Workspace
The exact size of the active area of a tablet (or screen in a graphic display) in width and height. In general, it is more of a reference than a practically significant parameter: when choosing a traditional graphics tablet, there is often enough information about the format (see above), and for displays, primarily the diagonal (see above) and aspect ratio (see below) are of practical importance . However, the exact dimensions can also be useful in fact: for example, you can determine the aspect ratio from them (for classic tablets, this parameter is often not indicated).
Size
Diagonal of the working area — the screen itself — in a graphic display (see "Type").
In general, the larger the diagonal, the more convenient the device is to use: a large working area covers a large area for drawing and at the same time allows you to work effectively with small details. On the other hand, this parameter directly affects the price, and the dimensions cannot be discounted: in some cases, there may simply be no room for a large device.
By the standards of graphic displays,
13.3" or less is considered small,
15.6" is considered medium, and many models have
larger screens. And it is customary to evaluate the size of traditional tablets by the format, and not by the diagonal.
Control keys
The number of control keys provided in the design of the tablet.
Each of these keys is responsible for a specific function, while the set of these functions can be configured: in some models they can be selected manually, in others the functionality of the keys changes automatically, depending on the currently active application. Anyway, additional keys allow the user to perform various actions without looking up from the tablet — this can be very convenient in the midst of the work process, when you don’t want to change the pen to the mouse again or reach for the keyboard. And the more control keys — so, respectively, more additional actions can be performed using the tablet. On the other hand, with relatively simple tasks, the abundance of additional buttons can hinder and confuse the user rather than help.
The most modest modern tablets provide
up to 5 control keys ; the most popular option is
from 6 to 10 keys, and in advanced models this number can reach
15 or even
more.
Scroll wheel
A wheel for scrolling content on the screen, similar to that used in modern computer mice. A similar wheel is placed on the side or top of the graphics tablet case. It is used for quick navigation through graphical applications, documents or web pages. At the same time, the scroll wheel has expanded functionality - by pressing it you can perform certain commands or gestures such as zooming an image, scrolling horizontally, etc.
Contrast
The contrast of the screen set in the graphic display (see "Type").
This setting describes the brightness ratio between the brightest white and darkest black that the screen is capable of reproducing. The larger the first number, the higher the contrast and the better the image as a whole. However note that the contrast ratio of modern graphic displays usually ranges from 400:1 to 3000:1 — this is generally noticeably lower than that of computer monitors, especially professional ones. So the final control of the result is still best done on the monitor. On the other hand, if you are going to work professionally with graphics on a tablet display, it makes sense to look for a model with high contrast.
Brightness
The maximum brightness in cd/m² that the device screen produces.
High brightness displays remain highly readable under intense ambient light, such as when the workplace is exposed to sunlight. A dull image on a graphics tablet screen can be “blown out” by such lighting. Note that a large margin for this parameter affects the cost and power consumption of the display.
Colour space (Rec. 709 / sRGB)
The range of colors that can be displayed on a graphics tablet screen. The parameter is indicated as a percentage relative to the coverage of the Rec.709 or sRGB color space. The larger the color gamut, the wider the capabilities of the screen and the better the quality of its color rendition, which is extremely important when working with graphic materials.
Rec.709 and sRGB are the most popular modern color models: they have the same range and differ only in the area of application. So, sRGB is used in computers, and Rec. 709 - in HD television. In terms of the range of colors, these spaces are identical and the percentage of coverage for them is the same. In the screens of graphics tablets, the color gamut for the specified models can reach and even exceed 100% - these are the values that are considered necessary for correct work with graphic materials.
Pen model
The model of the pen that comes with the device. Allows you to understand which one is used and learn more fully its full characteristics. In this case, in the case of a replacement, you will already be aware of which accessory is needed for the purchase. However, nothing prevents you from replacing the existing one with a more advanced one, of course, if the graphics tablet itself allows you to work with a different pen model.
Pressure levels
The number of pressure levels supported by the pen.
The more levels of pressure, the more accurately the pen tracks the force of pressure and the closer the drawing is to the drawing made by real tools like a pencil. The minimum value for a modern tablet is
512 levels, an indicator of
1024 levels is considered relatively small,
2048 is considered average, and in some models
4096 and even
8192 levels are found. At the same time, it is worth noting that the difference between pens with different accuracy becomes noticeable mainly on the thinnest strokes and on lines with a thickness that changes along the stylus; so numerous levels, even a professional artist is not always required. For this reason, this parameter has practically nothing to do with the general class of the device: for example, there are low-cost models on the market with 8192 levels, and professional solutions with only 1024.