7 Best professional and most expensive drawing tablets for senior artists

 

This digital age has artists moving away from traditional materials and jumping into drawing tablets. Designers can draw and retouch more naturally with tablets than with a mouse or a touchpad.

A drawing tablet is an artist's companion in the creative field. It is the perfect gadget for an artist's ideation and doodling in a digitalized manner. Spending time bridling the creativity on a digitalized platform gives wings to imagination and ideas.

Are you planning to become a professional artist or graphics designer? Then you will need to use a graphic tablet with professional drawing capability.

Buying a professional drawing tablet can be confusing & difficult for first-time buyers. The pricing is confusing, and important features like pressure sensitivity and resolution aren't always easy to understand.

This guide is useful for just about anyone in need of advice on what drawing tablet to buy or what tablet to replace their current device with.

So, whether you're a professional artist, a novice, or you just wish to express your creativity using a drawing tablet for fun, read on to find out which drawing tablet best suits your needs!

What is a Graphic Tablet? the types of the tablet?

A graphic tablet is a computer input device composed of two main parts: a digital pad and a stylus pen.

The tablet's sensor board receives the stylus' electromagnetic signals, detects the incoming data, and tracks the pen point's current position.

Drawing tablets comes with 3 versions: drawing tablet without screen, drawing tablet with screen and standalone drawing tablet.

A non-display drawing tablet is regular graphics tablet with a black drawing surface. You connect it to a computer via a USB cable or wireless and look at your monitor while drawing on the black surface.

This can certainly take some getting used to, but starts to feel natural after a while.

Display drawing tablets, on the other hand, work the same as a pen and paper. You simply trace lines on the drawing tablet with your drawing pen and they appear on the tablet screen.

This type of tablet still need to connect to a computer, and it will be detected by the operating system as an additional monitor. Then our tablet works as a very sensitive and precise screen.

The stangalone drawing tablets are in fact portable computers with a touch screen. The biggest advantage of these graphics tablets is that you do not need a second computer to work with.

Especially it is useful when you travel a lot and you like to create while traveling. For this reason, when choosing a tablet, it is worth paying attention to the battery life.

Tablet Features & Considerations

When choosing to buy a drawing tablet for yourself it's helpful to check what the features to consider. This can give you a good idea which drawing tablets are worth buying.

Active work area

The working area is the section of drawing tablets that is responsive to pen input and this area's size is important for comfort and detail.

Drawing tablets without screen come in varying sizes. The smallest have an active area of about 4 x 3 inches, while the largest ones have an active area of more than 13 inches wide and a height of over 8 inches.

With no display, you will want your drawing tablet size to be closer to the size of your monitor and if possible the same size. This is because the way drawing tablets without screens work is by mirroring your monitor.

But if the tablet is much smaller this mirroring is scaled down to be able to match your bigger monitor's size.

The smaller-sized tablets are more convenient for beginners and hobbyists, while larger active areas (that's the portion of the screen you can draw on) better suit the needs of professionals.

Pressure Sensitivity

The pressure sensitivity of a drawing tablet is the most important characteristics to consider before making a purchase.

The greater the sensitivity, the more control you have over your strokes.

Pressure sensitivity is important because it allows you to create lines of varying thickness and opaqueness to add dimension, shadows, and highlights to your work. And you can manipulate the lines' weight with a single pen!

A drawing tablet with at least 2,048 levels of sensitivity is a must if you wish to have better control over your strokes.

Tilt Recognition

This feature, e.g. of the Airbrush tip and eraser, senses the amount of tilt between the tool and tablet. The standard values in which this function operates are ± 60 levels.

This is used to create natural-looking pen, brush, and eraser strokes in applications that support tilt-sensitivity.

Resolution

A tablet's resolution impacts the quality of the art you create.

The higher the resolution, the more lines per inch (LPI) you can draw, i.e., the more details you can add to your drawing.

Most smaller-screen tablets have 2,540 LPI, while medium and large have 5,080 LPI.

Although the difference between devices of the same size is often insignificant, you should factor in the resolution when buying a tablet.

Responsiveness

Responsiveness impacts the speed at which the lines you're drawing appear on the screen.

It depends on a laptop or tablet's operating system, its CPU, GPU, and RAM, which is why it's important to check the tablet's specs to avoid having issues with lag.

If your PC has limited processing power and RAM, then you're destined to run into input lag.

Pen Type

Stylus (pen) comes in two varieties: lithium battery-powered and electromagnetic resonance, but all are intended to simulate the feel of a pen on paper.

Rechargeable: Rechargeable pens have lithium batteries inside. They need to be charged like your phone or a laptop, typically every eight to ten hours. like apple pencil or surface pen.

Electromagnetic resonance (EMR): This type of pen is the most convenient because it doesn't require recharging or fresh batteries. Instead, EMR styluses rely on the electromagnetic frequency, which wirelessly infuses them with the tablet's power. like the stylus of wacom and xppen.

Shortcut buttons

Most higher-end drawing tablets offer buttons somewhere along the body of the pad. These can serve as a custom function.

These extra keys, which are normally located on the left, are intended to save you time and streamline your work routine. Instead of flipping between menus, apps, or just clicking brushes in Photoshop, hotkeys will save you a significant amount of time.

Additional Features to consider when buy the pen Screen monitor

Outside of the screenless tablet, there are some special terms used for pen display options. These are fairly important to consider when purchasing a drawing tablet and its accompanying pen.

Screen Size: The screen size dictates how much work space you have on screen. Most pen display monitors range from 10 to 24 inches, measured diagonally from corner to corner.

In order to consider the screen size, you need to look at the space available on your desk or the portability.

The professional user will be happy with 22-24" screens. This range provides enough screen real estate for general productivity tasks and even heavy multitasking without overcrowding your desktop.

Screen Resolution: The most common screen resolution today is 1920×1080. Full HD is characterized by a screen with 1,920 horizontal pixels and 1,080 vertical pixels (1920X1080).

The resolution of 2K QHD is 2 times that of FHD, reaching an ultra-high resolution of 2560X1440. A 2K resolution screen display offers a clearer, sharper image for showing videos and photos with higher source resolution.

Monitor Pixel Density: Another feature that affects the clarity and sharpness of a display is the Pixels per Inch (PPI), which measures the pixel density of a screen. PPI is calculated using the resolution and diagonal size of the screen.

A higher PPI results in a clearer, crisper, and more precise image. ipads and retina screens looks so crisp because they have a very high PPI ratio.

Color Gamut: The color gamut represents the range of colors visible to the human eye on an output device. The wider the color gamut range is, the richer the screen colors are. Otherwise, no matter how high the resolution is or how powerful the graphics card is, the screen will still look gray, yellow, and dim.

The common color gamut range of drawing tablets is NTSC, sRGB and Adobe RGB, which is often represented by a percentage; the higher the percentage, the bigger the color range that can be displayed.

Panel Technology Types: In-Plate Switching (IPS) displays are known for their great image quality, color accuracy, and viewing angles.

They offer a wide viewing angle, which represents how far down, up, to the left, or to the right the content can be observed without loss of image integrity.

The benefit of IPS displays is that the user can view the screen from several different positions, plus several users can collaborate on one screen.

OLED monitors are still prohibitively expensive for most consumers, but they offer incredible contrast ratios, color reproduction, and response times.

Instead of using LED backlights to illuminate the screen, OLED monitors are capable of lighting each pixel individually. This gives them the ability to create incredible levels of black, simply by turning off specific pixels. As a result, these screens can offer up truly remarkable picture quality unmatched by these other technologies.

Refresh Rate：The screen refresh rate (measured in Hertz or Hz) is the number of times per second a video display renders a new picture. For example, a typical drawing tablet monitor will have a refresh rate of 60 Hz, meaning that it displays a new frame 60 times per second. In general, the higher the refresh rate, the smoother video appears on the screen, especially if it involves lots of motion.

Fully laminated vs non laminated screen: When it comes to pen displays, there are two main types – laminated and non-laminated.

Laminated displays are more expensive, but they offer better image quality and durability. The glass and the display panel are actually completely glued to each other, eliminating air gap so you touch what you see.

A laminated display removes parallax and helps significantly to make cursor tracking more accurate. Non-laminated displays are less expensive, but they have more parallax.

Matte vs Glossy Screen: Matte screens offer anti-glare better than Glossy screens and can be visible in well-lit environments such as sun-lit rooms. But it also makes the image quality slightly more dull and hazy.

Glossy monitors, on the other hand, have a more vibrant and intense picture quality, but a very reflective screen.

Since neither coating is flawless, the choice mostly depends on personal preference.

Brand

If you're looking into purchasing a traditional graphics tablet, these 2 brands probably keep coming up: Wacom and XP-Pen.

Wacom is the brand of choice for most professional artists. XP-Pen carved out a niche by offering appealing, affordable alternatives to the industry leader.

Drawing performance is excellent across the board with both brands of tablets.

And the famous big players like Apple, Samsung and Microsoft also developed some excellent standalone drawing tablets over the years.

Price

Non-Screen Drawing tablets are appealing as a first-time purchase at their much lower price points.

Display Drawing tablets are considerably more expensive than non-display drawing tablets.

The standalone drawing tablet is the most expensive, but it offers the great overall experience.

Wacom tablets tend to be more expensive, than other options. For beginners, the other brand like XP-Pen comes with plenty of accessories and functions at lower price.

7 Best professional and most expensive drawing tablets for artists

The market today offers various kinds of drawing tablets each suited for different users with different configurations.

Below is a short list of some professional drawing tablets. Obviously, you need to make sure that these drawing tablets will be a good match for your needs, so do your research!

1. iPad Pro

The iPad Pro 2022 is a great option for those who are looking for a powerful and portable standalone drawing tablet with a screen. There are many apps for sketching and drawing which is created for iPad Pro specifically like Procreate, Adobe Fresco and Sketchbook.

iPad Pro has a gigantic 12.9-inch mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR display with a resolution of 2,732 x 2,048 pixels and up to a 120Hz refresh rate. The colour accuracy is near perfect, with vibrant tones and deep dark shades.

It's powered by Apple's M2 chip, which gives it impressive performance, with 16GB of RAM, all your most demanding apps will run smoothly. Plus, with up to 512GB, 1TB or 2TB storage.

Draw on the iPad using the Apple Pencil (2nd Generation), which has lag free tracking and tilt sensitivity that is designed to work like a regular pencil. So if you're working in Procreate app and decide to shade at an angle, the Apple Pencil will simulate the effect of shading with the side of your pencil with a thicker line.

The other great things about the Apple Pencil, is that it has palm rejection when working with the stylus, low latency, pressure sensitivity and incredible precision. The only downside is that the Apple Pencil will have to be bought separately from the iPad.

The iPad Pro 12.9" boasts an excellent battery life with a large 40.88 Wh battery (10758 mAh). The device was able to last through a full ten-hour day, but it really depends on how you use the iPad.

This is the best standalone drawing tablet on the market for those who want a versatile device, that they can use for drawing, photography, videography, listening to music and more.

2. Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 ultra

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 ultra is one of the best Android tablets on the market.

The 14.6″ Super AMOLED display is bright and clear. It's large enough that you won't have to zoom in and out too much when working on art projects.

The screen offers the resolution of 2960 x 1848, and a dynamic refresh rate that gets up to 120Hz ensures super smooth animations.

The screen can cover 99.87% of sRGB and 99.4% of DCI-P3 color gamuts while maintaining a very low Delta E number – and that means this screen is very color accurate and doesn't deviate off from the true color much.

It's fast, It has Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Octa-core chip paired with 8GB, 12GB or 16GB RAM. Storage tops out at 512GB but a microSD card slot lets you get an additional 1TB space if you want it.

The tablet comes with the S Pen, so you can use it to draw, write or take notes. It's great that the stylus ships with the tablet and we're not forced to buy it separately.

The S Pen feels nice and sturdy in the hand, shorter than the Apple Pencil, and it feels more natural on first use given the softer, more pen-like tip. It also uses Wacom tech and supports up to 4,096 levels of pressure sensitivity with tilt recognition.

One of the best features of this tablet is DeX mode. This allows you to use the tablet as a PC. You can connect a keyboard and mouse and use all your favourite Android apps on a larger screen. This is great for when you need to be productive and get work done.

With a 11,200mAh power pack, the Samsung Galaxy S8 Ultra’s battery is meaty enough to provide that gigantic screen with loads of juice. it only has a battery life of 6.5 hours with High refresh rate enabled, and a more acceptable 8 hours with the Standard refresh rate!

If you need a fast, large screen Android tablet that can also double as a PC, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is a great option.

3. Microsoft Surface Pro 9

The Microsoft Surface Pro 9 is a high end standalone drawing tablet with some great features.

The tablet has a 13″ PixelSense display with a 2,880 X 1,920 resolution, which outputs at a smooth 120Hz and supports Dolby Vision HDR.

The screen achieves 106.1% of the sRGB color gamut, 82% AdobeRGB, and 75.1% DCI-P3, all excellent results. It also has 10 point multi-touch support, so you can use your fingers to draw directly on the screen.

The Surface Pro 9 is powered by an Intel i5 or i7 12th Gen Core processor and has a snappier LPDDR5 RAM of 8GB or 16GB RAM. It can also be kitted out with either 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or 1TB of M.2 SSD storage.

This is a great tablet, that bridges the gap between drawing tablet and laptop. It's the 2-in-1 tablet design we've all grown to enjoy, including the built-in kickstand and removable keyboard.

This keyboard includes the built-in storage (and charging) solution for the Surface Slim Pen 2 – which will also cost you an extra $130.

Microsoft's Surface Slim Pen 2 resembles a carpenter's pencil and it works even better when paired to Surface Pro 9. it offers a smooth drawing and note-taking experience. The pen itself is very nice and has no noticeable lag.

Having Windows 11 is also a major boon for this tablet, as it means you can use the full desktop version of programs like Adobe Photoshop CC and illustrator CC.

Microsoft Surface Pro 9 battery capacity is 5900mAh, it ran the PCMark battery life test for just over eight and a half hours, don't expect that 16 or 19-hour result.

The Surface Pro line has always looked sharp and performed well. It remains the best overall example of a Windows-based tablet/laptop hybrid.

Use this device for any of your art business needs. For running your favourite drawing software, editing images for print or doing the admin for your art shop.

4. Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16

Wacom makes a tablet at every price point, from the entry-level One by Wacom, to the mid-level Intuos tablets and Cintiq displays, to the top-of-the-line MobileStudio Pro.

The Wacom MobileStudio Pro has something to offer people of all skill levels, but it's ideal for people who draw professionally and draw often. This device comes in a 13.3” & 15.6” size, and runs Windows OS.

The 15,6" display has stunning 4k UHD (3840 x 2160) resolution, With 4k resolution, you will be able to see all the smallest details and colour transitions in your work.

The display covers 85% of the Adobe RGB color space, which is good, though it's a bit disappointing that this art-focused device does not hit 100 percent.

The thin etched glass minimizes parallax and provides a distinct, tactile experience as you draw, mimicking the feel of a pen on paper.

Great drawing performance thanks to professional computing power, powered by an i7 Intel chip, 16 GB system memory, 512 GB SSD storage, and powerful 4GB GDDR5 graphics card.

Multi-touch function, 8 customizable ExpressKeys, Radial Menus and one-touch shortcuts are design for better productivity.

The Wacom Pro Pen 2 stylus really makes the drawing experience feel natural on the MobileStudio Pro 16, as there is virtually no lag and no parallax. The pen has 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity and 60 degrees of tilt function.

The 7.6 V, Li-polymer, 70 Wh battery’s life isn’t as great as one might like. With very light use, you could probably get it to last up to 6 hours, but really we’re talking about maybe 3 hours of use.

The price is the highest amaong the list, but if you are someone who enjoys working on the go without switching between several devices and requires the reliability, multi-functionality and processing speed of a quality computer, then this could definitely be for you.

5. XPPen Deco Pro

The XPPen Deco Pro graphic tablet is reliable, long-lasting, and large enough for the creative.

The XPPen Deco Pro comes in two sizes---Small and Medium. With an active area of 9×5 inches or 11×6 inches, provides you a sufficient creative area.

It has Bluetooth capability, allowing you not to worry about carrying the USB cable, and you can still use it while it is charging.

The build quality of deco pro feels like a premium tablet and sleek in appearance, black plastic mixed with silver color aluminum alloy scheme has won several design awards.

The dual wheel (dial + virtual wheel) and eight shortcut buttons are a welcome addition, which can be really handy for making quick changes.

The included PA1 stylus is amazing, It does not have a battery inside and does not need to be charged. The tip is firm, the rubber grip is comfortable, and there are 2 buttons on the side for added convenience.

The 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity and ±60° tilt recognition is great, it's able to detect extremely minute shifts in pressure and tilt. It feels like an actual pen you're working with.

The XPPen Deco Pro is compatible with Android, Chrome OS, Linux, Windows and Mac OS devices. It comes with a USB cable and an adapter, so you can just plug it in and start using it right away.

The tablet can be used with just about any digital art software, and includes bonus free drawing software (choose one from ArtRage 6 and openCanvas ) to help create and edit your art.

6. XPPen Artist Pro 16TP

The XPPen Artist Pro 16TP tablet has a 15.6" screen with 4K UHD (3840 x 2160) resolution and can display 92% of the Adobe RGB color space.

Its IPS display is color accurate, with good contrast levels, and the pixel density is such that you don't ever feel you're working with a screen.

The Artist Pro 16TP's laminated screen provides excellent precision, Parallax is minimal as the glass screen is quite close to the display. The cursor will always be beneath the pen tip.

The matte textured screen surface reduces glare and makes it easier on the eyes when working for long periods of time.

The battery-free pen has 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity, 5080 LPI and 60 levels of tilt recognition. it comes with two buttons, a pen nib, and an eraser at the end, Drawing feels fluid and natural.

The screen supports multi-touch gestures for fingers. Touch functionality is a necessity for several types of digital design, where this aspect is totally seamless and smooth.

It features a combination of glass surface and metallic body, giving it a more premium look and feel than most cheap tablets. The only drawback of this tablet is the lack of shortcut buttons.

This Artist Pro 16TP tablet is compatible with Linux, Mac Os, Windows, Android OS and Chromebook devices. it can be used with any design software that supports graphic tablets.

7. XPPen Artist 24 Pro

The XPPen Artist 24 Pro is a professional drawing tablet with a large 24" IPS screen that offers excellent performance, and stunning visuals.

The 24″ tablet is the largest canvas ever made by XPPen, it reduces the need for panning and zooming in and out on the artwork.

It also reduces the need for extra screens to display reference photos and composition sketches, as there is more than enough screen space to have it all right in front of you in one place.

The display has stunning 2k QHD (2560x1440) resolution, and 90% Adobe RGB color coverage, which makes it the perfect tablet for colour sensitive work, like designing prints.

The PA2 stylus is battery free, has 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity, tilt-response and lag-free tracking. There are two buttons on the pen for access to customizable shortcuts.

The tablet itself also feels well-constructed, with robust, high-quality materials and an impressive stand, which offers shallow angles from 16 degrees all the way up to 90 degrees.

The tablet also comes with 2 Red Dial Wheel and 20 Shortcut keys that you can customise to create shortcuts for your favourite software functions. This is a handy feature that can help speed up your workflow.

This is a great tablet for professionals who have the budget to spend on a high spec piece of kit. It is more appropriate for office and studio use.

Conclusion

Buying a high-quality drawing tablet can be a major investment so we hope this article has helped you narrow down your choices.

Traditional drawing tablets are a staple of digital art and design. But nobody's saying that you have to do your work at a PC. There's always the ultra-portable standalone drawing tablets like iPad Pro. it depends on your needs and preferences.

Advanced artists and professionals may elect for an advanced model like the display drawing tablets. The display tablet model is available in various sizes and price tags, but the additional features and investment may not be right for a beginner.

The best choices make a balance between price, screens, size, and other drawing features. Your hard earned money deserves the best drawing tablet for making digital art or your digital markup.

Source: https://www.xp-pen.com/forum-6277.html

Drawing Tablet for Digital Painting in Paint Tool SAI

 

If you're searching for good digital painting software, you've probably come across PaintTool SAI. This is a rather old digital painting and drawing program developed in 2004 for Windows.

It is widely used by anime and manga artists, but you can use PaintTool SAI for almost any kind of project. many digital artists combine the PaintTool SAI with popular programs like Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator to optimize their creativity.

PaintTool SAI is a popular digital artist software due to its simplicity and variety of tools. Its intuitive user interface is simple and easy to learn yet powerful. The popularity can also be attributed to how the lightweight painting software has been optimized to run with minimal resources and rarely crashes.

Drawing tablets are essential for artists painting in Paint Tool SAI. The possibilities they offer are simply immense! With a drawing tablet, an artist will no longer have any limitations.

What is Paint Tool SAI used for?

PaintTool SAI is a graphics design software that helps artists create and edit different types of illustrations like cartoons and anime.

It is an editor and painting tool with anti-aliasing capabilities with which you can smooth out jagged edges and minimize distortions in low-res drawings and images.

It achieves this by averaging the colors of the pixels at the boundaries of different shades. This has a greater impact when there is a high contrast border between pixels.

PaintTool SAI allows you to view entire brightness ranges of different colors on one platform. You can then combine portions of different drawings or images and transfer them or erase what you need.

It has multiple robust tools for specific tasks needed to achieve this. There are raster drawing tools like a marker, airbrush, watercolor and pen. It also has selection-based tools like a magic wand and lasso, which can be configured to enable anti-aliasing, and works well with its zoom and rotate functions.

There are layering tools, Lineart tools, transformation tools, linework layers, brushes and erasers for removing hard edges.

PaintTool SAI enables you to draw smooth curves and diagonal lines without jagged distortions, remove unsightly jagged edges and smooth the edges of your digital images or graphics.

It also softens the color transition between edge pixels and background pixels in Adobe Photoshop to make it appear smoother.

It is compatible with MultiMedia eXtension (MMX) technology, an Intel processor architectural extension that enhances the performance of multimedia algorithms, enabling the processor to handle data faster and more efficiently.

It also has 16bit ARGB color channels in line with photography and Photoshop advancements. This enhances image manipulation because there is more flexibility in handling colors. Editing is easier even in photoshop projects with glaring differences.

The tool provides full digitizer support so you can process all kinds of images and convert analog to digital. You can export your images in their native SAI format or through BMP or PSD.

You don't have to keep jumping from one application to another. PaintTool SAI also has a data protection function that protects the integrity of your multimedia images and backs them up just in case there is abnormal termination.

The lightweight painting software only requires 1024MB of your system memory and 512MB of storage. This memory footprint and CPU utilization are low compared to the tasks it accomplishes. It is currently priced at approximately $52 per software license, which is a steal for a wholesome digital painting tool like this.

Advantages of drawing tablet for digital painting in Paint Tool SAI

A stylus provides more control and interactivity than a mouse because it gives you the most responsive digital painting experience by allowing your hand and brush to work fluidly as one.

While a mouse is a great pointing device, it is not particularly convenient for painting. A mouse can only move on a flat, two-dimensional surface.

This tool has also been cited as the cause of the aptly named mouse arm syndrome, specifically repetitive strain injury (RSI) and carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

A tablet stylus, on the other hand, has the ability to sense the motions of your wrist, hand, and arm. This gives you an authentic feel, accuracy, and control.

Drawing tablets work with commonly used digital art programs such as Paint Tool SAI and Photoshop, turning your computer into a digital canvas. You can draw as naturally and comfortably as you would with pen and paper.

Want to undo? Tab, copy, paste, command, shift, spacebar, and more. You can do this by assigning custom keystrokes or actions to the express keys on your pen or drawing tablet. This enables you to work faster and eliminates the tedium and strain that come with performing seemingly repetitive tasks.

Pressure sensitivity is the key to creating dynamic digital art. With pressure sensitivity, you can vary the width of your strokes and control how dark you would like your lines.

Many Paint Tool SAI brushes respond to stylus pressure. Depending on the variant settings, greater stylus pressure can increase the width of a brushstroke, the penetration of color, or the degree of other effects.

The most significant aspect of a drawing tablet is how sensitive it is to pressure. When you use a pressure-sensitive stylus or pen tablet, the amount of pressure that you apply controls the opacity and width of your strokes.

In theory, a mouse has no pressure information because a mouse button is either "on" (button down) or "off" (button up).

How to Turn on Pressure Sensitivity in PaintTool SAI

In PaintTool SAI, you can easily turn on and adjust your pressure sensitivity through the brush settings and minimum pressure.

Method 1: Use the Brush Settings

In PaintTool SAI the Min Size slider in the brush settings menu “changes the brush size when pressure is 0.” This affects the size of your brush depending on how much pressure you apply while drawing.

Find Min Size under Brush Size in the brush settings menu. Adjust the slider to your preferences. Default PaintTool SAI brushes have Min Size values ranging from 0-50%.

As a general rule, the higher value % your minimum size is, the less pressure sensitivity your brush will have. Therefore, if you want to have a more reactive brush, it is better to choose values 50% and below.

The benefit of using this method to turn on and adjust your pressure sensitivity is the ability to customize the brush to your comfort and preferences.

Method 2: Change Minimum Pressure Settings

Another way to turn on and adjust the pressure sensitivity in PaintTool SAI is by changing the minimum pressure settings in the Pen Tablet section of PaintTool SAI's options.

In Pen Tablet section find the Minimum Pressure for Brush Stroke. Use the slider to adjust the minimum pressure you desire. keep your values low if you prefer a more reactive brush. The default settings for minimum pressure are usually 0.

3 Good cheap drawing tablets for Paint Tool SAI

A drawing tablet is something you can make great use of whether you're are an experienced artist or just starting.

Non-screen drawing tablets are some of the most beginner-friendly drawing tablets out there as they are very inexpensive. You use them by drawing on the tablet while looking at the monitor screen.

The Pen Display Monitors come with a built-in screen and support for pen input. Draw directly on the screen is very engaging and enjoyable. They are considerably more expensive than normal pen tables and mostly used by intermediate and professional artists.

With so many drawing tablets out there, it's hard to know which one to choose if you've never used one before.

The pressure sensitivity of a drawing tablet is among the top characteristics to consider before making a purchase. The greater the sensitivity, the more control you have over your strokes.

Drawing tablets come in varying sizes. Generally speaking, you'll want the graphic tablet size to be close to the size of your monitor.

It's not as comfortable to draw on a small tablet, so if you have a comfortable working space, it's a good idea to get a bigger tablet.

The number of hotkeys differs by tablet, but the ones that include more hotkeys allow for greater customization options, which is particularly convenient for pros!

Wacom has been at the very top of the drawing tablet game for a long time. If you're looking for the best overall and budget-friendly graphics tablet, then the XPPen brand is a must-buy for you. It feels like a premium build device with the wonderful price.

1. XPPen Deco LW

The XPPen Deco LW is a great choice for artists and graphic designers who want the best drawing tablet under $100.‍

It has a 10 x 6-inch working area and a papery texture surface, providing a wonderful experience for your digital artwork creation.

There are eight hard shortcut buttons on the left side of the device that can be customized, as well as two buttons on the stylus.

There are 4 color variants (Black, blue, green, and pink) to choose from, so you can select the one that best suits your style.

The Deco LW comes with a X3 Elite battery-free digital pen, so you won't have to be bothered if your stylus needs to be charged.

Its 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, ±60° tilt function, combined with 3g initial activation force, make every stroke more fluent and accurate.

It is compatible with Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Android, and Chrome OS, so you can do your drawing on any device.

It has Bluetooth capability, allowing you not to worry about carrying the USB cable if you don't feel like it, The fact that you can still use it while it is charging makes it worth it right there.

The XPPen Deco MW tablet has the same technical specifications with Deco LW, but it offers a smaller active area of 8 x 5 inches.

2. XPPen Artist 16 (2nd Generation)

Advanced artists and professionals may elect for an upgraded model like the XPPen Artist 16 (2nd Generation).

The 15.4" display is a comfortable size for making art work on with enough space to maneuver your arm properly - it also doesn't take up the whole desk and is even small enough to be portable.

The display is laminated which has no gap between the drawing surface and the LCD beneath. When drawing, the line looks like it's coming out from beneath the pen tip. there's no parallax.

The anti-glare screen makes it much easier to draw outdoor or in certain areas, as one of the most annoying things while drawing is having lights reflected on the screen while you draw.

The resolution is the standard 1920 X 1080 FHD, which is more than enough for most artists. True-to-life color with 94% Adobe RGB and 1.07 billion colors means the tint you choose is the tint you'll see in your final output.

The X3 Elite battery-free pen supports 60 degrees of tilt recognition and 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity. Its initial activation force is just 3g which is to say that the pen register strokes even at extremely light pressures....

Not only is it feature-rich, but it is also compatible with Windows, MacOS, Linux, Chromebook, and Android devices.

The Artist 16 (2nd Generation) tablet comes with a black artist's glove, a free bundled drawing software (choose from artrage 6 and penCanvas), and ten spare nibs. the four color options of Black, blue, green, and pink also adds appeal to the design.

The XPPen Artist (2nd Generation) series are available in four size variants: 10,1", 11,9", 13,3" and 15,4". gives pro and amateur artists and photographers new functionality, including android support, Anti-glare coating, and X3 Chip stylus.

3. XPPen Artist 24 Pro

A large drawing tablet is quite an accessory for a professional artist. The XPPen Artist 24 Pro is an illustrator's dream come true: a large 24" digital canvas with very little parallax, 2K resolution, wide color gamut and the advanced pen technology.

The 24" tablet is really big. Make sure you have a deep enough desk to be able to accommodate this beast of a tablet.

The screen with ips panel, 2k resolution (2560 x 1440 pixels) and 90% Adobe RGB color space is very crisp and it feels great to be up close to your artwork. The etched glass protector gives you a nice feel when either drawing or animating.

The PA2 stylus is fantastic. using the pen felt really natural, brush strokes are quick and crisp. It supports 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity and tilt response.

The pen has a rubber grip and comfortable to hold and doesn't require a battery, so you don't have to worry about charging it.

This Artist 24 Pro tablet has an adjustable stand that can give you some elevation, from 16 to 90 degrees, allowing it to be used on any flat surface or tilted to the optimal angle for viewing and drawing.

Having 20 programmable keys, as well as 2 Red Dial Wheel can make drawing convenient, which should be more than enough for any artist. The red dial wheel makes certain functionalities like zooming in & resizing the brush easier.

Is Paint Tool SAI available for iPad or Android tablets?

The straightforward answer is no, you can't, at least not directly. You will need to connect the iPad to a windows machine and use Sai that way similar to a XPPen Artist.

Paint Tool SAI is not compatible with Android, iPad OS and Mac OS devices. SAI is only available for Windows desktop, laptop and tablets that run on Windows operating systems.

The best ipad OS alternative painting program is procreate, which is e is great value for money and costs $9.99 as a one-time purchase.

Paint Tool Sai isn't available on the android tablet like Samsung Galaxy Tab. There are alternative desktop quality art apps like Clip Studio Paint on the google Play Store. There are other drawing apps that work will like Artflow, Infinite Painter, and Medibang paint.

If you like portable standalone drawing tablet, the Microsoft Surface Pro tablet has windows OS is your best choice for Paint Tool Sai. A compact, and powerful Multifunction drawing tablet for professionals comes with the additional benefit of increased mobility.

A pro version of the Microsoft Surface will come with a pen/stylus. So you have to have a pro version for pen and pressure sensitivity capabilities.

Conclusion

Paint tool SAI's brush engine is still my favourite out of all the art programs. I just do all the post processing outside of SAI. I always loved brushes with tilt support, but unfortunately Sai doesn't have that.

I think it's the only real lightweight option for digital painting. You can work on huge canvases and lots of layers (For me, usually 4k canvas and 60+ layers) and see minimal impact on the CPU.

Big brushes are lightning fast compared to alternative softwares. It still lacks pro level color/level management. But what is offered, works really well.

XPPen Deco MW bluetooth tablet is the one that I use the most because it's convenient to carry around and I often work in different places. Even though it's not as fancy as other tablets, it works perfectly fine for what I need in daily work.

I hope this article helps you decide which drawing tablet will suit your needs as a creative person.

Source: https://www.xp-pen.com/forum-6253.html

Drawing Tablet for Sketching and Painting in Clip Studio Paint

 

There are many digital artists who are looking for a good tool for drawing, painting, sketching and illustration in Clip Studio Paint.

Fortunately, the wait is now over. There are many drawing tablets on the market offers you a variety of features that are bound to impress a digital artist.

With the help of graphics tablet and CSP, you can make drawings, animations, and more. You can bring your imagination come to life with the help of these devices and software.

You can use many common and also innovative features of Clip Studio Paint for making your painting more creative and fruitful. You can use significant brush engines to paint and sketch. Furthermore, you can also do freehand inking on your drawing tablet through CSP.

What is Clip Studio Paint?

Clip Studio Paint, originally called Manga Studio 5, is a photo editing software that has features for digital painting, illustration and specially creating manga and comics.

Clip Studio Paint is known for its natural drawing feel and plentiful features. With this software you can do comics, manga, illustration, environments, digital portraits, as well as graphic design and photo retouching.

It's popular among anime, manga, and comic creators. which can be used by beginners and industry professionals alike.

Moreover, Clip Studio has various advanced tools, exclusive brushes, and other features designed to give anime artists a competitive edge in their work.

The painting tool also provides animation tools, including an onion-skin view and a camera that people can customize. However, clip Studio Paint's 3D model, which uses artificial intelligence to create dynamic and lifelike positions for reference, is one of the most appealing features.

Clip Studio Paint is compatible with all types of devices, including Windows, macOS, iPad, iPhone, Android smartphones and tablets, as well as Chromebooks.

Basically, Clip Studio Paint comes in two versions to choose from: Pro and Ex.

Clip Studio Paint Pro is for illustration, concept art, character art, etc.
Clip Studio Paint Ex is designed for manga, animation and comics.
This doesn't mean that you can't use the Pro version for manga and comics, it just means that the "Ex" version provides additional features like multi-page support, animation support, etc.

Comparison: Clip Studio Paint VS Photoshop

Photoshop is the standard for professional digital photo editing and it is an incredibly powerful tool. However, the Photoshop is a subscription based software so you have to pay a montly fee to use Photoshop. Another disadvantage of Photoshop is the steep learning curve.

Clip Studio Paint is much cheaper (single payment and lifetime access) and it is also more intuitive and easier to learn. The Pro verion costs around $50, the Ex version costs around $220. Single payment is only available on PC/Laptop Windows and Mac OS.

You cannot use your PC Clip Studio license on a portable device. Apple and Android both have Clip Studio available as an App on their devices but it is a subscription based program. The cheapest subscription is $27.99 USD per year for the Pro version of Clip.

Clip Studio Paint goes on sale a few times per year, and the sale usually lasts one week. That's the ideal time to buy Clip Studio Paint at a significantly discounted price.

But from 2023, customers will have to pay monthly to use the software if they want to receive any updates. which means you can get a perpetual license for clip studio paint but won't get any updates after that unless you pay for it.

Clip Studio Paint has slightly better blending engine so mixing and blending paint on screen feels more natural, plus the adjustable stabilization feature on brushes keeps lines smooth and natural when doing quick brushstrokes.

Photoshop tends to be better for post-procesing and doing very complex filtering. Also the brushes can be customized to an insane degree in Photoshop, with things like colour jitter and randomization which Clip Studio doesn't have.

What is good about Clip Studio Paint? My Personal Experience

I've been using Photoshop from 2012 for graphic design and digital paintings. Although Photoshop is more versatile, using Clip Studio Paint Pro will carry you a long way.

This program is less resource hungry than Photoshop, which is great for those who are on older machines. In fact, I bought a new copy and I'm currently running this on a 4-year old basic HP with no dedicated GPU, it works well.

It has more brushes and pen types than Photoshop, as well as more features specifically designed for creating digital art from scratch.

The brushes. In CSP you have pens -- a basic ink set as well as a set of markers. In brushes, you have a whole set of watercolor brushes, india ink, and a smaller sets for oil painting.

You also have airbrush (hard, soft, shadow, highlight, spray, blurred spray) and pencils (colored pencil, mechanical pencil, hard, soft) as well as pastel (charcoal, crayon, pastel, chalk).

And you can edit all the brushes -- density, brush stroke, brush size, combine mode (typical Photoshop set), stabilization, etc. and not spend more than a second or two doing it.

After the brushes, you have other familiar Photoshop offerings -- layers, paint bucket, blend/combine, gradients, eraser, lines and shapes, multiple selection tools including magic wand, marquees, etc.

Also it has Edit --> Color correction, which has the usual levels, saturation, etc. as well as transform tools that feature rotate and scale. It does NOT have a crop tool (I just edit the canvas size) and it only has a few filters.

It also has the option to import a plethora of posed 3D models you can size, scale, re-pose, etc. It becomes part of your document as a new layer and is easy to trace both the object and the perspective lines.

If you're using this specifically for painting you shouldn't have any problems, but if you prefer adding effects to your artwork then that's when Photoshop can do more for you. But this software has a lot to offer and includes tools that can also be used to create effects in your artwork, most importantly, skilled artist's can create a master piece again and again.

I must say, they have a ton of free tutorials and a great community for educational purposes, aimed to help you improve your art skills. This software definitely offers value for money, and I would recommend it to anyone.

What is the best drawing device for Clip Studio Paint?

There are people who use Clip Studio Paint with a mouse. I wouldn't recommend that, the mouse can't come as close to recreating the feeling or results of drawing with a pencil and paper.

Drawing tablets work efficiently with CSP. When using the wireless digital pen, you can create detailed drawings thanks to the tilt and pressure sensitivity that allows you to treat it like a real pen in your hand.

They are generally much easier and more comfortable to hold in your hand than a mouse, and they allow for an incredible degree of precision in your work.

Use a drawing tablet for clip studio paint will give you a feeling that you are actually playing with the real paint and brush. Because there is an option that you can resize your brush and paint in a way that looks real.

Wacom drawing tablets are more outstanding than other drawing tablets in terms of user-friendly control choices, technology, overall performance, and durability, but they are also more expensive.

XPPen brand manufactures graphics tablets, display pens, etc on an affordable budget. They give you quality performance for a very reasonable value for money.

1. classic screenless drawing tablet:

If you're just starting, I'd recommend getting a (relatively) cheap tablet to draw on. XPPen's base model is the Deco 01 V2 and can be had for under $60. It comes with a big active drawing area of 10 x 6.25 inches, which works well even with large 27 or 32 inch screens. The eight programmable keys along the left hand side of the tablet can be customized to match shortcuts in Clip Studio Paint software.

The P05 battery-free stylus provides 8192 pressure sensitivity and 60 degrees of tilt, you'll be able to experiment with plenty of different tones and strokes to achieve the effect that works best for you, with a sensitive pen that can be used to doodle, sketch or write.

It will take some getting used to to draw on a tablet while looking at the computer screen. Get a good feel for it. Use it for awhile before you decide if you want to step up to a display type device or just a larger tablet.

2. Drawing Tablet With Screen:

Ultimately, if you get far enough, you might find that hindering your skills. At that point, you should look into a digital pen display like a Wacom Cintiq or a XPPen Artist. which comes with the ability to see the image that you are drawing directly on the tablet.

Wacom Cintiq/XPPen Artist is used to mirror the screen of your laptop or PC, so you will essentially be using the desktop version of the software such as Clip Studio Paint, Illustrator or Photoshop. It's not the cheapest option, and still requires a computer/laptop to use.

I got my hands on the 11.9" XPPen Artist 12 (2nd Generation) drawing display, which comes with the new sensitive X3 Elite stylus. The tablet comes in Black, blue, green, and pink colors to choose from.

It comes with FullHD resolution as well as 94% Adobe RGB color gamut, which are very accurate in terms of color production. The screen is bright and vibrant and very comfortable to look at.

The laminated display do not have parallax. which produces better looks, drawing performance and accurate cursor tracking, and pen tip not wobbles.

XPPen knows artists love a little texture on the screen. So they came with etched glass which creates slight resistance while drawing which gives more control over the pen and sounds like a paper.

This tablet has 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, tilt-response, along with a low activation force of 3g. this means that the Artist 12 (2nd Generation) recognizes even the lightest pen strokes, and intelligently responds to your movements and the amount of pressure you're applying.

3. Standalone Drawing Tablets:

If you are searching for something with a lot of efficiency and portability. The standalone drawing tablet like iPad Pro (iOS), Samsung Galaxy Tab (Android OS), and Microsoft Surface Pro (Windows OS) functions independently from your laptop or PC, so you will have a self-sufficient drawing device everywhere you go.

They are faster – more powerful than ever and come in an incredibly thin form factor. It comes with the latest generation of Stylus (apple pencil/samsung S Pen/surface slim pen 2) for pen inputing.

You don't have to use your iPad Pro/Samsung Galaxy Tab/Surface Pro only for drawing. It will come in useful in other life scenarios, such as checking emails, sharing images on social networks, editing videos and lots more!

However, The standalone drawing tablet like iPad is overpriced. Even the most basic Standard iPad starts at $329.00 USD. The more powerful and artist friendly iPad Pro starts at $799.00 USD.

Please keep in mind that that price is JUST for the tablet. That will not include the price for any peripherals like the Apple Pencil which you are required to buy separately and is necessary to draw. This will add $99.00- $130.00 USD to your cost at depending on which version you get.

In addition to if you decide to get anything else like a case, extra cords, earbuds, a keyboard or anything else. Android/Microsoft Surface devices also use a similar pricing scheme to upcharge you.

How To Explore Your Brush Setting On Drawing Tablets For Clip Studio Paint?

The art software you use doesnt depend on the drawing tablet. if your computer can run it its okay. CSP does work with XPPen and the other drawing tablets on Mac and Windows.

When you select the pressure sensitivity of your drawing tablet pen, it makes a huge difference in the clip studio paint process. To view the full display of the settings of the brushes, you have to choose the ‘brush setting' options under ‘window' in your device.

If you feel a different amount of pressure while working on the drawing tablet, you can adjust the settings. This device permits you to feel like you are actually playing with the real pen and paints. It creates a natural vibe that allows you to feel like real effects in CSP.

Why is your pen pressure not working in Clip Studio Paint?

Clip Studio Paint is featured for using WinTab tablet driver API on Windows OS. Hence, you should change this setting to get pen pressure in CSP.

"Wintab" is actually meant for pen tablets and pen displays that connect to a computer. "Tablet PC" is meant for Windows tablets or those touchscreen 2-in-1 convertible laptops. The thing is Windows sometimes doesn't know which driver to use so it uses the wrong driver.

Inside Clip Studio Paint, go to menu File-Preferences (Ctrl+K) to open the Preferences dialogue box, choose Tablet from the list of tabs.

Under "Using tablet service", toggle between the two options Wintab and Tablet PC, then test for pen pressure.

Pen pressure should work now. Changing other settings further down is usually not necessary.

If pressure still doesn't work after Change the preferences for WinTab vs Tablet PC, try toggling Windows Ink on or off.

With Windows Ink on or off, you may have to go through step of Change the preferences for WinTab vs Tablet PC again.

Most drivers for pen tablets and pen displays should have the Windows Ink option under Pen Settings.

This should apply for drivers from XPPen, and other non-wacom brands. If you're using Wacom drivers, you may have to use Reset Settings.

Conclusion

Overall, the CSP feels more intuitive for drawing and painting. The brushes when used with a XPPen feel much more natural and I love being able to select the brushes I want with just a couple of clicks.

For $50, you really cannot find a better program that offers both natural feeling brushes and Photoshop type options/control.

I'm able to use all the brushes and tools with full pressure sensitivity and tilt. This makes for a much more dynamic drawing and more control over what I want the tools to actually do.

I really love just how customizable the XPPen is, basically allowing you to completely integrate it into your workflow.

Furthermore，which tablet model you choose is actually depends on the customer's preferences. This preference mostly depends on the size, desk space, and monitor size.

If you start using drawing tablets for Clip Studio Paint, you will be glad that you did. You will be able to create stunning photos and graphics.

Source: https://www.xp-pen.com/forum-6212.html

XPPen Drawing Pads Black Friday Promos 2022

Are you planning to buy a fantastic gift for yourself and your friends in the tech world?

Black Friday 2022 falls on November 25 and we're tracking the best early deasl on drawing tablets.

Early Black Friday XPPen drawing tablet deals in 2022 are now live now! the Deals are live now from November 14 to December 02. And XPPen United States Official Store is offering up to 40% discount on it's tablets plus free shipping during this period.

It's great news for those who want the XPPen drawing pad experience without breaking the bank.

What are the advantages of a graphics tablet?

Drawing tablet is a computer device that will enable you to draw on a computer with a pen. This is very helpful for artists because with it you can draw pictures on your computer the same way as you would with a piece of paper and pencil.

Most of the drawing tablets connect to the computer using a USB cord so they are compatible with either Macs or Windows PC.

The drawing tablet can also be used in all applications; they are not specific to Photoshop, Illustrator, Gimp or any other program one might use.

Drawing tablets usually have up to 8192 different levels of pressure sensitivity. Mouse only have two levels of pressure sensitivity; clicked or not clicked. This gives tablets a huge advantage over mice, especially for detail-oriented image editing.

When using Photoshop, the pressure sensitivity applies to your brushes as well. This makes it so much easier to blend colors, add effects, and apply retouching techniques.

Sketch your ideas on the canvas, write notes and doodles with tilt + pressure, draw storyboards, product sketches and design plans, edit photos.

The designers really love them, because of how easy they make both doodling and highly detailed image-editing. Anyone who has ever sketched with a pencil and paper will be able to easily pick up the basics, and the advanced user will be able to open up worlds of deep functionality.

A few other things worth mentioning would be the fact that they are programmable so one could set up quick keys specific to them, which would be useful and efficient.

Finally, the last general advantage of using a drawing tablet is the fact that it can help reduce the risk of repetitive strain injuries (RSI) or carpal tunnel syndrome. These tablets could work wonders for people that already have those sorts of wrist problems because it eliminates the repetitive clicking motion that comes with using a mouse.

Is XPPen worth?

XPPen is a popular manufacturer of budget through to high-end drawing graphics tablets, designed for a wide audience and skill level.

XPPen's EMR (Electro Magnetic Resonance) technology never requires a pen battery or recharge. Excellent pen experience for art with little jitter, smooth flowing lines and great tilt recognition.

There is one for every level from the beginner-friendly XPPen Star, medium level XPPen Deco up to the professional grade XPPen Artist. which are designed to help you make your imagination come to life.

Among them, the XPPen Artist 2nd generation series pen display monitors are the most notable , which offers the most advanced laminated anti-glare screen and X3 smart Chip pen technology designed to digital artists & graphic designers.

These devices are powerful and can connect to Windows, Linux, Android, Chrome and Mac OS devices to transform it into a virtual canvas.

Best early Black Friday 2022 XPPen Tablets Deals

Black Friday is your best chance to get hold of the biggest savings you'll find all year on drawing tablet devices, whether they be tablet deals on the XPPen Star Series, Deco Series or Artist Series.

Get yourself a new XPPen tablet with the help of these Black Friday XPPen deals. No matter which level you go for, a XPPen drawing pad is a great device for typical digital writing, drawing, editing photos, taking notes and even productivity and creativity.

1. XPPen Artist Series

The XPPen Artist is a Series of interactive pen display monitor that lets artists draw and perform actions on screen.

Its laminated anti-glare technology, IPS panel, FHD resolution, excellent color performance, and best-in-class stylus are more than meets the needs of any working professional, especially photographers and digital artists.

Whether it's the light super accurate pen, the stylish design, the included downloadable creative software or online tutorials, XPPen Artist is all you need to get creative digitally with a display graphics tablet.

If you're a graphic designer, you'll want to upgrade to the larger model with a display, it might be pricey, but it'll save you time in the long run.

Artist 10 (2nd Gen) (10.1", $144.49, -15%)

Artist 12 (2nd Gen) (11.9", $199.99, -20%)

Artist 12 (2nd Gen) Gift Edition (11.9", $199.99, -20%)

Artist 13 (2nd Gen) (13.3", $144.99, -15%)

Artist 16 (2nd Gen) (15.4", $319.99, -20%)

Artist 22 (2nd Generation) (21.5", $399.99, -20%)

Artist 24 (23.8", $559.99, -30%)

Innovator 16 (15.6", $299.99, -25%)

Artist 12 Pro (11.6", $207.99, -25%)

Artist 12 Pro Line Friends Edition (11.6", $209.99, -30%)

Artist 13.3 Pro (13.3", $209.99, -25%)

Artist 15.6 Pro (15.6", $277.49, -25%)

Artist Pro 16 (15.6", $314.99, -30%)

Artist Pro 16TP (15.6", $629.99, -30%)

Artist 22R Pro (21.5", $449.99, -25%)

Artist 24 Pro (23.8", $629.99, -30%)

Artist 12 (11.6", $159.99, -20%)

Artist 15.6 (15.6", $269.49, -10%)

Artist 22E Pro (21.5", $424.99, 15%)

2. XPPen Deco Series

The XPPen Deco Series are an excellent tool in graphic design and artistic purposes. aimed at beginners that feels capable enough to grow with your skills.

Every aspect is great: Very thin design, intuitive driver, precise pen with phenomenal pressure levels and reliability.

It includes a plethora of great features: Connect wirelessly by Bluetooth, different color options,Ample shortcut buttons, Compatible with android and Chrome devices... highly recommend!

Deco Mini 4 (Active area: 4 x 3 inches, $19.49, -35%)

Deco Fun XS (4.8 x 3 inches, $23.99, -20%)

Deco Fun S (6.3 x 4 inches, $31.99, -20%)

Deco Mini 7 (7 x 4.37 inches, $42.49, -15%)

Deco Mini 7w wireless (7 x 4.37 inches, $50.99, -15%)

Deco MW Bluetooth (8 x 5 inches, $62.99, -10%)

Deco Pro S (9 x 5 inches, $74.99, -25%)

Deco Pro SW Bluetooth (9 x 5 inches, $90.99, -30%)

Deco L (10 x 6 inches, $62.99, -10%)

Deco LW Bluetooth (10 x 6 inches, $80.99, -10%)

Deco 01 (10 x 6.25 inches, $46.74, -15%)

Deco 01 V2 (10 x 6.25 inches, $47.99, -20%)

Deco 01 V2 Line Friends Edition (10 x 6.25 inches, $47.99, -20%)

Deco 02 (10 x 5.63 inches, $67.99, -20%)

Deco 03 wireless (10 x 5.62 inches, $74.99, -25%)

Deco Fun L (10 x 6.27 inches, $39.99, -20%)

Deco Pro M (11 x 6 inches, $97.49, -25%)

Deco Pro MW Bluetooth (11 x 6 inches, $111.99, -25%)

3. XPPen Star Series

The XPPen Star Series drawing tablet has been designed for those who are getting started digital art on their Mac or Windows PC.

The XPPen Star Series is the company's least expensive entry-level option, and it's perfect for starters looking for a reliable graphics tablet. Empowering for novice digital artists and hobbyists.

Easy to setup and feels great to use. It's a good and affordable series for doing sketches, illustrations, digital editing, etc.

Star G430S (Active area: 4 x 3 inches, $17.99, -40%)

Star G640 (4 x 3 inches, $27.99, -30%)

Star G640 Line Friends Edition (4 x 3 inches, $27.99, -30%)

Star G640S Android (6.5 x 4 inches, $39.99, -20%)

Star 05 wireless (8 x 5 inches, $52.49, -25%)

Star G960S (9 x 6 inches, $34.99, -30%)

Star G960S Plus (9 x 6 inches, $41.99, -30%)

Star 03 V2 (10 x 6 inches, $44.99, -25%)

Star 06 wireless (10 x 6 inches, $68.79, -20%)

Conclusion

Black Friday is of course the biggest shopping time of the year. And, you can save ahead of time with early Black Friday deals going on right now.

If you're on the prowl for some early Black Friday drawing tablet deals, this is where to be.

Black Friday is a great opportunity to get that XPPen drawing tablet that you've always wanted, at a steeply discounted price.

XPPen's black friday sale 2022 are worldwide, people from other countries can navigate to your local online store by click the "choose your country or region" menu to enjoy the XPPen black friday special promos.

If you're just starting with a graphics tablet, my advice would be to get a big tablet, these cost more, but they're better for precision and will make learning a whole lot easier.

6 Best Drawing Tablets for 3D Modeling & Sculpting in Blender and Zbrush

 

If you love 3D sculpting or modeling in Blender, Zbrush, Sculptris, SketchUP, Maya..... you need a drawing tablet.

Drawing tablets and pens have always been the popular choice by animators and visual effects artists.

Working with tablets makes your work easier and allow you to create perfect models through various tools.

What is a drawing tablet?

drawing tablet is basically a computer input device which is used used for digital drawing. It is also called pen tablet, graphic tablet, or digital art pad.

You require a Stylus (Pen) to use it, it utilizes pressure sensitivity, and the tablet itself usually comes with a lot more function buttons (hotkeys).

The pen also acts like a computer mouse, giving you the ability to left and right click by using a button on the side of the pen.

It can be a tablet with screen or without screen. The screen drawing tablets still needs to be connected to a computer to function, whether its a PC or Mac.

Blender vs Zbrush

Both ZBrush and Blender are amazing 3D design software. They are similar in the aspect of sculpting and modeling but are quite different at the core.

ZBrush is a sculpting program from Pixologic famous for its perfect digital sculpting technique. On the other hand, Blender is an open-source 3D modeling program famous for its modeling, sculpting, animating, rigging, concept arts, and storyboarding.

Blender is free to use, while ZBrush costs money. This can be a major consideration for some people, as free software is always appealing.

ZBrush is a much more robust and feature-rich program than Blender, so it may be worth the investment for serious 3D modelers.

ZBrush is better suited for modeling intricate details, while Blender is better for more general modeling.

If you're looking to create models with a lot of small details, ZBrush is the better option. However, if you need to create simpler models or don't need as much detail, Blender will probably serve you better.

Blender has an integrated game engine, which can be used for creating games or prototypes. ZBrush does not have this capability, so it's not as good of an option for game development.

Both programs have a learning curve and take some time to master. But they have active communities of users who are willing to help beginners get started.

If you need to sketch a quick concept, with simple but efficient tools: choose Sculptris! which is a very feature limited version of Zbrush, but it's free.

Are drawing tablets and pens good for 3D modeling?

In the past, most modeling work was done with a simple mouse, a keyboard. As technology evolves, 3D modeling has taken a different shape and modelers are asked to be more resourceful than their counterparts were back in the day.

You'll be very hard-pressed to find mice useful in 3D sculpting. Sculpting essentially requires a stylus, for best (most natural) results. 3D modeling is close to drawing so you are basically using a pen to sculpt.

If you are a 3D designer or digital artist working with a tablet is more efficient and comfortable than a mouse, especially when you use it for longer period of time. You can use it for making 3D sculpted models in softwares like zbrush, Sculptris, SketchUP, Maya, and blender…

The digital pens have a natural feel that can give you better control in drawing objects or characters. The tablet lets you work as if you are drawing on paper which allows the modeler to freely move their hand in a more natural way.

The pressure sensitivity of digital pen can be mapped to such functions as the strength or size of your stroke (The harder you push the bigger the effect). This allows you to more organically dictate how much of an effect you will have on your model as you perform such tasks as sculpting or texturing.

And you can even customize the buttons on the tablet with your favorite shortcuts conformed to individual software. Hence, with the drawing tablet, you can unleash your creativity in a whole new level. And that too, with such an extent of convenience and efficiency you never knew could be possible!

Tasks such as sculpting and texturing are probably the most suited to tasks for a Drawing Tablet and you can really benefit from using one. The pressure sensitivity helps adjust brush strength whereas the precision helps get each stroke to look exactly how you want it to.

If the tasks you are performing in 3D program only rely on clicking buttons or dragging items it really isn't necessary. Such tasks include animation, composition and rendering.

Screen tablet vs Screenless tablet

The screenless pen tablet get connected to a computer through a USB cable or through wireless (2.4GHz wifi or bluetooth). Looking at the screen while drawing takes getting used to. but it takes up less workspace, cheaper, better for ergonomics.

Usually the disconnect between drawing on a non-screen tablet and seeing the results on your computer monitor goes away with very little practice. Some people even prefer it as neither your hand or your pen will ever cover what you are drawing.

A display tablet is a tablet that allows users to draw directly on the screen of that tablet. It's More costly, takes more workspace, ergonomics require some setup (keyboard placement, screen placement, practicing good posture), the hand in the way thing.

But the advantages are 1:1 Interaction with the digital clay when sculpting, larger work area (though you mostly use the middle part), generally pen displays come with better colors than computer.

Even though there are many great tablets for 3D modeling that aren't display tablets, display tablets have an advantage as it's easier to do 3D modeling when you can draw directly on a tablet's screen. It makes work more intuitive and you feel more connected as you are not working on a surface separate from what you look at.

I am not saying you cannot do 3D animation with a drawing tablet, many do, but if you get a chance compare working on both types. Not everyone prefers a heavier, larger, more fragile tablet however.

What should I look for in a drawing tablet for 3D modeling?

Before you go and purchase a drawing tablet for 3D modeling & sculpting, you need to know that there are certain features that a tablet for 3D modeling should have. These features can differentiate what tablet is good for 3D modeling and what tablet isn't.

Here are a list of features you should consider when picking which tablet to buy:

Size options

Drawing tablet works in absolute mode, each point on the tablet maps to a point on the screen. for optimal experience and precision, buy a tablet that matches (roughly) your monitor dimensions.

Generally, with drawing tablets, the bigger the device, the larger the drawing area. However, as the surface area increases so does the price of the tablet.

The working area you should opt for is dependent on your convenience, preference, mobility, desk space, and the magnitude of artworks or sculptures you need to create.

You'd require larger models for producing bigger artwork as it'll require wider hand movements and vice versa. But smaller ones can be ideal for portable use or when you are short on space.

Stylus Pen

The Pen is one of the biggest factors to consider when purchasing a tablet. It has to be comfortable to hold for extended periods of time. It needs to feel natural and fit in with your workflow.

The pens come in 2 types. Battery-Free Electromagnetic Resonance pens which as the name suggest do not require to be charged and pens with batteries requiring charging.

Opting for battery-free ones would be a smarter move as it would eliminate the hassle of recharging. It relies on the electromagnetic signal being sent from the pen to the tablet.

Other features you need to consider are the pen's pressure sensitivity, resolution (Lines Per Inch), Responsiveness (Report Rate Speed), tilt function support, etc.

Pressure Senstivity

High levels of pressure indicate a more sensitive stylus which can detect even the faintest difference between the pressures exerted.

It can provide the most detailed outputs as you'd be able to produce lines of a more versatile range of thicknesses and opacities.

When purchasing a drawing tablet it is pretty standard to have 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity this is basically a measure of how responsive a brush is to pressure. Some cheaper ones with will have half of that with 4096 levels.

8192 levels is preferred for 3D Program however 4096 is adequate. This ensures if you need to make any adjustments to the pressure curve (how hard you need to press to get the desired result) you still have a reasonable amount of levels to do so.

Responsiveness

Report Rate Speed measures how many times per second the tablet sends information about the stylus position & pressure back to the computer. Usually, above 200+ RPS is ideal for drawing.

The tablet for 3D modeling should also be highly responsive to your pen strokes or other inputs. This is crucial for receiving the most realistic sculpting/drawing feel as a laggy device will not only be annoying and time-consuming, but will also result in inaccurate outputs.

Lines Per Inch

Lines per inch (LPI) refers to the resolution of a drawing tablet. The LPI determine how well a tablet can pick accurate strokes and tiny details.

For 3D modeling, you need a tablet with at least 2540 LPI. This LPI is sufficient to provide enough detail for your sculptures and illustrations. Depending on what you want, you can go for tablets with higher LPI, even reaching 5080 LPI.

Tilt Function

You will also note that a lot of the pens have tilt senstivity support. This is irrelevant in 3D Program as it is not supported so don't be concerned over this function.

Tilt support on a drawing tablet just means that when the pen is tilted, it will result in a different size of the brush. It's definitely not necessary, but can sometimes make drawing with a tablet feel more “organic” or similar to traditional art tools.

Hotkeys

Hotkey and shortcut keys is where having a tablet for 3D modeling can really come in useful. The need for keys to navigate, masking, smoothing and even undoing soon add up. the more the better.

Wireless Connectivity

this is one of the things that can make a noticeable difference in terms of comfort while using the graphics tablet. A wireless drawing tablet is always a good thing as it reduces the amount of cables over your desk and allows you to work more comfortably.

The wireless tablet can connect to your computer wirelessly via 2.4GHz Wifi technology or Bluetooth technology, with a wireless range of up to 10 meters.

Your non-screen pen tablet can operate wirelessly or in USB cable mode, but not both at the same time.

Pen display monitors generally use 3 cables to connect: a HDMI cable for video, a USB cable for data, and a separate power supply cable.

Some screen tablets however include a convenient 3-in-1 cable that incorporates the 3 functions in one cable, reducing the amount of cables over your desk and helping you keep a much tidier workspace.

Some newest pen display models support usb-c connection, which hailed as one connection to rule them all, it was developed to handle power, data and video, and it was drop-dead simple to use. you just need one cable to connect to your laptop.

Compatibility

The drawing tablets on the market are compatible with almost all operating systems, including the Windows, Linux and Mac OS.

Some new models even support Android and chrome OS devices. Therefore, no need to fret over that since you can connect to practically any device and resume your work.

Basically, any tablet that is compliant with a stylus is good enough for using 3D modeling programs.

Other features to Consider When Buying pen display monitor

A good tablet (≤ 22") has a screen resolution of at least 1920 x 1080 or more, so that the colors are sharp and crisp.

If two screens both with a 1080p Full HD resolution. the smaller monitor will have a more densely packed pixel density, resulting in smoother lines and sharper images.

The color gamut describes a range of colors within the spectrum of colors, or a color space, that can be reproduced on an output device. The most commonly known color gamut might be “NTSC” ,“sRGB” and “Adobe RGB”.

In-Plane Switching (IPS) panels are the ideal panel technology for monitors for graphic design because they feature a brighter display and higher color accuracy, giving you a clear and real-life color image.

Compared to non-laminated screen, full-laminated screen can effectively reduces parallax and brings the pen tip closer to the cursor, allowing for more accurate positioning.

A matte display comes with an anti-glare coating that helps minimize reflections on your screen. but the image quality in displays with matte finish is not as sharp or bright as a glossy screen.

6 Best Drawing Tablets for 3D Sculpting & Modeling

Choose between Pen tablets without a screen, an screen drawing tablet, or a standlone tablet computer, whichever you choose, there is definitely something for you.

If money is not the problem and you need the best drawing tablet, get a Wacom. Wacom is the industry standard and they make fine products.

If you are a beginner then XPPen is the best option. XPPen is a nice option for the drawing purpose with reasonable price. which might give you a bit more for the same price.

As a leading graphic tablet manufacturer, XPPen tablets allows you to draw, paint, and create amazing artworks. you really can't go wrong with either one.

1. XPPen Deco 03

The XPPen Deco 03 is one of the best tablets for 3D sculpting. This tablet comes with a bunch of features that make it excellent for professional 3D modeling work. Best of all, it is quite affordable.

It features a 10 x 5.62 inches active area with papery texture surface, so you have plenty of space to create and get work done.

The Deco 03 tablet can be used wirelessly or wired. For wired use, you simply need to connect the USB cable a PC. For wireless use, the tablet has an ISM 2.4G USB receiver.

The battery of the Deco 03 tablet charges quite fast. With 2 hours of charging, the tablet will be good for use for up to 16 hours.

The tablet features 6 programmable shortcut keys and a red roller wheel. This will make your sculpting work easier.

This stylus P05 does not need to be charged since it is battery-free. and it has a high 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity. Therefore, your strokes will feel natural and the drawings or 3D models come out life-like.

2. XPPen Deco Pro

The XPPen Deco Pro tablet features a very sleek and unique design with silver aluminum alloy casing, which gives this tablet a much more beautiful and durable feel.

It has 8 programmable keys for functionality, however what is really cool is the double wheel deign. You could map one to brush size the other to zooming for instance.

The Deco Pro is available in two sizes, small (9" x 5" drawing surface) or medium (11" x 6" drawing surface), but these should not be confused with Wacom's small and medium sizes as XPPen's small and medium sizes are much larger!

The Deco Pro MW & Deco Pro SW version features Bluetooth connection option. So you can work wirelessly by pairing your tablet to a computer by Bluetooth.

It comes with PA1 battery-free stylus which has 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity, has virtually no lag, and has a natural tilt response, making each stroke more organic.

Compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome OS. It is even compatible with Android OS, so you can connect it to your Phone or tablet.

3. XPPen Artist 13 (2nd Gen)

The XP-Pen Artist 13 (2nd Generation) is a well-positioned entry into the budget drawing tablet market that costs only $300.

The 13.3-inch display size with 1920 X 1080 pixels of resolution is ideal to carry around.

The tablet's color gamut is incredibly high with 96% Adobe RGB. The screen shows 16.7 million colors. Therefore, you can be as creative as you want when it comes to coloring your models.

The fully laminated technology and anti-glare screen coating reduces parallax to create a pen-to-paper feel.

It comes with 9 fully customizable express keys on the left side. It allows for different key setup for different programs.

It can connects with a single USB-C cable or 3-in-1 Cable to your computer. but the single USB-C cable is sold separately.

The Artist 13 (2nd Gen) tablet offers precision control when sketching, sculpting, or drawing when bundled with the stylus X3 Elite.

The stylus is powered by the X3 smart chip, without the spring mechanism, have a reduced initial activation force to just 3g. offers better stabilization, sensitive and accurate.

The device offers three other display size variants – 10.1-inch, 11.9-inch and 15.4-inch. which has almost same technical specifications.

4. XPPen Artist 15.6 Pro

The XPPen Artist 15.6 Pro is a 15.6-Inch creative graphic display with 1920x1080 FHD resolution.

The color gamut is also incredibly high with 120% sRGB. Showing you 16.7 million colors on the screen, this is loved by professionals who work in 3D animation and have to deal with multiple colors and shades.

On the Artist 15.6 Pro tablet, the glass and LCD panel are laminated into one piece, which reduces or eliminates parallax. the parallax will not bother you.

The pre-applied, and replaceable film cover's anti-glare properties reduce reflections considerably.

The tablet has 8 fully customizable shortcut keys, alongside the unique red dial, which can be programmed to zoom in and out, alter brush sizes, and so on.

The stylus is battery-free and boasts 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, as well as 60 degrees of tilt functionality. It is easy to maneuver, and you can change the angle at which you work.

The Artist 15.6 Pro is unquestionably an excellent product and value for money for all the 3D artists and designers out there.

It also offers two other display size variants – 11.6-inch and 13.3-inch. which has almost same tech specs.

5. XPPen Artist 22R Pro

With a 21.5-inch IPS screen, you get a lot of space to let your creative juices flow.

The resolution of XPPen Artist 22R Pro tablet is 1920 x 1080 pixels. and will display sharp images and provide a good drawing experience.

The tablet performs great in terms of vibrancy and color accuracy. Its display is capable of producing rich colors that cover 88% NTSC – 120% sRGB color space.

This tablet includes an adjustable stand that allows you to adjust your work level. It is compatible with popular 3D software packages.

It includes 20 customizable hotkeys and 2 red-ringed rotary wheels that can be customized in the tablet's driver settings.

The pen is battery free and has all the features of more expensive tablets like 8192 points of pressure senstivity, 60-degree tilt functionality, 200RPS report rate.

The buttons on the side of the pen can be assigned to things like mouse clicks etc. It comes with an artist glove included for less resistance while working.

This model is ideal for those who want a big screen to work on. The larger the work area, the more control you have over your final outcome.

If you don't need the hotkeys, you can get the XPPen Artist 22 (2nd generation) in the same size at a much lower price than the Artist 22R Pro.

6. XPPen Artist 24 Pro

This is a huge, heavy, well-built monitor. Boasting a 23.8-inch workspace with the attached adjustable stand. the monitor can adjust from 16 degrees up to 90.

The tablet's screen resolution is 2560 x 1440. This high resolution allows you to create models with superior color quality. Your modes will be both vibrant and detailed.

The XPPen Artist 24 Pro has a 90% Adobe RGB color coverage, looks very vibrant, and is capable of displaying subtle differences between the color tone which are not distinguishable on generic computer monitors.

It comes with a textured film overlay bringing the feel of drawing on paper. This helps to give it a real pen on paper feel, which always works to bring out the most natural finishes.

It has 20 customizable keys on the two side of the tablet as well as 2 red dial wheels for changing brush size, etc.

The PA2 battery-free stylus provides 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity as well as tilt response, ensuring superior definition of even the finest lines.

XPPen provide a non shortcut key version and you can save $100.

Conclusion

The possibilities of drawing tablet are endless! you can draw, you can retouch or restore pictures, you can make digital paintings with greater accuracy than a mouse, you can make past of your design work flow be faster, you can use it as a mouse and click on things, scroll things.

Pen Tablets are great for 3d art they aren't only used for 2d. If you are a professional, beginner, or hobbyist I can almost assure you will see the benefit in having one provided you are performing the kinds of tasks that will best utilize its features.

They are a really fun tool to use and one I personally couldnt function without one. I have a XPPen Artist 15.6 Pro tablet and use it daily for Blender work. It is MOST useful for sculpting, texture painting, and grease pencil.

At the end, it will really come down to preference and what you're able to get used to and be comfortable with. Kindly take note that these are just tools and won't be an instant thing that will make you a good sculptor. Good luck with your decision and happy sculpting!

Source: https://www.xp-pen.com/forum-6140.html

12 Best Free & Paid Architecture Design Software for Beginners

 

Architecture software has become indispensable in today's digital world. Architectural drawing software allows architects to simply and easily create their designs, and edit, delete and add them as they see fit.

Building design software are not just architect programs that help you choose the design of the facade. They make it possible to visually plan the entire site, decorate the adjacent territory, and develop an interior environment.

There are many notable software programs that architects and building design professionals opt to use, predominately because they assist the user and company to be more competitive and effective and to increases staff productivity.

The architecture software is not only limited to just architects, interior designers, landscape architects, architectural visualizers and engineers also all use these programs.

Since architectural development is a fairly complicated process that encompasses multiple different stages of modeling, it has a massive number of software solutions available on the market for different purposes and end goals.

In this article, we will present 12 of the best free & paid architecture design software for beginners to help you narrow down your search to at least one or two.

What are the two main types of architecture software?

Architects and design studios are increasingly turning to two main types of architecture software to design and build projects: BIM and CAD.

BIM and CAD solutions are the ones that make up the majority of our software list.

CAD solutions are used to create accurate representations of ideas and designs of detailed 3D models and renderings, BIM is used to fill those models with various information, such as HVAC, wiring, plumbing, material costs, and so on.

CAD Software

CAD stands for computer-aided design and is a way to digitally create 2D drawings and 3D models of real-world products before they're ever manufactured.

CAD enables architects to create comprehensive designs in 2D or 3D of the manufacturing process involved in constructing a building.

Detailed diagrams of a product's materials, processes, tolerances, and dimensions can be done using the 3D architectural design software.

It's also a good solution to edit, do and re-do models very quickly and easily to match your expectations. It can turn your ideas into detailed designs!

CAD systems exist today for all of the major computer platforms, including Windows, Linux, Unix, and Mac OS.

BIM Software

BIM stands for Building Information Modeling and is a workflow process which includes four steps: planning, design, construction, and Operating.

A good BIM-model is more than a professional tool - the diagrams, analyses and drawings that is so easily and quickly made removes a lot of 2D-pain, and allows you to work smart.

BIM software enables architects to create three-dimensional virtual models of buildings. Also it use “real” construction material to design some actual parts of the building model. all of which give clients a great idea of how the building will look.

Because the BIM process includes multiple visualization tools, the structure may also be more aesthetically pleasing. Architects can see what the building will look like in its final form and can even see how natural and artificial light will behave in the structure.

BIM is often a connection between the construction process and CAD since it makes the most of the accuracy of computer-aided design and applies it to real-life dimensions and specifications.

BIM is quickly becoming one of the most important construction technology innovations because of its numerous advantages in terms of cost, safety and efficiency.

1. Autocad

Developed by AutoDesk, AutoCAD Architecture can be very useful for your architectural projects as it allows you to do both 3D and 2D design.

It has been a pillar of the architectural and construction sector since its release in 1982. Many architects, engineers, and designers owe their genius works to AutoCAD.

For architects, AutoCAD is mainly used as a 2D drawing tool for creating floor plans, elevations, and sections. The architecture drawing software speeds up the drawing process with pre-made objects such as walls, doors and windows that behave like real-world objects.

AutoCAD allows you to mix solid, surface, and mesh modeling equipment to create realistic plans and models, and you can also do the same with two-dimensional plans.

If you adjust the user interface to your preferences and start experimenting with layers and line weights, you will get a decent draft with standard drawing conventions and measurable construction details.

Because of how popular this AutoCAD architecture software is, many other design packages are compatible with its files. And for BIM-oriented customers, Autodesk offers Revit .

It produces purely representational drawings and usually is the stepping stone to 3D modeling software. You'll find that many architects use AutoCAD as the first step on their way to creating 3D models.

Another benefit of AutoCAD is that it's available as a mobile app and offers cloud-based storage, so you can view and edit your drawings in real-time when you're away from your PC.

It is also worth remembering another version of AutoCAD – AutoCAD Architecture – a specialized application based on AutoCAD, created for the needs of architectural design.

This software is available in LT & FULL versions and the full AutoCAD version does have include 3D functionality. Subscribers also have access to specialised toolsets such as the specific Architectural, Mechanical, Plant 3D etc toolsets. In the past, these toolsets were separate product offerings that provide more intelligence to drawings.

2. Revit

Revit is a software for BIM, developed by Autodesk. This powerful tool is essential if you're working in the architecture sector, as all its features are specially made for architects.

Revit is the all-in-one software for 2D and 3D projects, that produces a total project output including modeling, rendering, and 2D construction documents. Instead of lines and circles, you can use actual walls, roofs, beams, columns, and other building components and also real-world characteristics of the physical building such as windows and doors.

It is compatible with AutoCAD, so it is pretty easy to insert a DWG file and use it as a trace reference to start shaping your model. One of its biggest advantages is that every change you make to the model is updated in all views, including plans and elevations. This reduces coordination and drawing time significantly.

Autodesk aims to incorporate all relevant disciplines of building design into one suite. The advantage of this approach is obvious; architects need to collaborate with MEP, electrical, mechanical, and structural design teams, so using the same tool eases the communication and coordination between the disciplines.

A big advantage of Revit is its collaborative aspect: any coordinator can access centrally shared models to work on it. Collaborative designs are a good way to improve collaboration with your colleagues. And, most of all, avoiding rework will help you to save time.

Designers using this construction design software work with objects, not with a vector between two points, and this allows them to work quickly and confidently. However, even though they both use a command-line interface, it doesn't feel like AutoCAD.

And for those who come from this discipline, it can be difficult to transition at first. Once they overcome the steep learning curve, Revit can offer a competitive advantage over those using traditional architectural design programs.

Revit offers a large array of tools for rendering. These are capable of producing photorealistic renderings of interior and exterior scenes. The built-in Autodesk Raytracer is a rendering engine that employs realistic shading/lighting models to accurately represent real-world materials. For more advanced rendering, Revit models can also be imported into Autodesk 3ds Max.

Autodesk Revit only runs on Microsoft Windows, so if you're using an Apple Mac, you will either need to Boot Camp your computer or use Parallels Desktop 17 to get the software to run.

3. Archicad

ArchiCAD, developed by Graphisoft, was released back in 1987 and was the first CAD software that was able to create 2D and 3D models on a PC. It was also the first BIM product for personal computers.

This combination of 2D, 3D and BIM modeling makes it a popular product among architects, urban planners and designers. so it's a versatile software.

ArchiCAD offers intuitive design, automated documentation processes, accurate information management features, and more. It is widely used to combine the efforts of engineers and architects by allowing for easier collaboration and by introducing an improved workflow for it all.

Other features that ArchiCAD can offer are graphics overriding, data modeling, attribute management, and many more.

It's known for being able to store large amounts of information in your 3D models, so it's suitable for designing buildings, interiors and urban areas.

ArchiCAD's main feature is its user-friendly nature. You can learn the basics of the software with minimal effort. This has made it a favourite with students and those just starting out in architecture.

It's also a time-effective software and offers several automating tools to ease complex processes, such as an inbuilt library of stair designs, with staircase designing often considered a difficult aspect of large projects.

ArchiCAD can be integrated with several software packages, such as V-Ray which allows you to create photoreal renderings of your designs.

Even those who don't integrate V-Ray into ArchiCAD can create realistic models. The new versions of ArchiCAD feature CineRender for creating lifelike models. Also Integrating Twinmotion (a visualisation extension) into ArchiCAD allows you to create photorealistic renderings of architectural models.

ArchiCAD is tightly integrated into Graphisoft's ecosystem, you can find more solutions such as BIMx and BIMcloud on the ecosystem. Because of these, work becomes enjoyable, efficient and there's smooth collaboration in an open BIM workflow.

You can use ArchiCAD to design spectacular urban areas, buildings, and interiors as it gives you a wide range of design tools to let your creativity shine. Besides, this architecture software has free version for students.

4. Rhino 3D

Rhino 3D, also known as ‘Rhinoceros 3D', is a CAD based design software best known for its ability to create organic and fluid forms, and for this reason it is both popular in architecture and product design.

While most CAD programs are great at rectilineal architecture, Rhino was designed from the start to handle curved lines, meshes, and NURBS surfaces of high complexity, like those in the features of a human face or the sweeping curves of a super-car.

For architectural design, Rhino can easily model the complex intersections of curved roofing or any part of the structure that isn't inherently straight.

Rhino offers great flexibility, as designers can enter physical models or drawings into Rhino and it will then automate the creation of complex 3D modeling, so you can model without CAD skills. This makes Rhino more suitable for beginners than some other architecture design software.

With Rhino you can also have Grasshopper for parametric modeling and V-Ray for rendering.

Grasshopper is a graphical algorithm editor specially made for 3D geometry. It is a visual programming language and environment, created by Rhino's developers. This program is recommended for structural engineering, architecture, and fabrication.

If you have some programming skills, you'll get an added advantage because you can adjust the Rhino 3D workspace to suit you using RhinoScript and creating your plugins. Nonetheless, even if you can't program, don't worry, as you will still have a fantastic experience with this architecture design software.

You will have access to a database of pre-built plugins that you can use to customize your workspace. You can also export your Rhino 3D designs using 3D printing and laser cutting.

5. Sketchup

SketchUp is known to be an intuitive program and one of the free CAD software available. You'll save time by using this program as it is an easy drawing tool to use.

Its main selling point is a vast library of extensions that allow you to customize the abilities of SketchUp, tailoring it to your tastes. Technically speaking, this enables SketchUp to provide BIM-like features for just a fraction of a full-fledged BIM software's cost.

It can be used for anything when it comes to 3D modeling, and architecture is not an exception! It is a great drawing tool, and it will certainly help you to be productive and creative with your 3D architectural designs.

It's possible to create walkthroughs and flyovers with SketchUp, which can be useful for your architectural projects when you have to show your work to your clients.

Obviously, you can use SketchUp for 3D, but it is also ideal for scaled and accurate 2D drawings.

SketchUp was bought by Google in 2006 and, though it's since been sold to Trimble, Google implemented some nice features, such as the ability to pull topographical and satellite images from Google Maps into the software.

This software does lack some of the features of paid packages, but it still has the tools to create professional models. The free package comes without most of the exporting features, but you can choose to invest in the features that best suit your project for increased flexibility.

Due to its free release, SketchUp has become very popular. This has generated a large active community that's always ready to help any inexperienced user. This user-base has also led to an extensive object library, a vast resource of pre-constructed parts that you can drop into any project.

Although it's not the best for designing a building in its entirety, this design software is an excellent tool for quickly prototyping a design at the conceptual stage.

6. Vectorworks

US-based company Vectorworks has been around since 1985 and is a favorite for architects working on Macs.

Vectorworks is similar to Revit and ArchiCAD in that its a cad program built for BIM, however out of the three tends to be the most cost efficient.

It has excellent 2D drafting and 3D modeling capabilities, and beats most programmers in terms graphical output, and like the above two programs, provides an all in one package for information output and presentation.

Vectorworks Architect is a building information modeling (BIM) software used by construction companies to execute their 3D design and modeling purposes.

Vectorworks Landmark is designed for architectural landscape design and GIS planning. which is widely recognized as the market leading technology for doing BIM in landscape planning.

And Vectorworks Fundamentals offers users the ability to sketch product designs, build models, and analyze them. One of the benefits is that you can use this building designing software for free.

A key strength of Vectorworks is its ability to serve your entire creative process, from the initial concept stage through design development, construction drawings, and presentations.

2D drawings and graphics are of rich quality and renderings can range from sketch-styles to photorealistic – All within this one application. Using Vectorworks means it is very likely you will not need to purchase, learn or maintain any other software for your design needs.

With deep BIM integration, Vectorworks enables many techniques and pathways for incorporating construction data into your design and reporting that data on demand. This results in a high level of accuracy and productivity for your firm.

Built-in collaboration tools allow Vectorworks to be a suitable solution for both small and large teams, and for projects of all sizes. A wide range of import and export options permits Vectorworks users to collaborate with users of most other software as required.

6 best Programs for rendering

3D architectural rendering programs allow both architects and their clients to visually experience designs before carrying out a project.

The main activities of the architectural rendering process are the ability to model, texture, and render at a professional level. It is an essential tool that offers great results for a flawless presentation.

7. V-Ray

V-Ray is not a standalone design software. It is actually a plugin. You can use it with ArchiCAD, Rhino, SketchUp, 3ds Max, Maya, and Cinema 4D. Its purpose is to create realistic rendering. This allows you to show off your 3D models as they would look in the real world.

This makes V-Ray ideal for those who need to add that extra spark to their designs. The software offers access to stunning textures. Further, its colour palette has few rivals. This means you can use light and shade to your advantage with V-Ray more so than most other design software.

Designers across many industries use V-Ray in their work. Beyond architecture, it has proven ideal for video game design and CGI rendering for film and TV.

V-Ray has a large community of users and is recognized for its incredible versatility. V-Ray has been honored with a Sci-Tech Academy Award and an Engineering Emmy Award for bringing fully ray-traced photorealistic CGI to the film and television industries.

Coming back to architecture, V-Ray is all about placing clients in a visual space. It helps them see what your designs will look like once they're built. Further, designers benefit from an extensive resource library to help them take their base designs to another level.

V-Ray isn't well suited to beginners, as it requires a high level of operational expertise to use it effectively. You can purchase the whole package for around $697, or you can save money if you only buy the plugin for use with one particular software.

Vray is famous for its ability to create photoreal visualizations. This makes it a useful tool if you're looking to give your designs an extra flourish.

8. Lumion

Whether you're looking to create compelling 360 panoramas, videos, or images, Lumion is the right 3D visualization software for the job.

With a range of intuitive rendering effects and tools included in the software, Lumion is the latest state of the art rendering tool that allows architects to breathe life into their 3D visualizations.

The program is essentially a 3D modeling tool designed to help professionals visualize CAD models. It's a user-friendly tool that allows you to render models in the most realistic ways. Thus, it is perfect for creating 360 panoramas and videos and adding materials and objects from a huge library.

Lumion is fully compatible with and has LiveSync plug-ins for Autodesk Revit, Autodesk Formit Pro, Allplan, Rhino, SketchUp, Vectorworks, AutoCAD, ArchiCAD and BricsCAD. Lumion is fully compatible with 3DS MAX, Blender and many others.

By integrating this tool with your sketching software and CAD, you can create the most realistic 3D visualization models. Professional 3D artists use Lumion plugins to enhance their CAD software by adding additional functionalities.

One of the most significant selling points of Lumion is the ability to work with it without architectural skills as a prerequisite, which allows everyone to start creating panoramas and images in no time.

It also enables you to show how the surroundings of the project will look like at different times of the day and even seasons. With this software, you will significantly reduce rendering times from many days to a few hours.

Lumion is available in regular and PRO versions. With the Pro version, you have access to all the features and effects, such as high detail nature, phased animation, Open Street Maps, photomontage, Pure Glass and much more. Regular Lumion has a limited selection of effects and ⅓ of the entire content library.

9. Autodesk 3DS Max

Autodesk 3DS Max is one of the best architecture software packages for 3D designing. This was the first software to offer hardware accelerated rendering of 3D images.

This 3D modelling and rendering software is designed to produce visualisations and animations. It's also a good tool for importing 2D drawings and translating them into objects that can be textured and rendered in 3D, which is useful for beginners as you can create realistic 3D models with minimal CAD knowledge.

Its modeling and animation tools, feature a huge array of modifiers, shaders, dynamic simulations, lighting scenarios, and rendering settings, all through a highly customizable user interface, that can be added to via additional plugins.

It has tools for structural analysis, steel detailing, building performance analysis, and even vehicle path calculations. And it's packed with automation features to keep the design process on track.

Its perfect for architects wanting to produce full architectural visualisations of their project to show to clients. Here you can create photorealistic renderings of the interior and exterior perspectives.

If the project requires to further impress clients and investors, users can choose to create a walkthrough rendered animation which elevates the audience's experience to a whole new level.

Although the software requires a medium to high learning curve, the output will deliver outstanding results that often lead to winning more potential projects.

10. Enscape

Enscape is a real-time rendering application that connects directly to five different design applications popularly used in AEC: Revit, Archicad, SketchUp, Rhino, and Vectorworks.

Since the link between the design application and its Enscape plug-in is live, any changes made to the model are immediately reflected in the Enscape window.

With it, designers can see the impact of design changes in real time, which is not just useful to them for their design work, but also for sharing their designs with their clients and getting immediate feedback.

Enscape allows you to work intuitively with accessible rendering that requires no prior specialized knowledge to use. You can design, document, and visualize simultaneously from one model. It is the easiest and fastest way to turn your models into immersive 3D experiences.

you can instantly create a 3D visualization in a matter of seconds. With just one click, your planning data is automatically transformed into a realistic render – particularly handy for when you want to reality-check your design or quickly prepare for an internal or client presentation.

The quality of the renderings is so good that most of the time, a separate rendering application would not even be needed, unless a highly sophisticated animation with moving objects is required (of the kind that can be created, in say, Twinmotion or Lumion).

By utilizing NVIDIA's RTX technology, Enscape is able to calculate lighting and reflections at considerable speed, giving our users impressively detailed and accurate renders in no time.

Used by renowned architecture firms in over 150 countries, such as Foster + Partners and Kohn Pedersen Fox (KPF), Enscape brings your designs to life and enables you to give clients an unparalleled design experience.

10. Maxwell Render

Maxwell Render is a rendering engine based on the mathematical equations governing light transport, meaning that all elements, such as emitters, materials and cameras, are derived from physically accurate models.

Maxwell Render is unbiased, so no tricks are used to calculate the lighting solution in every pixel of a scene; the result will always be a correct solution, as it would be in the real world.

Maxwell Render can fully capture all light interactions between all elements in a scene, and all lighting calculations are performed using spectral information and high dynamic range data.

The other Innovative feature is Multilight! It allows you to set lights and manage them in between the render and post-production. Multilight removes the need to re-render an image when light changes are required.

Due to its very nature, Maxwell Render enables users to create accurate and extremely realistic images. Maxwell Render is a recognized standard in architectural visualization, product design, jewelry, film production, scientific research and other high-end rendering markets, and the leader in render quality.

Maxwell Render is a rendering engine that accepts models and scenes created in 3D or CAD applications ( like SketchUP, Rhino, 3DS Max, and Cinema 4D). Several of these applications are directly supported through a Maxwell Render plug-in; others can be used in conjunction with Maxwell Render by importing the geometry into Maxwell Studio, a component of the software.

Maxwell Render is the perfect solution for the high end, photo quality visualizations that architects and designers need.

12. Twinmotion

Twinmotion is an architectural visualisation tool powered by Unreal Engine, which is a game engine developed by Epic Games.

Twinmotion is one of the most popular rendering tools in the architecture industry. It's popular due to its power, as it's based on the Unreal Engine.

Twinmotion is used to create photorealistic objects, visually accurate space rendering and presentations in virtual reality.

It enables architects and designers to quickly and easily create high-quality images, panoramas, fly-throughs and animations of products, buildings, cities and even entire landscapes. It can be used to produce standard or 360° VR videos from imported BIM or CAD models.

Twinmotion is noted for impressive lighting and models. You can have more realistic render even if you work on a sustainable architectural project.

Twinmotion is commonly paired with all major 3D CAD & BIM modelling products, no matter which 3D modeller you use it makes the creation of professional visualisations easy.

One-click synchronisation is possible with downloadable direct link plugins for SketchUp, Revit, ArchiCAD and Rhino, meaning your 3D objects and surfaces are reworked within the Twinmotion environment.

unlike many other rendering programs, Twinmotion is constantly updated and improved. Every few years, it's updated, with each new member of the Twinmotion family entirely overhauling what the prior program could achieve.

In addition, for your personal use of Twinmotion is free. Twinmotion's affordable price is for business uses.

Tablet for sketching and modeling

A pen tablet is really good for drawing. just buy a XPPen tablet and connect it to your computer if you have one.

For tablets I'm using the 15.4" XPPen Artist 16 (2nd generation) pen display monitor for writing and sketching and love it. The drawing experience is great because of the matte anti-glare laminated screen and ultra-Precise Stylus.

With a screen tablet you're drawing directly onto the program which is more intuitive and natural than drawing in one spot and the painting appearing in another.

XPPen Artists have to be plugged to my computer and to the wall to work, but give me the freedom to use all my desktop apps.

I also got an iPad pro for its portability. It's great for work, I use it to scan the sites i work on, sketch 2d designs with clients on the spot, show 3d designs to clients or contractors, do presentations off of it, do revisions on design and construction drawings etc.

Conclusion

Architecture software has made the design process faster, where designers can now easily test ideas and form consistent project workflows.

Every piece of software has it's strengths and weaknesses so we usually use them all at the same time.

For example when i was in architecture school i would draw plans in Autocad, and then model in either sketchup or Rhino(depending on what i was designing).

If the building has straight walls, i would use archicad to model. Then i imported the Sketchup/Rhino/Archicad model to Lumion or Vray to render it.

Then i would take that render into photoshop and edit it and then i would import that edited version into Adobe illustrator and create my panels for presentation.

As you can see i was using 5-6 maybe more pieces of software to do the one project so your best bet is to learn them all.

If you are wondering which is better ArchiCAD vs Chief Architect, you have to study all their features to choose the one most suitable for you.

Source: https://www.xp-pen.com/forum-6083.html