Community Tablet Discussion

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

Hello! This is a post we've decided to make to help people who are shopping around for digital art tablets. Much of this will rely on user input, along with our own personal recommendations.

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced artist, shopping for a tablet can be one of the most individual, confusing experiences out there. There are so many different kinds at different pricepoints, but be aware that as a general rule, tablets are 'get what you pay for'. What you need will depend quite a bit on what you plan to do with it. If you're a casual doodler, you likely won't need a $400 dollar Intuous, much less a $1600 dollar Cintiq.

The first thing to figure out is your personal preference in regards to drawing on a traditional tablet, or if you're more comfortable drawing directly on a screen. Just be aware that the latter options, while lacking the mental disconnect between screen and where you draw that normal tablets have, are often far more expensive. I highly recommend doing everything you can to test between the two types before deciding to make a purchase, but if you are unable to do so there are many cheap traditional tablets you could try just to get a feel for it.

For easy reference, I will refer to the type of tablet that you draw on which is separate from your monitor as a 'traditional' tablet, and the type where you draw on it directly as a 'cintiq-type' (as that's most recognizable for people).

For beginners, here is a small list of cheap, traditional tablets I have heard of that you may wish to try, all under $100:

Monoprice

Huion

Turcom

Wacom Intuous Draw

Wacom Intuous Refurbished

These are small, cheap tablets that would be good for beginners to try while they work to get used to digital art and the disconnect between the tablet and the screen.

If you are an artist who is looking to upgrade from a cheap traditional tablet to something better, my -personal- recommendation based on experience is the Wacom Intuous 4. I took art as a contract job for a website and needed something better than what I had, and have not regretted my purchase since. My only complaint would be the rough surface texture, which will eat through your nibs, but I got around this easily via a screen covers.

The Wacom Intuous series are widely regarded as the best tablets on the market, thus the expense.

There are many options, however, and many artists will go through a couple of tablets before finding one that suits all their needs, so don't be discouraged if it takes you a few tries. It's usually fairly easy to re-sell a lightly used tablet or to donate them if you're feeling generous.

As for cintiq-type tablets, you may be able to try them via display models at stores. Unfortunately, unless you manage to find a good deal for something probably refurbished or heavily used, you are unlikely to find one that won't cost at least a couple hundred dollars, which is a costly gamble to take for something you might not like in the end (I have tried cintiqs and personally didn't care for it, myself). I would definitely recommend at least making a real effort to get used to traditional tablets before giving up, as it can a while. It took me over a year to get the hang of one!

I am now opening the comments for discussion over people's experiences and recommendations for tablets so this can become a post that is a good resource for new and not-new artists! What tablets have you tried? What were the pros and cons? Are you looking for recommendations based on your needs? Go for it.

Comments

[slinkslowdown.livejournal.com]

Wow, talk about timing...

A few days ago, I had a commissioner offer to buy me a tablet, if I wanted one. [I currently use a mouse and only do coloring work, no drawing, though I've done traditional drawing in the past.] I turned them down, because TBH I assumed tablets were all those hundreds-of-dollars ones.

They said their offer still stands if I change my mind; I'll definitely think about it now.

Does anyone have any advice for choosing between the five cheap models listed here?

I've literally never used a tablet in my life, so anything I should know? Even if it seems obvious, tell me.

Do these need software? Will some only work on certain operating systems [I run Vista]? Are some more resource-heavy than others [I only have 2GB RAM and can't have anything else running while I use GIMP]? Will all of these work with GIMP?

[kayla-la.livejournal.com]

There are many cheap tablets (as I showed in the post), which should be fine for you as long as you aren't expecting them to be exactly on the level as the better ones. Usually you sacrifice pressure sensitivity levels and finicky drivers for the cheaper ones, but plenty of them are still pretty doable.

As for the brands, I've heard a lot of people say they like their Monoprice tablets. Any of the ones I listed should be fairly safe though, as I tried to look for ones that had plenty of amazon reviews (definitely give those a read!).

I'm old enough that drawing tablets weren't really a thing when I was growing up, so it was fairly late in life that I finally tried one. If you're used to paper and pencil like I was, I'll be upfront with you; I really struggled to learn how to use a digital tablet. This is where people will often say you'll have an easier time with a cintiq, but A. I couldn't afford that and B. I tried one later and actually rather hated it.

My point is just that it's going to be a frustrating and difficult change to make if you're anything like me, but stick with it. It took me over a year with regular use to finally get a feel for it, and I almost gave up on many occasions. But now my tablet feels like just another extension of me. If I can do it, I imagine most can.

Also, every tablet is very different from each other, so if you upgrade in the future, expect to have to get used to the new tablet too. The convenience of digital art is worth it, though.

As for software, some tablets sometimes come with complimentary software, but typically all you need is the drivers. I always recommend going straight to the product's webpage to install the newest drivers instead of bothering with the CD that comes with, as those will likely be outdated.

Most tablets should work on Vista (I ran Vista with my older wacom for a long time) and in GIMP, but make sure you double-check the product page before you purchase, as it should list what it's compatible with, OS wise. You should be okay as far as RAM goes, I used my old tablet on a super old 1 GB RAM PC for a long time. RAM will be more of a hindrance for art software than tablets themselves.

Also, you can often find older drivers on the products' website that you can try if you're having trouble finding something compatible with Vista.

Lastly, be gentle with your tablet. I can't tell you how many times I've heard people destroying the cords from moving it around roughly, or losing the pen (which can be a pain to replace), or DROPPING the pen, etc etc. I personally just keep my tablet flat on my desk at all times and make sure to keep my pen in its holder when not in use.

[slinkslowdown.livejournal.com]

Fantastic reply, TY.

I actually haven't drawn traditionally in at least five years, so maybe that'll make it less awkward. I do digital coloring with my mouse almost daily and have adjusted to that completely, so I guess I have some experience with hand + flat surface = action on screen?

If anyone who's done art/coloring with mice previous to switching to a tablet reads this, LMK how the change was for you?

[everainsley]

The tl;dr version of my experience changing over (keeping in mind this was starting in 2000, and using Photoshop 4, and I was 19 and already set in my drawing ways): it was awkward as hell, but in the end, WELL worth it to learn.

[chronidu.livejournal.com]

Basically this, I did nothing but mouse drawings before I got my tablet, it was weird and shaky at first but once I got it down it definitely opened up a whole bunch of new doors in digital art!

Pressure sensitivity alone is def worth it.

[talentedfool.livejournal.com]

For the cheaper tablets I really could not recommend NOT getting a Monoprice enough. After my Bamboo died, I decided to try a cheaper option, and everything from the beginning of trying to buy the thing to the end where I ended up just buying an Intuos Fun was just a goddamn nightmare.

I don't know where you live but because I feel it's pertinent as part of the overall review - I live in Australia, and the main draw of the Monoprice was it was a cheaper range but competent tablet. The tablet itself cost something like $40 which was very affordable, but shipping cost $50. They had absolutely no cheaper alternative for shipping, I asked their customer support. I ended up buying it through an American friend who would only have to pay $5 or so themselves on shipping and could ship it to me for around $20 (rounding down these prices).

TO ANYONE BUYING ONLING OUTSIDE OF NA, UNLESS THEY'VE DEVELOPED NEW SHIPPING CHOICES, THE PRICE YOU'LL PAY FOR SHIPPING WILL PROBABLY BALANCE OUT THE CHEAPER COST OF THE MONOPRICE.

When it arrived, came the trial of installing it. As mentioned, tablets, like most external hardware, require drivers to function. Monoprice tablets have this bizarre thing where their drivers just do no work. At all. I tried googling around and didn't really get any helpful leads, so I again had to contact customer support. They told me that yeah, this was a thing that happened, so much so that they recommended people just use a completely unaffiliated third party software, which is like a blaring siren in my head. However, I had payed like $60ish dollars for this thing so I was determined to make it work. The driver they recommended me... did not work.

Again, first google. A lot of people with the same complaint, but no answers. Customer support next: oh, that driver didn't work? Okay, here's another unaffiliated third party program to download and install to get that first one to work.

The problem with these third party programs is that if something goes wrong, Monoprice doesn't bear any responsibility for that, even though they were the ones instructing me to use it. It's also deeply alarming to have a company tell you, "Yes, our product straight up does not function, use something else instead I guess?"

It took me literally two hours to get this thing installed. At one point, as someone with severe anxiety, I couldn't cope and had to crawl into my closet and cry. I had a whole thinktank of friends on Skype call trying to walk me through it. By the end I was so exhausted I didn't even want to use it, but I needed to make sure it actually worked after all that.

The next issue comes with the caveat that I have been using WACOM tablets since my very first one, so this is more just a straight up issue of not being used to the differences - it just felt "off". It's so hard to describe, but the pen pressure just felt different, and the input felt a little laggier. It felt a little more "muddled" to me. If you're someone who has never used a tablet before in your life, you probably won't find any issue with the Monoprice (if you can get it working). It was just shattering that after all that effort trying to get this thing running, I couldn't even stand the subtle, but effective difference between it and a WACOM. I ended up just forking out for an Intuos Fun, and still have that Monoprice sitting gathering dust in my office.

(Side Note: if anyone wants a free Monoprice...)

This is all my personal experience. I have friends who use Monoprice, and actually got this one at the recommendation of one of said friends (who felt terrible afterward, but I don't hold it against her - she actually uses the same model as me, and didn't have nearly the same nervous breakdown experience I have, so it's probably a coin toss over whether or not it'll work), and many people have had positive experiences with it. I can only offer my own story.

[talentedfool.livejournal.com]

tl;dr

PROS:
+ Affordable (as long as you're within a cheap shipping company)
+ Customer support WAS incredibly friendly and prompt in responding
+ As long as it's working, it's a very competent tablet, and fine for first-time users

CONS:
- The cost of shipping in certain non-NA countries basically makes it the same price overall as just buying a WACOM
- As a smaller company, if you run into problems, you're less likely to find any kind of support or answer by looking around online - WACOM, as a more prevalent product, just has a lot more information to help you already out there
- Drivers sometimes just do not work and you are forced to use third party ones, sometimes multiple
- While understandable as a cheaper alternative, I just don't feel it's quite as good as WACOM, and if you're someone who is used to WACOM, there is a feeling of dissonance that's hard to get over


In the end, I do feel there is a reason WACOM is the leading brand in tablets. While I HAVE had issues with my Bamboo in the past, a) I was able to quickly resolve them thanks to a lot of information on google, and b) I have NEVER had ANY issues with my Intuos Fun since I got it. Not a single issue, and very easy and pain-free install.

I cannot recommend getting a Monoprice. I just cannot.

[whoop-zi.livejournal.com]

I've been drawing digitally for nearly ten years now and I've only ever consistently used Wacom's tablets that are under 100 bucks. I have pretty bad luck with electronics, and for some reason the cheaper models tend to hold up better for me. I would definitely recommend some form of Wacom Bamboo, or the Intuos Draw which is what I use now- it's a great tablet if you're just getting into digital art, but for someone like me who's being doing this for a while it works good too! In terms of compatibility, I feel like Wacom is your best option- it works with most drawing programs and should work just fine with GIMP.
And as far as transitioning from a mouse to a tablet- it is super awkward at first, but you'll get the hang of it pretty quickly. Whenever I get a new tablet, I still need a good couple days to adjust to it! It's definitely worth it to learn, IMO. Good luck!

[everainsley]

I have always used various Wacom traditional tablets. I found that they're well, well worth the cost... But you can still find them pretty reasonable second-hand.

My original graphite-colored Graphire lasted me something over a decade. I now have a 4x6 Inutos 3, purchased while Circuit City was closing down, and it has been kicking along well. I sent off a 9x12 version of the same tablet (acquired by my mom and given to me when her company was getting rid of them) to a friend after her original Intuos tablet finally died. Her dad had purchased her one of the Cintiq clones (I think it was the Monoprice? (edit: Cel mentioned it below. It was the Yinova), but it wasn't working well with her Mac's software.

I haven't been interested in upgrading past the Intuos 3 line, as I have seen reports of the newer ones not having the same longevity. The issues seem to stem from USB ports. (Also, the eating through nibs. I have never had to replace a nib on a pean for my older tablets. My Graphire actually died before that was necessary.***)

I found a good resource for any tablet is actually eBay. I purchased a used 12x12 original Intuos for just over $100, and used an adapter to convert it from an ADB port to USB, which allowed me to use it on my mom's laptop and my old iMac. That was my favorite tablet, and I'm still sad I sold it.

I do have a Wacom-enabled tablet PC as well, a sort of predecessor to the Microsoft Surface family: the Asus EP-121 (Eee Slate). This also came off of eBay, and was around $500 before shipping. It's very, VERY weird trying to learn to draw on glass, even though the surface of the Intuos line from 3 and before is quite smooth. The pressure sensitivity is somewhat spotty, and last I tried, Clip Studio Paint/Manga Studio did not work on it. SAI works fine. I don't know about Photoshop, as I never bothered to install it on the small, 64GB solid state drive it comes with.

My biggest issue with Wacom has to do with the drivers. For years upon years, the drivers would randomly uninstall themselves. Mac or Windows, you'd go to change a setting, figure out why suddenly your tablet is stretching across both screens (if you have multiple ones), or see why your sensitivity was wonky/non-existent, and the driver would be missing. I think this has been finally fixed, I haven't noticed it since upgrading to Windows 10, but that's a thing to put out there.

At the end of it all: no one starts off knowing how to draw with a traditional tablet. The better/quicker that your brain can associate where your hand is on the tablet to where your cursor is on the screen, the easier time you will have, but you still have to practice and draw a lot. There's even a learning curve for the Cintiq or tablet PC types, since the calibration at the screen edges can be REALLY weird.

(*** - Nib longevity has -a lot- to do with drawing style. If you are more heavy-handed, they will wear out quickly. I am the person in traditional media that makes lines sometimes too light to be picked up in a scan, so my nibs last forever. I spend a long time fiddling with pen settings. You can also try different kinds of nibs to see what lasts the best for you, and what you like the feel of. Amazon has a good selection for Wacom tablets, and my correspondence with Wacom confirmed that the nibs for the new tablets are supposed to work in older ones.)

And quick tip because I've heard several folks be surprised at this: If your screen ratio is the same as your tablet (16:9, 4:3, etc), you can place a traditional media sketch on the tablet and copy it that way.

Yiynova

[celestinaketzia.livejournal.com]

I've been waiting for a post like this just so I can say how much I don't recommend the Yiynova (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009QQ7BG0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1).

I've used this tablet on three different laptops. An ASUS ROG G74vw running Windows 8, an ASUS X555lab (??) running Windows 10, and a Lenovo desktop running Windows 8.

Pros: The Yiynova has a pressure sensitivity that is quite unlike anything I've been able to replicate with the Intuos 5. I've tried all sorts of settings, and the way this tablet handles seems to be unique.
It has a smooth reaction time. I've never experienced lag, or had any issues with my cursor when the machine is running properly.

Cons: This list will be long. Bear with me.
1. Dual monitoring is buggy at best. It worked fantastic on my ROG, but did not work at all on my Lenovo despite working on the settings endlessly.
2. This tablet is not compatible with all laptops. My best guess is that if the screen size of the laptop is smaller than the Yiynova it will not calibrate correctly at all. My Yiynova did not work on my smaller ASUS laptop.
3. Expect buggy drivers. Sometimes you can't even download updated drivers from Yiynova themselves.
4. There have been reports that the Yiynova does not work with Paint Tool SAI nor Windows 10. Considering my only windows 10 machine is the laptop that didn't work with it anyway, I can't confirm that. I can confirm it doesn't work with SAI.
5. The angles the Yiynova can adjust to is limited.
6. You will need to unplug the usb part of the connection and reconnect it often, because the Yiynova can go unresponsive.
Edit for 7. This machine gets extremely hot. This may be common with these types of tablets, but I wear my glove mostly to prevent the screen from getting too hot on my hand!


Would I buy this machine again? No I'm not sure how reliable the competitor tablets are, but in terms of the Yiynova's price tag for the amount of fiddling you'll have to do with it to keep it working it's a pain.

Re: Yiynova

[chronidu.livejournal.com]

Connection issues, dual monitoring problems, and constant drivers not working were unfortunately the axe for me as well with Yiynova

It ended up working better for my roommates computer though thankfully, but they still have issues with it.

Re: Yiynova

[synviver.livejournal.com]

While admittedly I haven't played too much with it, the Yiynova seems to be working well enough with my husband's fussy, excessively crash-happy, Windows 10 OS desktop computer.

We'll see how it responds to the new desktop my dad's put together for me for Christmas, once the build is finished and he brings it by.

[aerotheacrobat.livejournal.com]

I'm going to say, do not buy a monoprice if you use Gimp, FireAlpaca (this may have changed, the program is updated often), or Clip Studio/Manga Studio. It does not play well with those programs and is especially is fussy on a Mac. I tried a monoprice for a day and returned it ASAP.

Shop around, I got a new Intuos small 4 for $125 on Amazon a couple years ago.

[tiana-silvery.livejournal.com]

Little advise: buy at least one more pen when you buy a tablet. If you'll accidentally break or lose the pen it could be a pain to buy a new one compatible to your tablet. So it's good to have one or two in storage and you also can use them all with your tablet (at least if it's Wacom) with different settings.

[nisaetus.livejournal.com]

Ooh, the timing on this is excellent because I have a question. Does anyone here have experience with using a tablet not specifically manufactured for art? An iPad with an Apple Pencil/Intuos stylus, for example, or a Samsung tablet with an Adonit stylus. I'm mostly curious about lag and pressure sensitivity; I do a lot of really quick work and digital painting.

I've been using an ancient Bamboo Fun for years that's finally starting to bite it, and I'm looking into a tablet for school anyways, so if I can get something for digital art out of it too that would be ideal.

[laughsatthunder.livejournal.com]

Good timing, I've seen a few artists switch to using an iPad with a stylus. My best friend fixes up electronics and just showed me a few clips he took for me of how it works on an iPad with an Apple Pencil, depending on what app you invest in (he got Photoshop) there's pen pressure, layers, etc. I didn't notice any lag but I can ask him about it, it looked a lot better than other tablets (not flat art ones) I've used like Samsung or Sony.

[sirmeo.livejournal.com]

My first ever tablet was a cheap Aiptek tablet they don't even make anymore, so I guess there is little point reviewing it now. It helped me break into using a tablet though, so I recommend getting a cheap-o tablet if you have never had one before just to see how it works out for you! I know many people who went and bought an expensive Wacom tablet and ended up not liking using a tablet.

I've had Trust Slimline - another cheap tablet, worked okay but nothing special. It was almost impossible to draw a straight line on these two tablets, but they were "fine" for their time.

My current love is this - http://www.ebay.com/itm/UK-1X-UGEE-M708-14x8-Tablette-Graphique-Art-Conception-ultra-mince-ecran-large-/191756301069?hash=item2ca590f30d:g:d9QAAOSwnH1WZ~6U
It's a "generic", very affordable tablet. Mine is "UGEE" but I know it's been re-branded under several different names... Parblo seems to be one, but I know there is at least one another name this tablet goes under.
- I find this tablet to be really good. Like really good -- easily the best tablet I've used, and I also have a small Wacom bamboo and have used Intuos in school, and I find that this table definitely matches the quality on those tablets. Might even be better.
- The tablet has 2048 pressure levels which is... okay.
- The tablet is also surprisingly sturdy -- I've piled stuff on it, spilled milk and food on it and only needed to change the cable one time.
- Tablet has 8 programmable buttons. I never use them, but they do work (at least in their default settings) in case you need them.
- The price. Did I mention the price? You can get one for 50-60 euros easily. Very affordable for those on budget or just looking for a tablet to mess around with occasionally.

- For downsides I have to say that finding replacement pens is somewhat hard -- if you break your pen, you might end up with a replacement pen that just doesn't "feel" the same your last pen did. And as with all "generic" tablets, drivers can get gimmicky and annoying. Also I'm using a PC so I don't know how this works with Mac. I've used this table successfully with W8, W8.1 and W10.
Sometimes some programs (like World of Warcraft) can cause my pen pressure to stop working, but simply restarting my art program has always fixed this.
- Also, many (all?) non-Wacom tablets use batteries for their pens, so you need to always have a fresh supply of AAA around just in case. If your tablet becomes funky all of a sudden, always try changing your pen battery before doing anything else, low-battery pens can be an... experience :P I've heard some brands use rechargeable pens now, but mine needs batteries. The battery usage is not bad though, they do last a long time.


If you are new to tablets or just want to upgrade your older cheap tablet, I definitely recommend this tablet.

_

Also, I have a general tip:
Do not get a "small" tablet unless you know what you're doing. I know they're cheaper and thus attractive "first tablet", but seriously, do yourself a favor and get one that's sized A4-ish. Working on A5 (or SMALLER... I once had a work place tablet that was like A6 tops) strains your hand more, I've found out.
If you have tendency to get sore wrists when working, and have a small tablet, please try out a bigger tablet!

[kelen.livejournal.com]

If I may leave a mention of a tablet not to buy?

Genius tablets. They are a cheap series of tablets, and when I needed a new tablet my husband bought me this. He thought he was getting a gift so didn't ask me about the brand.

/Worst tablet ever./ I couldn't even draw a curved line with it. It'd do a long serious of straight lengths and then angle to another straight line. Was absolutely horrible. Don't waste money on this brand, even if you are a beginner, or a doodler.



Wacon has been the best set of tablets I've ever had. Started in 2000 with a Wacon blue (This tablet still works by the way. Think of it as the bamboo series.) Then went to the Intuos Pro 3, and I'm now on the pro6. (It's called something else I think, but that's what it is.)

Now, I do art as a living, so I went with the professional level stuff. It takes me a while to save up for one, but it's always been worth it.

[laughsatthunder.livejournal.com]

Allow me to preface my opinion with the fact that I do not take art commissions any longer (unless there's some crazy emergency), I'm a fursuit maker but draw on the side. I stopped taking commissions 3 years ago. On the flip side, I've owned and traded over 10 tablets, most were Wacom and one Monoprice. The longest tablet I held onto was a Wacom Pen and Touch, lasted from 2007 to 2014.

If you're starting out with digital art or want to upgrade your mouse and hand method to using a tablet, I'd recommend starting out with a tablet under $100, especially if it is from Wacom. It usually comes bundled with freeware (they used to bundle with Photoshop) and it's a great stepping stone. I've seen some people go full in with a more expensive $500 Intuous large and absolutely hate it, even saw someone convert back to mouse/hand.

Once you feel comfortable using a smaller tablet and get a hang of it, then I'd recommend upgrading. The largest tablet I've personally owned is a Wacom Intuous Medium, it's a bit large for me but it's nice. I might re-sell it as I don't have time to draw any more and the massive drawing space is a bit overwhelming.

If someone wants to buy a Cintique(?) I'd recommend trying one out before buying one. They're a huge investment and may not be worth it in the end, especially if you do art as a hobby or rely on large screens. It's perfectly okay to be a full time artist and not own one of these.

If you rely heavily on strokes for your style or it's how you work, make sure you READ the description of the tablet you're purchasing. I'm huge on pen pressure so that's a determining factor for me. There's people who don't mind and either go with the bold, flat strokes or use the eraser tool to minimize their lines in certain areas.

Final note, my experience with the Monoprice wasn't well. I personally didn't like it, it felt cheap compared to the Wacom. There's people who really enjoy them though!

TDLR:
- If you're just starting out, get a small, cheaper Wacom tablet.
- If you draw small, use a smaller tablet. If you need a lot of swoop space upgrade to a larger one.

[syrusb.livejournal.com]

My experience with Wacom tablets (haven't used others, only have read reviews and experiences from other artist about them):

Intuos 1 Special Edition 9x12. 2000-2005
The Special: it was black and had a programmable and removable row of buttons you'd insert under the screen protector.
I bought this size based of Wacom's recommendations you stick to the size you normally work in; most of my sketchbooks were 9x12," so that seemed like a no brainer.
I read the transition to digital was easy. It was not. It was quite a struggle and frustration for a long time.
It was heavy and too large to use on the desk in front of me, so I always had it on my lap. I had to make huge strokes for the smallest things.
I eventually wormed the cord out of the housing but that never affected performance.
It still works to this day; I've loaned it out a few times.

Graphire 4x5, 2001-2002
Computer lab tablet, I wasn't sure what to expect out of this model. It was Wacom's first foray into entry level/cheaper tablets.
It actually turned out to be a handy, sturdy little workhorse that I regularly recommended to new artists interested in getting a tablet.
It didn't have pen tilt sensitivity and had half the pressure sensitivity of Intuos. I never really noticed the latter.
Switching from 9x12 to 4x5 depending on location just made me want to stick with the smaller tablet.
I was really sad to see this line discontinued in favour of the Bamboo which had less features and reliability at the time.

Intuos 3 6x8, 2005-2009
Tired of working so large, I picked this up at a smaller size. SO much easier to handle, faster performance. Strokes were much easier to get smoothe and my arms weren't so tired while working, nor my legs for resting a tablet atop them like a heavy sketchbook. I ended up selling this to a friend.

Intuos 4 small, 2009-2015
A friend was going to an AI school and through him I purchased Photoshop CS5 suite, Painter 11, and the tablet for a ridiculous deal. I still use the software today. I still have this tablet and would still be using it today but...

Cintiq 21" 2013, about a year
Borrowed this from a friend while he was out of town and not using it. Drawing on screen was great, but the size of the tablet was incredibly cumbersome.
I did not have the desk space for it, nor was I going to buy an armature for someone else's hardware on the chance I decided not to upgrade myself. Having a screen to draw on and a screen to reference was amazing tho'. I knew having my own would be something to aim for.

Cintiq 13" 2015-present
An incredibly wonderful boyfriend bought this as a birthday present. As with the larger tablets I find I don't need or necessarily desire a larger screen. I will probably grab an armature for it tho', to make the tablet easier to reposition and to free up limited desk space.


My overall take is, unless you regularly work big, and by big I mean no smaller than 12x16 at any given time (not zoomed in), you absolutely don't need a large tablet. If you find most of your work is arm/elbow motion, yes the bigger tablet/screen will be beneficial. But if most of your work is finger/wrist, a large drawing surface will be wasteful and cumbersome.

Keep in mind those drawing screens are more than vertical space on your desk, tho', and you will most likely need or highly desire an armature to attach them.

Also, I have never, NEVER scratched up any of my screens as so many other artists have. I have never had to order replacement nibs either. There is a settings area for your tablet to adjust pressure, speed, sensitivity, buttons, clicks, wheels, all that stuff. If you get a Wacom, take advantage of this! I was nervous about getting a screen protector for the Cintiqs at first but they've never given me reason to. You shouldn't have to fiercely dig in for your heavier, thicker strokes. If you find you want more expression, recalibrate.

[bourbon. (from livejournal.com)]

On scratching on Cintiqs, this is something I found out that I think a lot of artists don't know (a friend of mine didn't know this till I told her my story).


I scratched my Cintiq Companion 2 and thought it was the end of the world, and I was having a bit of a fit.


HOWEVER it turns out that ALL CINTIQS COME WITH A DEFAULT SCREEN PROTECTOR. It can be difficult to pull off, but a scratch in a Cintiq is not a death sentence. Just pull it off and buy a new one ($30 on Amazon).

[johis.livejournal.com]

Woah thank you for this, I got a 13HD and scratched it right in the middle a while ago and just looked this up (I recently put on a new screen protector to avoid any more so the scratch is now 'under' it), but when I feel like I need to change it will definitely try to carefully pull that original layer off! Sounds scary but I asked Wacom how much to fix the scratch and they just quoted me like $300 so yeah.... :'D

[chronidu.livejournal.com]

I DID NOT KNOW THIS! Do you know if this goes for all cintiqs? I have a 21ux and frankly am not a soft or light drawer lmfao

[bourbon. (from livejournal.com)]

As far as I'm aware, this applies to all Cintiqs. I found this out through a post talking about one of the other Cintiq models.

[kestral-kitsune.livejournal.com]

I went from an Aiptek to a Graphire4 to an intuos pen and touch small that i'm still currently using. have been using it for the past couple years now and one of things I can say is the only thing i've had to replace was my nibs and that was rather easy.

biggest Issue I have with it is the actual Stupid Wacom Driver that will routinely render itself useless, or act like its not even installed. a quick foray into Services and doing a full stop/restart on the wacom driver seems to fix that.

[nokikissa.livejournal.com]

I suppose I could share this here then
I got this drawing tablet display thing https://www.amazon.com/Ugee-Digital-Display-Original-Chargers/dp/B00WJHOKQ2/ earlier this year, and it has worked well for me.

I got it as it cost 400€ to get here while the cheapest cintiq I could find here would've cost me over twice as much, and as I don't really do commissions actively and drawing is mostly a hobby for me that price worked better for me.

I use it on Windows 7 computer with Clip Studio Paint program and it has worked well, the pressure sensitivity works well enough for me. I used to have a bamboo fun pen & touch drawing tablet before, and moving to a drawing screen where one can draw right on the screen was so nice, I've been drawing so much more now because of how much more natural it feels than drawing with a regular tablet to me.

Some problems there are is that the resolution isn't that high, and the color/brightness/contrast settings on the thing are kinda tricky, I tend to check the colors on the drawing on a different screen occasionally to check that everything's good, those things don't bother me that much. Sometimes the driver's for the thing kinda shut down and I need to restart the computer to get the pressure sensitivity and stuff working again, but luckily that doesn't happen too often. And also it takes a big space on the table which could be a problem for some.

So yeah, I'd say that is an cheaper alternative to cintiq, it has problems but it works for a hobbyist like me who doesn't need the best stuff. I've had it for about 9 months and am very satisfied in my purchase so far.

[rhyn ghye (from livejournal.com)]

Good timing! I've been looking at a new tablet and would like some input from the community if possible.

My old Wacom Bamboo has kicked the bucket after over five years but even before then I realized I couldn't just go with another tablet like it such as the Intuos, so I started looking at pen displays like the Cintiq. My reasoning behind it being that I draw best traditional-style, but colour best on a digital platform, so a pen display seems like the best of both worlds.

I quickly realized I just can't afford a cintiq, so I started looking at the Huion gt 190, anyone have any experience with it?

EDIT: After some research I'm looking more seriously at the Huion gt 185 hd after hearing that the glass in between the display and pen surface of the 190 is quite thick and can be disorienting. Also the 185 is a slightly better price too.

[poizenkat.livejournal.com]

I just adore my monoprice tablet and i've had it for about 5 years now and i havent really had any issues. i heard that sometimes the drivers take a while to install with reinstalling and uninstalling them and the fix i've heard of is to disable windows from installing their own drivers. I cant give advice on how to do that, but i'm sure it can be looked up.

[bearprince.livejournal.com]

My first tablet was an old Graphire that my 7th grade science teacher gave me -- it was old at the time he gave it to me (2006/2007) but it lasted me quite a few years before it slowly started to lose sensitivity around the edges.

After that, whooo boy. I spent a looong time working with just a mouse because I just could NOT find a tablet that worked for me. I can't remember the exact ones I used at this time, only that they either would break or would just not work for me. I had a Bamboo for a while (9x12) but the large format just didn't do it for me, so I gave it to my roommate and he's been doing well with it.

The first good tablet I got after my sweet little Graphire was a Huion tablet. Not sure which one it was, looked similar to this one (http://www.huion.com/product/Graphic-Tablet/K58.html) on their website, and I loooooved it. The ONLY downside was that pen pressure just would NOT work in Paint Tool Sai, which the program I used the most, so that was discouraging. However, after having used a mouse for so long pen pressure wasn't the biggest thing on my mind, I was just happy to be able to draw with a tablet pen, haha.

The tablet I use now is the small $75/$80 Wacom Draw tablet. Smaller tablets have always worked best for me, and I've really enjoyed using it although I may upgrade back up to a slightly larger Huion again if they've fixed the driver issue with Sai.

[poto-heart.livejournal.com]

**It's probably worth noting that almost all of my professional work is done using a mouse in vector programs, so people with the goal to purchase a tablet for professional work and commissions may find my comment less helpful than comments by others who do use their tablets for professional grade work**

Tablets I have used:

Bamboo Fun - this I had a very long time ago, I don't think they even sell the exact Fun model that I used any more. It worked well enough, eventually the wire just came loose so I needed to replace it. It did always feel kind of 'cheap' and flimsy in terms of the plastic but it always worked alright. I will say that back then, this was an expensive choice for the quality of tablet, I believe the price of Wacom's Bamboo line has dropped since then to make it more affordable.

Monoprice - this is the tablet I've had for the past seven? years. It's held up extremely well for how long I've had it, is very large and sturdy and professional-feeling, especially for the price. I can't quite figure out how to change the settings for the quick-select buttons, but I was not particularly inclined to use them anyway. I WILL SAY that this might not be such a good option if you struggle with 'off-roading' with software etc. I have to carefully google what drivers to download for my monoprice whenever I get a new computer. Whereas with something like a Wacom you can just go to their website and search for your product and get the most up-to-date drivers very easily.

I used both these tablets with Photoshop Elements and Paint Tool Sai; I've also used the Monoprice tablet with Inkscape, although I don't do it very often and I do have some trouble with pen sensitivity etc. but I think that's on Inkscape not on the tablet. Always used them on Windows OS - I do have a split Windows/Linux operating system but I have never tried them on the Linux OS. I believe the Bamboo Fun I used on mostly Dell computers? Since I got the Monoprice I've had two Lenovo laptops and am now using an Acer, it seems to work just as well on either one.

[kalika-tybera.livejournal.com]

I'd like to leave a recommendation for the Surface Pro series of tablet laptops. I've owned the SP2 and the SP4 and both have been delights to work with. I primarily use Photoshop with it, but have also used Manga Studio with no trouble.

You can draw directly on the screen and honestly it didn't take me long to adapt from being a traditional-only artist to full-on digital. I was never able to get the hand-eye coordination going with more traditional tablets, but this one just made everything so much easier. The SP4 pen is pretty good, and you can buy pen tip sets for $10 that come with different tips to try, some glide more some give more friction/resistance to mimic the feel of a pen on paper. The SP2 uses Wacom technology and I chose to upgrade my pen to the Bamboo Feel pen, which was really comfortable to use.

Since it's also a laptop I find it nice for traveling and easy for looking up references while at conventions. Really love mine.

[trentxandrew.livejournal.com]

I use the Wacom Intuous linked in the main post, tho I bought mine new a couple years ago. I love it to death but I also do very light digital painting with it. The only other tablet I've used was a Wacom Graphire 3 for well over a decade (bought it in 2003). It would've kept going but it's not compatible with Windows 7.

My only issue with the Intuous is the tiny, too-dang-short cord. It's great for travel and if you're working on a laptop. My desktop is on top of my desk, right next to my mouse and the tablet barely lays in front of me. It responds wonderfully with Photoshop and OpenCanvas.

[megamon-blue.livejournal.com]

I've tried lots of different cheap tablets before finally settling on Wacom products and sticking with them.

A couple of the cheap ones I would recommend staying very far away from are Vistablet and Huion. Both of those typically lasted between 3-4 months before dying with no way to fix them. And the pens for both required batteries, but that may just be a personal peeve.

[kell0x.livejournal.com]

I cannot stress this enough but I will advice everyone to save up money on an cintiq, I bought a 13HD one at a convention for 600 euro over a year ago and I swear I used it almost everyday, I use it for graphic arts for work and I use it for commissions and I use it personally. I am in love with it. You can get a second hand one, nowadays for just 400 bucks/euros, dont worry about scratches because the screen is protected. The only letdown is that You have to plug it into a computer or laptop you cant really use it on the go, as it needs its own plug in as well. There are portbale cintiq's but good God those prices , dont look them up you cry, The cheaper version of that is the Cintiq Hybrid, but that only has a on-the-go andriod program that no longer updates so you cant even download the newest Adobe or paint apps. Maybe in the future for now I asked for Christmas from my parents a cheap tablet with a stylus pen, does anyone have any suggestions? I just like the idea of sketching/drawing on the go.

[celestinaketzia.livejournal.com]

After buying a Cintiq 22HD earlier this month I have to absolutely agree with you. If you can, just buy the cintiq. My experience with drivers, comfort, and reliability in this machine is completely worth the price tag. If anything I immensely regret wasting money on the Yiynova.

[intothewolves.livejournal.com]

I haven't had my Huion long enough to really say much about it, but I can make a simple suggestion - they're probably not the company for you if you use a multiple monitor setup, as it seems pretty much impossible to get them to use a single monitor, despite it being an option.

Just my two cents. I'm a cheap bastard, but other than that and the need to charge the tablet pen, my Huion has been pretty nice.