Discovering the Best Tablet for Photoshop: Your Ultimate Gui

Introduction

Any photographer, graphic designer, or digital illustrator would be happy to get a drawing tablet to make a job easier and more enjoyable. When one examines photos taken by professional photographers, then one needs to appreciate the fact that they have been edited. Professionals are aware of how best to manipulate the colors, adjust the background or even eliminate objects that may be out of place.

Nowadays, graphic tablets are in high demand among professional photographers who use photo retouching services, as well as graphic designers. One of the users has been using a 15.6” XPPen Innovator 16 display drawing pad for Photoshop for approximately three years. It has influenced their Photoshop work in such a profound way that they cannot revert to using a mouse again.

This user has a good experience with their graphics tablet and they would recommend it to all photographers and artists. Whether the consumer wants a drawing tablet with a large drawing surface, a small and portable drawing tablet, a high-end drawing tablet or a budget one, this guide will assist in finding the best tablet for Photoshop.

Top Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Tablet for Photoshop

Selecting the most appropriate tablet for Photoshop is vital for the improvement of your work rate and proficiency in photo editing. The qualities of the best drawing tablets for Photoshop include high display quality, responsiveness of the pen, and compatibility with software. It is now time to look at some of the most important criteria for choosing a proper tablet for you. 

Display Quality

The difference between display drawing tablets and graphics drawing tablets is quite clear cut and does not leave much room for explanation. You may not necessarily require a graphics tablet with a screen, but the ones with screens help enhance the precision of the Photoshop based on your painting style. For tablets with a screen, first look at its size, most of its resolutions, and color range.

A large screen is preferred as it results in more immersion but small screens are cheaper. Color gamut determines the variety of colors that are available to be shown on a monitor; it sets the boundaries of saturation. In general, the wider color gamut is considered the better option. The four most frequent gamuts are sRGB, AdobeRGB, NTSC, and DCI-P3.

Closely related to monitor resolutions is the number of pixels on the screen. A higher PPI or pixels per inch indicates that the screen is sharper than the lower PPI screen. The more pixels that you can have on your screen and the tighter you can pack those pixels means the better and sharper the image that you can get.

Stylus & Pen Support

The sensitivity of the pen varies from 2048 to 8192 levels. For instance, the higher the force exerted on the stylus, the higher the pressure level recognized and the width of the line produced. Newcomers, in particular, should focus on finding a tablet that has a minimum of 2048 pressure levels. Higher degrees of pressure sensitivity can provide a more organic and tactile approach to editing photos, but changes might be subtle for some users.

Tilt sensitivity is an accurate input solution that enables the device to detect the angle of the digital pen above the surface of the tablet. The tilt function emulates what you would get with a brush or pencil in real life. For general purposes like photo editing and other forms of retouching, the tilt function will not hinder your work in any way.

Styluses that are battery powered are typically larger due to the battery size, and might feel too large when used by children. Rechargeable styluses require charging just like your phone or laptop. EMR stylus uses a unique electromagnetic frequency to transmit power to the pen without the need for charging it from the tablet. 

Software Compatibility & Integration

Another factor you need to consider is the compatibility of the drawing tablet with the photo editing software you prefer. Almost all the tablets are compatible with common programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, GIMP, and Affinity Photo. Also, note tablets that have customizable shortcut keys to enable users to streamline their work. 

The Best Tablets for Photoshop: In-Depth Reviews

Selecting the most suitable drawing tablet for photo editing is not an easy task since there are so many of them. So, sit back and let me give you the top of the top when it comes to what to buy. If you do not know XPPen yet, then let me tell you that it is one of the best manufacturers of graphics tablets and the best pen tablet for Photoshop display monitors. XPPen has gained popularity among designers and photographers over the years due to its efficiency in producing quality products at lower costs. If you are just starting or are a professional graphic designer or a photographer who likes to retouch headshots in Photoshop, here are the best XPPen tablets.

XPPen Artist 15.6 Pro

The best tablet for Photoshop- XPPen Artist 15.6 Pro is also one of the most recommended tablets because of its features and performance. It provides professional competence at an affordable price making it suitable for anyone irrespective of their experience.

Key Features

● Display Quality: The 15.6-inch IPS display supports 1920 x 1080 FHD resolution and has 88% NTSC (120% sRGB) color accuracy to display realistic colors and clear images.

● Stylus Support: It features the PA2 battery-free stylus with 8192 levels of pressure and 60 degrees tilt function. This enables accurate control and a normal drawing action.

● Software Compatibility: The tablet supports Windows 7 and newer versions, Chrome OS 88 and newer versions, detailed Linux versions, and Mac OS X 10.10 (or later) compatible with most graphic design programs such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and CLIP STUDIO PAINT.

● Additional Features: The Artist 15.6 Pro has 8 customizable shortcut keys as well as red colored dial interface improving productivity and user experience.

User Experience: According to the users, the XPPen Artist 15.6 Pro for it has the best screen, the responsiveness of its stylus, and the quality of its build. The full-laminated screen minimizes parallax to offer a more accurate drawing experience to the users. The ability to personalize the shortcut keys and the red dial design is appreciated because it helps in saving time and directly going to the areas that are most frequently used.

 XPPen Deco Pro (Gen 2) Bluetooth

The XPPen Deco Pro (Gen 2) Bluetooth is a high-end Non-screen tablet from XPPen which is very slim and classy with many exciting features. This one is intended for working individuals who require a sturdy and the best tablet for photo editing and digital art.

Key Features

● Display Quality: It does not have a built-in display but its active area covers 9 x 6 inches to 15 x 9 inches sufficient for intricate work.

● Stylus Support: The PA1 battery-free stylus supports 8192 degrees of pressure sensitivity and tilt functions, providing natural and accurate strokes.

● Software Compatibility: Being compatible with Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, and Chromebook devices, Deco Pro cooperates with various photo editing programs, such as Photoshop.

● Additional Features: The tablet has 8 shortcuts buttons and two unique dialing wheels that can be programmed to boost productivity.

User Experience: Customers enjoy the versatility of the Deco Pro (Gen 2) Bluetooth for its sturdy aluminum casing, sensitive pen, and programmable quick access buttons. The Bluetooth is an excellent bonus as it makes a clean and untangled working area possible. Based on its design and functionality, the tablet can be used effectively for professional photo manipulation.

 XPPen Artist 12 (2nd Gen)

For those who are looking for an affordable drawing tablet with a screen, XPPen’s second-generation Artist 12 is a superb option. It is a general-purpose equipment that can be used by both novices and experts in the trade.

Key Features

● Display Quality: The 11.6-inch display has a resolution of 1920 x 1080, capable of displaying 16.7 million colors and has coverage 94% Adobe RGB color space. The absence of parallax and fully laminated display improves the drawing experience.

● Stylus Support: The modernized stylus features the X3 chip and is even more sensitive to strokes and pressure needed to draw a line. It provides pressure sensitivity up to 8192 levels.

● Software Compatibility: Supported by windows, MAC and any photo editing software, the Artist 12 (2nd Gen) is an ideal photo editing graphic tablet.

● Additional Features: The tablet has 8 programmable shortcut keys making work easier and faster.

User Experience: The features that several users underline are the good picture quality of the Artist 12 (2nd Gen), its sensitive stylus, and the reasonable price. The fully laminated screen minimizes parallax for a more accurate drawing experience. Some of the customizable shortcut keys are valued since they enhance the accessibility of frequently used operations. 

Conclusion

The best drawing tablet for Photoshop depends on certain factors such as the kind of work you intend to do and your budget. The XPPen Artist 15.6 Pro is also the all-around winner because of the screen quality, the responsiveness of the stylus, and the intuitive interface. For those interested in a non-screen solution, the XPPen Deco Pro (Gen 2) Bluetooth has a professional look and comes with added features. In this budget-friendly category, the XPPen Artist 12 (2nd Gen) delivers an upscale experience without breaking the bank.

This article explored how graphic tablet can be used to enhance productivity and creativity while editing photographs. If you are an amateur or a professional in graphics and design, selecting a quality tablet, such as XPPen Artist 15.6 Pro shows you how you can enhance your Photoshop work. Find out which tablets are the best for use in photo editing and how a graphics tablet can improve your digital art work.