What is a drawing tablet?

A pen tablet is also called a drawing tablet or graphic tableau. The equipment consists of two parts, namely a digital notepad and digital pen. Scribbles, notes and writings you make on the digital notepad appear directly on the computer screen. The sensors of the pen tablet pass each drawn line exactly to the computer. Yet it seems as if you are working with pen and paper. An important difference is that the notes and notes are digital. Save the creations on the computer and share them with other people if necessary.

Many pen tablets or drawing tablets have a USB cable. Connect the digital notepad to a PC or laptop. There are also some with bluetooth. You can connect it wirelessly to most laptops, so that no cable is visible on the desk. There are also luxury drawing tablets with an integrated screen. They can be used without a computer.

The supplied digital pen is usually pressure sensitive. Press firmly on the artboard for a thick line, while a light pressure will make a narrow line appear. This is how you create realistic drawings. Made a mistake? Most digital pens have an eraser. To do this, turn the drawing tool over and rub the artboard. Manufacturers usually supply extra nibs. If a point is worn, simply replace it. In addition, these nibs often differ in thickness.

Pen tablets are available in various price ranges. The cheapest models start at around fifty euros (price indication July 2021). They often have a small drawing area. Thanks to its compact size, you can easily take such a drawing tablet with you. They are great for hobbyists who occasionally draw or sketch. People with RSI complaints also benefit from a pen tablet.

There are also expensive pen tablets of hundreds or even thousands of euros. They have a larger drawing area. In addition, they support a high lpi value. This abbreviation stands for the English term lines per inch. The higher this value, the more details can be seen on the digital drawing. This makes it possible to work very precisely. Expensive pen tablets are particularly suitable for people with a graphic profession. Think of professional draughtsmen, designers and architects.

Operation largely depends on the pen tablet. With cheaper products, you use the digital pen to control the operating system, for example Windows or macOS. Tap the artboard with the pen to perform a mouse click. With the buttons on the side of the pen you can, for example, use the right mouse button or double-click. It is often possible to assign functions to the buttons of the pen via a special program. With the same software, artists can also adjust the sensitivity of the pen and eraser.

Some digital pens require a charge, but there are also digital pens without a battery. So you never have to charge it. The more expensive pen tablets have physical buttons below or above the drawing area. For example, use these shortcuts to open a drawing program or perform a specific action.

More expensive pen tablets often support finger control. For example, by tapping the drawing area, you simulate a mouse click. Double-tap to double-click and swipe the screen to move the mouse pointer. Right-click usually requires two fingers. Furthermore, the possibilities include dragging, scrolling and zooming in and out of files. It works much the same as a laptop’s touchpad. The manual explains which other finger combinations are possible to navigate through Windows or macOS.