Which graphics tablet is best for my workflow?

[Steve Fermor]

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

[kglad]

in the future, to find the best place to post your message, use the list here, https://community.adobe.com/

p.s. i don't think the adobe website, and forums in particular, are easy to navigate, so don't spend a lot of time searching that forum list. do your best and we'll move the post (like this one has already been moved) if it helps you get responses.

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[Conrad_C]

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.