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Drawing tablet with screen - recommendations?

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  • Teallaura
    replied
    Yeppers, it's a drawing tablet. I like it because the surface doesn't have that spongy feel a touchscreen does and I'm not worried about poking a hole in it.

    It does have definite directionality - which means you are drawing upside down if you aren't careful. I still need to play with the functions and really learn what all it can do, but so far it does what I want - provides a drawing surface and pen - pretty danged well.

    Leave a comment:


  • QuantaFille
    replied
    Originally posted by DesertBerean View Post
    I'll bite...how do you have a tablet without a screen?
    It's connected to the computer, so whatever you draw on the tablet appears on the computer screen.

    Leave a comment:


  • DesertBerean
    replied
    I'll bite...how do you have a tablet without a screen?

    Leave a comment:


  • Teallaura
    replied
    Originally posted by Sparko View Post

    You bought that 3 years ago and still never used it?

    You should sell it to quanta.
    I used it for the first time today.


    Kind of a steep learning curve but I think I'm getting the hang of it. INFINITELY better for drawing than a mouse - but clicking on stuff is still a bit wonky.

    I think I'm gonna love this thing.

    Leave a comment:


  • Sparko
    replied
    Originally posted by QuantaFille View Post

    I don't know enough about the features to know what features are important. I get that "fully laminated" means there is no parallax casued by a thick layer of glass between the tip of the pen and the cursor location, but is that for real or just a gimmick? Aren't they all going to have some parallax? Will the thinner layer on top make it more fragile? And is the number of pressure levels important? What features should I not skimp on, and what's just marketing?
    A drawing tablet will never feel like drawing on paper. glass is just too smooth to give it the right feel. There will also be some parallax, which is just a fancy way of saying there is a bit of distance between where your stylus is touching the screen and the pixels themselves, so if you are looking from an angle you will notice a slight offset. Mostly not noticeable unless you are working on a single pixel level. I guess a thick screen could make it worse. I don't know how fragile a thin screen would be.

    The pressure levels are important because it allows you to press down on the screen to get darker lines or broader strokes. If the stylus supports tilt, that is also good, especially for calligraphy. You can set up a pen stroke that gets wider depending on the the angle you are tilting the stylus, for example.

    You will want to get as big a screen as you an afford. Drawing on a small tablet is frustrating.

    I would say go visit some stores near you and try out a 2-in-1 laptop with a stylus just to get an idea of what it is like to draw on a screen. Microsoft Surface Tablets come with a stylus, as well as the one I mentioned before: The HP Spectre X360. You can try it on Microsoft Paint which is built into windows.

    Leave a comment:


  • QuantaFille
    replied
    Originally posted by Sparko View Post

    OK yeah those say they are monitors so they should work fine. Be sure to read all of the reviews to check for any potential problems.
    I don't know enough about the features to know what features are important. I get that "fully laminated" means there is no parallax casued by a thick layer of glass between the tip of the pen and the cursor location, but is that for real or just a gimmick? Aren't they all going to have some parallax? Will the thinner layer on top make it more fragile? And is the number of pressure levels important? What features should I not skimp on, and what's just marketing?

    Leave a comment:


  • Sparko
    replied
    OK yeah those say they are monitors so they should work fine. Be sure to read all of the reviews to check for any potential problems.

    Leave a comment:


  • QuantaFille
    replied
    Originally posted by Sparko View Post

    Unless it functions as a monitor, how would you even see GIMP on it? For example, the one Teal bought says it is an android, so it shows you what you are drawing, but it has it's own software on it and display, It can export to a computer but it seems to be standalone. For the price you can buy a touchscreen monitor that is portable enough to hold like a tablet, you might as well buy a complete tablet computer.

    Which ones were you looking at?
    https://www.amazon.com/XP-PEN-Artist...sspa?dchild=1&

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BGXRXMB...NsaWNrPXRydWU=

    Leave a comment:


  • Sparko
    replied
    Originally posted by QuantaFille View Post

    So even if it runs GIMP, that means some features of GIMP like loading an image, won't work?
    Unless it functions as a monitor, how would you even see GIMP on it? For example, the one Teal bought says it is an android, so it shows you what you are drawing, but it has it's own software on it and display, It can export to a computer but it seems to be standalone. For the price you can buy a touchscreen monitor that is portable enough to hold like a tablet, you might as well buy a complete tablet computer.

    Which ones were you looking at?

    Leave a comment:


  • QuantaFille
    replied
    Originally posted by Sparko View Post

    doubtful you could load a scan onto one of those. They don't act like monitors.
    So even if it runs GIMP, that means some features of GIMP like loading an image, won't work?

    Leave a comment:


  • Sparko
    replied
    Originally posted by QuantaFille View Post

    I don't need a laptop though. That is way outside of my price range. I was looking at the $200 ones on Amazon. All I need it for is drawing.
    doubtful you could load a scan onto one of those. They don't act like monitors.

    Leave a comment:


  • QuantaFille
    replied
    Originally posted by Sparko View Post
    WACOM used to make the best drawing tablets both with and without a screen. The high end ones are really expensive. But nowadays you are better off just getting a 2-in-1 laptop that functions as a laptop and a tablet. Many come with a stylus so you can draw on the touch screen. I just bought an HP Spectre X360. https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/slp/sp...ed_na_3_200816
    I don't need a laptop though. That is way outside of my price range. I was looking at the $200 ones on Amazon. All I need it for is drawing.

    Leave a comment:


  • Sparko
    replied
    Originally posted by Teallaura View Post
    I have one. It's still in the box.


    But just until I get the new desktop - which I plan to order this weekend unless you guys decide I actually need a Cray or something ...
    You bought that 3 years ago and still never used it?

    You should sell it to quanta.

    Leave a comment:


  • Sparko
    replied
    WACOM used to make the best drawing tablets both with and without a screen. The high end ones are really expensive. But nowadays you are better off just getting a 2-in-1 laptop that functions as a laptop and a tablet. Many come with a stylus so you can draw on the touch screen. I just bought an HP Spectre X360. https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/slp/sp...ed_na_3_200816

    Leave a comment:


  • Teallaura
    replied
    I have one. It's still in the box.


    But just until I get the new desktop - which I plan to order this weekend unless you guys decide I actually need a Cray or something ...

    Leave a comment:

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