Graphic tablet: what you need to know before buying it?
Have you ever tried to digitize your signature using a mouse or touchpad on a laptop? Yes, it's unbearably difficult. Now imagine trying to create an accurate sketch or retouching a photo using the same tools. After half an hour of painstaking work, you will spit and go to the Internet to look for ways to make your life easier. Then you will learn about the graphics tablet.A graphics tablet uses a stylus to transfer strokes from the tablet surface to the computer screen. For creative work, this is a much more natural and convenient tool than a mouse or touchpad. It has its own characteristics, and if you are already thinking of going to the store for a suitable model, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with them.
This is the most important feature. The higher the pressure sensitivity, the better you will be able to control the linear weight (the width and transparency of the lines depends on how hard you press on the tablet with the pen). Most graphic tablets under $ 100 have 2048 sensitivity levels. Professional models have more, but try to imagine at least 2048 shades of gray - that's how much you can get with a basic tablet. This is more than enough for the job.
Drivers affect the tablet-computer communication, compatibility with programs and the presence / absence of input delays. The latter determines how quickly the drawing will appear on the screen. Ideally, it should render instantly.
Tablet resolution (lpi) is how many lines per inch you can draw. In practice, the characteristic shows how much detail can fit into the active area of the tablet. 2,540 lpi for small tablets, 5,080 lpi for medium and large.
Graphic tablets designed for beginners cost less than $ 100, while professional graphics tablets can cost three to four times that. The advanced features (multitouch and pen angle recognition) don't really matter unless you're an advanced designer.
As with a monitor or laptop, the size of the tablet depends on your preferences and needs. Small graphic tablets, such as the Wacom Intuos Draw, are about the size of a mouse pad (about 6 "x 4" active area). They can easily fit on the table next to the keyboard. Medium (8x5 ") and large (10x6) tablets are comparable to a full-size keyboard.
This is the part of the tablet that you draw on. If you hover the pen over the left side of the tablet, the cursor on the computer screen also appears on the left. Move the pen to the upper right corner and the cursor will follow. This does not depend on the size of the monitor. The smaller the active area, the fewer movements the hand will have to make. Your muscles will fatigue less, but you will have to zoom in frequently to work out the fine details.
Wacom cordless pens do not need to be charged at all. Other tablet pens require periodic recharging or battery replacement. The weight of the pen depends on the battery type.
Their presence will allow you to quickly call the desired program tool, without wasting time looking for it in the menu. The more buttons your tablet and pen have, the more functions you can program to work.
These features are provided by tablets designed for professionals. The first makes it possible to create different types of strokes. The second allows you to use your fingers to zoom and rotate the picture. For hobbyists, this is not so important, so if you are serious about buying a graphics tablet, pay more attention to the first eight characteristics. The Topic of Article: Graphic tablet: what you need to know before buying it?. |
