The sweet spot for drawing tablet sizes though is between 13 and 16″ without compromising on portability. So if you are are able to gather a few extra dollars, it may be worth going one size up for a more comfortable drawing experience. c. To switch to drawing tablet mode, press the power key and hold for 3 seconds. The indicator light will blink blue and orange. Press the power key again to return to normal mode. Everything is covered by XP-PEN’s 18-month manufacturer’s warranty. This means you don’t have to worry about any defects in materials or craftsmanship. The Artist 12 (2nd Gen) marks a big step for XP-Pen to catch up to what some of their competitors have been doing in the budget pen display market. Huion's KAMVAS line, for example, has had a couple of generations of pen displays featuring fully laminated screens, whereas XP-Pen has only just started to implement this feature properly among their Artist series pen displays.

Artist 12 Pen Display Art Tablet for Beginners | XPPen Artist 12 Pen Display Art Tablet for Beginners | XPPen

The Artist Series Pen Display (2nd Gen) is compatible with Windows, Mac OS X, Chrome OS, Linux, and Android. Explore your creativity with the new Artist. While Wacom continues to sit atop the mountain of pen displays as the undisputed front-runner, there has been massive strides made by companies like XP-Pen and Huion looking to introduce some much-needed competition to the space. Wacom tablets are incredibly cost prohibitive to new artists and hobbyists just looking to get started with digital imaging, and in the more portable pen display space someone would be limited to the Wacom One tablet.The XP-PEN Artist 12 (2nd Gen) will run on Windows 7 (or later), Mac OS X 10.10 (or later), Android (USB3.1 DP1.2), Chrome OS 88 (or later)*, Linux. But what if your computer can’t do that, and you don’t want to mess with the octopus cable? The XP-PEN Artist 24 Pro might be a better alternative. It uses USB Type-C or a simple USB Type-A and HDMI connection, and it has its own power cord. It’s also a 24-inch display, which is awesome to use, but too bulky to lug around. I didn’t experience any lagging, even when scribbling away quite fast. Drawing ever-so-sloooooooowly did produce a slight ‘wobble’ in straight lines, but to be fair, you’re going to get that on most tablets. The end of the lines also tapered very nicely. To get going, you need to connect the Artist 12 (2nd Gen) to your device of choice – mine being a Windows 10 laptop. Although, presumably, the tablet would work using a USB-C to USB-C cable, this isn’t supplied – I had to make do with the 3-in-1 cable provided.

Artist 12 (Gen 2) Pen Display User Manual | XPPen XPPen Artist 12 (Gen 2) Pen Display User Manual | XPPen

I ‘forced’ myself to try out the shortcut keys and I have to say they felt nice and responsive when pressed. It’s a bit strange that they designed the UI with only 4 of the express keys visible for customization at first. It’s a small thing but it would be easy to fit in the rest upfront. If your XPPen driver is not saving your settings… Drawing time! The pen is very, very light – probably the lightest I’ve used. It may be the most ‘up-to-date’ technology-wise pen from XP-PEN, but I have to say I actually prefer the look and feel (and design) of the pen that came with their Innovator 16 Pen Display. Although it works perfectly as you’d expect, it isn’t the ’sexiest’ of pens (if that’s even a ‘thing’ 😊). It does the job and that’s all you can ask for! That said, the screen resolution is only 1080p. On the one hand, that’s technically all you need on a monitor of this size. Unless your eyes are uncomfortably close, the pixels will be too tiny to see individually. That said, particularly when you’re doing artwork, you might want the confidence of a higher-resolution display. If that’s what you need, take a look at the XP-PEN Artist Pro 16TP. It has a 16-inch screen, as well as 4K UHD resolution. Then again, it’s significantly bigger and bulkier than the Artist 12.Flip it over and on the reverse are the four rubber feet in each corner to keep it stable on your desk – note there is no stand supplied with this tablet (or pen holder for that matter!) 😊 You can use the tablet to duplicate your display or to extend it. You could even use it as your only primary display if you needed to.

Artist 12 (2nd Generation) best starter Pen Display tablet

The driver software is nicely laid out and is easy to understand. It’s here you can change and/or edit things like pen pressure, change the display settings, re-map the shortcut keys etc. I tend to find most shortcut key commands on these devices already have the best/most used options already set, but it’s great you can amend if you so wish (I tend not to use them as I’m so used to using a keyboard!). The stylus is noticeably more sensitive than that of the older Deco Pro we reviewedand much closer to the drawing experience of Wacom’s grip pen. You wouldn’t want a higher resolution than 1920 x 1080 on a tablet this size, as working in an app like Photoshop would make its many menus and tabs too small to work with – but here, it’s all good. Yes, if on a tight budget, have limited desk space, or specifically want to pair with your Android phone. Due to the latest product improvements, content may differ from the final product and is subject to change without prior notice.

If multiple monitors are used in duplicate mode, the work area of the device will be mapped to all monitors. When the pen moves in the work area, the cursor on all monitors will move at the same time. If you’re a visual artist, creating digital work can feel unnatural. Think of how you’d normally do a drawing, or paint a picture. You’d sit over a notebook, or behind an easel, and use a pencil or paintbrush to create your artwork. Now think about how you interact with popular software like Adobe Photoshop. If you’re like most people, you probably use a mouse and keyboard. A mouse and keyboard are great for many things. They’re fine for navigating the web, typing, and playing most types of video games. But they fall short when you need to create smooth, precise artwork.

Artist 12 (2nd Gen) digital display drawing tablet | XP-Pen Artist 12 (2nd Gen) digital display drawing tablet | XP-Pen

To the left of the screen, on the front surface, there are eight buttons in a vertical row. These are broad and rubbery, and easy to operate with one hand while you’re drawing with the other. On the right side of the outer frame, you’ll find the power button, along with a pair of brightness buttons. There are also a pair of USB Type-C ports for connecting to your computer.

Overall, the Artist 12 2nd Gen performs well. It would be good option if you are a beginner on a very limited budget looking to get your first display tablet. If are looking for some added screen space for drawing with your phone then this could work too. The Artist 12 will work with pretty much any computer. It’s compatible with Windows, Mac, Chrome OS, Linux, and even Android OS. If your device has the necessary ports, you shouldn’t have any issues. The same is true for your software. You can dig right in and start working in all Adobe software, GIMP, MediBang, Krita, and others.