Which graphics tablet is best for my workflow?

Question

Hi,I need a little advice on possibly purchasing a graphics tablet. Everyone's workflow is different, so here's mine.My desktop is a 27" iMac. I'm an automotive illustrator, old school using an airbrush. I am an experienced Mac user and and to create for example a wheel, I'll do the technical line work in InDesign, export it into Photoshop and add colour and texture there. I have very good hand to eye cordination and have illustrated this way using a mouse – but that's a bit of a brick and I'm looking for something more intuitive. I've attached an illustration done this way.I'm uncertain whether to have a tablet with a screen, because I will always be looking at the Mac and constantly switching between InDesign and Photoshop while working. My Mac will always be the centre of attention working this way I think. I want to be able to save as I go on the iMac without having part of the illustration on another device.I don't want to have to constantly export between Mac and tablet and back again.I have an iPad air and pencil, but I've never been comfortable working with it. Because what I do is quite analytical, I feel I need the discipline and control an iMac offers me.If I have one with a screen it will need to be an exact duplicate of what I see on the Mac.What can I buy? Any advice or further questions would be welcome

Conrad_C · Answer

That’s a nice detailed description of your work. It really helps narrow down what kind of tablet you might need, because you’re right, everyone’s workflow is different.

You might want a medium or large sized tablet that does not have a screen, such as a Wacom Intuos Pro, because it sounds like you’ll be fine looking at the Mac screen the whole time. Not having a screen on the tablet will save a ton of money.

Whether you choose medium or large depends on how you’ve felt drawing with the mouse. If you’ve been comfortable with your hand movements, a medium size could work. If you’ve felt constrained and wish you could move your arm more, or if you’re used to drawing on large sheets of paper, a large size tablet could be better, but takes up a lot of desk space.

For comparision, I have a smaller tablet with no screen. I’m not drawing and painting, I’m mostly adjusting handles and dragging sliders, mostly brushing masks for photography. If I was more of a fine art illustrator or painter, I would want a larger tablet for expressive hand and arm movements with a stylus.

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