How to choose a graphics tablet?

The history of the production of this type of equipment began with the development of models based on sound positioning. Result: expensive and not high quality. Today there are different types of digitizers in which the best achievements of optical as well as laser electronics are implemented. Therefore, first you need to decide on the tasks, given the purpose of each type of gadget and their functions:

Interactive tablet - resembles a plastic board with a small set of functions and buttons. The kit includes a special pen, sometimes a mouse. This class of devices attracts with affordable cost, small physical dimensions. When drawing information is displayed on the screen of a connected PC or laptop;

Digitizer with monitor - a more expensive option, providing for the output of information on the built-in screen. They can cost 3-10 times more expensive than analogues. The range of functions and quality depend directly on the cost of the model. Advanced users using graphics to create custom logos use gadgets, the price of which starts at 100,000 rubles.

LPI - the number of lines per inch that recognize the movement of your pen and position the cursor on the screen. If you do not know how to choose a graphic tablet for drawing, focus on the indicator, in the 2000 area - 2500 lpi. For more professional purposes - from 5000 lines per inch. In addition to resolution, it is important to consider the quality of transmission of line accuracy. Naturally, you will not do this using the ruler in the store. Here you have to trust the manufacturer. Specialists speak very well about the quality of Wacom products. Gadgets from Genius transmit the user's movements a little worse.

If you do not know how to choose a graphics tablet for drawing, pay attention to the quality of the pen. Currently, manufacturers offer the following options:

• GripPen - a standard pen with two buttons and an elastic band;
• ArtMarker - an advanced version with a beveled tip, which indicates sensitivity to rotation;
• Airbrush - a sprayer equipped with a control wheel;
• ClassicPen - a budget option without a rubber coating;
• Ink Pen - allows you to draw on paper placed on the tablet as the tip is represented by a ballpoint pen;
• Lens Cursor - a special mouse, equipped with a number of additional functions.

In addition to the pen itself, it is important to consider the quality of the tip:

1. Normal - made of soft plastic, and intended for artists;
2. Hard - for beginners;
3. Spring-loaded - recesses when pressed, and is great for retouching photos;
4. Elastic tip - for professional designers.

When choosing a graphics tablet, novice users do not remove due attention to the sensitivity of the pen. It’s a pity, because this is one of the 2 most important parameters that must be selected taking into account your needs. The characteristic indicates how qualitatively the pen will imitate a real brush. Advanced models recognize an average of 1024 levels of depression. The most expensive and professional - 2048 degrees of pressure. Such characteristics allow you to most effectively recreate the effect of natural drawing - like on paper. Budget models recognize up to 512 pressure levels, which is enough for drawing, but low sensitivity is often accompanied by minor inaccuracies in the display of the contour on the display.

As for the sizes, here the choice of graphic tablets is not limited to certain standards. There are both mini-tablets in notebook format and large-sized devices in A3 format. The latter is intended for professional use. For ordinary users, the A4 sheet size is enough. Also, experts recommend paying attention to less important, but useful aspects:

1. A tablet mouse always has greater accuracy regardless of the cost of the pen and the quality of the tip;
2. The higher the angle of inclination, the better the digitizer perceives the pen as a tool for entering information;
3. The response speed (measured in rps) must be at least 100 units. Otherwise, the tablet will display the image too slowly. However, if you draw slowly, this characteristic does not play an important role;
4. The working height of the pen is a characteristic indicating how far the brush will be perceived from the device without touching the surface;
5. Interface - USB is the most popular and optimal way to connect the device to a PC.

We hope this is enough so that you can get an idea of ​​the main characteristics, and make the right choice of a tablet for drawing. Good luck