What to do with a graphic tablet?
The graphic tablet, without or with screen, or hybrid, has become a must for many uses. If we mainly know this product for digital drawing, it is now used in many domains, where the use of a digital pen allows working with greater ease than with a simple mouse and a computer keyboard. Discover the different possible uses of a graphic tablet, but also which type to choose according to your needs.
The graphic tablet, a versatile tool to do many different things
To make graphic creation from a drawing
If we had to choose one use among all for a graphics tablet, it would be digital drawing. Indeed, with a graphics tablet and a stylus, drawing on a computer becomes much more natural, fast, and efficient than in the early days of computing, when artists still had to use the mouse. Because of the way it works, the graphics tablet allows the artist to take advantage of the absolute position of the cursor, unlike the relative position offered by the mouse. The position of the pen on the surface of the tablet will be identical to that of the cursor on the computer screen: a press on the top left of the graphics tablet is equivalent to placing the cursor at the top left of the screen. In addition, the work surface of the graphics tablet can detect the levels of pressure applied by the stylus, and detect its inclination. It is thus possible to make drawings with a precision close to what one could obtain on paper, and a comfort almost identical to the traditional drawing (even identical for the case of hybrid tablets like the Repaper of ISKN). Compatible with a plethora of graphics software, the use of shortcut buttons integrated into the graphics tablet, to select the various digital tools and perform actions, makes it possible to work much more efficiently, and the graphics peripheral then becomes essential to practice digital drawing.
Retouching photos.
A second major use of the graphics tablet is photo editing. With a tablet that has a non-screen mode, or a digital camera with a screen that offers excellent resolution, the precision provided by the touch screen and the pen allows you to edit all the shots you take much more quickly. The most common tools of your specialized software can be selected with shortcut buttons or keyboard keys, and all that's left to do is to apply effects and retouches with skill, thanks to the confidence that the stylus provides compared to a mouse, without having to tediously move the latter from one end of the screen to the other.
Doing video editing.
Just as with photo editing, the graphics tablet is becoming more and more popular with video editors. With it, it is indeed possible for video editing professionals to do their work with much more rapidity than with the mouse or the keyboard buttons. Compatible with most editing software, under Mac OS or Windows, the graphics tablet allows you to eliminate the need for a mouse, and no longer have to repeat the same movements to move the cursor from one end of the screen to the other, but also to cut, move, modify and add effects to your video rushes, all with precision thanks to the touch surface, operating in absolute mode, and the stylus. It's a real time saver for video editing, and it's becoming more and more an essential tool for anyone who wants to get started in this domain.
In the business world too, the graphic tablet is making its mark.
With the development of telecommuting, videoconferences, live presentations and other online courses have become very frequent and have settled in the daily life of workers. The graphic tablet has thus become more and more ubiquitous in order to be adaptable to this new situation. With the tablet, and thanks to its functioning which allows to combine precision and speed of movement, thanks to the stylus and the absolute mode, it is possible today to annotate documents quickly, as if you were writing with a standard pencil, but also to use a whiteboard software, which allows to write live information (in the form of text or diagrams) to your colleagues. The use of a graphic tablet is thus ideal for remote work, and it makes it possible to do without the keyboard and the mouse for your online meetings with your colleagues, or for the corrections of digital documents sent by your pupils. The field of possibilities opens up in order to be able to work remotely efficiently.
A quick overview of the different types of graphic tablets and their uses.
ISKN Repaper, Wacom Intuos, XP Pen Artist, Cintiq, Huion, Gaomon, ... When looking for a quality graphics tablet, before looking for a particular brand, it is imperative to know the different existing types, their advantages, but also their disadvantages for such or such use. With or without screen, pressure sensitivity, usable under Windows, Mac OS, iOS or Android, ... A large number of criteria must be taken into account when choosing a digital device.
Graphic tablets with screen for photo editing or annotation
Very comfortable to use, the graphic tablet with screen allows you to work with a stylus, directly on a surface reproducing the interface of your graphic software. Unlike a tablet without a screen, it is no longer necessary to worry about hand-eye coordination, which is very practical in activities such as photo editing or document annotation. However, if the USB connection to a computer is no longer essential, some peripherals with screen directly integrating software, this range of graphic tablets requires a significant investment, the size must be around 15 inches minimum, the battery must be powerful in order to power the screen whose resolution must allow to work precisely on its graphic files. Thus, the prices of these tablets turn out to be relatively expensive, and a professional use is generally required to justify this purchase.
Hybrid graphics tablets for ideal comfort
When we're looking for an affordable, easy-to-use graphics tablet with the feel of paper, a reasonable size, and foolproof versatility, hybrid tablets meet these requirements in every way. Contrary to tablets without screen, the hybrid graphic tablet allows a much faster control, the hand-eye coordination being facilitated by the use of paper. Indeed, its operation allows to affix a sheet of paper directly on the graphic surface of the tablet, sensitive to the levels of pressure, and to draw with your favorite pencil equipped with a magnetic ring which detects with precision the movements and the inclination. This process differentiates the hybrid graphics tablet from tablets with screens, allowing the draftsman to have the comfort of traditional drawing, but also the perfect feel of paper and the ability to use all of the favorite pencils to make digital drawings. Photographers and video editors will also be able to use the tablet directly with their favorite software, by connecting it to a computer via USB and using a stylus for retouching and editing. Compatible with Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS, and all the best drawing, photo and video software, a tablet like Repaper becomes a comfort tool for experienced designers, a perfect initiation product, and usable on the long term, for artists wishing to start digital drawing, but also a good alternative for all the creative people who need a transportable graphic tablet, with an unbeatable quality-price ratio, combining the best of paper and traditional digital graphic peripherals.
Conclusion
As we've seen, the graphics tablet is a digital device that allows you to work accurately and quickly in many situations. Whether it is with photography, video, remote work or drawing, this tool is a valuable aid for anyone who wants to be as efficient as possible. Available at all price points, you can choose from entry-level tablets with no screen, to high-end tablets with a screen, or you can choose the value and versatility of hybrid tablets like the ISKN Repaper.
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