Artist Hacks

A blog to help all kinds of artists on the internet. Feel free to help out!

[artist-hacks]

Opinion / Review: Surface Book 15″

Name: Ania Artist page: Deviantart is only website I have for now (https://www.deviantart.com/bunnylovinggrl) Tablet: Surface book 15" Positive: The tablet is a laptop I can use in my free time. Very convenient. Large screen. Has a very responsive pen with touch sensitivity. Can use any windows programs on it, and has a lot of space for saving photos or installing many programs. I can save like a million reference photos and never run out of space. Has two batteries and a really good graphics card. High resolution screen helps you see more detail. Never any slowness or lagging or freezing or technical problems because the processor and parts are great quality. Negative: It was pretty expensive. I wish the keyboard still worked when the computer is in tablet mode so I could snake my hand underneath the screen and occasionally use shortcut keys or type without having to switch back and forth. I've been drawing with it in laptop mode so I can use the shortcut keys for that reason, but it might be awkward for some people to do that . Some people complain of it overheating with certain energy-draining programs. I haven't had that problem, but now realize that I should probably only use mine for digital painting, and not video editing like I originally intended because I don't want mine to overheat. Anything else you’d like to say?: My full time job is pretty intensive, so any device that makes things more convenient when I get back home to use is worth it. If I was still in school and had more free time like I used to, without an energy draining job, would probably try to go cheaper and make other options work for me. This is definitely better than being tethered to my desktop with my wacom tablet, which I never had time to use because the inconvenience of not being portable. Hoping it lasts me 10+ years, or I will cry ~ Time will tell if it is worth buying. It has similar features to the mobile studio pro, but better life expectancy and battery life, and more convenient to use as a laptop in my opinion.

[artist-hacks]

Opinion / Review: Samsung Galaxy Tab A

Artist page: www.deviantart.com/thkn777 Tablet: Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 with S-Pen (SM-P580xxx) Positive: - Affordable. Around 250 EUR if on sale, 350 EUR otherwise. Stylus included. - Wacom digitizer. Other wacom compatible pens work, although I recommend using a recent model for accuracy and tilt functionality. - Stamina. Battery needs the whole night to recharge, in return you can draw all day long. - Android based. Apps for everyday life and drawing/painting are cheap and if you got an Android based smartphone you already know how to use this tablet. - Size and weight. A5 canvas roughly. Fits nicely in your backpack. Negative: - Limited choice of drawing and painting apps. If you want to or have to use Photoshop look for another device. - No OLED display. If you absolutely need or want that "true black" look elsewhere. - Performance. Samsungs A series wont get the S series CPU etc. Keep that in mind, A series means "bang for the buck". Max your canvas Size and/or use many layers and you will notice that. Anything else you’d like to say?: - It's a good tablet, I had no issues in the past 1,5 years. - It seems to get slower over time as every other Android device does, keep that in mind. - Wifi, web browser, email, your favourite music in a small package. You can sit in a cafe and sketch, take reference photos with the integrated camera and so on. - Staedler made a digital pen which looks and feels like a traditional pencil, really nice. Have a look here: www.staedtler.com/de/de/noris-… That's it I guess, happy painting!

[artist-hacks]

Opinion / Review: Wacom Cintiq 13HD

Made by: https://www.facebook.com/DBCStudiosAlphaOfficial/?hc_location=ufi

The Cinitq 13HD is a great tablet for the artist who likes to see the relative position of their hand meet the point in which theyre drawing. With its handy 13 inch display, it displays the pc desktop as either a duplicate or extended display. This tablet also supports display up to 1080p for high quality imaging, though in my opinion the color range on the tablet is not quite the same as you would find with a IPS panel monitor. The package comes also with a stylus holder which can also carry the replacement nibs incase the one the pen is using runs worn. It also features a whopping 2048 pressure sensitivity for those who are particular about their lining. The only drawback that i have seen with this tablet is that sometimes the wacom drivers interfere with the windows ink program and those conflicting drivers sometimes result in the tablet not working to its full potential, and the fact that there are often times it needs to be recalibrated. All in all, this is a superb tablet for those just starting out with the cintiq line of products.

[artist-hacks]

Opinion / Review: Wacom Cintiq Pro 16HD

Name: Vinny-vieh Artist page: Vinny-vieh Tablet: Wacom Cintiq Pro 16HD Positive: The pen tilt support and the pressure sensitive is much better than on a Wacom Intuos Pro. It feels natural and I don't feel any lag. Negative: I don't know why but it has a build in fan which can get really loud. You may also need to buy a stand because it only has two small feet, which is not enough if you like to work more ergonomic. Anything else you’d like to say?: I used a lot of different tablets at work and in private and this is the best tablet I'd ever had. Especially the size is perfect. Not too small and not too big. :) I don't use the "touch" feature though, because it annoys me if I accidentally move the screen with my fingers or am.

[artist-hacks]

Opinion / Review: Wacom Cintiq 13HD

Also in German! Translation is beneath the German one!. 

germ.: Ela www.facebook.de/siqnore Wacom Cintiq 13HD Das Display ist super. Mit einer Folie ist es sehr angenehm darauf zu Zeichnen. Es ist sehr Präzise und der Stift arbeitet Punkt genau...*hust* Pixel genau meinte ich Die Display Größe ist vollkommen ausreichend. Größer wäre mir einfach zu viel Hand Arbeit. So kann ich gut arbeiten. Mit größeren komme ich nicht klar. Man ist da außerdem (mein empfinden) nicht schnell genug. Der Stift ist ohne Batterie, kein nerviges austauschen nötig. Man kann immer zeichnen ohne Pause. Negativ sind die Kabel. Dir nerven einfach. Das hätte Wacom anders lösen können indem man die Kabel irgentwie in einem hat. Dieses 3 in 1 ist nervig da baumeln 3 Kabel die dann in ein Stecker kommen sodass ein Kabel an den PC kommt. Dies führt dazu das die Kabel schwer runter hängen. Nervig. Dazu kommt das dass Kabel selbst bei neuware n Wackelkontakt haben kann. Wacom liefert allerdings anstandslos ein neues. Support war gut und zügig. engl.: Ela www.facebook.de/siqnore Wacom Cintiq 13HD

The display is amazing. It's very comfortable to draw on with a screen/film. It’s very precise and the pen works really good and is exact. The Display size is totally enough. I can work on it just fine and don’t really like bigger ones. I think that you’re not as fast with a bigger screen.  The pen doesn't have a battery, so there are no irritating changes. You can always draw without taking a break. 

The cords are negative. They’re just irritating. Wacom could have solved it by putting everything into one cord. This 3 in 1 is really irritating since you have 3 cords dangling and have to put them into the plugs to get to the PC. This has the cords hanging quite heavy. It’s just irritating. Furthermore, it may happen that  the cord, even if it’s newly bought, might have some loose connection. But Wacom those send you a new one without any problems. Support was great and fast. 

[artist-hacks]

Opinion / Review: Wacom Intuos S

Original was posted in German, translation is by me!

germ: Bin im digitalen etwas fortgeschrittener und habe seit Beginn (2014) immernoch mein Wacom Intuos S. Hat circa 60€ gekostet. Ich wollte vor allem am Anfang nicht zu viel investieren - nicht, dass ich es am Ende doch nicht schaffe und nichts im Digitalen erreichen kann. Das Tablet gefällt mir immer noch sehr gut! Ehrlich gesagt kann ich mir kein anderes mehr vorstellen. Es ist klein, aber tatsächlich brauche ich nicht mehr als das S - weil die Größe komplett ausreicht (hatte am Anfang daran gezweifelt) Ebenso war die Gewöhnung am Anfang etwas schwierig. Da man die Lines auf dem Tablet selbst zieht - jedoch auf den Monitor schauen muss. Ich habe auch die Stiftspitze nie ausgetauscht und es gibt keinerlei Probleme damit. Ich würde das Tablet also vor allem Neulingen empfehlen, die noch nicht wissen, ob das Digitale was für sie ist. Es ist schließlich sehr günstig! Das Tablet hat 4 Knöpfe, letztendlich benutze ich aber nur zwei davon mit dem Shortcut Rückgängig und Wiederholen. Ich bin auf Instagram mit dem Namen @xsanichi 

engl: I’m a bit more advanced and still (since 2014) have a Wacom Intuos S. It cost about 60€. In the beginning, I didn’t want to invest too much money and be disappointed if digital art isn’t for me.  I still like the Tablet very much! To be honest I can’t imagine having another one. It’s small, but I don’t really need more than an S - since the size is totally enough (didn’t think so at the beginning tho) getting to know the tablet wasn’t that easy in the beginning too since you draw on the Tablet but have to look up at the monitor. I also never changed the pen nibs and never had any problems.  I’d recommend this tablet especially to beginners who don’t know if digital art is something they’d like or not. It is quite cheap! The Tablet has 4 buttons, but I only use two of them with the shortcuts undo and redo.  I’m on Instagram and my name is @xsanichi

[artist-hacks]

Opinion Review: XP-Pen artist 22E

predecessorMade by Chibikurai (https://www.facebook.com/Chibikurai/), she posted it in German so I’ll copy her original and translate it into English too! :)

germ: Tablet:  XP-Pen artist 22E Ich habs im März 2018 für 559€ gekauft Ich bin mega zufrieden damit und finde, dass ich durch das Tablet um einiges schneller geworden bin, als damals mit meinem kleinen Wacom (wacom intuos S) Was wichtig ist für das Tablet: Der Farbraum ist sehr gut, muss aber erst eingestellt werden. Ich hab sicher insgesamt über ne Stunde mit den einstellungen gespielt bis es an meinen haupt-monitor ran gekommen ist. Ausserdem ist eine extra schutzfolie SEHR zu empfehlen. Es kommt mit zwei bereits vorgeladenen stiften und die spitzen lassen sich auswechseln. Der Treiber ist etwas tricky- das neueste Update hat bei mir leider nicht funktioniert und ich muss eine "alte" version nehmen, da es sonst mit dual monitor nicht klar kommt lol - aber Wacom ist genauso ne bitch was treiber angeht und kostet das dreifache, daher bin ich da nicht so böse. Ansonsten, tolles leichtes design, super verstellbar und ideal für leute die etwas zwischen consumer und profi haben wollen. Zusatzinfo: es gibt inzwischen das 22E PRO - das kostet gerade fast so viel wie meines (der vorgänger) und hat 8192 druckstufen (vorgänger 2048) und scheint nicht die treiberprobleme zu haben xD

engl.: Tablet:  XP-Pen artist 22E I bought it in March for 559€ I like it quite much and think that I got even faster using it then when I had my small Wacom (Wacom Intuos S) Important for the Tablet: The Color-room is really good but you’ll have to set it up yourself first. It took me about an hour of playing around with the settings to get the main monitor running the way I wanted it to. Furthermore, I recommend using an extra protective film. The tablet comes with two pre-charged pens and the tips can be changed. The drivers are a bit tricky - the newest update didn’t work for me and I had to use on ‘’old’’ version since the new one didn’t work with a dual screen lol - but Wacom is also a bitch when it comes to drivers and costs three times more so I’m not really that irritated. Other then that, it has a really nice and light design, it’s super adjustable and awesome for people who want something between the consumer and professional ‘’level’’. Additional info: The 22E PRO is out now - it costs as much as mine (predecessor) and has 8192 pressure ‘’stages’‘ (predecessor had 2048) and doesn’t seem to have those driver problems xD

[artist-hacks]

Opinion / Review: Tust Flex Design

Posted by someone on dA, since they didn’t add a name to the text themselves I won’t post their names!

Trust Flexdesign tablet in white, mine costed around 200kr, but the newer model is now 388kr(52 euro). Still a better entrance price than Wacom, super portable, not many functions, but it is meant for being to drawing everywere as it is literally a mouse mat with a usb cable and a pen. I wish more tablets was this flat. The writting surface is 5-6mm thick. The down side is the need of a AAA battery in the pen and the pen is a little too fragile, but Trusts customer service is good. Also you need to push the button to registrer where the pen is going. No finger touch or multi touch, but those things annoys me. Another thing is this tablet is not compentable with Wacom drivers, so if you thinking of aving this an extra tablet, so you better already run Trust products. Plus it is accesible in Europe, where other brands like Huion isn't.

[artist-hacks]

Opnion / Review: Surface Pro

Name: ALMcNelly

Artist page: www.deviantart.com/almcnelly  

Tablet: Surface Pro (5?) lol they didn't name it a 5 but it's the one right after 4

Positive:  It can run several programs at once, I can write stories on it as well, drawing, animations, and the biggest positive for me is being able to pack it around when I take kids to practices or out hiking.

Negative: The only thing that bugs me is that because it's a tablet even when the keyboard is hooked up you need to set it on something because it wont hold itself up by itself.  But if only drawing in tablet form that doesn't matter lol.

Anything else you'd like to say: Get it on sale and look at the different pens, there is tilt options available for the pens BUT only on some of them! Oh and you have to buy the Pen separate so be aware of that when pricing.

[artist-hacks]

Opinion / Review on Huion 610pro

Name: RachBurns Artist page: RachBurns.us (blogger) Tablet: Huion 610pro Positive: I like the tablet most because of its size. Went from a 4.9x3.4 Wacom, to a 6x8 Monoprice, to this 10x6.25 Huion. In my experience, it's a lot more comfortable to use this tablet because I don't risk drawing a line so long that it goes off the active area and I don't have to draw with my wrist anymore. The buttons on the edge of the Huion are also much more useful to me than the lack of anything the Wacom tablet had or the soft keys that both the Monoprice and Huion have--in the Huion's case, I don't have to leave the softkeys active or do without like on the Monoprice. Also! This driver was a lot easier to track down and keep in comparison to the Monoprice, which had to be adjusted nearly every time Windows 10 updated itself. Negative: I have nothing that is an actual problem with this tablet at all, more that I can't adjust my setup to make sense with it. I have to put my tablet on my lap if I'm going to draw and the USB cord has to plug in on the left side of the tablet, turning the cord sharply where it attaches to the tablet. I think one of these days it's going to break the cord. But, if I were to tell the settings that I'm left handed and turn it accordingly, I wouldn't have access to the buttons since the pen is in my right hand. Anything else you’d like to say?: No, thank you.

[artist-hacks]

Opinion / Review on Wacom Intuos

Review by panchaiart:

My artist name is Panchai and so is my artist page on instagram called : panchaiart . A bit different on YouTube : panchai art . Im currently using a Wacom Intuos (color : pistachio) I’d say I’m still a beginner in digital stuff but I already tried it out so I know if I even like digital It wasn’t cheap at all . Around 300€. I really love how smooth the pen goes with the tablet. Also I love it’s Color , it’s back is really my favorite color ! The only thing I don’t like about it is : -> it doesn’t have many buttons where you can just remove your last step or zoom in

[artist-hacks]

Opinion / Review on Amazon SV98LN Kindle Fire

Name: Azabache Silver Artist page: azabachesilver.deviantart.com Tablet: Amazon SV98LN Kindle Fire Positive: It can access the web and download apps 😃 Negative: Drawing apps are costly, the spellchecker makes many idiotic assumptions. 😠Anything else you’d like to say?: The Wi-Fi capability is fantastic! 😁

[artist-hacks]

Opinion / Review on H610 Pro

Name: ConfirmedGhost Artist page: www.deviantart.com/confirmedgh… Tablet: Huion H610 Pro Positive: - It's cost effective, it's reasonably priced compared to some of the other tablets out there and good if you're on a budget. - It's a good tablet to get if you're just starting to get into drawing art with a graphics tablet - It comes with a rechargeable pen, so you won't need batteries. (Plus the once the pen is charged, you literally almost never have to charge it again, it's supposed to last for like 800 hours or something ridiculous lol) - The tablet itself has some shortcut buttons, which in the long term prove to be super useful if you want to quickly switch to the eraser or something like that. - It's pretty easy to use. You literally just plug it into your laptop/desktop via USB, and then draw away! (It's worth noting that you will need to install some drivers when you first start, but you get that with most graphics tablets anyway. It doesn't take long). Negative: - While the pen is useful, it lacks like a LED battery life display on the pen itself, which may have been useful to keep track of the battery life in the long term. Anything else you’d like to say?: I don't think so? XD Sorry, I can't think of anything >.<

[artist-hacks]

Opinion / Review on Huion H610 Pro

Name: ametotaiyou Artist page: www.deviantart.com/ametotaiyou Tablet: Huion H610 Pro Positive: Big drawing surface and cheap price + left handed mode <3 (flips mapping so that hotkeys don't get in the way) Negative: It's honestly great. But I bought myself a monitor tablet (see next comment) Anything else you’d like to say?: Look for deals. Huion packs their products with gifts. Available gifts are: 10 extra nibs, smudge guard, extra pen. Imo the smudge guard is the best gift

[artist-hacks]

Opinion / Review on Huion GT 190

Posted by: ametotaiyou Artist page: www.deviantart.com/ametotaiyou Tablet: Huion GT 190 Positive: Huge drawing surface! Also drawing on a screen really makes a difference! Feels much more natural. The stand is sturdy enough for me too. Also great for watching videos, lmao Negative: Why doesn't it sleep when the PC is off? You need to manually turn it off. Only has DVI and VGA port. No HDMI. I had to buy an adapter. Also I don't care about it, but the surface is glossy. Anything else you’d like to say?: Look for deals. Huion packs their products with gifts. Available gifts are: 10 extra nibs, smudge guard, extra pen. Imo the smudge guard is the best gift. GT 190 is the older model with not quite HQ resolution (It still looks sharp enough for me though). But because it is an older model, look out for special prices at retailers? (I got mine for less than 2/3 the usual price)

[artist-hacks]

Opinion / Review on Huion Inspiory H950P

This one is written by HeySani (https://www.deviantart.com/heysani)

I'm a beginner and i use the Huion Inspiory H950P. Its 80$/79€ and i really like it. It has 6 extra buttons on the left which you can change to whatever you like. I have 2 for zooming in/ zooming out, flipping the drawing, changing brush etc. Its small i guess its A5 but I prefered that. The pen has alot of pressure sensetivity but idk how many 😂 its comfortable in the hand and very light. You can change the pen settings via an extra Programm which you recive with the tablet. Thats it i guess :D Ah, what I don't like that much are the buttons on the pen (but you can turn them off i am just too lazy 😂) if you press them accidentally you don't draw

[artist-hacks]

Opinion/Review on Huion 1060+

The comment comes from Facebook and the person didn’t have any art pages so it will be anonymous too.

I'm using Huion 1060+ I like it because its cheap 😂 I actually recommend it for someone who just started learning digital arts or digital sculpting. I actually use it with photoshop with lazy nezumi plug in and in blender for sculpting and it works really well. it's big and the buttons are so easy to use. I really recommend it for beginners. I'm not a great artist and I'm more into 3d cg but based in my experience it's cheap and it's big so it's really perfect 😂