As someone completely new to using a graphics tablet, I was honestly a bit unsure about using one for my fine art photography at first. I’ve always done my drawings, "the old fashion way" on paper and didn’t think I’d be able to translate that to a digital platform. But after hearing so many good things about graphics tablets from other artists and wanting to improve my digital photography art, I decided to give the XP-PEN Deco Pro Bluetooth Graphics Tablet a try. I’m so glad I did because it has completely transformed the way I work!
First of all, setting it up was super easy, I just went on their website and downloaded and installed their software. The only issue I had was connecting it via Bluetooth. It wasn't because of the product or anything, I just always have an issue with any Bluetooth device with what button to press when paring. Once I read the instructions, I was good to go. The wireless connection is solid, and so far I’ve never experienced any lag or delays between the pen and the screen. It’s nice to not have to deal with extra cords all over my desk. It also comes with a USB connection option, which I tried out just to see if there was a difference, but honestly, the Bluetooth works perfectly, and I’ve stuck with that ever since.
The pen feels natural and light in the hand, and it’s incredibly responsive. It’s almost like drawing on paper…. except with way more features. The pressure sensitivity is amazing with all the different photoshop brushes! As someone who is learning to use a graphics tablet, I can already tell how much of a difference it makes over using a mouse. I've always been hesitant about using a tablet because I've always had it in my mind that it's not "real art" if you use one but, it really mimics the traditional drawing experience, which made the transition a lot smoother for me. It comes with an extra 10 nibs for the pen too. I'm not sure how long they last yet but it seems to me that 10 of them will last a long time for me. I do have to get used to the buttons on the pen though because, I seem to accidently press them a lot when I draw and set off the programmed function.
One of the things I’ve been really impressed with is how customizable the tablet is. It has a radial inner and outer dial and shortcut keys that you can map to different functions in Photoshop. I’ve started setting them to some of my favorite tools (like undo and zoom), and it makes the workflow so much faster. I’m still getting the hang of it, but it’s been fun to figure out how to make my work process more efficient.
I should mention that the tablet is also very sleek and looks great on my desk. It’s thin and doesn’t take up too much space, but it still has a generous working area for drawing. I feel like I’m not cramped or limited at all when working on my projects. I did make a wood stand for it so that has helped with the desk organization a lot.
Now, for a couple downsides I’ve noticed— the on/off switch is located on the back of the board which can be a slight annoyance having to pick it up and turn it over every time I turn it on and off. It has an auto shutoff feature on it too, so if you forget to shut it off, it does it for you to save battery. Again, having to pick it up and use the on/off slider to start it up again would be a little less annoying if the switch was on the top or side. The other thing may not be an issue with the tablet itself but rather, a personal preference. I ordered the larger tablet not knowing anything about using one. I find that because it is larger, I have to slide my hand/arm further back and forth because it has the bigger area. It will just take some time to get used to I expect and I won't think about it after a while but, when you're used to a mouse where you can keep it in a relative small area, it is something to get used to. It's not unlike drawing on a pad of paper so eventually it'll not be an issue I expect.
All in all, the XP-PEN Deco Pro has been an amazing tool for someone like me who is just starting with a graphics tablet for art. It’s user-friendly, well-built, and incredibly fun to use. If you’re looking for a tablet that can help you ease into the world of digital drawing, this is definitely one to consider!
So far, I would highly recommended it!
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