A computer mouse is far from the most convenient tool for working with graphics (including digital photographs): it lacks, at a minimum, pressure sensitivity and maneuverability. It is much more convenient to use a graphics tablet for these purposes. But the question is: what criteria should you use to choose it? For an artist, the most important thing is how consistent the strokes of a digital pen are with a real brush, that is, the key criteria for him are the number of levels of pressure sensitivity and degrees of freedom of the pen. For a photographer, in addition to these factors, it should be noted the general ergonomics for many hours of monotonous work, the additional functionality and versatility of the tool, the convenience of tracing small details and complex contours with a pen.

In the spring of 2012, Wacom released a new line of its graphic tablets for professionals - the fifth generation Intuos, and a little earlier (in the fall of 2011) - a line for amateurs - the third generation Bamboo.

Let's take a closer look at them to understand how convenient each of them is for photo editing.

Specifications

Bamboo

• distinguishes 1024 pressure levels;
• 4 programmable ExpressKeys for assigning frequently used keyboard shortcuts;
• supports multi-touch with gesture recognition (except BambooPen);
• working area dimensions 147×92mm or 217×137mm;
• wireless, power-free pen with eraser and replaceable nibs (3 pcs included in delivery).

Intuos5

• distinguishes 2048 pressure levels and degrees of pen tilt;
• 8 programmable ExpressKeys and a TouchRing with four operating modes;
• supports multi-touch with gesture recognition (IntuosTouch models);
• work area dimensions from 157.5mm x 98.4mm to 325.1mm x 203.2mm;
• a wireless, power-free pen with an eraser and different types of refills (the delivery set includes 10 tips that simulate working with a brush, felt-tip pen, or pencil).

The tablets of both lines have a “mirror” design so that both right-handers and left-handers can work with them with equal convenience - just turn the tablet over and check the corresponding item in the settings menu. All models also support wireless operation using the WirelessAccessoryKit, which is sold separately and includes a battery, transmitter and USB receiver for your computer. With such “equipment”, the tablet, depending on the model, will be able to work autonomously from 6 to 15 hours (not intended for use with BambooPen).

Finger gesture recognition first appeared in the previous generation of Bamboo and is intended for controlling the computer in general (navigation), although using your fingers you can also rotate, zoom or flip through images when editing, which is undoubtedly convenient. Intuos5 offers a TouchRing in addition to the touch surface for similar purposes. By default, it can perform one of four functions, which are switched by the button in its center: rotating the canvas, scaling, changing brush sizes, and switching layers. However, in the settings menu the choice of possible modes is very wide: for example, you can use it to change the covering power of the brush.

For finger gestures, you can configure standard functions from the settings panel or commands that are convenient for you - for example, opening applications with finger gestures, switching between applications, minimizing all windows.

In general, Intuos, more than Bamboo, is designed for the user to work exclusively with the tablet, without accessing the keyboard. This is evidenced by the larger number of function keys and the presence of such a tool as the radial menu (RadialMenu).

It is called by a long press on the working surface of the tablet and contains a large number of frequently needed functions. Moreover, the set of these functions is flexibly configured for each application. For example, in Photoshop it may be useful to have a specific set of filters on hand or a macro that you use often.

An important advantage of Wacom graphic tablets compared to a mouse is absolute positioning: this is a feature of the tablet, which lies in the fact that each point on the working surface of the tablet is uniquely associated with the position of the cursor on the monitor. This is vital when you're drawing, but when editing a photo on a large tablet, you'll have to make long strokes across the entire surface. You can zoom in on specific areas of the image and process them with short strokes - much like using a mouse, but with incomparably higher precision and convenience.

Common tasks when processing a photograph are to correct the color of eyes, lips or eyelashes in a portrait, to even out the complexion, and to change the shape of the hairstyle. It is not at all easy to quickly achieve a high-quality result using the mouse (especially if the object has a complex shape or you need to remove excess hairs or fur) since you will have to make a mask using a vector path or outline very small details. When working with a pen, the edges of the image are felt much more accurately, so you can simply take the BrushTool in mode, for example, Softlight, and paint over the object. In this case, pressure sensitivity is used to adjust transparency - the harder we press on the pen, the brighter the paint is, and areas that extend beyond the outline of the drawing can be removed by erasing excess areas with the eraser on the back of the pen, which is recognized automatically in Adobe Photoshop, without selecting it in the panel tools.

To summarize, we can say that Wacom is positioning its products absolutely correctly. If you need a tablet for home processing of photos taken while traveling or at a birthday party, feel free to choose Bamboo. It is compact, convenient and easy to use. However, if you are a professional photographer or retoucher and regularly use a wide variety of graphics editing tools, then Intuos5 will be more suitable for you.

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A traditional and indispensable tool in a computer artist’s arsenal is a graphics tablet. When I talk about a computer artist, I mean a fairly wide range of specialists. These are illustrators, animators, designers in a variety of fields, design artists, architects, and simply many artists who previously adhered to traditional drawing and painting techniques are moving with great enthusiasm to create their masterpieces using new, and primarily computer technologies. For each specialization, different tablet models are more or less preferable: both in size and functionality.

It must be said that the modern market offers a fairly large selection of graphics tablets, both by manufacturer and model range. But the undisputed leader in this area has been Wacom for many years. For example, only Wacom tablets use technologies related to the use of a passive pen, that is, a stylus without a power source inside (PENABLED technology). The signal is generated by the tablet itself, and the pen only reflects it. Thanks to this, the pen becomes lighter, more compact, and you do not depend on batteries, which can run out at any moment.

Intuos3 Family

With equal working surface sizes and the same pressure sensitivity, other manufacturers tend to set lower prices for their tablets. This is definitely an advantage. But there are also plenty of shortcomings. The ergonomics of the pen suffer due to the need to place a power source in it; there is a need to increase the weight and size of the manipulator. The models lack tilt sensitivity, lower resolution, and pay less attention to the design and materials from which the device is made.

With all the richness of choice of models from different manufacturers, it is Wacom that has the widest model range: from the simplest and inexpensive tablets of the Bamboo series to professional models of interactive monitors - LCD panels with an electromagnetic pen of the Cintiq line. We will try to understand all this diversity and find a solution that would meet your needs.

At the moment, it is difficult to imagine a computer graphics class that is not equipped with graphics tablets. Although some time ago this would have been considered the height of chic. For an example of using a graphics tablet, I would like to show you the work of students of one Moscow children's art school - Children's Art School named after. V. A. Vatagina.

But not only artists can benefit from a graphics tablet. It can be used instead of the usual mouse-type manipulator. Of course, the cheapest digitizer is more expensive than a fancy mouse, but the convenience of working with a stylus is incomparably higher. And most importantly, it is more familiar to humans, although it is far from perfect.

A modern photographer in his work also cannot do without the opportunities provided by graphics tablets. Gone are the days when a photographer would retouch a print or film using paint and a brush. Whether you shoot with a digital camera or film, sooner or later you inevitably start doing retouching and color correction on a computer, using one or another graphic editor. And only after trying it at least once will you be able to feel how convenient it is to use a graphics tablet at work. And for this there is no need to use expensive professional models in your creativity. For starters, any small format model is quite enough. It is much more pleasant to work with editing masks and drawing and retouching tools when in the process there is no need to change the settings of the brush thickness and its transparency, but to adjust these parameters by pressing the pen. With these types of work, a tablet allows you to save significantly more time than using a mouse.

All the work of colorizing the black and white photo in this example was done with almost one Brush tool using pressure sensitivity and the Color layer blending mode. The stylus was used to adjust the Opacity and Size parameters. Often, to obtain a color photograph from a black and white one in Photoshop, the Fill Layer is used. In this case, the color turns out to be quite monotonous and non-picturesque. I prefer regular layers, on which I apply color with strokes of different shades and intensities using a graphics tablet. All the same things can be done with a regular mouse, but not in 5 minutes, but in 25. In addition, you would have to use more tools, often change the brush diameter, create complex selections or additional masks. Using a graphics tablet, the example photo can be created in color with equal ease in both the professional Adobe Photoshop editor and the slightly less functional Adobe Photoshop Elements, which comes free with Wacom Bamboo Fun.

If the benefits of using tablets for photo processing have become a little clearer to you, then let's take a closer look at the Wacom lineup. Once you understand how one model differs from another, it will be easier for you to make a choice.

Entry-level tablets. The levels of sensitivity to pressure of the tip are 512. There is no sensitivity to the tilt of the pen. Tablets in this series differ from each other primarily in design and the presence or absence of additional function keys both on the tablet itself and on the pen, as well as the set of included software.

Bamboo One is the simplest in the series: there are no programmable keys on the tablet and no eraser on the pen. Aspect ratio 4:3. Resolution 1040 lpi.

Bamboo - Features fully customizable four ExpressKeys and a Touch Ring. Aspect ratio 16:10. Resolution 2540 lpi.

Bamboo Fun - Features fully customizable four ExpressKeys and a Touch Ring. Modifications of two formats - A6 and A5. Aspect ratio 16:10. Resolution 2540 lpi.

Intuos3

Models in this series vary in size and aspect ratio. Intuos3 is available in A6 wide, A5, A5 wide, A4, A4 Oversize, A3 wide formats. All models have customizable ExpressKeys. Tablets in this series have twice as many gradations of pressure sensitivity as the previous one - 1024. Resolution 5080 lpi. In addition, the Intuos3 series tablets are equipped with a Touch Strip.

Cintiq

The series is represented by two models - Cintiq 21UX and Cintiq 12WX. The characteristics are absolutely similar to the Intuos3 series. The only difference is that Cintiq is not just a tablet, but an interactive pen display, a kind of hybrid of a display and a conventional tablet.

Cintiq 21UX - screen size 21.3 inches, resolution 1600x1200 pixels.

Cintiq 12WX - screen size 12.1 inches with high resolution WXGA 1280x800 pixels and 24-bit color accuracy with 16.7 million shades.

Extra feathers

With models of the Cintiq and Intuos series, it is possible to use additional pens, in form and functionality reminiscent of the tools used by artists in their work outside the computer. For example: Art marker, Airbrush, Ink pen. They are instantly recognized by programs that support them. When working with the operating system and non-specialized programs, they behave like a standard pen. All pens can be programmed in various applications at your discretion.

The realistic action of the tool, taking into account the tilt of the pen, is best seen when using an airbrush pen. If you are a designer, this pen can be very useful to you. If you use a tablet for retouching and photo processing, you can do without it without any problems. The programs used for the example are included with the tablet. ArtRage comes bundled with Bamboo One and Bamboo Fun, while Corel Painter Essentials comes with Intuos3 and Cintiq.

Sensitivity to pen rotation is used in the additional input device Art marker (pen-marker). Such a pen can be useful for creating calligraphic inscriptions and solving some other specific tasks that, as a rule, still belong to the sphere of activity of designers, and not photographers. But, nevertheless, we decided to include this pen in our short review to show the full breadth of possibilities of additional input devices when using the tablet.

All feathers work well with Photoshop. Pen sensitivity settings in Adobe Photoshop can be found in the Brushes panel.

Selecting a tablet

And finally: since we are talking in this article about the technical parameters of tablets, let’s try to give a short comment on some of them. For example, younger tablet models have fewer gradations of sensitivity to pressure on the pen - as a rule, 512 instead of 1024 for professional models. But in practice, the difference between 512 and 1024 pressure levels is difficult to notice (especially if you remember that in the settings of many tools in Photoshop, the range of possible gradations is measured as a percentage and is limited to 101 values). The resolution of the tablet is much more important. The accuracy of the positioning of the pen and, accordingly, the accuracy of the line both when drawing and when editing the image largely depends on this.

It's also worth considering the aspect ratio of your monitor. If the monitor and the tablet have different aspect ratios, then you will not use the entire working surface of the device or work with a strong distortion of the proportions on the tablet.

If you need to move frequently, then tablets up to A5 size are suitable. The dimensions of the Intuos3 A5 Wide are almost the same as a 17” wide laptop. The Cintiq 12WX has approximately the same dimensions, so it is quite possible to place it in the same bag (backpack) with a laptop for transportation. This will most likely be possible with Bamboo series tablets. For laptops with small diagonals of 12–13”, A6 tablets are perfect.

Ideally, the size of the monitor should be close to the size of the tablet. And if you are the owner of a monitor larger than 20”, then an A6 tablet will clearly be too small for you. Absolutely all Wacom graphics tablets support modern operating systems Windows Xp/Vista and Mac OS X 10.3.9 and higher, are connected via a USB interface, and therefore can be easily connected to almost any PC. Do not require additional power from the network (except for interactive displays).

A Cintiq 21UX or one of the PL series panels is quite suitable as a replacement for the main monitor. They can be placed on the desktop - thanks to the original designs of the stands - both vertically and in an almost horizontal position, more familiar to tablets. The Cintiq 21UX also features a display that rotates 360 degrees (in a lying position) and tilts 10 to 60 degrees. Given the relatively high cost of interactive displays, today they are the most advanced tool for working with computer graphics. Drawing on the display - what could be easier?

The PL Series interactive pen displays are the ideal tool for the teacher. I had the opportunity to give several lectures using the 17” model. A connector built into the panel for connecting a second monitor or projector allows you to project the created image onto a large screen without additional splitters and at the same time be facing the audience. Unfortunately, the panels in this series do not support pen tilt sensitivity.

If there is not enough free space on the desktop, any of the tablets can be placed literally on your lap, including the Cintiq 12WX interactive panel. Wacom designers tried to hide all the necessary contacts inside one not at all thick, but quite durable cable. Wacom also has a wireless tablet model - Wireless pen tablet.

From personal experience

In my work I use graphics tablets of several sizes. On the home desktop there is an A4 tablet (at the time of purchase it was optimally suited to the existing 19” monitor). At the workplace – A3 Wide complete with a 30” monitor. At the same time, due to lack of space, the question is always tormented: “Where should I put the keyboard?” So a large tablet is also not always convenient. And along with my laptop, I am always accompanied by the Intuos3 A5 wide - a truly mobile solution.

There is no definite answer to this question and there cannot be. It all depends on you, what methods you work with and what exactly is convenient for you. I’ll answer right away what is spent on Graphics tablet It is not necessary for those photographers who do not know how or fundamentally do not process their photographs. Also, a tablet is unlikely to be needed by those who make only minimal changes in a graphics editor (increasing contrast, sharpening, working on color channels).

Those actions that are applied to the entire image at once by moving some sliders can be easily done with the mouse. And it’s even more convenient to do this with a mouse, despite the presence of a tablet.

Why do you need a graphics tablet when editing photos?

For detailed portrait retouching: covering up pimples and skin unevenness is much faster and more convenient with a pen than annoying your loved ones at night in silence by clicking the mouse;

For work, when you need to literally draw chiaroscuro over the photo. Of course, you can do all this with a mouse, but drawing with a pen is much more natural, the lines are more accurate, and the work goes faster without putting stress on the joints of the hand.

For retouching small details in photographs, as well as work in areas where precision of lines and contours is required. In addition to maximizing the scale to work out small details, it is convenient to work with a 1-5 px brush point and use graphic tablet. An example would be replacing the background around the model (finely working along the contours of the main subject) or removing unnecessary details from the background that are close to the contours of the main subject in the frame.

Spot or partial image editing: partial work with color, contrast, sharpness, exposure. Partial work involves the use of , which is where the main work is carried out. Thus, applying a black mask allows you to hide a layer completely or parts of it. A white mask, on the contrary, reveals all changes made on the layer. So, in order to open (close) individual sections of a layer, it is convenient to draw a layer mask exactly on graphics tablet.

For example, you need to lower the color saturation in Photoshop only on the model’s hair (to remove the unpleasant yellowness from light hair). To do this, create an adjustment layer “Hue/Saturation” or “Hue/Color Saturation”, in the settings of which we reduce the color saturation (Saturation) by about –30. But at the same time, the color saturation is reduced throughout the entire layer, and we need to apply these adjustments only to the area with the hair.

Automatically, when creating an adjustment layer, it will have a white layer mask (i.e., all layer settings will be visible). Select this layer mask with the left mouse click and press the key combination Ctrl + I in the English keyboard layout. These hotkeys invert the layer mask - turn a white mask into a black one (or vice versa if you had a black mask). Now the photo has returned to its previous form - color saturation is normal.

Take a Brush with soft edges and select white from the palette. Depending on the case, you can set the Opacity to 100% (if you need to apply the settings dramatically right away) or to 20-80% if you need to achieve the effect gradually. Now use a white brush to paint over the desired areas of the image. Important: make sure that it is the layer mask that is active, and not the layer itself, otherwise you will paint with white from the photo and only ruin the working layer.

“Developing” a layer from under a black mask in this way is much more convenient using graphics tablet than mice. But in many ways, the choice of tool depends on the complexity of the outlines of the image. In most cases, similar work can be done no less efficiently using a regular computer mouse.

Disadvantages of using a mouse:

- the process takes longer;

- less careful work;

— a large load on the joints of the fingers and hands, which after n number of years of such work can lead to unpleasant symptoms, including severe pain when trying to operate a computer mouse;

— unpleasant clicking of the left mouse button when performing point processing of numerous similar areas of a photograph.

If you are used to processing photos with a mouse, then at first it will be difficult to get used to working with a tablet. But after about a week (or even earlier), you will understand that working with a graphics tablet is more similar to natural movements - like when drawing with a pencil, pen or brush.

Features of working with a graphics tablet:

— at first it is difficult to coordinate the physical position of the pen and its projection on the screen;

— at first it’s difficult to navigate, because the tablet lies horizontally on the table, and the monitor screen stands vertically. For example, it is still more convenient for me to hold the tablet on my lap rather than on the table - this imitates the usual position of an easel or paper stand for me when drawing;

- you will have to adjust (or adjust the settings to suit yourself) the pressure sensitivity and speed of the pen movement.

How to choose a graphics tablet

I bought mine graphics tablet for photo processing more than two years ago, but since then the situation on the market has not changed much. There are several manufacturers of graphics tablets, but the industry leader is Wacom. Their line includes professional tablets from the Intuos series, which cost accordingly. My budget at that time was only enough for a very small professional tablet or a larger tablet from the amateur Bamboo series.

My main criteria when buying a tablet were:

Size (at least A5, preferably A4). Size A4 is a regular printed sheet, A5 is the same sheet folded in half. There are tablets of a smaller format, but for me personally it seemed very inconvenient - you will have to constantly “shift” your hand, and working with long strokes is completely inconvenient.

Pen pressure response(simulation of pressing). I don't see the point in buying cheaper tablet models that don't have pen pressure simulation. After all, in this case, you simply change the “awl for soap” - the same mouse, only more accurate and a little more convenient. But achieving precise repetition of pen movements taking into account pressure allows you to achieve maximum results with complex photo processing. Somewhere you pressed a little harder - the effect was stronger, somewhere a little weaker, etc. Also, if you buy a tablet not only for photo processing, then this function is very important for those who draw on a computer.

Reliability and ease of use. Reviews and forums of photographers, graphic designers and artists - those people who have been working with a graphics tablet for many years - helped here. It was thanks to reviews on the forums that the choice fell on Wacom, especially since it specializes specifically in graphics tablets, and does not produce everything in a row (and tablets in between). Also, thanks to reviews and reviews, I realized that for photo processing purposes it is not necessary to buy a professional series tablet (where, in addition to the response to pressure, there is also a response to the tilt and position of the pen, as well as many additional functions). The Bamboo Fun series tablet suited my needs quite well.

After 2.5 years of use, it has never disappointed me, it works stably and without serious glitches. The first pen tip has not yet failed, although it is quite worn out (I work a lot and enthusiastically). A set of 3 spare tips was included with the tablet, but I accidentally lost them in one of the moves. That is why I never change the tip, as long as the old one reacts to my actions.

From the experience of friends, I know that many artists and especially diligent retouchers wear out 1-3 tips per year. You can also do a little trick: increase the sensitivity of the pen in the settings graphics tablet, thus it will respond even to slight pressure. Due to this, you will have to work with lighter strokes, and you will be able to save the life of the tip (it will wear out more slowly).

What problems arose while using the Wacom Bamboo tablet:

1. Drivers crashed several times. Usually this happens unpredictably, but the problem is quickly solved by reinstalling the “firewood”. If you still have the installation disk, you can call the installation file from there. Other options are to download from the manufacturer’s official website or Control Panels -> Devices and Sound -> Wacom Settings(or another graphics tablet) select command "Download device driver updates".

A characteristic sign that your drivers have failed or are outdated is that the tablet stops responding to touch and any other manipulations with the pen. Moreover, if the tablet has buttons, then they can continue to work quietly. Only the pen may not work, which is confusing. First of all, try reinstalling the driver.

2. Pen freezing– the projection of the pen lags behind the actual movement of the hand, incorrect repetition of lines (instead of curves, straight lines are drawn from point A (the beginning of the movement) to point B (the end of the movement). The reason was experimentally established - in the settings of the graphics tablet ( Control Panel -> Hardware and Sound -> Pen and Touch -> Change Pen Settings Dialog Box) I recommend disabling the function "Use press and hold as right click".

To do this, in the pen settings window, double-click the line "Press and hold - Right click" and in the window that opens, uncheck the similar function at the very top of the window. Click OK and check the result. After changing this setting, my pen began to work as usual - without freezes or crashes.

Please note that changing the settings must be done while the graphics tablet. Otherwise, these settings simply will not be in the toolbar, since the tablet is not recognized. If the settings do not take effect, try restarting the computer and reconnecting the tablet. If the problem is not solved, perhaps the problem is with the tablet itself and the pen.

3. Replacing the tip in the pen. Use this only as a last resort if the above methods of “treating” problems with your tablet do not help. Video instructions for replacing the graphic pen tip for Wacom Bamboo tablets is given below. Knowledge of English is not necessary, scroll to the middle, where the process of replacing the tip itself is shown - everything is clear and intuitive.

4. Reaction of the graphics tablet to finger movements. In addition to working with a pen, many graphics tablets are designed to work on the principle of touch input using Touch Pad finger movements. Personally, I don’t need this function at all, and it even gets in the way when processing photos. Because when you touch the touch surface with your hand, the canvas with the image in Photoshop begins to rotate, or the image viewing scale changes. Therefore, I usually disable the touch input function using gestures immediately every time I connect the tablet (I have one of the buttons directly on the tablet responsible for this setting).

You may find some of my practical advice on choosing and using g graphic tablet for photo processing.

Choosing the best drawing tablet to suit your needs can be challenging. We have compiled a rating of the best tablets for artists, supplemented it with reviews and additional information to make your choice easier. Do you need to draw, sketch, write, upload and share your artwork? Or maybe you want to encourage your child to draw? Our rankings have a tablet for every artist and budget. Even the cheapest graphics tablets can dramatically improve your creative process.

Below are the most prominent mobile devices whose purpose is drawing, including graphics tablets, tablet computers, and 2-in-1 laptops with a stylus. We hope you find your next art tablet among them.

Below we will discuss the best tablets in the market and their best uses:

Wacom Intous Draw

One of the major names in the digital graphics and graphics tablet industry, Wacom has a long history of delivering a great user experience with each of its tablets. The Wacom Intous Draw is an ideal option if you're looking for a quality artist tablet aimed at budding digital painters. This tablet is compatible with all operating systems and you can use it with programs like Adobe Photoshop without any difficulty. Not only that, but the Wacom Intous graphics tablet comes with a free artist package that includes tutorials as well as ArtRage drawing software. The drawing stylus that comes with the tablet does not have a battery, making it a great choice for those looking for a low-maintenance device.

Huion H610 Pro

Another well-known name in the art tablet market, Huion have hit the nail on the head with the latest H610 Pro. With 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity, the tablet is one of the best in its price range. The H610 includes a rechargeable stylus, a nice feature for those who don't want to keep spare batteries on hand. This tablet also comes with 16 customizable hot cells as well as 8 hot keys, making it ideal for aspiring artists and professionals. The tablet is compatible with Windows and Mac operating systems, making it versatile enough for most users, although some argue that setting up this tablet is more difficult than most others.

Wacom Cintiq 13HD

For successful artists with big budgets, very few tablets can beat the Wacom Cintiq 13HD. Complete with a fully interactive large screen, this tablet combines the responsiveness of a graphics tablet with the screen of a tablet computer, making it the ideal tablet for artists of any level. The interactive display acts as an actual second monitor, allowing the user to draw directly into the program, as if the drawing were on paper. For those looking to make a long-term investment in a graphics tablet, the Wacom Cintiq 13HD is definitely worth considering.

Lenovo Yoga Book

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An innovative drawing tablet, the new Lenovo Yoga Book is a tablet-laptop hybrid, as there are many on the market, you might think, but the innovative part of this device is the Halo touch keyboard, which also acts as a graphics tablet. Lenovo developed the keyboard and digitizer in collaboration with Wacom to ensure a quality experience for artists. The attractive design as well as the versatility of this tablet cannot be underestimated. Complete with a large screen, the Lenovo tablet can easily compete with the renowned graphics tablets in the market. And in your free time from art, you can check messages on a social network or watch a TV series.

AppleiPadPro

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With the development of modern tablets, artists no longer have to choose between a graphics tablet and a laptop: they can combine them in one device. One of the first tablet computers on the market was Apple's iPad; since its release, the computer giant has been improving the concept year after year. Apple's latest tablet, the iPad Pro, is designed with digital artists in mind and is great for drawing. Complete with an interactive tablet, it can have three functions at once: a laptop, a graphics tablet and a tablet computer. Hundreds of drawing apps are available for download on the App Store, many of them free, making the Apple iPad Pro a great choice for any artist interested in combining a graphics tablet and computer.

Microsoft Surface Book

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One of Microsoft's latest products, the Surface Book is one of the most powerful modern hybrid tablets on the market. With mind-blowing processing speeds and an Ultra HD screen, this laptop tablet is great for drawing when you want to use your laptop as an art device. The Surface Book runs a full version of Windows 10, which means you can install programs like Adobe Photoshop on it and work without any problems.

Samsung Galaxy Tab A withS Pen

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A budget drawing tablet in response to the iPad Pro, the Samsung Galaxy A becomes a great choice for digital artists. It comes with a larger screen size and a lower price when compared to its Apple rival, making it a better choice for budget users. This drawing tablet comes with a Wacom digitizer, which is much better than regular styluses for drawing. Like other tablets in its class, the Galaxy Tab A has access to thousands of apps from the Google Play Store and, apart from drawing, it can perform all the functions of any other tablet computer, be it web browsing or video.

Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 2

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For those looking for a laptop but still need a drawing tablet, the Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 2 is the answer. This system comes in the form of a standard laptop, with a touch screen and a detachable keyboard. However, what makes the tablet special is its 360-degree hinge, which allows the machine to be used as a standalone tablet. The tablet comes with a Wacom pen designed specifically for digital artists. Like any other tablet computer, the Yoga 2 can run any drawing program, and the tablet's moderate size makes it an acceptable portable laptop. Compared to some of the other drawing tablets on this list, this option remains the most affordable, and it's also a good choice for students who need a computer for studying and drawing.

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Bundled with the latest Windows 10, Surface Pro 4 is the latest iteration of the well-known series of tablet computers. Since the release of the Surface Pro 2, Microsoft has included an interactive stylus with the Pro models. With the release of the Surface Pro 4, the stylus has undergone many changes, making it one of the best on the market. Surface Pro also functions as a laptop, but it was designed with artists and students in mind. The price tag reflects the seemingly limitless capabilities of this drawing tablet, but users who have purchased it believe that the tablet is worth the cost.

MicrosoftSurfaceStudio

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Microsoft's Surface Studio was the digital graphics world's biggest release of late 2016, and we suspect the all-in-one PC will remain the high-end choice in 2017. The only serious competitor to this system is the flagship model Wacom Cintiq 27QHD or Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16. It's an all-in-one PC, but you can think of it as a giant drawing tablet, but either way, this is a professional system designed for digital artists, architects and 3D modeling. As an artist, you might notice some shortcomings. In some programs, the pen does not register immediately for the first time. Pressure sensitivity is not as good as on the Cintiq.

More details: .

Best drawing tablet: Which one should you choose?

Wacom dominates the digital art world, with its Cintiq monitor tablets and Intuos graphics tablets familiar to all digital artists, but they're not the only pair of worthy devices in the computer graphics world. They offer the most advanced features and excellent build quality, but some alternative solutions also have a right to life.

The Intuos or Intuos Pro graphics tablets are absolute favorites in the mid-size range, and the Huion H610 Pro is also a great choice; we recommend Huion to anyone who can get the tablet just right.

When it comes to tablet monitors, the Wacom Cintiq is the most popular, however, check out the XP-Pen 22E and Yiynova, which offer large drawing tablets for artists on a budget. Another alternative to Wacom for those who are even more limited in budget is the UGEE 1910b. Artisul is another company with attractive offerings in the 10-13 inch drawing tablet space.

Wacom's latest projects include the Cintiq Pro and Intuos Pro Paper Edition. The Cintiq Pro is similar to the 13HD, and comes in a 15-inch diagonal. It also comes with the Wacom Pen Pro 2, which boasts 8,192 pressure levels. This is the most modern model, but you need to be sure that your system will be able to offer USB-C or Thunderbolt ports. There is also a high-end MobileStudio Pro.

Among portable tablets, we love the iPad Pro 12.9 because of its size and tilt-sensitive Apple Pencil. However, the Samsung Galaxy Tab A is almost as good for drawing and is much cheaper. We think this is the best Android tablet for drawing.

Additionally, a tablet computer can be quite versatile as a computer and graphics tablet. Lenovo Yoga series tablets are equipped with Wacom pens and are powerful and reliable computers with comfortable keyboards.

The new Dell XPS 13 2-in-1 was released with a Wacom AES stylus, but it's a very thin hybrid that doesn't have the performance of the XPS 13, and while we recommend it for drawing, it's not a fast enough system for heavy graphics work.

On the other hand, the new Dell Latitude 2 in 1, which is much more powerful, was announced in January 2017 and will appear on store shelves very soon.

Who uses tablets for drawing?

Illustrators, graphic designers, photographers, animators, architects and other artists use graphics tablets with digital pens. There are specialized, art-oriented graphics tablets, as well as traditional tablets suitable for drawing. One size fits all doesn't work here. The best drawing tablet is determined by your individual requirements.

Okay, what's the best tablet for the money?

If you want a portable tablet, we'd recommend the Galaxy Tab A with S-Pen 10.1. You get portability, Google Play apps, a MicroSD slot, and a Wacom stylus.

What to look for?

The best drawing tablet is the one that feels most natural. What's hidden under the screen has a lot to do with it. Good tablets have an active digitizer under the screen. The digital converter receives the pen signals. The styluses of such tablets are called active.

First, almost all nibs should be pressure sensitive. Pressure sensitivity means that when drawing, the harder you press, the thicker the line will be, just like drawing with a pencil on paper. In some programs, you can also control transparency and other functions using a pressure-sensitive stylus.

You're also looking for good pen precision. “Parallax” is the name given to the small gap you see between the pen and the line.

And you don't want to see a delay between the moment you touch the tablet with the pen and when the line appears on the screen.

Protecting against accidental operation of the touchpad is important. It allows the tablet to distinguish between the touch of your hand and the pen while drawing, so you can't accidentally ruin your drawing with your hand.

Multi-touch is the ability to use gestures such as zooming, panning, and moving using two or more fingers. Software increasingly integrates fine art into touch technology. Almost all graphics tablets are familiar with multi-touch, not to mention traditional tablets. However, this feature is not a necessity. Alternative Wacom graphics tablets often do not support this feature.

WHAT TABLET SHOULD I CHOOSE?
I get asked this question very often. Now I will try to answer it in detail.
Let's start with what a tablet is and what it is needed for.
A graphics tablet (from the English graphics tablet or graphics pad, drawing tablet, digitizing tablet, digitizer - digitizer, digitizer) is a device for entering hand-drawn drawings directly into a computer. Consists of a pen and a flat tablet that is sensitive to pressure or proximity of the pen.

So what are the advantages of the tablet?
1. A tablet is convenient.
The pen is a familiar tool for the human hand, so navigating and working on a PC with a pen is convenient.
2. With a tablet you can do retouching much faster than with a mouse.
3. Unlike a mouse, a tablet has pen pressure

Examples:
drawing with a mouse and drawing on a tablet

What to consider when choosing a manufacturer.
*Availability of adequate technical support and service, fresh drivers
*Availability of consumables (rods, pen, protective film)
*Company development prospects

Genius tablets
My very first tablet was the Genius G-Pen F-509. Honestly, there were a lot of problems and troubles with him. The drivers kept crashing, the pen pressure was lost, and the sensitivity was weak.
I borrowed other Genius tablets from friends, but the situation there was even worse, there was simply no pressure from the pen, and the pen rod jumped out onto the work surface.
I don’t want to say that Genius tablets are completely bad, but if you are going to buy a tablet for work, then I don’t advise you to buy this tablet.

Wacom Bamboo Pen
My second choice was the Wacom Bamboo Pen. Great tablet.
So, I’ll highlight the main advantages:
1.Convenient;
2.Understandable;
3.Has a bunch of applications;
4.Suitable for both left-handed and right-handed people (can easily be changed in the settings;)
5. Inexpensive compared to other graphics tablets;
6.Has additional rods for a wireless pencil;
7.The lead is pressure sensitive, the harder you press on the pencil, the thicker the line will be.

But still, it also has disadvantages:
1.The pencil should always be held perpendicular to the tablet
2. There is no second eraser sensor on the pencil;
3.Short USB cable
Overall, I recommend this tablet.

Wacom intuos pen
My third tablet on which I work to this day is from the same Wacom company.
I would say the improved Wacom Bamboo Pen.
Pros:
1. Very good price/feature ratio
2. Support for multi-touch and the presence of express keys
3. Possibility to connect a wireless module
4.Like the Wacom Bamboo Pen, it is ideal for left- and right-handed people
5. Lightweight pen
6. Despite its small size, it is enough) And it is very sensitive to pen pressure.
7. And of course, a convenient and user-friendly tablet.

I would like to mention such cool tablets as WACOM Intuos Pro, Wacom Intuos3. But if you are not going to use the tablet for drawing, then this is not a necessary waste of money.

SIZE MATTERS
For a retoucher, the size of the tablet should decrease with the movement of the hand.
It is worth choosing tablets of sizes (S-size) A5-A6

Dimensions (M-size, L-size) A4, A3 mainly for drawing and design.