Congratulations: You’re going to art school! Or maybe your child is, or your partner, or perhaps you’ve just taken the bold move of enrolling in your first digital art class. Whatever it is, it’s awesome, and now it’s time to figure out which tools for art students you’ll need. Digital artists, photographers, and animators can really benefit from using dedicated digital art tools. Unlike other tech-based jobs, like writing or coding, it’s tough for an artist to get by with just a keyboard and a mouse (or trackpad). The precision you can get from items like styluses and drawing tablets is unparalleled by older forms of technology.
Tools for art students: Two types of tablets
If you’re new to digital art, it might surprise you to find out that there are actually three types of tablets. (We’ll discuss the most common two first, then get into the specialized version.) First, there are the touch-screen display tablets that work like powerful smartphones. Some of examples of these are the iPad, the Surface, and the Samsung Galaxy Tab. These tablets are multi-use. They’re great for people who are starting their digital art or graphics careers, but they have limited processing power.
Then, there’s the drawing tablet, which has been around in some form or another since 1957. The first graphic tablets were designed only to recognize handwriting; today, they can create digital renderings of everything from handwriting to full-scale digital paintings. For most students, an iPad or iPad-style tablet is the best option. They’re a simple solution for students use for art and academic classes, and they’re easy to transport. They can be used solo, without a ton of accessories or a separate computer, which makes them easy to take to class.
However, for students in the fine arts, graphic tablets are tools that are not to be underestimated. The graphic tablet market is dominated by Wacom, who make passive tablets—AKA tablets with non-electronic styluses—at price points for both students and professionals. Many of their products offer detailed pressure sensitivity and a paper-like feel. Their more professional designs feature even more pressure levels, as well as options like pen tilt and increased sensitivity.
Professional-grade drawing tablets: Pen displays
For fine art students who take their art very seriously, a lower-end tablet might not cut it. If you’re planning to create vast artworks, or extremely intricate animations, you may need something more powerful. Many students who sell their artwork on the side will opt for this style of tablet, perhaps to hone their skills to get ready for an internship or perhaps to create professional works that they can sell online to help pay for their degree. In cases like these, I recommend opting for a pen display: a touchscreen drawing tablet with a high-quality digital display.
If you’re ready and able to take the plunge, a drawing tablet with a touch screen will allow you to work directly on your image, video, animation, etc. You won’t lose track of your pixels as they translate from a tablet under your hand to the screen in front of you. Expect a smooth user experience for high-end tablets, which are optimized for 3D animation, and a precise but laggier experience with your budget buys.
Once upon a time, this style of tablet was the only option for digital artists who wanted to work directly on their screen. However, that’s no longer the case. For many artists, the iPad Pro works just as well or better than other tablets. The Pro can be used for both drawing and animation, and it isn’t limited to tablet functionality (unlike earlier iPad designs)—you can hook it up to your more powerful computer to use it as a pen display.
Styluses and other tools for art students
For most students, a basic graphics tablet or a smartphone-style tablet is more than capable of getting the job done. It’s tough to create a masterpiece using just your stubby fingers, though, so a stylus is a must! (I mean, have you ever tried to draw a freehand straight line with your finger on an iPad? I’m convinced that it simply cannot be done.) A simple stylus makes using a tablet easier for anyone. Even for basic applications, getting in the habit of using a stylus instead of your finger can keep your motions precise and your dexterity high.
But for art and other detailed work, styluses really are essential. They introduce something to your tablet that your finger can’t offer: pressure and angle sensitivity. With a basic stylus, you gain the benefit of a super fine point. With an art stylus, however, you get a lot more. Many styluses feature thousands of points of pressure sensitivity, angle awareness, and textured tips. These features allow you to get more out of your stylus than a mouse, unlocking the ability to create realistic-looking calligraphy, brushwork, shading, and more. When your tablet knows how hard you’re pressing and the angle of your brush, it can create a lifelike drag and opacity for each stroke.
Make sure to find out if your stylus is battery-powered before purchasing. Some, like many of the ones used with drawing tablets, are not electronic. Others, like the Apple Pencil or Microsoft Surface Pen, need to be recharged.
Set up your art tablet
Finally, one last tool to consider for your burgeoning artist or art career is a great tablet mounting system. Crouching over a tablet can cause eye and back strain, especially when it’s flat on your desk, but a mount is an easy way to essentially set your tablet up like a sketchbook on an easel. Consider mounting your tablet, buying a small angled stand for it, or investing in a sit-stand desk to help manage the long hours of art school or a career in the digital arts.
A tablet mount probably won’t be going to art class with you, of course, but, well: Artists rarely haul around their easels, either! That doesn’t mean they aren’t still an essential part of an atelier.
Shop tablets and drawing tablets at Best Buy today.
Love the ipad pro for its versatility and quality workmanship.
I would love a stylus as it would offer greater assurance of work well done.
For me, it would be one of the Surface Pro machines and Surface Pen. It is very versatile so when I am not working on improving my art, I could use it run the rest of my life as well. + I Looove that the pen is recharable !
The ipad pro for its stylist and drawing toolkit/display
Love the ipad pro for its versatility.
The Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 Creative Pen Display. It has a large surface area to write and draw.
A stylus as it would offer greater precision.
I am not a professional artist so a stylus would suit my needs as it would still offer great precision but practicality as well!
The stylus would be the most useful so I can make clear, precise drawings and diagrams.
A Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 Creative Pen Display for the size and easier for me.
Wacom One Creative Pen Display because of the larger surface and would be easier for me.
The Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 Creative Pen Display to get the large drawing surface
I have a Surface Pro and use the Pen to edit and rework just about anything.
the stylus allows very precise drawing
Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 Creative Pen Display and large surface area to write
Apple iPad Pro 12.9″ would be my choice. Excellent for illustrations and then others things like games, movies, etc!
The stylus for more precise drawing
An iPad Pro would be best – compatible with many other devices
Wacom One Creative Pen Display would best suit your drawing needs because of pressure-sensitive (battery-free) pen & the huge 13.3-inch screen.
The iPad, as I can use it for other things as well
The Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 Creative Pen Display to get the large drawing surface
IPAD Pro for its stylist and drawing toolkit
ipad would be best because I can use for other needs as well
A Professional-grade drawing tablets specifically Pen displays would be my pick not only for the focus it has on drawing but for the precision and specialization it provides.
The iPad Pro would work great for me.
My eyes and back would appreciate a tablet mounting system.
The Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 Creative Pen Display because it makes it look easier to draw
A pen display would be perfect for me since I’m already used to pen and paper. A tablet mount would save me the trouble of finding a desk that adjusts for what I’m working on and a stylus would no doubt be necessary for using a pen display. Of course I’ll take what I can get graciously.
The Ipad Pro’s versatility to hook it up to the computer would be better for more detailed display work.
The iPad Pro would be best so that it is compatible with my other devices!
I really like the functionality of the stylus for the Wacom One – battery free, 4096 degrees of pressure sensitivity with tilt recognition for the tablet because I don’t draw on a flat surface
The Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 Creative Pen Display would be the easiest for me to draw with given the surface area.
The Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 Creative Pen Display to get the large drawing surface
The Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 Creative Pen Display with the large drawing surface
My eye sight needs the Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 Creative Pen Display for the larger surface.
Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 Creative Pen Display for the larger surface.
The Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 Creative Pen Display would work best, as it is a larger space to work.
Ipad Pro for it’s functionality.
Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 Creative Pen Display; simply because of the bigger screen
Like the Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 Creative Pen Display for the larger drawing surface.
The Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 Creative Pen Display would work best for me, as it is a larger space for my weak eyesight
A Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 Creative Pen Display because I’d like a large drawing surface.
The Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 Creative Pen Display would work best for me, as it is a larger space for my weak eyesight
Wacom Intuos 6.0″ x 3.7″ Graphic Tablet with Stylus
A Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 Creative Pen Display because I’d like a large drawing surface.
An ipad pro for its versatility.
IPAD Pro for its stylist and drawing toolkit
Wacom Intuos 6.0″ x 3.7″ Graphic Tablet with Stylus
A Wacom Cintiq Pro 24 Creative Pen Display because I’d like a large drawing surface.
a pen and a graphic tablet
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