I have both the XP-Pen Artist 13.3 Pro art drawing pad with screen 13.3inch and iPad pro 12.9inch. iPad pro so far I have to admit is amazing.

Portable and easy to use, iPad Pro helped me draw and deliver illustrations while on the aeroplane, on the beach, in bed and in beautiful cafes around the globe.

Creating print-ready illustration on the go is now possible with an initial investment into an iPad Pro, Apple Pencil, and a few free Adobe apps.

Thanks to these new tools being an illustrator don't mean living an isolated home-bound experience like it used to be.

I got the XP-PEN Artist 13.3 Pro ( https://www.xp-pen.com/product/464.html ) , mostly due to cost. It was $330 or so and if you couldn't afford the iPad Pro, It is undoubtedly superior.

I'm very happy with it and I've been using it for a year-ish and have had zero problems. I love having programmable buttons as I have pain in my thumb from copy/pasting and other repetitive keyboard commands, so that helps. Easy to set up, easy to customize for each application.

Maybe not for you, but maybe this'll help someone else on the market for a reasonable graphics tablet.

Choosing a digital tablet: XP-Pen or iPad?

So, you have decided to purchase a drawing tablet. What should you go for: a drawing tablet or an iPad Pro?

Each of these tablets has their pros and cons and a few distinctive differences.

1. The ability to see the image that you are drawing directly on the tablet.

When you purchase an iPad Pro you would be able to see the image that you are drawing, as if it was on paper.

To get the same effect with a XP-Pen tablet you will have to go for a higher spec Artist Pro Series , which need plug in a laptop.

2. Portability.

iPad Pro functions independently from your laptop or PC, so you will have a self-sufficient drawing device everywhere you go.

The models of xp-pen artist have to be plugged into a computer in order to mirror the screen. its just a display. it has no processing power or battery. all cintiqs need a computer.

3. Software choice

XP-Pen is used to mirror the screen of your laptop or PC, so you will essentially be using the desktop version of the software such as Illustrator or Photoshop.

XP-Pen Artist 13.3 Pro is great for use with full Adobe apps on desktop like touching up images in photoshop or creating artwork in illustrator.

iPad Pro is a mobile device, so you would be able to use various apps which have been specifically adapted to deliver smooth mobile drawing experience.

The main issue with the iPad is that you're limited to iOS apps like procreate . There really aren't any fully-featured animation or 3D modelling apps yet.

Procreate on iPad pro is fabulous and can create printable work up to certain sizes, especially if your main purpose is for web, definitely iPad pro is enough. I absolutely love it.

But Recently, there has been some development in animation apps for iPad Pro, which is also very useful for a contemporary illustrator.

4. Functionality

You don't have to use your iPad Pro only for drawing. It will come in useful in other life scenarios, such as checking emails, sharing images on social networks, editing videos and lots more! With XP-Pen, you will not be able to use it for anything else.

Let's compare the two types of tablets in detail.

The ease of drawing with a stylus.

XP-Pen is a professional and well-known provider of creative digital devices like graphic tablets, drawing pen displays and digital pen stylus. XP-Pen Artist 13.3 Pro screen tablet are better when it comes to the most natural feel of drawing on a digital device. it gives me the realistic and precise drawing experience.

If you try an iPad Pro in the store you will notice that its surface is much more slippery. I know plenty of illustrators who like it, but if you are after a more paper-like feel then you can buy a cheap matt screen sticker (I use this one) which will add grip to the screen. Apple is also constantly improving the Apple Pencil, which in itself is quite a sophisticated tool. the iPad pro are good for rough sketching or lineart.

The next argument that the drawing tablet supporters usually give is that graphics tablet works with full versions of Illustrator and Photoshop, providing excellent choice in file resolution and functions.

And indeed, there was a limit in file sizes and resolutions available in apps when iPad Pro first came out. However, the situation is different now. Firstly, Procreate app has always offered a good choice in image resolution and formats. Moreover, Adobe CC developed some amazing iPad apps. You can now get Adobe Fresco, which works with any size and resolution and offers mind blowing tools and brushes.

The two older Adobe drawing apps are Adobe Photoshop Sketch and Adobe Photoshop Draw. They seamlessly integrate with Adobe desktop apps through Creative Cloud. With all these apps you will be able to draw in both vector and raster graphics.

Final thoughts:

When choosing between XP-Pen Artist and Apple iPad Pro, ask yourself the following questions: Do I want to draw in full desktop version of Photoshop with all its functions? If the answer is yes, then XP-Pen is more suitable for you.

I would say a full desktop would have better art programs. Especially if we are talking free. If you just want to doodle, it doesnt matter. If your going to be doing any serious art however, Get a XP-Pen Artist or wacom cintiq tablet. You get many times more freedom on a desktop.

Sidecar , Astropad or Duet Pro app lets you mirror your iPad Pro display, thus turning it into a pen display tablet. But My ipad would overheat (with astropad and duet) and it lags a lot, to the point that it starts making random lines when trying to draw.

How important is it to be able to draw anywhere I want? If you want a light tablet that you can take with you anywhere, iPad Pro is perfect for you.

Do I like to try new mobile apps? If the answer is yes, you will have a lot of fun testing various drawing and animation apps available for iPad Pro. If, however, the thought of exploring new technology gives you more stress than excitement, then you might find it easier to learn how to use XP-Pen, which simply mirrors a desktop version of Photoshop.

In terms of choosing the size of a tablet, think what you usually feel comfortable working on. I have always liked big sheets of paper to draw on that's why I went for a gigantic 12.9 inch iPad. However, you might be comfortable working on a smaller canvas.

Both have different uses and advantages, eventually it comes down to what is your main purpose. My suggestion, if using it professionally, is to buy the one you need first then buy the second later. Both work for me in my line of work. If your main use is adobe desktop apps then the XP-Pen Artist 13.3 Pro. Professionally, both benefit me.

Reference: https://pctechtest.com/ipad-vs-drawing-tablet

If you're trying to mimic traditional media, using charcoals, oils, watercolor, pencils and brushes, then you want a drawing software specifically for painting!

With so many options available, it becomes hard to make a choice that would best suit the kind of art you want to make, whether you're just starting as a beginner or are a professional.

What you'd generally want is a digital art software that is compatible with the device you're using, supports the kinds of tools you need for the art you create, the cost, and any additional features that a creative can play around with.

Some digital art software may even be outdated, while others keep experimenting and keep further development at the forefront.

Different digital artists look for various features in the software they'd prefer to use.

In addition, The price point is always something to consider, but not to worry, there are just as many free alternatives to good quality software as paid ones.

Considering all of this, here's a comprehensive list of the digital art software that has the potential to be the right fit for you.

10 Best Free and paid Art Software for Digital Painting

These are the 10 art programs that I personally like and would recommend:

If you want more info about them, I suggest you visit pctechtest site.

1. Photoshop

Photoshop is the industry standard, and preferred among most professionals, but it costs an ongoing subscription fee.

Photoshop's brushes work so much better, virtually no lag and a lot of variety. Importing brushes from pros also works easily because.. most pros use Photoshop.

2. Clip Studio Paint

Clip Studio Paint is the best for doing Line Art, Paintings, Comics/Manga, and even 2D Animation.

Clip Studio has a lot of the tools Photoshop does, but is just more intuitive for the average artist. Also it is a one time buy, you don't need a subscription.

Users value its quick loading time, lack of lag, pen stabilization for clean line art, and ability to export in PSD format for easy editing.

3. Krita

A lot of people use Krita as it's free and have plenty of useful tools and brushes, but there is some learning curve to getting the most out of it.

4. Corel Painter

Corel Painter feels like an entire art store full of stuff, very realistic brushes especially for water colour and charcoal etc.

5. Rebelle

Rebelle is a top choice for artists seeking a realistic, versatile, and user-friendly digital painting experience that's competitively priced.

Rebelle is really amazing at making painting feel very close to what is to paint on an actual canvas. The products you use like the paint and the canvas have an amazing interaction.

6. ArtRage

ArtRage is also an excellent and easy to use paint app that does a great job of simulating the flow and texture of real oils and watercolours.

7. Sketchbook Pro

Sketchbook Pro is a great tool to sketch when it comes to freehand drawings. Airbrush feature along with copic colors makes it perfect for art.

8. Medibang Paint

MediBang Paint is a free, lightweight and easy to use art program suitable for users who loves to illustrate!

9. Procreate

Procreate is a premium quality, low-cost app on Apple ipad for artists of every kind.

With abundant customizable features, expandability, and an attractive and intuitive user experience, anyone can create 2D and 3D paintings, drawings, hand lettering, and animations.

10. Paint tool SAI

Paint tool SAI is absolutely amazing for digital painting, but only available on windows devices.

It is so responsive to the pressure and movement of the pen and it's great. Once you get the hang of it, it isn't hard to use at all and you make amazing paintings.

What's The Difference Between Digital Art and Graphic Design?

Digital art is a form of art that involves the use of digital tools to produce images and videos.

Meanwhile, graphic design is a profession that combines artwork, text, and typography for use in advertising, web design, and other forms of communication.

Digital Designers rely on graphic design software to create, edit, and view graphic art.

Krita vs Photoshop - Which Program is for You?

If you're into basic drawing and sketching, A simple painting program like Krita might be enough.

But if you're a professional artist needing advanced editing, photo manipulation, vector graphics, or extensive text tools, then a photo retouching software like Photoshop is the best.

Photo Editing software allows users to stitch images the way they want, which can make all the difference in the final look of your photos. such as online photo editor, RAW photo editor, etc.

Do I need a pen tablet to use with art program for drawing?

For hardware, outside of a half-decent computer and monitor, you may eventually want a drawing tablet with pen, whether that's a screenless (such as classic Wacom tablets), or a drawing tablet with display.

You don't need one to get started, and they take some learning of their own, especially screenless. Screenless graphic tablets for beginners are available for under $100, screen-in start around $200 for a very small decent one and go up from there.

Conclusion

Drawing software is an essential tool for an artist or illustrator, professional to novice wishing to create digital art.

The most important thing you need to consider when choosing the best drawing software is that you're comfortable with it.

If you want a powerful drawing program that will give you the best possible experience you want Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint or other paid software.

If you can't afford them, I recommend going with free software like Krita or Medibang Paint instead.

Free software can sometimes be less intuitive, but with use, you'll get used to it instantly and let your creativity flow.

Drawing on a display tablet is far more enjoyable, intuitive and natural than doing it on non-display tablets. It feels like actually drawing on paper.

22 inches is a practical size for most artistic needs, which promises ample space for creativity to flow freely.

Of course, It is best for use on a desk or art table in a studio or other fixed location.

If you are an artist looking for an affordable larger 22-inch drawing tablet monitor, the Wacom Cintiq 22 and the XP-Pen Artist 22R Pro are two of the best options in the market right now.

Which of the two tablets are packed with better features? and which tablet provides a superior drawing experience?

In this Wacom Cintiq 22 vs XP-Pen Artist 22R Pro comparison, we will take a detailed look at both these tablets in order to find out which tablet will suit your needs better.

Brands

Since digital tablets were invented, Wacom has had a position at the forefront of the industry.

But in recent years many new brands have arisen to challenge it, XP-Pen among them.

While XP-Pen tablets are generally cheaper than Wacom tablets and have more features, Wacom tablets tend to have more of a premium and durable build, better stylus, and a lot more brand recognition.

Build Quality and Design

The Cintiq 22 has a very minimalist look with just a screen at the front. On the other hand , Artist 22R Pro has two row of shortcut buttons along with the screen at the front.

Both the tablets are made of plastic and have comparable built quality. The tables feel strong and sturdy and with no flex or wobble to be found anywhere.

The tablet has all the ports at the back, this helps with cable management with no cable running across your working region.

In addition，Both tablets have an adjustable stand built into the tablet. Thus, you can tilt the display until you achieve your desired and comfortable drawing angle, from 16 degrees up to 90 degrees.

Screen Quality

Wacom Cintiq 22 and the XP-Pen Artist 22R Pro both come with a 21.5-inch IPS screen with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, perfect for viewing applications and programs with extensive menus.

The color accuracy is one of the main areas where these displays differ the most. The more color-accurate display means the screen has a wider color palette and can displays minute difference in colors.

The Wacom Cintiq 22 comes with a color accuracy of 96% sRGB. The XPPen Artist 22R Pro, on the other hand, comes with a wider color gamut of 120% sRGB, which is more rich, vibrant and vivid.

However, Wacom Cintiq 16 displays come pre-calibrated out of the box and show accurate colors right of the bat.

XP-Pen Artist 22R Pro is not precalibrated, which means it does not have the right color settings. So you need to fix it by manually changing the color settings or using a color calibrator.

Screen Technology

The technology that enables the Cintiq 22 and XP-Pen Artist 22R Pro to work means there are two planes you interact with: the glass you draw on, and the actual screen presenting the image you're drawing.

Too great an air gap between the two leads to a disconcerting disconnect between the point of your stylus and where your pen mark appears on-screen, whiwch is called parallax.

A good solution is fully-laminated display, the layers of the display are laminated together, thus helps reduce parallax.

Unfortually, Neither the Wacom Cintiq 22 nor the Huion Kamvas 22 comes with a laminated display.

With that said, these tablets do a good job of minimizing air gap. The parallax is still there but it's subtle and perfectly acceptable.

Drawing Surface

With Wacom Cintiq 22 and the XP-Pen Artist 22R Pro, you get a thin plastic film applied over the glass surface of the tablet which is responsible for introducing texture to the surface.

The added friction feels a lot more natural and also improves brush control. The plastic film also resists glare and protects the glass from getting scratches.

However, the matte film on the surface of the Artist 22R Pro is not quite up to the level of the anti-glare protector on the Cintiq 22, with a less textured feel and consequently less lifelike drawing experience.

Stylus Pen

Wacom cintiq22 comes with the Wacom Pro Pen 2 stylus, which is the exact, same stylus the most expensive Cintiq Pro uses.

At present, the XP-Pen PA2 is almost as good as the Wacom Pro Pen 2 and provides a very similar drawing experience.

Both of the pens are comfortable to hold because of the rubber grip and ergonomic design.

You get a pair of side buttons on the Pro Pen 2 along with a pressure-sensitive eraser at the back. On the other hand, the PA2 Pen from XP-Pen doesn't have an eraser but comes with two side buttons.

In the pen settings, you can configure these side buttons to any hotkey of your choice.

Pressure and Tilt Sensitivity

Both the stylus are battery-free, supports 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity and ±60° of tilt recognition.

The 8192 pressure levels allows you to make subtle and minuscule changes to your artwork and by simply adjusting pen pressure , you can change line weight and brush size, as you would with a paintbrush.

However, The Wacom Pro Pen 2 performs slightly better in the initial activation force – where it better detects the lighter pressure. With XP-Pen PA2, You will have to draw the lines with more pressure.

Furthermore, The Wacom Pro pen 2 takes a slight edge in tilt sensitivity. When you tilt the XPPen stylus the pointer shifts slightly away from the center. In the case of Wacom, the pointer remains at its place when tilted.

If you value drawing accuracy, the Wacom Cintiq 22 is therefore the better pick.

Hotkeys And Controls

The Wacom Cintiq 22 lacks any buttons on the tablet, You can buy an optional express remote, which adds 17 buttons, including a touch ring, but this is extra expense on top of an already expensive product.

With a total of 20 shortcut buttons and two red roller wheels, the Artist 22R Pro beats the Cintiq 22 hands down in this area. If you value using keyboard shortcuts, then this may be the deciding factor for you.

They're customizable to fit your needs, and to speed up workflow. The two unique roller wheels even allows you to scroll or zoom, cycle layers, change brush size, and rotate.

Accessories

Although the XP-Pen Artist 22R Pro is way cheaper than Wacom Cintiq 22, it still comes with more Accessories like drawing glove and Pen holder.

The two-finger black artist glove aims at reduce the friction between your hand and the drawing surface. Also, it will avoid smudges from your hands.

The XP-Pen Artist 22R Pro comes with a cylindrical pen holder, which provides excellent protection to the pen. The cap of pen holder also act as a pen stand and a storage space for 8 extra pen nibs.

With Wacom cintiq, you do not get a dedicated pen holder. Instead, you get a small fabric loop that can clips into either side of the tablet. It also cleverly hides three extra stylus nibs.

Connectivity and Compatibility

Both these tablets uses three separate cables to connect to a computer: USB, power, and HDMI.

However, XP-Pen Artist 22R Pro also supports a USB-C to USB-C connection, letting you directly connect your iMac/Mac Book Pro or other windows devices with usb-c port.

Since Most Macs do not use HDMI, so you may need to purchase an adapter separately for Cintiq 22.

Both XP-Pen Artist 22R Pro and Wacom Cintiq 22 are compatible with the popular operating systems Linux, Windows and Mac.

In addition to Linux, Windows and Mac, the XP-Pen Artist 22R Pro also supports and can connect to Android smartphones and tablets.

Drivers

After connecting to the computer, you can download the drivers from their official websites.

Drivers of both Wacom and XP-Pen are available for Linux, Windows and Mac devices.

The drivers allow you to customize things like buttons and the pressure sensitivity of the pen and the color settings of the tablet.

Comparing the two drivers, you can say that the drivers of Wacom are slightly better as they are more simple to learn, easy to use, stable, and less issues.

Bonus Software

When you purchase your XP-Pen Artist 22R Pro tablet, you get a free license for one of 2 available digital art drawing software: ArtRage 6, and openCanvas.

With Wacom Cintiq 22, you can get a 6-month free trials of Clip Studio Paint EX, and 3 months (or 250GB) of MASV.

Price

If you were to go to Amazon right now and buy both tablets, the Wacom Cintiq 22 would cost you $1200.99 whereas the XP-Pen Artist 22R Pro tablet would cost you $621.99.

The Artist 22R Pro is priced substantially lower than the Cintiq 22. Actually if you don't need shortcut keys you can also get XP-Pen Artist 22 (2nd Generation) to save an extra $100.

Conclusion

They both have a very comparable stylus and overall have very similar drawing experience. And the 22-inch canvas is great for large format illustration, 3D Sculpting and detailed photo editing.

On pure drawing performance, the Wacom Cintiq 22 might be the better option, but when you bring price into the equation, the XP-Pen Artist 22R Pro seems a much better choice.

All comes down to your Skill levels, budget, preference and needs. If you are looking for a large drawing monitor in a budget the Artist 22R Pro is the best choice for you.

But if you don't mind spending more for slightly better hardware and stylus and do not mind the lack of shortcut buttons than Wacom Cintiq 22 will not disappoint you.

Source: https://pctechtest.com/wacom-cintiq-22-vs-xppen-artist-22r-pro

A pen tablet, also called a graphics tablet, can serve as a great alternative to using a mouse when editing photos. It lets you perform all the computer operations that you would ordinarily do with a mouse or a trackpad.

With a pen tablet for photo editing, you can move your cursor almost as fluidly as you would draw on a piece of paper.

Instead of moving your cursor across the screen by dragging your mouse or finger across a surface, you instead move a special pen across the digitizer surface.

This pen also communicates with your computer, potentially passing along information about how hard you’re pressing and the angle you’re holding the pen.

That additional pressure and angle information can be used by photo editing programs like Photoshop to change the behavior of your tools. A harder press can translate to a more opaque brush stroke, or an angled stroke can look different thanks to simulated brush tip dynamics.

Unlike a mouse, which when just transmits a yes or no signal, pen tablets can transfer thousands of levels of pressure information.

More advanced models also offer a wide number of customization options. Some tablets will include macro buttons, which can perform a range of dedicated functions like accessing tools, combining layers, or just about anything else.

Some models also offer rotary encoders, which are essentially little dials that can control zoom levels or allow tweaking slider levels with precision.

There are lots of choices. Wacom offers several different styles and sizes of non-screen intuos tablet; Huion inspiroy or XP-Pen Deco can offer a lot too.

The most advanced models actually integrate a display right into the tablet, letting you draw right on the screen. While this arguably gives the most control (and also cuts the learning curve of the new interface), these are more expensive products.

If you need a brilliant display with excellent color accuracy, and a lightweight, battery-free, ergonomic, incredibly precise pen for long hours of editing, then the wacom Cintiq, Huion Kamvas and XP-Pen Artist was purpose built for you.

In addition, Portable standalone drawing tablets are acceptable for amateurs who plan to do the majority of their editing on the go.

If you want to go all-in-one tablet, something like the Samsung Galaxy tab, iPad Pro or Microsoft Surface Pro combines your computer/screen/ tablet drawing surface into one complete device.

Overall, a pen tablet can offer far greater control than a mouse and keyboard. There can also be ergonomic benefits, making this a smart upgrade for a range of users. If you find yourself wishing for finer control over Photoshop’s brush-based tools, adding a tablet to your setup can be a great choice.

For someone starting out, not sure whether or not a tablet will work for them, try one of the smaller entry- level options. They have all the basic functionality and will allow you to get used to the idea without spending lots of money.

As a professional graphic designer, you are sure to come across some projects that might require you to bring out your artistic skills and working with pencil and paper is unlikely to satisfy the client's requirements. And, if you didn’t get it right in the first try, then the editing is sure going to take too much of your time.

Nowadays, a lot of professional illustrators, artists, and graphic designers have switched to digital tablets to complete their project more efficiently and on time. A good graphic drawing tablet provides its users with a light, responsive, handy, and electronic option to get their project done, even when they are not available in the office.

But before you start browsing all the trendy tablets for your art, drawing, illustrating or graphic design requirements, you must check the tablets: Working area; Hotkeys and features; Touch pressure sensitivity; Model type and stylus; Complete resolution; Whether it is corded or wireless .

Our top pick of the drawing tablet for graphic design is XP-Pen Deco 01 V2 . The Deco 01 V2 Tablet is a great choice for a beginning designers, thanks to its decent pad size and wide selection of accessories. It’s affordable .

This is one of the top-quality drawing tablets that are available perfect size A4 and unique design. These amazing professional designed tablets are best suitable for all sizes of businesses .

It is great device with unique features, and it comes with a re-designed pen technology which offers you with the complete accuracy always you use it. It comes with all awesome features tilt support, a battery-free pen which keeps you from worrying about its charging. It also has a built-in stand and sleek design that always keeps your pen within arm’s limit.

If you are looking for greatest comfort while drawing, then this ergonomically designed graphics tablet by the XP-PEN is the ideal pick for you. This tablet offers a very large design with 10 x 6.25 inches working area that lets you to get your work done easily and fast, and at the same time allows your wrist to rest comfortably along the edge of the tablet to help lessen the fatigue.

It comes with amazing features of touch pressure sensitivity because it have the highest pen pressure levels on the market.

8 Customizable Shortcut Keys let you easy to use the press keys to keep your favorite functions close to you for more efficiency.

However, for the users as the holding their tablet while the functions great and using these, you can find the wider viewing direction in both vertical and horizontal of 170 degrees so that you can also view the screen of your tablet from different angles.

It comes with great features of smooth and robust design that makes it easier for you to access this tablet at ease whether in your lap, on your workspace or you’re desktop.

So, this is an amazing drawing table for graphic design and you must use if you are looking for a handy and convenient tablets for drawing.

Graphic Design Software ; Drawing Tablet for Adobe Photoshop ; Graphic Tablet for Adobe illustrator .