Upgrading to a Graphics Monitor

[Morgoth]

As my comfort level with using my Adesso drawing tablet is nearing its top level I am looking to move to a graphics monitor. I have been using AD, AP and APub quite a lot and have been moving along at a good pace. So, the (shopping season) time is drawing near and I want to advance to the next level. I want to draw on the screen with a pressure sensitive pen. I am not a pro user and not looking into getting a Cintiq, so what are the alternatives?

If you are using something other than the top line what are you using and what has been your experience? 

[MEB]

Hi Morgoth,
Welcome to Affinity Forums
Sorry the delay getting back to you. We are still catching up from the Holidays.
I'm not able to help you much regarding pen displays, hopefully some users may give you some advice. What OS are you running/working with (Windows/Mac)?
Have you considered getting an iPad instead plus Affinity apps for iPad?

 

[Alfred]

XP-Pen Artist tablets have been mentioned in a few other threads. There’s a 12″ model (similar to iPad size) and there are larger sizes such as 16″ and 22″.

[SrPx]

22 inches model, from  XP-PEN gives you quite real state to work with. At that size, if you are not a photolab professional (seems not) it can very well work as a main monitor, indeed, as it has an ok size. I'm speaking of the pro version, around 800 $. It has a 22E pro and 22 Pro versions (around 500... is not a bad purchase, either...IMO, better than the 16 inches) . The E version includes configurable function buttons, but not too fond of that, personally. Yep about the wacom disc (the pen-tablet from them, Deco 03, has a disk). It has also better cable management, important if planning to set the tablet-monitor near to horizontal. Not so much in a 45º or 35ª angle. The E  has an antiglare filter as internal. I hate putting manually those filters, always make bubbles. So, for that alone I prefer the better version, the "E". Both have non battery free pens (that usually adds line jitter  , but I've not read bad reports about it with these models, also, you can fix that with Affinity line stabilizer). Color is same for both, it seems, 77 - 88 % Adobe RGB, which is about fine for a semi pro (and pro in certain cases) usage, and definitely way enough for hobbyists. Typically it means 100% sRGB, so, many pod printers would work well with it, and a lot of screen only output (many digital printers today ask for just a sRGB file).

Curiously, the 16 inches PRO model (they have a cheaper 16 model that DON'T) from them supports 92% of Adobe RGB color space. But I can't stand tiny monitors. Same case with another company, Artisul. 94% in their 16 inches pen-display, but not the case of the 22 model..

The Artisul 22 model covers a bit less color space, altho these settings are often misleading... not specifying , it can be 72% of Adobe RGB, or NTSC. In this case specs say it clear, is 72% Adobe RGB (strange as 72 tends to be referred to NTSC), so,  in theory (I'd need to test and calibrate, see how each one behaves...) the Artisul has less coverage of that color space.

Then there's Huion, and Yiynova.

I know Yiynova is very good, for some reason, despite prices are very similar, people promote less Yiynova. I'm guilty too, but that's often for lazyness. I think that's crazy. 

But I definitely would only buy from them the very top, highest end model.(MVP22U V3, at the time of posting this)

That said, in theory, the XP-PEN 22E pro monitor has wider coverage of Adobe RGB color space, by a little bit, but the fact is, I have read people complaining about color calibration to get good, pro accurate output with the 22 pro (non E) , while never with a Yiynova, and that guy I met once, really knew the deal with color management, said Yiynova is the best of the alternatives in that, he had tested it deeply, from what I read from several explanations. Even so, that was a while ago , and XP-PEN has kept improving.

Seems there are more cases of compatibility with the XP-PEN brand than with Huion, which has several incompatibilities in some cases/tablets with Affinity, it seems.

So, yeah, I'd go for a XP-PEN pen-display 22E, or a Yiynova MVP22U V3.

When I said only the latest and best/priciest yiynova, I know why I say it... the 19+ model is a TFT TN !!! That's horrid for illustration/design or photo retouch.

Thinking it deeply, I think I'd go for the XP-PEn PRO 22E. As most things point towards that one be the better choice, all things considered.

Wacom is finally (extremely recent) coming to senses, lately, before the competitors completely grab the market from them in the low range of pen-displays. So, they have released now a 16"Cintiq, but... Beware my wording. "Cintiq". Not Cintiq Pro. That's the key. They finally are producing non premiums cintiq!    So, that one is around 600 $, I believe. And.. hopefully...but who knows... along the way they MIGHT produce 22  or bigger size pen-displays. Once they do that, even with stuff removed from the non pro version,  those are still more featured, and tons better than any alternative. THOSE would be the ones to have. Also: tested brand and devices durability,. more than any other.

So, those really knowing by experience what is working in a tiny 16" (those who don't, please, don't risk it) ,is now a nice moment to get a cintiq for a bargain price. Those serious enough...IMO, wait for the next Wacom move, could be a cheapo 800 dollars 20 or 22, or a bit pricier 24. Indeed, the 24 and 27 are more in the pro range per se, I believe, as much they are going to consider 19 -22, as is a range where the Chinese, US, and German alternatives are grabbing market, too: good illustrators knowing that larger canvas+display is better for many reasons. If Wacom produces a 19 , 20 or 22 in the bargain pricing. Is a must-buy. Yes or Yes. Too much they'd have to cripple it for not. And seems not to be the line, as the 16 they just released has even tilt, something not present even in the alternatives, neither in the intuos non pro tablets, for a while. (while this seems to be like the intuos line in the pen-tablet type of product line. Is the affordable cintiq line. Finally.)

There's the Dell Canvas 27" at 1700 dollars. Bit pricey, though, but is quite similar in all to a 27 QHD from Wacom, which was the top of the line since very recently (now is the 32)

Whoever swears that a 16 inches is enough, has never drawn in a 27... or even in a 21....

 

[SrPx]

On 1/8/2019 at 1:04 PM, Alfred said:

XP-Pen Artist tablets have been mentioned in a few other threads. There’s a 12″ model (similar to iPad size) and there are larger sizes such as 16″ and 22″.

the 12 pen-display from XP is at 250$, is crazy. And has been reviewed, it's GOOD. 

I hate 12 i nches, have worked in a cintiq 12, but hey, to each his own. Fort what it is, that product is a golden purchase, if you don't deeply hate small display sizes and crammed app UIs, small font, etc.