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Most of the board painting novices are watching anime, or seeing which big picture of the finished picture, because they want to learn and learn about the pen tablet, pen screen. So, what is a pen tablet? How do I choose a pen tablet that's right for me? Which is better, pen tablet or pen screen? Many questions often overwhelm newcomers. In this article, I will answer questions for board painting beginners.
Get to know the pen tablet for the first time
Pen tablet, also known as drawing board, drawing board, hand drawing board, handwriting board, etc., is an input device that connects computers, mobile phones, tablets, and is composed of a board, a pressure-sensitive pen and a line, mainly used for digital painting, writing, labeling, etc. The illustrations, comics, animations, etc. that we often see on the Internet are artists who use pen tablets or other equipment to draw.
The most important thing to say first: the two most immediate sensory experiences
In terms of size, you need to choose the pen tablet that suits you according to the size of your desk/computer desk and the size of your own hand.
In terms of hand feel, the painting sensation of the surface of the tablet is the layer of "film" - there is a coarse and thin, like the rough feeling of sketch paper, you can buy a little thicker, but rough at the same time, the refill also wears fast. On the contrary, if you like the smoothness of coated paper, you can buy fine points, and the refill is relatively longer than the drawing. Then there is the feel of the pen, there are soft pens and hard pens, accustomed to painting watercolor or usually painting or writing do not like to work hard, it is recommended to buy a soft pen feel, the stroke is long, the pressure of the pen is easy to be released. If you usually write and draw more hard, it is recommended to buy a hard pen, the trip is short, it is not easy to crush the pen at the same time, the feel is more comfortable.
Interpret the detailed parameters of the pen tablet
Read rate
Read rate is also called reading speed (unit: English PPS, Chinese is point / second), the current common 133, 200, 233, 266, 300 these configurations are optional, generally the higher the better, this parameter affects you to draw lines with or without the pen, generally more than 200 naked eye is difficult to see there is a delay, but also depends on the configuration of the computer, the configuration is not good, the pen tablet reading rate is high, it will still be delayed. (The current pen tablet that reaches 300PPS is the H420X of EJP.) ）
Pressure sensitivity level
The pressure sensitivity level is the sensitivity of the light and heavy of the pen, and the current common pressure sensitivity is 2048 levels, 4096 levels, and 8192 levels.
Assuming that the pen strength is between 0 and 1, the 2048 pressure can be divided into twenty parts, 4096 is forty parts, and 8192 is eighty parts.
But at present, the pressure of the 8192 level has been popularized, and there is nothing to say, directly choose the 8192 level.
Handwriting resolution
Common resolutions are 2540, 3048, 4000, 5080, the higher the resolution of the board painting accuracy, the early pen board accuracy is not enough, the pen on the pen on the pen on the tablet cursor may be because of insufficient accuracy and constantly shaking, has rarely appeared this problem.
We can understand the principle behind this: suppose that the actual use area of the pen tablet is composed of countless small squares, and the resolution refers to the number of blocks per unit area. The more squares, the more data can be read per stroke; the same stroke, the higher the resolution, the greater the amount of information, and the softer the line.
The test method is also very simple. Because the line is made up of small squares, zoom in directly to 800% of the canvas to see if the squares that make up the line are uniform. The more uniform the squares, the higher the resolution.
Of course, this is definitely the higher the better, and the lines drawn under the resolution of the master writing will be more delicate.
Size/size
As mentioned above, we need to choose the right tablet for us based on the size of our desk/computer desk, as well as the size of our hands. Smaller hands, you can choose 6 ~ 8 inches of pen tablet; large hands can choose 8 ~ 10 inches or larger size of the pen board; specifically depending on the actual needs, the larger the pen board, the larger the moving area of the painting, the longer the painting arm will certainly be more tired, suitable for their own most important. If you are not sure, you can follow the given parameters to compare the most comfortable places on your desktop and then make a decision.
Inclination recognition
At present, more than 80% of pen tablets have inclination recognition by default, and the function is mainly to imitate the real painting effect. But if this function really works, it needs to use a brush that can match the inclination angle, so the actual needs vary from person to person. In short, it is definitely better to have it, especially if most of the pen tablets are already equipped, and it may be used one day.
Precision
In layman's terms, precision is to see if the nib and cursor are on the same point. So the smaller the value, the better. But in my opinion, reaching 0.3mm is enough, because it is not a pen display, the pen tablet is a hand-eye separation of painting methods, fine and inaccurate, completely invisible, because when painting, it is looking at the cursor to paint, not looking at the nib.
Pen
Pen has a soft pen and a hard pen, the soft pen has a long stroke, the feel is close to the brush, suitable for those who control the pen strength lightly; and the hard pen is similar to the pen, ballpoint pen, pencil, the stroke is short, suitable for professional painting, skilled control of the pen strength.
As for which pen to choose, as mentioned in the previous section, it can be done according to the actual situation. I personally recommend the hard pen, starting from the beginning to slowly learn to control the power on the pen board, using it as a new tool to learn.
Panel feel
The feel of the panel is mainly derived from the layer of laminated materials and processes in the pen tablet painting area, when selected according to the thickness and fineness, if you want to have the feeling of paper and pencil, choose some thicker, but the relative refill will also grind faster, costing the refill. The thinner ones will be more slippery, and the refills will be more wear-resistant.
Connection method
Connections are mainly divided into wired and wireless connections. The wired connection is basically USB, if you choose to buy a pen display, you need to pay attention to its interface configuration. Wireless connectivity is currently divided into 2.4G and Bluetooth connectivity. Wired connections are certainly the most stable, and single-device users can purchase them if they don't care about desktop cables. If you have wireless needs, I recommend you to choose a Bluetooth connected pen tablet, because now support more and more devices to connect to the pen tablet, Bluetooth board switching multiple devices is much more convenient than 2.4G, multi-machine and use or even Android mobile phones are OK.
Shortcut keys and other accessories
These gadgets are mainly to provide more convenience when painting, depending on personal usage habits. Because some painters are usually accustomed to using the shortcuts on the keyboard, the shortcut keys on the pen tablet are a decoration; but some painters use the shortcut keys on the pen tablet from the beginning, and it is faster to use the shortcut keys for the starting draft.
Personal use is more practical is the pen tablet buttons and scroll wheel, the wheel compatibility can simulate the Surface Dial, very good to use.
System compatibility
Before buying, you must confirm that you are using a computer, or an Android phone / tablet, if you want to use the computer, these brands are no problem, if you want to use the mobile phone, you have to choose the king of painting or Gaoman.
King: Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Android.
GaoMan: Windows, macOS, Android.
Wacom: Windows, macOS, a small number of Android systems.
How to choose the brand model?
The common pen tablet is basically the following four brands.
Wacom
Founded in 1983, Wacom has a hard pen feel with a high pressure sensitivity of 8192 levels, a maximum read rate of 200 PPS, a handwriting resolution of up to 5080 LPI, and an inclination recognition of the pen. The presence of Japanese brands, industry benchmarks.
Huion
Founded in 2011, Huion pen tablet and pen screen are divided into hard pen and soft pen feel, with a maximum pressure sensitivity of 8192 levels, a reading rate of up to 300 PPS, a handwriting resolution of up to 5080LPI, and a pen with 60 degree inclination recognition. EWang focuses on the research and development, production and sales of pen tablets, digital screens and copy stations.
Gaomon
Founded in 2011, Gaomon pen board and pen screen are divided into hard pen and soft pen feel, with a maximum pressure sensitivity of 8192 levels, a maximum reading rate of 266 PPS, a handwriting resolution of up to 5080LPI, and a pen with 60-degree inclination recognition. Gao Man has a good price-performance ratio, and students are the first choice for getting started.
UGEE
Youji was founded in 1998, is currently acquired by Hanwang, the current digital board, digital screen, I have not used it myself, it is difficult to say, but the seniority is very old, some technology accumulation.
There are also some emerging brands BOSTOT, Tianmin, etc., which are not to be said here, and there are fewer people who buy them.
Tablet model recommended
Usually buying a pen tablet is purchased according to your own budget, here from low to high budget recommended. If you want to buy a soft pen feel within 200, a hard pen feel buys more than 200.
Budget up to 100
High Man M5
The cheapest pen tablet, priced at 99 RMB, the original design of Gaoman is mainly used to connect Android mobile phones, tablets, but also support computer use.
This pen tablet is good to connect the mobile phone, but if you connect the computer, when you draw to the edge of the pen tablet, the hand is dangling, there is no support, and you will be tired for a long time.
Budget within 200
Paint King H420X
At first, this one was designed to be used to connect mobile phones or play games, because E-Wang equipped this small board with a 300PPS reading chip.
This is much more comfortable in use than the Gaoman M5, and the hand has enough support at the edge, but due to the small size of the board, it is only suitable for mobile phone drawing or connecting to a computer to occasionally sign.
Paint King HC16
The most worth buying in the King of Pictures pen tablet, the board is large, and there are shortcut keys, the most important thing is that you can buy it within 200.
HC16 can be said to be the most cost-effective pen tablet, this size of the connection to the computer painting can be said to be the best choice, but compared to the high-priced pen board, the feel is still quite different, because this pen board painting king is equipped with a soft pen, not the latest hard pen.
High Man M6
The two models are not much different in size, configuration and feel, it can be said that they are exactly the same, but the king of painting is far superior to Gaoman in technology research and development, so it will be more expensive.
A very cost-effective pen tablet, the size of the board is also appropriate, and the difference between the expensive pen board is that the pen feel is relatively soft, and the board feel is poor.
Budget within 300
Note: Above this price are hard pen feel pen tablets
Paint King H640P
At present, the cheapest hard pen pen tablet, 160 * 99mm painting area, 233PPS reading rate, 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, 6 shortcut keys, the entry budget is not high, and want to use a hard pen, this is really the best choice.
Feel, the hard pen really has nothing to say, but the panel feels slippery, the slippery panel can increase the durability of the refill, see how you choose, no matter how the price is put there.
High Man M7
The main advantage of Gao Man is that the painting area of the board is relatively large, the shortcut keys are also more than the H640P of the king, and it is also a hard pen feel, but it is not as good as the 1g starting pressure of the king.
In addition, the panel feels similar to the entry-level, this tablet is mainly bought is a pen, the overall sense of experience is still good.
Wacom 472
The pen tablet at the beginning of wacom 4 is really not recommended, but the brand is big. The configuration at this price point is generally very low, and the painting area is not the size of a palm, unless you don't care about the configuration and size, then you can buy it.
There is a way to buy wacom 472 and e-king H640P on the Internet, indicating that the two feel exactly the same, there is no difference.
Budget up to 400
Paint King H580X
This is the 10th anniversary edition of the painting king pen tablet, 203 * 127mm painting area, 8 shortcut keys, 266PPS reading rate, to the price of 308, only 20 pieces more expensive than their own H640P, personally feel that it is still quite worthwhile.
It is also a hard pen, and the panel is slightly better than the H640P model.
High Man M8
Gao Man is currently the most expensive pen board, hard pen feel, painting area has 258 * 121mm, 8 shortcut keys + 13 multimedia buttons, more multimedia buttons than M7, choose which one to see personal needs.
The feel of the pen is not as good as the PW515 hard pen of E-King, and the panel feel is the same as that of E-King H640P.
Budget 500~600
Paint King Q620M
This one I like the most is the scroll wheel, which can simulate the Surface Dial, which is super easy to use. In addition, there are 2.4G wireless connection, 266PPS reading rate, 5080LPI handwriting resolution, 8192 levels of pressure, these are not the most important, the most important thing is the painting area with paper-like film, the feel is good, that is, the shortcut button is not KD200 more, this budget, the most recommended one.
Paint King H1161
The main difference in this is that it adds 16 pen touch shortcut keys and a touch bar, and the feel is definitely not as good as Q620M, depending on personal needs.
Wacom 672
Some people say that this is Wacom's most cost-effective one, but in my opinion, Wacom has no cost performance at all, 216 * 135mm of painting area, 2048 levels of pressure, 2540 handwriting resolution, reading rate of only 133PPS, the configuration is lower than the pen board above half, the panel can slide to grandma's house for a long time, compared with 660, it is simply a drizzle.
Budget 600~1000
Paint King KD200
Self-use model, the best one to use in the currently used pen tablet, half of the keyboard shortcuts + scroll wheel, and equipped with the pen screen for the PW517 hard pen.
The panel feel and Wacom 660 have a fight, plus wireless Bluetooth 5.0 connection is much more stable than Wacom 660, and with half a keyboard shortcut key, with this budget, definitely buy this.
Budget 1000 or more
Wacom 660
At present, the top pen tablet in Wacom, in addition to the reading rate is not as good as the 300PPS of the king, the price is also the ceiling level. In terms of configuration, it is 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, 5080LPI handwriting resolution, 200 points per second reading rate, not bad money is definitely this one.
At this price, buying a pen tablet is actually a bit of a loss, and I recommend going directly to the pen screen. Anyway, the pen screen off the screen is the pen tablet, can be used dual-purpose.
The above is my basic introduction and recommendation of the pen tablet, if there are any questions or what you want to know more about, welcome to discuss together in the comment area!