Graphics tablet for PC - beginner/improver

k3lvc

14yo daughter is progressing well in art and wants to start experimenting with digital.

We have neither funds nor desire for a stand alone tablet or a Mac at this stage - is there a half-way option that will work with her (half decent) laptop to let her start experimenting and deciding her path from there ?

Had a look at a couple of budget (£50 options) which seem just that - is there a 2nd hand market for A4 size ones and if so any recommendations on brands/models and necessary software ?

wongataa

k3lvc wrote: »

14yo daughter is progressing well in art and wants to start experimenting with digital.

We have neither funds nor desire for a stand alone tablet or a Mac at this stage

You don't need an Apple computer to do arty things. Anyone who tells you that you do is talking rubbish.

k3lvc wrote: »

- is there a half-way option that will work with her (half decent) laptop to let her start experimenting and deciding her path from there ?

Had a look at a couple of budget (£50 options) which seem just that - is there a 2nd hand market for A4 size ones and if so any recommendations on brands/models and necessary software ?

Wacom is the leading graphics tablet brand. Their cheaper models will be fine for trying out graphics tablets. I got one a few years ago to try them out and it worked with no problems.

baxie

There have been loads of graphic tablets on offer on Amazon recently. Looked on today's deals and found these -

https://www.amazon.co.uk/b/ref=lp_9836118031_gbps_tit_s-4_de66_8be771f5?rh=i%3Acomputers%2Cn%3A9836118031&ie=UTF8&smid=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&node=9836118031

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01CY1W7IU/ref=gbps_tit_s-4_de66_87464e67?pf_rd_p=12beb609-11d9-40c6-b266-2cb91562de66&pf_rd_s=slot-4&pf_rd_t=701&pf_rd_i=gb_main&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=850ZJ8WV7Q2XK8PD7YV5

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00TGOHZR2/ref=gbps_tit_s-4_de66_707be197?pf_rd_p=12beb609-11d9-40c6-b266-2cb91562de66&pf_rd_s=slot-4&pf_rd_t=701&pf_rd_i=gb_main&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=850ZJ8WV7Q2XK8PD7YV5

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B019RN7CCE/ref=gbps_tit_s-4_de66_46ce1aef?pf_rd_p=12beb609-11d9-40c6-b266-2cb91562de66&pf_rd_s=slot-4&pf_rd_t=701&pf_rd_i=gb_main&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=850ZJ8WV7Q2XK8PD7YV5

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00GIGGS6A/ref=gbps_tit_s-4_de66_0a35c027?pf_rd_p=12beb609-11d9-40c6-b266-2cb91562de66&pf_rd_s=slot-4&pf_rd_t=701&pf_rd_i=gb_main&pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_r=850ZJ8WV7Q2XK8PD7YV5

Undervalued

wongataa wrote: »

You don't need an Apple computer to do arty things. Anyone who tells you that you do is talking rubbish.

Wacom is the leading graphics tablet brand. Their cheaper models will be fine for trying out graphics tablets. I got one a few years ago to try them out and it worked with no problems.

In the same way that an old banger will get you from A to B but it will be a much nicer experience in a decent car!

I agree though about Wacom tablets. Mine works beautifully with my Mac and (wash my mouth out) with my Windows 10 machine too.

cookie365

If you want A4 then Huion will get you a good quality big tablet at a decent price.

If you can go smaller then you can probably get a budget Wacom.

Wacom tend to be better quality, Huion better value.

wongataa

Undervalued wrote: »

In the same way that an old banger will get you from A to B but it will be a much nicer experience in a decent car!

If you use software that is available on both platforms then the experience will be very similar on both platforms.

Undervalued

wongataa wrote: »

If you use software that is available on both platforms then the experience will be very similar on both platforms.

On the contrary, that is exactly when you notice the difference!

The vast majority of high end design, publishing and photograph editing is done on Macs for a reason. Accurate colour management for example is just so much easier to achieve. Spend all day looking at a serious publishing program and you will really hate Windows 10 font scaling!

Yes, it is all doable on a PC and yes, you can get a superficially similar amount of computing power for a lot less money - rather like my car analogy it will do the job, just not as effortlessly!

wongataa

Undervalued wrote: »

On the contrary, that is exactly when you notice the difference!

The vast majority of high end design, publishing and photograph editing is done on Macs for a reason.

Legacy reasons since that sort of software used t be Apple only a long time ago. Now I think you will find the split is less one sided.

Undervalued wrote: »

Accurate colour management for example is just so much easier to achieve. Spend all day looking at a serious publishing program and you will really hate Windows 10 font scaling!

Colour management is baled in system wide on Apple but it is still very easy to set up on Windows as long as you use colour managed software which all the decent arty software will be. I run my monitor calibrator on Windows and it is done. On font scaling, MS and Apple do it slightly differently so it just comes down to which way your prefer. It isn't 'bad' on either system.

In the end it just comes down to using which system you prefer. Each is equally good enough. Their is nothing wrong with either system.

AndyPix

wongataa wrote: »

Legacy reasons since that sort of software used t be Apple only a long time ago. Now I think you will find the split is less one sided.
.

^^ This .. The same as most music sequencing used to be done on an Atari ST

Undervalued

wongataa wrote: »

Legacy reasons since that sort of software used t be Apple only a long time ago. Now I think you will find the split is less one sided.


Colour management is baled in system wide on Apple but it is still very easy to set up on Windows as long as you use colour managed software which all the decent arty software will be. I run my monitor calibrator on Windows and it is done. On font scaling, MS and Apple do it slightly differently so it just comes down to which way your prefer. It isn't 'bad' on either system.

In the end it just comes down to using which system you prefer. Each is equally good enough. Their is nothing wrong with either system.

Another way of putting it is that the Mac system just "works" for these sort of applications with the minimum hassle. Yes, as I said, it can all be done under Windows but it needs significantly more effort to arrive at a professional grade system.

I am the first to agree you pay a hansom premium if you go down the Mac route so if budget is the major consideration then obviously you look elsewhere. However I know plenty of graphics professionals who, if faced with little money, would opt for a four year old Mac rather than an up to date PC.

Secondhand Macs do hold rather more value than the equivalent PC so it is not all one way.

Straying rather off topic but what will be interesting is to see whether Apple can resist the desire for a laptop with a detachable screen that runs the computer (not iOS) operating system. That aspect at least of Windows 10 is appealing!

AndyPix

Undervalued wrote: »

Another way of putting it is that the Mac system just "works" for these sort of applications !

I hate it when people say Apple stuff "just works" ..


My PC's "just work" too, as does my Windows laptop