Help me choose a graphic tablet

[Hip]

Hey guys

 

I would like to get your suggestions with graphic tablet would be a good coice for non-professional usage.

Recently there are a lot of people using Surface notebooks around me, but I wonder if they can be compared to a "good graphic tablet" at all?

Is the display similar or not that goo for drawing?

 

Thanks in advance!

[yaop117]

I can't say i've tried drawing on a surface, but their screens seem pretty good. 
That's a big investment though for just a non-professional use tablet, unless you plan on using it for it's intended purpose as a laptop as well. 
If it's just for your desktop then the standard pick is a tablet from Wacom (such as the Wacom Intuos). I suppose it's also worth mentioning that Monoprice also has a line of tablets that seem to work pretty well. both can be acquired for >$100 vs. a Microsoft Surface which will probably run you around $1000 new.

 

[minibois]

Are you looking for a standalone device (like a Surface or other kind of laptop) or a peripheral next to your pre-existing device (like a mouse, but with like tablet input).

Brad Colbow is my go to for reviews regarding drawing stuff. I know he is a big fan of the Surface line of products and the iPad Pro devices with the Apple Pencil.

 

Although the iPad 2019 (+Pencil) or Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 look like a great deal too.

Depends on what you need in terms of software too.

 

if you already have laptop/PC and want a peripheral for drawing next to it, the Wacom Cintiq 16 is a pretty sweet deal. To be honest, it is quite comparable to the alternatives mentioned above. The main advantages to it are IMO:

- Larger screen

- Can use all desktop software (although that is the case with the Surface too)

- Will be viable for a lot longer (because you can upgrade the PC around it)

- Has an (IMO) better drawing surface. The previously mentioned devices are tablets before anything else and have a more glossy screen. The Wacom Cintiq 16 has a more paper like texture to it.

 

Of course you can start with a Wacom Intuos too, if you want a simple tablet to connect to your PC/laptop.

[Hip]

1 minute ago, minibois said:

Are you looking for a standalone device (like a Surface or other kind of laptop) or a peripheral next to your pre-existing device (like a mouse, but with like tablet input).

Brad Colbow is my go to for reviews regarding drawing stuff. I know he is a big fan of the Surface line of products and the iPad Pro devices with the Apple Pencil.

 

Although the iPad 2019 (+Pencil) or Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 look like a great deal too.

Depends on what you need in terms of software too.

 

if you already have laptop/PC and want a peripheral for drawing next to it, the Wacom Cintiq 16 is a pretty sweet deal. To be honest, it is quite comparable to the alternatives mentioned above. The main advantages to it are IMO:

- Larger screen

- Can use all desktop software (although that is the case with the Surface too)

- Will be viable for a lot longer (because you can upgrade the PC around it)

- Has an (IMO) better drawing surface. The previously mentioned devices are tablets before anything else and have a more glossy screen. The Wacom Cintiq 16 has a more paper like texture to it.

@yaop117

I am pretty new to drawing on screens, so far I drew on paper and a Huion tablet only. But I do not want to buy a full beginner device and a year later another one lol

Also in terms of software I do not know which one to choose. I have all Adobe programs, Inkscape and Gimp so far.Not sure If I can use any with the new device then.

Do you have exerience with the mentioned devices already?

 

[yaop117]

I have an entry level Monoprice tablet that i've tested and it works with Photoshop, Illustrator, Inkscape, and Gimp. 
From what i've heard drivers on all tablets are always fussy, even to this day MS doesn't have super great compatibility (just search "pressure sensitivity problem graphics tablet" and see how many people have issues getting that to work). I can't guarantee compatibility, but once again the safe choice (at least in terms of customer support) is probably Wacom. 

[minibois]

2 minutes ago, Hip said:

@yaop117

I am pretty new to drawing on screens, so far I drew on paper and a Huion tablet only. But I do not want to buy a full beginner device and a year later another one lol

Also in terms of software I do not know which one to choose. I have all Adobe programs, Inkscape and Gimp so far.Not sure If I can use any with the new device then.

Do you have exerience with the mentioned devices already?

 

Personally at home I have been using an entry level Intuos for a couple years now, for my minimal digital drawing I do nowadays..

I have used the Cintiq (not specifically the 16 all the time, but other versions too) and Surface devices for drawing too. The iPad and Tab S6 are both devices I have not used extensively.

 

For the iPad and Samsung you would have to check the iOS and Android marketplaces to see if there are any good apps for you out there. For the other options, you are of course using Windows; thus the programs you mentioned + a whole lot more will be available (I personally really like Krita for drawing/sketching, Inkscape for any vector stuff and Gimp for everything else I do, including some photo editing).

The Surface and Wacom devices work with all these programs. Wacom alternatives like Monoprice, Huion, Gaomon, etc. presumably do too. I have heard of some driver issues with these alternative brands, but I have always only used Wacom devices, so can't comment too much on that.

 

It's always quite difficult to say what you need to buy. A simple Intuos is easy to recommend. It's only 80 USD and will serve novice digital artists really well. It's also not a very large investment in something you might not do too much.

A Cintiq 16 is around 500-600 USD and like that a much greater investment. The experience of using the device is a lot different than a simple drawing tablet too, which for some people will make it much more enjoyable. It's also more true to life, as with an Intuos you are drawing on a tablet and looking at a screen elsewhere.

 

Something like a Surface is kind of combining the best of both, with drawing features not quite on par with a Cintiq. The advantage though is that you are buying a full on device. Not just a drawing accessory. Same with the iPad and Samsung. If you lose interest in drawing, you will still have a device that can do so much more; the purpose of a Cintiq is to draw not much more..

[Firewrath9]

I have a friend who goes to an art school, he draws on the new iPad Pro w/ the apple pen.

[Hip]

14 hours ago, minibois said:

 

Something like a Surface is kind of combining the best of both, with drawing features not quite on par with a Cintiq. The advantage though is that you are buying a full on device. Not just a drawing accessory. Same with the iPad and Samsung. If you lose interest in drawing, you will still have a device that can do so much more; the purpose of a Cintiq is to draw not much more..

This is exactly what I think too, but I think a full device is way better. I used one from Huion as mentioned before and for me it was kinda annoying watching on screen and drawing somewhere else lol

I think a full device would be a better option.