Digital art is the new big thing, and maybe you’ve wanted to start drawing or taking notes on your computer. Art tablets, commonly just called tablets, are a tool that can be used to draw or writ digitally directly onto your computer. They plug in and you can use a digital pen to draw, paint, write, and play games. If you are looking for a tablet, you have a lot of options to choose from, and it may seem a little overwhelming. There are a few things to know before you buy a tablet, and then you can start to learn how to use your tablet.

Size

Art tablets come in all different shapes and sizes. How big you want your tablet to be depends on where you want to store it, how often you want to use it, and what you want to do with it. Smaller tablets are easier to store, but can feel difficult to draw with simply because of the special differences that are involved with drawing on the computer with a small piece of equipment. Larger tablets are a little bit easier to handle, and some of them even allow you to draw over them on a piece of paper with a pencil and transfer directly to your computer with pen pressure. Over all, size comes down to your preference.

Sensors

Tablets have sensors of various sensitivities in them. Some don’t sense pressure at all, and only operate with the stylus as it moves around the surface of your tablet. Some sense pressure from the tablet pen only and some tablets will sense any pressure from standard writing implements to finger painting. Once again, the use you will be giving your tablet will be a major factor in the choice you make. However, tablets with pen pressure are generally acknowledged to be better than tablets without pen pressure, so keep that in mind when looking for a tablet, especially one that you plan on drawing with.

Navigation

Navigation with your tablet is simple. The pen basically takes the place of the mouse in normal computer usage, and you can move the clicker around your screen by moving the pen across the surface of your tablet. It might take a little while to get the pen and the clicker working together smoothly in your brain, so fix your eye on the screen and let your hand just move. This will help you put the two features together. To select something, you can either tap the pen on your tablet or use a button that some models have to select. Once you have the motions down, you can start drawing.

Pen Pressure

The pen pressure that accompanies most tablets is essential for drawing realistically in a digital environment. It works much the same as regular writing instruments do in real life, the harder you push down the thicker the line will be on the screen. This means that when you start using your tablet, developing a light touch will be the best way that you can start to sketch, making harder lines later on when you need to in a drawing. If you are constantly applying heavy pressure to your tablet, the tablet may become desensitized to pressure or you will have trouble finding variation in your drawings. The pen pressure on the tablet can be a little difficult to get used to, but you will be able to use a tablet as well as if you were working a pen in real life with a little practice.

Programs

The next issue is what programs you should use the tablet for. You can use the tablet for anything from MS Paint to Adobe Photoshop, but there are a few programs that work very well with a tablet. Easy Paint Tool Sai and Photoshop tend to be the best, but any program that lets you create should work just fine! So go out and create with your new tablet!