Inventory
LESSON FOUR
Tablet
Tablets range from being something like an iPad or Samsung Galaxy to being just a straight up computer. The unifying quality being that they exist on their own and do not require a secondary device to run off of. This can be very convenient because they are completely mobile devices that can be used on the go.
Whether you want to draw on the couch, outside, on an air plane, or on your romantic honeymoon to Paris; all you need is your tablet and stylus. They come in a variety of sizes and prices so you’ll be able to find something that fits all of your specific needs.
These can range in price from just a couple hundred dollars or a couple thousand dollars depending on what kind of features you are looking for.
Pen Display
Pen Displays are a mix between a drawing pad and a computer display or monitor. Rather than the image being projected onto your computer monitor, this is a monitor that you can draw on directly. These come in a wide range of sizes, and depending on the size and brand, the prices can be relatively inexpensive, while others can be over $1000.
Drawing Pad
I’m calling it a drawing pad for the sake of clarity, but this particular device is usually called a ‘tablet’. Tablets however cover two styles of drawing accessories, the first being this ‘Drawing Pad’. This is just a slab of plastic that you can attach to almost any device, and when you draw on it with a stylus the drawing will be projected onto your device.
There are a wide range of these available, across a number of brands, and available in quite a few sizes. Their low price tag means that this is usually a very inexpensive way to try out digital drawing. These will typically go for anywhere from $20, to $100.
Digital Media
Wacom One Tablet | Wacom Intuos Tablet | Wacom One Pen Display | Wacom Cintiq Pen Display
Getting started with a digital set up doesn’t need to be expensive or complicated. Despite the initial investment, digital has the potential to be less expensive in the long run, as you don’t have to replace and restock all of your materials on the regular.
There are a lot of brands out there, but I have to suggest Wacom. Their basic drawing tablets are reasonably priced for new users, and they have superior products for professional artists. Additionally, they provide superior support for their customers which can be really important to some people.
I suggest that you buy either the Wacom One tablet or one of the Wacom Intuos tablets, depending on what your budget is. If price is less of an issue you can get a pen display, which is my preferred way of working, and they have two types; the Wacom One pen display (yes it has the same name) and the Wacom Cintiq.
Krita
https://krita.org/en/
Krita is a free professional and open source painting program that is made by artists that want to see affordable art tools for everyone. It was designed for digital art and 2D animation. It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and Chrome OS.
Adobe Photoshop
https://www.adobe.com/
Adobe Photoshop was, and continues to be the industry standard for professional artists around the world. That does not mean you have to use it. It runs on Windows and macOS.
Clip Studio Paint
https://www.clipstudio.net/en/
Clip Studio Paint has long been a fan favorite for a less expensive alternative to Adobe Photoshop, but Clip has been under fire for their new sales model which has been modified to be more like Adobe’s unpopular subscription based program. It runs on Windows / macOS / iPad / iPhone / Galaxy / Android / Chromebook.
Procreate
https://procreate.com/
Fan favorite program for drawing and painting on the iPad.