Can a regular tablet be used instead of a graphics tablet? Android applications. Setting up for stable operation

Modern market Technology is rich in a variety of devices that differ in functionality, purpose, and price. One of them is a graphics tablet. The device allows you to enter a design with your hands and a pen onto a special surface with further display on the computer. The main thing is to know how to use a graphics tablet. Instructions are presented in this article.

How does the device work?

The tablet is presented in the form of a workspace that transfers the result of touching it to the computer. Using a stylus, you can perform actions similar to those of a regular computer mouse, but there are many more possibilities when you consider drawing and writing.

You won't be able to accurately work out the thickness of the drawing lines with a mouse. It turns out that the pen will be used as a full-fledged control tool. A person draws as on ordinary paper. But the result is immediately visible on the monitor. There is another useful benefit. For example, to accurately draw a certain area, a sheet of paper cannot be scaled, but this can be easily done with the image on the monitor.

The difficulty may not be simply getting used to the fact that pen movements are performed on a tablet, and the result is visible on the computer. To do this, you need to constantly raise your head to look at the screen. High-quality electronic pens or pens respond well to pen pressure. Some devices are combined with a display; the result of the work is immediately displayed on them. Each technique comes with instructions on how to use a graphics tablet.

Preparation

How to use a graphics tablet? This procedure is simple:

1. You need to connect the device to the PC.
2. Then you need to make sure that the OS has detected the tablet.
3. Then you need to install the drivers that are included with the device. If the equipment is used, then it is unlikely to have documentation, that is, drivers must be downloaded from the Internet.
4. It is necessary to adjust the operation and sensitivity of the pen.

Drawing

After completing the above settings, you can start drawing. Many people think it is difficult. But, in fact, it is as easy as with a piece of paper and a pencil. The difference is that you have to work with an electronic device.

The user may need special programs. Then you need to install them yourself. For example, the Photoshop application is considered a drawing program.

Choice

When purchasing a tablet, you need to consider the following nuances:

1. Size. It is measured in the same format as sheets - A4, A5. The comfort of drawing depends on the size of the sensitive area. But, as the size of the device increases, the cost increases. If a professional needs A4 format, then regular user can purchase a compact model.
2. Proportions. It is best that the aspect ratio of the equipment matches that of the monitor. Now there are drivers that automatically adjust the dimensions to the width of the computer screen. But, if it is wide and the tablet is not, then one of the parts of the graphics device may be inactive. And when the image is stretched, it becomes distorted.
3. Permission. The dots per inch (DPI) determines how precisely the pen's touch will be perceived. Therefore, the higher this parameter, the better. For home use, 2 thousand dots per inch will be enough. For professional use, higher values ​​are required - 5080 dpi.
4. Sensitivity to pressure. This parameter indicates how much pressure the device recognizes based on the pressing force. For normal use 512 pressures are required, and for professionals - 1024.
5. Tilt angle sensitivity. This feature may only be required by some users.
6. Method of connecting to a computer. The tablet connects using USB, Bluetooth or wireless interfaces.

Who needs it?

How to use a graphics tablet may be of interest to people of different professions:

1. Artists and designers. The work of these people is related to drawing. Web designers also carry out creative activities on the computer. Graphic drawing using a pen on a digitized sheet makes the procedure easier, more enjoyable and accurate. The process will be much more natural. If you are interested in how to use a graphics tablet for drawing, the above procedure will help.
2. For photographers. They need such a device. The device is used for photo processing - the pen allows you to remove various errors and correct the frame for each pixel.
3. Businessmen and office workers. They also need to know how to use a graphics tablet. Although they will not need photo retouching, it is still advisable to master the basic nuances of the work. A tablet of this type is required to create an electronic signature, which can be done with a stylus. Although it is not profitable to buy a device for one purpose, it can also work with other tasks. For example, a tablet makes it convenient to edit documents, make edits, create presentations and other work.
4. Children and youth. The child will be interested in mastering drawing with the help of new technologies. It is enough to familiarize him with the principles of operation.
5. Individuals who want to develop and spend a lot of time at the computer. They would do well to know how to use a Bamboo graphics tablet or another brand of device. Even if a person is not a designer, technology will help if you constantly have to work with a computer. The device will allow you to take a break from the mouse and keyboard. In addition, it can be used by those who simply love to draw.

Conclusion

People of all professions who have to deal with such devices need to know how to use a Wacom Intuos graphics tablet and other brands of equipment. And non-specialists can have a good time with them.

Do you love to draw and constantly use a graphics tablet? Would you like to turn your favorite iPad into it? Astropad will allow you to draw in any graphics editor installed on your Mac, connecting via Wi-Fi or USB.

Astropad was developed by two former Apple engineers, Mat Ronge and Giovanni Donelli. The application works great with all the most popular models styluses and allows you to draw in all graphics editors on Mac.

To run Astropad, you need two apps, one for iPad with installed iOS 8, the second - for Mac with Mavericks or Yosemite.

Of course, I couldn’t pass up such an application and immediately tried it out. When you install the program on your Mac and iPad, you have a connection between the two devices, and you immediately see a dedicated area of ​​the Mac screen on the iPad.

In Astropad, you simply control the cursor with your iPad. So all you have to do is launch Photoshop or Pixelmator and start drawing or editing a photo. I'm not much of an artist, but, in any case, I can assure you that the application works just fine, without freezes or misunderstandings.

To speed up your work, you can quickly change tools using your mouse and immediately continue drawing on your iPad. And to change the drawing area, you need to select “move & zoom” in the lower left corner. If you find the Astropad toolbar obscuring part of the screen, you can simply click on the circle that is permanently displayed on the iPad screen.

Since I don’t have a stylus, I couldn’t try this tool in the program. But you have this opportunity, you just need to download two applications. You can use Astropad for free for 7 days, then if you like the app, buy it for $50 ($20 for students).

A tablet is a portable computer that has many different useful functions. Of course, it is convenient to use it for simple tasks: surfing the Internet, watching movies, doing office work (if a keyboard is connected), etc. And most importantly, you can take it with you anywhere. Unfortunately, if there are functions that even the best devices cannot do.

It's difficult to use a tablet to create new content. This is hindered by inaccurate lines and inconvenience in drawing. Many devices are not designed for these features, unlike But many users try to add features to their device and make it unique. Let's look at how to make a graphics tablet from a tablet.

Transformation of the tablet

As we have already found out, these portable devices are designed to use ready-made content. This could be games, movies, music, or office work, and many would agree that this is quite enough for a comfortable pastime.

But today we are trying to improve our device, so we are looking for a solution that will allow us to learn how to turn a tablet into a graphics tablet. Nowadays you can find many applications that will add functions to our device.

iOS

First, you should consider a more popular and expensive device. So how to make iPad graphic tablet? Consider the Sketchbook Ink editor, which was developed by the fairly popular company Autodesk. This application will allow us to save money and add many of the functions that a graphics tablet has.

This company produces many various applications for private and commercial use. Autodesk products have already been appreciated by millions of people around the world.

This popular company has also reached Apple products, which have a rather unique operating system - iOS. Sketchbook Ink graphics editor provides people with a complete set of tools for creating quality content. The application is great not only for people who decide to learn to draw, but also for professionals. Probably, many will agree that it is much more convenient to draw on one prepared device than to carry a set of pencils and paper with you.

The application is capable of turning your device into an operating system iOS system into a graphics tablet that will be used for vector graphics. This is the right choice, according to many experts. It is vector graphics that will not lose image quality even when high magnification drawing.

Sketchbook Ink contains big set tools that allow you to create high quality images. Various brushes, pencils, erasers, and a palette of colors will help you create a masterpiece. For drawing, you can use a special thin stylus.

Is it possible to turn a tablet into a graphics tablet? Certainly! As you already understand, the image quality is quite good. This is possible thanks to image scaling and high-quality fill. You can use multiple shades or fill the area with your chosen color.

This application has quite useful feature. You can use layers to create a higher quality image. Only thanks to this can you get a fairly realistic image.

Android

How to make a graphics tablet from a phone or tablet running the Android operating system? Of course, many more people use Android devices, this is due to the price of the devices and the variety of choices. That is why application developers for this operating system are not inferior to iOS. Many different applications have appeared in the Play Market that will allow you to create fairly high-quality images.

You can use any application that you like best. They contain a standard set of functions. You will also need a stylus for more productive work. The operating principle of these applications is similar to Sketchbook Ink.

Android applications

What utilities should you use?

1. PaperSimple. At first glance, it may seem that this is a rather simple application that is not capable of satisfying the user. But this is not true at all. Once you get the hang of the app and start drawing, you'll start to see your first high-quality images. By using vector graphics you can zoom in as close as possible without losing quality for further editing.
2. Skedio. A good application for creating images using vector graphics. However, it is more suitable for beginners; professionals will find it quite uncomfortable to work in it.

Of course, these are not all applications, but only they will allow you to truly plunge into the atmosphere of creativity. So we learned how to turn a regular tablet into a graphics tablet.

Received images

After drawing, you can upload your masterpieces to a special Dropbox service to send the images to your computer later. You can also send pictures to social networks immediately after drawing so that your friends can appreciate them.

Conclusion

Many of us have repeatedly asked the question: “How to turn a regular tablet into a graphics tablet?” After all, every self-respecting modern digital artist, or even just a beginner, wants to have such a thing in their arsenal. The trouble is that not everyone can afford it, or perhaps they simply don’t want to spend the money. Therefore, everyone who has an Android or iPad is looking for all sorts of options solutions to this problem. Which? Let's figure it out.

Software conversion

The areas of tasks where the tablet feels great are wide: from Internet surfing to performing office tasks. But as far as graphics are concerned, not everything is so simple. So is it possible to use a regular tablet as a graphics tablet? Certainly! To create beautiful visual content on a non-graphics tablet, all you need is a simple software upgrade. All you need is a tablet, an Internet connection and a stylus. For iOS and Android in Global network We have our own programs.

To turn an iPad into a graphics tablet, you can install:

XorgTablet for Android

This application will allow you to use a regular tablet as a graphics tablet. With this application you can connect to your PC and use GIMP editor. However, you should not hope that this will completely replace a graphics tablet, since it is worth remembering that a regular PC will not be able to recognize how hard you press the display, and this will significantly affect the quality of work, and on your nerves too. The only “rescue” option in this situation may be a digitizer integrated into your tablet, working in tandem with a so-called stylus. With this application you will be able to connect via USB cable or Wi-Fi.

One of the disadvantages of such work is the fact that the mouse stops responding in the editor. Additionally, drivers for this application only exist for the Linux operating system.

Sketchbook Ink editor from Autodesk

The utility allows you to work with vector graphics, using the widest range of tools - brushes, an eraser, a whole palette of colors, etc. You can add layers and get a fairly realistic image using a special thin stylus. Agree, this is much more convenient than carrying a set of pencils and paper with you. And what is also important, when scaling the resulting drawings in Sketchbook Ink, their quality is absolutely not lost.

Air Stylus for iPad

There is also an iPad app that will turn your device into a graphics tablet. Because the iPad screen is not as sensitive when pressed, many have given up trying to use it for such needs. But thanks to a special program and a pen, this still became possible. Unlike similar application for Android, Air Stylus It can easily transfer an image from a tablet to a computer and you can control the pressing force.

The application cooperates with manufacturers of various pens and it is possible to support such popular graphic editor like Pixelmator and Adobe Photoshop. And the total number of joint programs is about two dozen. The developers also plan to collaborate with Windows and Android.

Android Applications

The list of applications for Android is much more diverse. Widely available on Play Market You can find applications for creating very high-quality pictures. Their functionality is similar to Sketchbook Ink:

PaperSimple is a vector graphics program without loss of quality during scaling.

Skedio is another interesting tool that encourages creativity and is more suitable for beginners.

ArtRage is a more serious tool for creating works of artistic quality in raster graphics. Those who have experience in painting with oils, pastels, watercolors and other techniques will appreciate the beauty of imitation of real paints.

Budget iPad with stylus

Much to our user happiness, the Apple company has started developing a new budget iPad that supports working with a pen and also has wide “graphics” functionality.

Combining the power of the system with extensive multimedia capabilities, it allows you to create work projects and use hundreds of design applications in App Store. The work area, which is a 9.7-inch Multi-Touch screen with LED backlighting and a resolution of 2048 and 1536, gives a picture that looks very vibrant, realistic and incredibly detailed. The powerful system hardware easily copes with complex game graphics and streams 4K video without any problems.

However, the main feature of the budget iPad is support for Apple Pencil, which opens up completely new horizons in creativity. The stylus is pressure sensitive, so you can effortlessly change the thickness of lines and add special effects, just like when manipulating with a real pencil. Sign, paint with watercolors, edit notes, do video editing - all this can be done on the new Apple iPad 2018!

Of course, there are other tablet options for working with graphics on TopGoods, but the iPad is best adapted to the needs of artists and other creative people.

What is the difference between a graphics tablet and a regular one?

First of all, it’s worth remembering the direct purpose of a regular tablet:

it is used to search for information on the Internet;

for watching movies;

for working in office programs.

You need a graphics tablet to create graphic drawings in special programs, such as CorelDraw. These tablets replace the artist's canvas, brush and palette and help create drawings in digital format.

Pros of using a graphics tablet:

can be used great amount shades and colors, the choice is unlimited;

after creating another masterpiece, you don’t need to spend a lot of time transferring the drawing to a computer format;

you no longer need to look for different brushes or pencils, all this replaces one pen, the drawing method of which can be changed without spending a lot of time and effort.

Thanks to all these functions, no tablet can compete with a graphics tablet, since all these functions affect the quality and speed of work.

Despite all the obvious advantages, many still ask the question: “Why are graphics tablets expensive?” I would like to immediately note that this is a rash prejudice, because prices for graphics tablets vary greatly. And this state of affairs depends on many factors:

Manufacturer. First of all, it is worth noting that there are a huge number of manufacturers, which also affects the quality and, consequently, the cost of the product. The assortment of our online store includes Wacom graphics tablets.

Display size. Graphic tablets also vary in screen size, and this is an important factor when purchasing such a device. So, the most expensive tablet can be with a diagonal of 22 inches, and the cheapest with a diagonal of 146 by 93 millimeters.

Resolution and pressure sensitivity. In expensive devices, the resolution can be more than 4 thousand lines per inch, and the sensitivity is about 1023 levels. In the most budget graphics tablets, the resolution is much lower, and the sensitivity leaves much to be desired.

Can a graphics tablet be replaced with a regular one?

Of course, generally speaking, it can. True, an upgraded tablet with graphics programs will be somewhat inferior to graphics devices, especially in terms of responsiveness, parallax, pressure recognition and other aspects. But for sketches and outlines this option is quite good.

The ideal option would be to use tablets that have an active digitizer built into the screen, which works in tandem with an active, pressure-sensitive digital pen.

As for the use of a graphics tablet as a device for business, depending on the model, questions may arise regarding energy efficiency and autonomy.

Do you need additional gadgets for graphics tablets?

Some accessories, like a mouse and stylus, are definitely needed. In fact, with their help you can realize creative ideas. Using the touchpad and gestures, it is almost impossible to recreate exact lines, shapes and adjust the drawing while working.

Types of additional gadgets for graphics tablets

The easiest way to work in graphics programs on a tablet is with a mouse and stylus. Even better is a stylus with extra tips. There are other useful “things” that make the creative process more convenient and easier:

Replaceable stylus tips. Constant touching of the pen to the working surface of the tablet will certainly lead to wear and deformation of the instrument, which makes working with it uncomfortable, so it is better to change them from time to time. One more point: these “nozzles” “scrape” the surface in different ways, so if you successfully select the tip option for each individual task, you can achieve very interesting design effects.

Replaceable smooth surface. Provides less friction to the pen than a standard cap, allowing the nib to wear out less and last longer.

Glove for graphics tablet. Prevents unwanted contact palms with screen of graphics tablet or paper. The element is not mandatory, but has a very beneficial effect on comfort creative process, since with a glove you don’t need to constantly keep your hand suspended so as not to touch the touchpad. Available in versions with one or two closed fingers, in different color variations.

Tablet stand. Another handy tool that allows you to hold your gadget at an angle convenient for you and at an optimal height. As a rule, the base of the device is rubberized, which ensures reliable adhesion of the structure and the tablet to the table surface. This accessory is also useful for other tasks, for example, installing a graphics tablet vertically to watch your favorite movie.

On the Ukrainian market, including on the TopGoods website, there are accessories for graphics tablets of different price categories.

Stylus for a graphics tablet - what is it?

If we consider the question of what is the difference between a very expensive stylus and a cheap one, for example, then it all depends on the material of the tip. The sponge version is considered the cheapest, but this accessory has good accuracy and response. True, such a stylus does not last long: the sponge wears out quickly.

Pen made of conductive fibers (stylus brush) - optimal solution for artists who plan to draw with “paints” on the screen. Such a tool does not need to be washed after inspired work, and it is also lightweight, compact and fits perfectly in the hand. Over time, the stylus brush tends to lose its shape and becomes “shaggy”.

A tip made of conductive rubber or with a plastic tip is the most common and versatile option, which is great for all types of work: typing, drawing, handwriting. It is not difficult to solve any problems with him. High-quality rubber tip imitates a human finger as accurately as possible; such material does not scratch the surface and has high accuracy, and he also clearly draws straight lines. The price of this stylus is higher, but it's worth it.

Another gradation of the stylus is based on ease of wearing. There are options on a cord, for a special hole in the tablet. Regarding other accessories, such as a glove, a stand for a tablet, their cost depends on the quality of materials and versatility.

The conclusion of all of the above is very simple and unpretentious. If you are serious about drawing, graphic design or art in general, then purchasing a quality graphics tablet will be one of the best investments you can make in your creativity. After all, everyone knows that “the miser pays twice,” so save yourself from such an unenviable fate and choose the graphics tablet that will bring you joy, inspiration, and will become a reliable assistant in your creativity.