Arbeiten mit einem Grafiktablett - Lohnt sich das? | XP-PEN Artist 16

Especially in the creative field, working with a graphics tablet, whether with a display or without it, can be a real alternative to the classic work with mouse and keyboard. How the work on such a tablet can look like and what functions such a device offers us, let's take a look at in this video. For this video, XP-Pen kindly provided me with the graphics display Artist 16 in the second generation. The device offers a 15.4 inch display with 10 buttons that can be individually assigned. A pen is of course also included and this one is even battery-free. In this size, I can already say that, it is quite pleasant to work with. A graphics tablet with its own display represents a second monitor for your PC, so to speak. Of course, the whole thing has to be properly connected first. If your PC has a USB-C, then connecting it to modern tablets like the XP-Pen can be really easy. Namely, with only one full USB-C cable, the tablet serves as a second monitor. Alternatively, the whole thing can also be connected via HDMI, the necessary cables for this are already included in the tablet. With a tablet, the pen is your mouse, so to speak. And with such a pen, it is of course possible to work in many situations more precisely than with a mouse. Especially in those situations, I would summarize it by working with a brush or pen tool anyway. In image editing, this can be a selection brush to free up some space, a refinement brush to edit a selection, or even a completely normal brush, with which you paint within a mask to specifically edit certain areas. With a pen in your hand, you simply have more control here. But of course, it doesn't just have to be a brush, the precise setting of individual points with the pencil goes so fast and well by hand. With such a tablet, you have the advantage that it feels like painting or writing on a piece of paper with a pen. If you want to put a signature, for example, then it looks very tricky with a mouse. With a pen, you can write exactly as you are used to. An advantage that can be seen in softwares, especially with brush tools, is also the print recognition. The device registers how strongly we press the display with the pen. In programs like Affinity Photo or Photoshop, the function can be switched on so that the pressure affects the size of the brush, and so the painting and drawing becomes a bit more natural and also brings new possibilities with it. The tablet from XP-Pen, which I have here, promises a total of 8192 pressure levels that can be recognized. A mouse, on the other hand, has only two levels, either on or off, 1 or 0. With a mouse button, there is nothing in between. These advantages are of course also reflected in graphic design software. But even in a 3D software like Blender, working with a pen can have decisive advantages. Especially the sculpting area is made for working with a graphic tablet. Here, too, various brush tools are used that can be used with a real pen and allow precise work. In addition to tablets with their own display, there are of course also those without a screen. Here, the work looks different again, as the eyes are pointed at the monitor and you have to lead the pen practically blindly, i.e. without having your hand in view. With a little getting used to, this can also work really well, and such tablets are also a cheap way to get into the whole topic, as they are cheaper in price due to the lack of a screen. Such simple variants are already available for a good 30-40 euros and you can just test whether the whole thing is something for you at all. By the way, you can also find this type of tablet at XP-Pen, as it comes with everything from entry-level models to advanced variants. However, besides working, sign displays also have the advantage that you can simply use them as displays. For example, as a large screen to watch movies from your iPad or smartphone, to connect a video game console to it or many other things. The compact and flat tablet is very easy to take with you everywhere. As far as working is concerned, a suitable stand for the tablet can make the work a little more pleasant. With the freely adjustable keys, you have enough control and can assign the most important keys and shortcuts in the software of XP-Pen as you need them. And if you need even more control, for example, you can use a variant with a wheel, which offers even more options. Alternatively, you can of course also use a keyboard in parallel. Working with a sign tablet does not have to mean that you give up the conventional work completely. A mixture of both options can also be very useful. So that when working precisely or doing things that are best done with a pen, you grab the tablet and otherwise use the mouse and keyboard. All in all, such a tablet can really be useful. Feel free to write in the comments what you think about it.