When I got my hands on my first graphics tablet, I had no idea how much it could transform my workflow. Whether you are a photographer, graphic designer or illustrator, I can assure you that it is an incredibly valuable tool.
Since the last decades of the 20th century, we have experienced the rise of digital media, therefore, it is only fair that we make the most of it in our process of artistic creation.
Characteristics of a graphics tablet
A graphics tablet is a device for artists and photographers that replaces the mouse with a stylus and a sketchpad with a digitizing surface. This gives creators the ability to make highly specific brush strokes and pencil strokes that resemble drawing on paper.
The first graphics tablet for home computers was developed by Koala Technologies in 1984. It was originally designed for use on the Apple II computer. However, over time it also became available for the IBM PC compatible computer.
Personally, I have been lucky enough to use graphics tablets for a number of years and have never been disappointed. offer a more natural and precise feel than a mouse, and I see that every day they are being used more not only by digital artists, but also by photographers and even gamers!
And although the tools by themselves do not represent a stimulus for personal creativity, they do energize the work.
Types of digitizing tablet
Tablets can be roughly divided into three categories:
- Digitizer tablets (tablets without monitor): are input devices that connect to the computer.
- Monitor tablets (also known as display or LCD tablets – these are monitor tablets): This is a tablet with a built-in monitor. When connected to a PC, the pen can be operated from the tablet screen.
- Tablet PCs (PCs and tablets in one device): This is a regular tablet, but it supports pressure sensitivity and you can draw on the screen with a stylus.
What is a graphics tablet for?
Using the graphics tablet saves time in the creative process. This is always useful when working on large projects: if you use a graphics tablet, you won’t have to mess around with so many buttons and mouse movementssince most have a series of express keys that give you access to your favorite shortcuts directly from the tablet and their manipulation is as natural as holding a pencil on paper:
Uses of the graphics tablet
There is no single use for graphics tablets. They are used in a ton of different industries and creative niches. Let’s summarize them in a simple way:
- Drawing, illustration and digital art: The graphic tablet is being used more and more every day, because it achieves extremely precise lines, an issue that a computer mouse could not solve.
- Gaming and PC games: It is not surprising that many gamers or fans of certain games such as OSU choose to buy cheap graphics tablets, which allow them greater precision in their gestures and actions.
- digital signatures: very useful for procedures and documents that admit digital signature.
- Photo retouching and editing: In photo editing, they are used for skin retouching and similar details.
How do graphics tablets work?
A graphics tablet looks like a computer trackpad that has a lot of exciting technology inside.
The tablet works by connecting to a computer through various ways. Most mid-range and high-end tablets have a Bluetooth or wireless connection, and the cheapest do so via USB.
A stylus also attaches to the tablet. When the user draws a line with the pen, the drawing does not appear on the tablet. Instead, the action generates a signal that goes to a vertical network of cables that runs through the device and ends up reflecting off the computer or smartphone to which the graphics tablet is connected.
On touchscreen tablets, the entire monitor becomes the writing surface, and the user interacts directly with the screen instead of drawing on one surface and viewing on another.
The pencil can work with batteries, by Bluetooth or even some do not need more than to be in contact with the tablet to work. Most graphics tablet pens support multiple nibs to create different textures and feel when drawing.
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And that’s it! I hope that this information has been useful to you, and that now that you know what a graphics tablet is, you agree that it is worth having a tool that makes work easier on that new project that you are undertaking.
Frequent questions
Finally, we have gathered the questions that users ask most frequently regarding the topic that we have proposed in this post:
What is a Wacom tablet?
Wacom is a well-known brand that produces these touch-sensitive graphics tablets.. They are so famous that people already associate the word “Wacom” as a synonym for “graphics tablet”.
What can you do with a Wacom tablet?
Wacom has a wide range of drawing tablets to meet everyone’s needs.: from an amateur photographer to a professional graphic designer, animator or illustrator. You can find very cheap or high-end ones.
What are the advantages of using Wacom tablets?
One of the best reasons to buy a Wacom tablet is that they work very well and can be trusted for professional use. This means that you can easily touch up and edit any photo. Some users choose it for its size and weight, as it provides higher resolution at lower cost.
How to take notes with a graphics tablet?
For , it is only necessary that you connect it to your computer, open a compatible program, the same type of drawing pad as a word processor, and start writing as if it were a normal notebook.
What to consider when buying a digitizing tablet?
Among the aspects to take into account when buying a digitizing tablet are: cost, resolution, pressure sensitivity, tracking speed, physical size, the material with which it is built, if it comes with software included, connectivity, and compatibility with the operating system of the computer, tablet or smartphone and the drawing software.
What tablet is used to draw?
Although nowadays it is possible to draw with common tablets such as Samsung Tabs or iPads, the tablet that is used for drawing par excellence is still the graphics tablet. It is also possible to use third-party software.
What is the difference between a tablet and a tablet?
The is that the first is a device with a touch screen that can be used to watch movies, play games, take notes or browse the Internet; while the tablet or graphics tablet allows us to draw on its surface and then see the results on the computer or smartphone screen.
What is the difference between graphics tablet and digitizer?
The two terms are often used interchangeably. However, it is generally referred to as a “graphics tablet” when referring to a tablet without a screen as opposed to one with a screen.
What is better a graphics tablet or an iPad?
An iPad is better if you are not only going to use it as a work tool, but also for multimedia or leisure use. If you only need a device for drawing, a graphics tablet is cheaper.
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