This innovative pen display from Xencelabs brings one of the most effective ways of drawing and retouching within reach of many more designers, photographers and artists.
Most people working in design and using drawing packages will probably use a graphics tablet. These work surfaces respond to the stroke and pressure of a stylus or pen, making it much easier to manipulate digital brushes and pencils when using Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop. Since their inception a few decades ago, graphics tablets have become the favored tool for drawing instead of using the humble mouse.
A recent development of the graphics tablet market was to incorporation of a screen on the tablet so that artists could draw directly on the image they were drawing or retouching. With a screen, it’s possible to instantly see the effect of the pen.
A pen display is so much easier to use than staring up at a screen while trying to draw with a pen on a tablet. Bringing pen and image together in one has transformed how graphic artists work and now the concept is about to undergo a step change in terms of usability and affordability.
Xencelabs is a Canadian company that’s rapidly establishing itself as a leader in the graphics tablet and pen display market. The company includes many former employees of Wacom, the original pioneer in graphics tablets and the inventor of the Cintiq, the first widely available pen display. Today, Xencelabs is announcing the Pen Display 16, a pen-on-screen solution for creative professionals working in media, entertainment, industrial and graphic design.
This ultra-slim and lightweight pen display has an OLED 4K screen with exceptionally vibrant colors, high contrast levels and a pen performance that’s natural and flowing. Last week I spent a couple of hours using the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 to see if it is a game changer for Photoshop and graphic art professionals.
Designed with portability in mind, the Xencelabs Pen Display 16 is just 12mm thick and comes with a carry case for designers on the move. It also has an ingenious stand that packs flat but can tilt the display at angles of 18.3° and 32°, a perfect slant for drawing or retouching. The display connects to any compatible PC, Mac or Linux computer using a single USB-C to USB-C cable.
