no longer a need to spend money on purchasing other consumables. As technology constantly advances, so do the power and characteristics of digitizers. At the moment, graphics tablets have comparable characteristics to computers, which says a lot. Due to the capabilities that graphics tablets provide to their users, their range of applications is not limited to just design and creating beautiful paintings. So, we can safely say that the digitizer is a good help for freelancers, artists, and businessmen. In short, a graphics tablet speeds up and simplifies your work, but without sacrificing quality, plus, as I already said, in digital format. How do modern digitizers work? The digitizer is easy to use, and even a child can master its operation. Getting started with the digitizer begins by connecting the device to the computer via a USB cable, then you need to download the drivers from the official website of the manufacturer and install them. After this, you can begin setting up and calibrating the device. The stylus that comes with a graphics tablet often does not need to be recharged, there is no need to change its batteries, most often it is charged from the very surface of the tablet during operation. The advantage of the stylus is that it conveys the user’s movements much more accurately than a computer mouse, which is useful for people who value increased detail in their work. What can you use a digitizer for? Where should I start? Most modern digitizers already have the latest firmware and updated drivers. Many professional artists eventually switch from a computer mouse to using a tablet for work, including within specialized programs and within the OS used. Most modern digitizers are now adapted for both left-handed and right-handed users. Indeed, ones that are quite old or really cheap probably won't have that benefit. The only negative is that the surface for drawing a digitizer is always smaller than the size of the digitizer itself. First of all, before purchasing a digitizer, you should decide the purpose of its use. The Intuos line from Wacom is just right for those new to the field of design and digital art; using devices in this line, you can edit images, create comics, and much more. If you're short on time to complete sketches or presentations, doodling, editing, or other tasks, be sure to check out the One by Wacom line. These tablets come with a lot of pre-loaded features and are really easy to use, making them ideal for newbies and young people. The Wacom Intuos Pro line is a must-have for any serious illustrator or artist. When comparing the functionality of this Japanese company with Huion, it turns out that they are quite similar. Sometimes Huion is superior to Wacom. However, there are other factors to consider, such as the angle of the pen. As it turns out, this is one of WACOM's defining qualities. This feature is a must-have for professional level users, so keep this in mind when purchasing a graphics tablet. The popularity of HUION and XP-PEN is growing, but WACOM still remains the leader. Dividing graphics tablets into groups Beginner - digitizers in this category are definitely better for beginners, or for those who need it for a hobby, while playing with children, or to do work. Advanced - devices in this category are really fun to use, usually they have several express keys, good response time and a large touch surface. They are suitable for experienced artists: designers, illustrators, architects, 2D and 3D artists (game designers). Professional - Digitizers in this category are suitable for people who have to spend a lot of time working with digitizers and want advanced features or comfort. How to choose a good graphics tablet for beginners? The size of an artist's canvas is an important issue. It may seem that having a large working space on the digitizer will only play into the hands of novice artists; but in fact, the hand quickly gets tired even from A4-sized devices. To get started, just buy a smaller tablet, such as an A5 or A6. The second is software. The specs of the digitizers seem to be very good, but the drivers and software that come with them can be quite poor. If you're thinking about purchasing one, it's important to first read any reviews you can find. Third, whether there are express buttons on the device or not. If you plan to work with applications like Paint, Photoshop and Lightroom, it will make sense to bind frequently used useful functions to customizable digitizer express keys. This will greatly simplify your work. Fourth - the characteristics of the stylus. What should an ideal stylus be like? Ideally, the stylus should be wireless, lightweight, without a built-in battery or battery, and does not require charging. It should also have customizable keys for the most frequently used tools. Thus, during operation, the user will not need to go to the menu to change the type of tool. The best digitizers for beginners costing up to 5,000 rubles The best option among budget digitizers is XP-PEN Star G640S Its full size is 260x160mm and the drawing surface size is 152x95mm. The difference in size is due to the presence of 6 customizable keys on the left, which can be configured to perform specific tasks. The resolution of this digitizer is 5080 lpi, and its pressure sensitivity is 8192 levels. The stylus that comes with this digitizer does not require any battery charge, which is quite convenient. The pen is equipped with a double rocker button, the bottom of which is locked for clicking the left mouse button, and the top also has an eraser function. 20 stylus tips available. Graphic tablet for beginners up to 10,000 rubles. Huion H640P is a dedicated digitizer that focuses on large drawing space and a large number of customizable express keys compared to traditional tablets. The H640P also belongs to the INSPIROY line, which includes many devices - H430P, H950P and H10600P. The INSPIROY product line is unified, which means that they have similar functionality. The Huion H640P digitizer body size is 221x138mm, and the drawing surface size is 160x100mm. The H640P also has six reprogrammable buttons on the left side. Its resolution is 5080 LPI, and pressure sensitivity is 8192 levels. The stylus on the Huion H640P uses a passive resonance mechanism. It has a dual rocker key that is customizable to perform different tasks. Additionally, the tablet comes with a built-in stylus holder and eight interchangeable nibs. Wacom offers an alternative to Huion called Wacom Intuos. It's part of the Intuos hobbyist lineup, which includes the wireless Intuos S Bluetooth and the larger Intuos M Bluetooth. The drawing space of Wacom Intuos S is 152x95mm and the accuracy is 2540 LPI. The stylus sensitivity is 4096 levels, and there are 5 buttons, 4 of which you can assign commands to. The fifth is designed to enable (disable) the digitizer. Purchasing a Wacom Intuos S package entitles you to free download and use one of two graphics packages - Corel Painter Essentials 6 or Corel Aftershot 3. The same awaits buyers of other digitizers from the Wacom Intuos line. The best digitizers for hobbyists The Q11K v2 is a tablet with a large 280x175mm drawing surface, eight customizable express keys and wireless connectivity to other devices. It has a built-in 2500 mAh battery that lasts for 30 hours. Of course, you can charge it via wire as well. The resolution of this digitizer is about 5080 LPI, and the number of pressure levels for this device is 8192. The stylus has a double rocker key. The stylus also does not require batteries or a rechargeable battery (the lower part of the pen is in eraser mode). Also, this digitizer model is capable of recognizing with its surface the angle of inclination of the stylus up to 60 degrees. The kit includes a stylus holder and 10 replacement stylus tips. Those who are not too constrained by budget will most likely be interested in the Wacom Intuos Pro M Paper Edition. The specs are pretty standard, but there are some key differences worth considering. In addition to eight express keys, a touch ring is used to control the tablet. You can also use two styluses on the drawing surface of this graphics tablet. The surface of this model is replaceable and allows you to use different types of coating for different situations. In addition to the device, there are tips for the stylus, which also vary in type. The Wacom Pro Pen 2 is perfect for drawing and supports tilt simulation. On top of that, the pen has a sensitivity zone on the back end, so you can easily erase your mistakes at any time. Wacom Intuos Pro M Paper Edition has a unique feature that allows you to save what you create on a piece of paper on top of the tablet. When you perform actions on the surface of the device, the digitizer remembers your actions and converts them into a digital photo. At first glance, Intuos Pro M Paper Edition (30 thousand rubles) may seem expensive to some, so we advise you to look for versions with Corel Painter 2020 included. If you buy the Corel program separately through their website, it will cost you a total of 35 thousand rubles. So, technically, you will receive this program with your tablet for free. A graphics tablet for beginners with a screen The XP-PEN Artist 12 digitizer uses a touch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels and 72% NTSC, and has a screen size of 256 x 144 mm. A screen with standard indicators of approximately 5080 LPI and a sensitivity of 8192 levels. There are 6 customizable express keys on the left side of this screen digitizer. The XP-PEN Artist 12 stylus is passive and works without a battery. The tablet comes with a case with eight interchangeable tips, a tool for replacing them, and a two-fingered cutting glove. It greatly reduces the chance that you'll accidentally make unnecessary clicks when using your tablet while working. We looked at some of the disadvantages of interactive displays and found that: For serious work, 12 or 13 inches is not enough; many graphic designers would prefer to use a larger screen, like those that can be found for 50 thousand rubles, but their price is of course far from ideal. Secondly, interactive displays can be difficult to work with since they must be connected to a power source, USB port, and HDMI port on your graphics card to work smoothly. Third, one of the disadvantages of interactive displays is that they often cannot achieve the same level of coordination with pen input as a conventional digitizer. This causes the screen positioning parallax to gradually increase as you move away from the center. If you work around the edges it gets even worse. Finally, interactive screens break down faster and easier than regular tablets. For example, this often happens due to the lack of protective film and gloves on models. Bottom Line |
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