What Is the Best Drawing Tablet?

Drawing Tablet Price Vs. Performance

As with other peripheral computer devices, drawing tablets come in a wide range of price and quality. It is important to define your needs before buying. An occasional user will need a drawing tablet that can digitally reproduce hand-drawn images with accuracy and ease of operation. A professional illustrator or animator will need a durable, high-quality machine that will stand up to daily use and produce the highest-quality images.

The Jam Studio drawing tablet from KB Gear Interactive is priced at just over $20, as of 2009. It is not professional grade but functions properly. The GT-504 graphic tablet is available for under $50 and may be used with MSN Natural Draw. The Wacom Bamboo is a small unit that retails for about $100, and is also available for lower prices as a refurbished machine. Wacom is the leading manufacturer of drawing tablets, over a range of prices.

One of Wacom's top-rated drawing tablets is the Wacom Intuos3, with a 4-by-5-inch drawing surface, at around $200, in 2009. The digital pen is very sensitive and able to reproduce subtle changes in pressure on the drawing tablet. For a slightly higher price, the Wacom Graphire Bluetooth tablet comes with a larger 6-by-8-inch drawing area. Wacom offers more selection at much higher prices. The Adesso Cyber Pad A4 is highly recommended by business users, and is described as a notepad and drawing tablet.

The Wacom Cintiq 12WX is a lightweight unit with a 12-inch screen, allowing the user to work directly onscreen with the stylus inside graphics applications such as Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Flash, Adobe Illustrator and Corel Draw. It retails for about $1,000. The ultimate drawing tablet from Wacom is the Cintiq 21UX, offering a 21-inch screen along with the ability to work directly in applications. At just under $2,000, it is a great investment for working professionals with high-end needs.