Back in the day, tattoo artists must spend a fortune on canvas and paint to prepare for a tattoo. With the best drawing tablet for tattoo artist, this problem will no longer plague young talents.
However, with the rise of technology, so many options are readily available on the market. In this post, we went through them and narrowed down the 7 best options to make it easier for you!
Top 7 Best Drawing Tablet For Tattoo Artist
1. Wacom One DTC133W0A Drawing Tablet – Best Flexibility
Specifications:
- Brand: Wacom
- Display: 13.3″
- Operating System: Chrome OS, macOS, Windows, Android
- Dimensions: 8.86 x 14.05 x 0.57 Inches
- Connectivity: USB-C and OTG
- Weight: 0.26 Pounds
Despite not having the biggest screen or the most vivid display, the Wacom One DTC133W0A is still among the best drawing tablet options. The reason for this conclusion sterns from its incredibly flexible compatibility. Aside from the usual Windows and macOS devices, it can also link with ChromeOS and Android.
Display & Stylus
The display’s size is modest, having only 13.3″ of effective area. However, it still has the 1920×1080 resolution, so you will still be able to inspect your drawing in close detail. Even though the most it can manage is 72% NTSC for color gamut, the color accuracy still holds up well when you observe at an angle.
On the other hand, the accompanying stylus is more basic of a solution than what we are familiar with. It only has 4096 pressure sensitivity levels, but the screen has some additional friction. Thanks to this, you will feel like drawing with a real pen on real paper using this tool!
Connectivity & Compatibility
As we have mentioned, compatibility is the most remarkable aspects that make it one of the best drawing tablets for tattoo artists excels. You can expect practically any device to be able to accommodate the tablet, as it can run on the 4 biggest operating systems.
It does offer support for USB-C and OTG ports. You won’t get a connection with the highest speed possible, but it can connect properly.
Hardware & Design
This table is a product from Waco, so you can expect their famous low-heat processors. This processor can even run on your run-of-the-mill power banks with the help of a USB cable.
Weakness
Still, it does have a huge weakness. If you don’t have a power bank ready, you can’t work for long. The lithium-polymer battery is not that good at holding charges for long.
PROS
- Thin body
- Practically no heat while working
- Incredible compatibility
CON
- Short battery life
2. XP-PEN Artist24 Pro Tablet – Best For Complex Design
Specifications:
- Brand: XP-PEN
- Display: 23.8″
- Operating System: Windows and macOS
- Dimensions: 24.88 x 14.57 x 1.76 inches
- Connectivity: HDMI and USB-C
- Weight: 15.43 Pounds
The XP-PEN Artist24 Pro Tablet is specifically good for complex and expansive tattoo designs. The reason for such strength comes from its screen and stylus combo. This combination makes it stand out from the crowd, as not many tablets are built with tattoo drawing as the main goal.
Display & Stylus
The display’s effective area measures 15.6″, larger than most options on this list. This size is suitable for all kinds of expansive drawing, something complex tattoo designs require. Moreover, it also has a 1920 x 1080 resolution, allowing the artist to thoroughly check every detail of the tattoo.
We are also impressed by its color packing capability, as it uses the infallible color gamut of 88% NTSC and 120% sRGB. This combination ensures that the finished product will be as lifelike as possible due to how correct the colors are.
Furthermore, the pen can serve you the same way a real pen would. This is due to it having a total of 8192 levels in pressure sensitivity. Working together with this feature is the 5080 LPI resolution, which gives feedback the same way a real paper would.
Connectivity & Compatibility
While this tablet can connect with most devices, it is only compatible with both macOS and Windows. You don’t get any further connection from things like Chromebooks as well.
Besides, connectors are the same old HDMI and USB ports. This classic duo will be enough for most situations, as they take up a huge chunk of connectors in use.
Hardware & Design
Weighing 3 pounds, this tablet is not the easiest one to carry around. Even if you happen to drop it by accident, you won’t need to worry about it breaking right away.
The hotkey design is also comfortable to reach, with 8 shortcuts and 1 exclusive red dial. You will be able to quickly go through the commands once you get used to the layout.
Weakness
In fact, the most serious disadvantage is its visibility under sunlight. Depending on the angle, you may not be able to see anything.
PROS
- An amazing combo of display and stylus
- Intuitive shortcut layout
- Dedicated portable stand
CON
- Not much sunlight visibility
3. HUION KAMVAS Pro Drawing Tablet – Best For Portability
Specifications:
- Brand: HUION
- Display: 15.6”
- Operating System: Windows, MacOS, ChromeOS
- Dimensions: 17.24 x 9.88 x 0.47 inches
- Connectivity: USB-C
- Weight: 2.98 Pounds
Something like the HUION KAMVAS Pro Drawing Tablet is the most suitable for artists who are on the go most of their time. Measuring only 17.24 x 9.88 x 0.47 inches, it can fit into all types of backpacks, and the 2.98 pounds weight doesn’t feel that heavy.
Display & Stylus
The display consists of an IPS 15.6″ panel, which can go as high as 1080p in resolution. It also features a new development in color gamut tech with a 120% sRGB and 88% NTSC. These work together to provide the user with the most accurate colors possible, blowing life into the designs.
The 16:9 aspect ratio makes it easier to determine how the tattoo will look on customers’ skin. Furthermore, the display features another new anti-glare tech, protecting your eyes’ health.
The EMR pen can resonate with electromagnetic and have tilt support, making it suitable for more complex designs. It also has an 8192 pressure sensitivity level, providing you the same feel as a real pen on real paper.
Connectivity & Compatibility
Despite being a compact tablet with an affordable price, it can connect with the 3 most used operating systems: Windows, macOS, and ChromeOS. That is why this product is compatible with 80% of the devices currently available on the market.
The connectors that it has are the usual HDMI and USB ports. Of course, this also means that the device doesn’t have any peculiar limits like the options with USB-C lightning ports.
Hardware & Design
As we mentioned above, the focus of this machine is to be as portable as possible, which explains its slim tablet design. It is made completely in plastic, which provides respectable durability against strong pressure levels without weighing too much.
An interesting design choice that we observed in this tablet is the fact that it also offers 1 touch key and 6 press keys for more productivity. People not familiar with tablets will have a better time.
Weakness
The biggest weakness lies in the tablet’s incompatibility with Android. As we all know, Android has arguably the biggest user base. This issue limits the compatibility of the tablet somewhat.
PROS
- Portable drawing tablet
- Cost-effective
- Anti-glare screen
- Portable design
CON
- Not suitable with Android
4. Apple iPad Pro – Best Overall
Specifications:
- Brand: Apple
- Display size: 12.9”
- Operating System: IPadOS 14.5.1
- RAM 8GB
- Dimensions: 11.04 x 8.46 x 0.23 inches
- Connectivity: USB-C
- Weight: 1.5 pounds
Don’t be intimidated by the Apple iPad Pro’s price. It is worth every single penny if you can afford the budget. The only description that we can give this tablet is “perfect”, especially if you are a serious and professional artist of tattooing. This ideal drawing tablet has arguably the most impressive display on this list.
Why is it suited for tattoo artists?
Display & Stylus
Let’s go in-depth on the display, which uses a 12.9″ Liquid Retina screen. This configuration grants the tablet a good balance between brightness and contrast. As a result, the drawing will be identical to how it would look on human skin.
The tablet’s clarity is also top-notch, thanks to the peak brightness level of 1600 nits. This works together with a 4:3 aspect ratio to provide you with an impressively calibrated viewing experience. This experience is improved even more with the panel full of mini-LEDs and Dolby vision enhancement.
Next is the stylus, which has accrued a reputation for being pixel-perfect. This precision gets a further boost with minimal latency, something all traditional artists love. No one wants to lose their spark of creativity to a delay.
Connectivity & Compatibility
Despite adhering to the infamous Apple Ecosystem, the Apple iPad Pro can still connect with different operating systems. This makes transferring stencils and images into Windows PC more manageable.
There are actually a lot of ways you can use to connect this professional drawing tablet with other hardware. For example, there is a magnetic connector, support for Wi-Fi 6, a USB-C port, DisplayPort, etc. These provide the Apple iPad Pro with incredible flexibility in connection.
Hardware & Design
This product’s dimension measures 11.04 x 8.46 x 0.23 inches, not too big that it can’t fit snugly on your hands yet not too small to impact your drawing. The weight is also just right, at 1.5 pounds. Your arm won’t tire out holding it for a long time.
Weakness
We do want to note that you won’t get the stylus buying the tablet. That is why you will need to spend some more cash on it. This, coupled with the already-high price of the iPad, means that some will not be able to afford it.
PROS
- Incredible HD display
- Huge RAM storage
- Responsive Face ID
CON
- Expensive model
5. Wacom PTH660 Intuos Pro Drawing Tablet – Best For Budget
Specifications:
- Brand: Wacom
- Display: 15″
- Operating System: Windows and macOS
- Dimensions: 13.14 x 8.54 x 0.31 inches
- Connectivity: Bluetooth
- Weight: 1.54 Pounds
Not all tattoo artists have an unlimited budget at their fingertips. The Wacom PTH660 Intuos Pro Drawing Tablet will satisfy you if you are one of them as the cheapest option. The model is, without any doubt, the most affordable drawing tablet on this whole list.
Display & Stylus
Despite being so affordable, you will be gravely mistaken to underestimate what this best tablet for drawing tattoos can offer. A prime example of this quality is the display, which takes up exactly 15″ and has a 5080 LPI resolution. This combo ensures that you can easily draw practically any tattoo design you want.
The accompanying stylus is, again, the iconic Wacom Pro Pen 2. This pen features both tilt recognition at 60 degrees and 8192 pressure levels. That is why it can perform at the same level as real pens. We also like the silicone rubber latex-free pen grip ensuring a more stable drawing experience.
Connectivity & Compatibility
Aside from the usual Windows and macOS connections, this machine can also connect through Bluetooth and the Internet. For this reason, it provides a certain level of flexibility for the user.
Hardware & Design
The basic designs of this model are not that different from its predecessors, but it doesn’t take as much space thanks to it being thinner. The build quality that Wacom is known for is still present, though.
The ExpressKeys feature that Wacom put in for this best tablet for a professional artist is quite impressive. It allows for more hotkeys, which experienced artists will surely appreciate. You can set this feature on the left or right side depending on your preference.
Furthermore, the Multi-Touch function can turn it into a trackpad. This capability opens up lots of options for the user.
Weakness
The most vital weakness that the Wacom PTH660 Intuos Pro Drawing Tablet shows is a lack of durability. Due to focusing too much on being thin, it has sacrificed some of its durability. You should be more careful while using a tablet of this line.
PROS
- Respectable storage space
- Lots of supportive add-ons
- Multiple sizes to choose from
- Budget option for artists
CON
- Lacking in durability
6. Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Tablet PC – Best 2-In-1
Specifications:
- Brand: Microsoft
- Display: 12.3″
- Operating System: Windows
- Dimensions: 11.5 x 7.9 x 0.3 inches
- Connectivity: USB-A and USB-C
- Weight: 1.70 Pounds
The special thing about the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 Tablet PC is the fact that it can also serve as a Windows PC. This 2-in-1 nature provides new tattoo artists with another tool without having to spend too much more. We all know how good a PC’s performance is when it comes to ledgers and accounting.
Display
Its 12.3″ display is on the respectable side, not too small that you will struggle while drawing. The display’s resolution is the selling point, though, measuring 2736 x 1824 pixels. This working together with the strategic viewing angle and extended color gamut allows you to draw more functional frames.
The display also gives back tactile yet still pleasant feedback through the stylus. In fact, its pressure sensitivity level is an incredible 4096, ensuring near-perfect tattoo design stencils. You also don’t get limited by one stylus, as the tablet is capable of connecting with other styluses through the USB-C base.
Connectivity & Compatibility
Due to its Microsoft root, this table uses Windows 10 as its operating system. Doing so ensures a certain level of usability for it, as Windows is the only operating system with the newest version of Adobe Illustrator, Corel Draw, etc.
As for the connections, you get a USB-A port, BT 5.0, a Surface Connect port, and AX support for Wi-Fi.
Hardware & Design
You can see this tablet as the beefed-up version. Its setup consists of a 10th gen i3 processor from Intel, a UHD coprocessor for graphics, and 4 GB of RAM. These features working together means that the tablet can provide its user with high-quality stencils and visual renders.
We also love the fact that this tablet allows for an easier time to upgrade storage. People with experience all know that the 120 GB SSD will soon become full. In this case, the slot for a micro SD card will let you increase the storage significantly.
Weakness
While still serving as a huge help, the RAM still lacks some raw power. That is why you will notice a slight lag whenever too many Photoshop edits run simultaneously.
PROS
- Precise drawing support
- 2-in-1 nature
- Good display
CON
- Lacking in RAM’s intensive performance
7. Wacom Cintiq 22 DTK2260K0A Drawing Tablet – Best Draw Capability
Specifications:
- Brand: Wacom
- Display: 21.5″
- Operating System: Windows
- Dimensions: 16.2 x 10.4 x 0.7 inches
- Connectivity: HDMI and USB
- Weight: 3.3 Pounds
Anyone who loves to draw but is afraid of encountering parallax will be a good fit for the Wacom Cintiq 22 DTK2260K0A Drawing Tablet. When it comes to hand-feel, rarely any other option can defeat something from Wacom. This is not to mention its increased pen quality and screen size.
Display & Stylus
This tablet has a huge display, measuring 21.5″, among the biggest on this list. However, you should not underestimate this display’s features. This is especially true for coloring, as the gamut with its 72% NTSC color scheme ensures that your drawing’s color will not become too different.
It also works perfectly with its official line of pens, which can tilt almost 60 degrees to one side. This kind of flexibility improves the pen’s maneuverability significantly. The pen’s resolution is at 5080 LPI, making it possible for the artist to do blackwork, portraiture, and realism designs.
You don’t need to worry about the pen running out of power, as it can self-charge. It can use EMR tech to feed off the tablet’s power source.
Connectivity & Compatibility
This tablet is suitable with both the OS X and Windows setup. It also has a slot of USB-A and a standard port for HDMI. While this kind of connectivity is surely not the most impressive, it can do the job just fine.
Hardware & Design
This tablet has a 16.2 x 10.4 x 0.7 inches measurement, a pretty significant size that most graphic tablets don’t use. Nevertheless, the active area can be as small as 13.6 x 7.6. Most pros love this size, as it can allow them to be throughout with the stencil.
You also get a foldable stand, a radial menu, a touch ring, and express keys. These work together to ensure that your design management can be better.
Weakness
This tablet is purely for graphical use, so you need to connect it to a host machine. Otherwise, it does not have any power to turn on. It is also one of the heaviest machines on the list.
PROS
- Huge screen
- Incredible pen
- Durable
CON
- Heavyweight
Verdict For The Best Drawing Tablet For Tattoo Artist
We believe that the best possible choice in most circumstances is the Apple iPad Pro. It clearly leads on all the major aspects, from display to hardware designs. In fact, if it wasn’t for the fact that you need to spend a small fortune to get it and its accessories, there is no competition.
People who don’t have as much money stashed around won’t be able to afford the iPad Pro. In this case, we believe that the Wacom PTH660 Intuos Pro Drawing Tablet is the next best choice. Despite its price point, this tablet does have some impressive features like a good pen and interesting additional features.
The last strong competition that can claim to be the best digital drawing tablet for tattoo design should be the XP-PEN Artist24 Pro Tablet. It has arguably the biggest display and a more responsive pen. This alone is enough to make it useful for serious artists.
Best Tablet For Tattoo Artist Buying Guide
Size
One of the deciding factors for a tablet’s performance is its size, both the effective area and the overall area. With a more effective area, you can draw greater things. As a result, larger tattoos will be much more accessible, as you can practice on them first.
The overall size will determine how durable and portable the tablet will be. The best choice will always strike a balance between these 2 concepts to ensure less friction.
Pressure Sensitivity
The pen pressure sensitivity number tells the artist how close the tablet’s performance will be to real life. The pen pressure levels also dictate the force you need to exert into the pen to draw thinner or thicker lines. This is especially vital for people that need high-resolution results.
Tattoo artists should aim for at least 1024 levels if they are just starting out. Anyone calling themselves a pro should never go below 2048. Otherwise, they will find it harder to draw properly.
Responsiveness
We also call this aspect “latency”, referring to the time gap between the lines appearing and the pen finishing its drawing. Most of the time, there is no delay. Nonetheless, it can still cause some serious trouble to huge works.
A good fix is to optimize the machine’s drivers. Doing so will take care of the latency issue.
Resolution
The higher a tablet’s resolution is, the more details you can put into your work. In other words, it will determine how thorough your work is. Most of the time, a higher resolution means a bigger display. That is why you should pay more attention to big displays.
Stylus
All drawing tablets need their pens in order to start working. There are 3 types of this pen:
- Battery-powered: this pen style has a battery, making the pen thicker, as there is an additional battery. People having small hands will surely feel some discomfort using this style.
- Rechargeable: There is no need for a battery if you use this type of pen. It’s also very easy to maintain. All you need to do is plug the battery into a power source whenever it runs out.
- EMR: This style design is un-arguably the most innovative design. Using electromagnetic frequency so that the tablet can transfer power is something only this style can do.
Best Drawing Tablet For Tattoo Artist FAQs
1. What Are The Best Drawing Apps To Use As An Tattoo Artist?
There are actually quite a huge collection of apps for tattoo artists. Nevertheless, not many of them can provide the artist with good practice, much less acceptable training. That is why we divide the artists into 2.
The newer ones can use either MediaBang, Grim City Tattoo, or Tattoo Design, all of which can help entry-level artists tremendously. Those with more experience should challenge Adobe Illustrator or even Inkhunter.
2. Should I Get An Android Or IOS Tablet?
The deciding factor for this question does not lie in the tablets themselves but in their pens. It is undeniable that the Apple pen performs better than all Android pens in this aspect. From pressure levels to responsiveness, this pen is just better.
3. What Should A Tattoo Artist Pay Attention To The Most For The Tablets?
We did mention this in the buying guide, but remember that the display and the pen are the most vital parts of any tablet serving a tattoo artist.
Conclusion
We have arrived at the end of this article on the best drawing tablet for tattoo artist. Furthermore, we also presented to you a thorough buying guide as well as some interesting questions we found while researching.
After checking with the buying guide again, we believe that the Apple iPad Pro is still clearly the best overall option. In most situations, it will certainly do its job perfectly. This tablet also scores highly in all the parameters we prepared in the buying guide like display, resolution, stylus, etc.
Other products in this article will satisfy your needs as well.
Thanks for reading!
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