In the current world of technology, innovation usually appears at a pace of gradual evolution. However, digital CG artists who work with a stylus are in for a treat, as the new tablet and stylus combination, from X-INNOLAB, has leaped ahead of the curve, delivering two tools that get closer to the Holy Grail of total analogue utility than ever before. Whether you’re an illustrator, graphic designer, animator, photographer, video editor or general, all-round digital creator, here’s why you should consider the new Artist Pro 14 Drawing Display (Gen 2) and X3 Pro Smart Chip stylus...
Five reasons digital creators should consider upgrading their stylus and tablet
1. Natural-feeling and super accurate
If you’ve any familiarity with a digital stylus, you’ll know that pressure sensitivities commonly come in the four-digit range. Well, the new, game-changing, X3 Pro Stylus – which is powered by the brand-new, X3 Pro Smart Chip – provides 16,384 levels of pressure sensitivity(!) making it the commercial stylus that’s the closest to analogue and a dream for digital art and design.
It works fantastically well when used in conjunction with X-INNOLAB’s, top-tier Deco Pro (Gen 2) Series. These are available in A3, A4 and A5 sizes and feature a digital, paper-like surface. When combined with the X3 Pro Stylus, the combined feel simulates the proper amount of damping one would expect to experience when using a pen and paper, giving you a totally natural feel and extreme precision.
The stylus itself is ergonomically designed for comfort and accuracy and both looks and feels like a professional tool. It has dual, customisable shortcut keys and a pencil-rubber-like ‘eraser.’ The cone-shaped, silica-gel-grip is latex free for comfort (and to minimise allergic reactions) and can be replaced with different shapes, sizes and thicknesses for a tailored, natural fit to each individual hand.
Most importantly, it’s incredibly accurate. In addition to the market-leading pressure sensitivity, it has 20 percent higher accuracy than rivals. From the centre, a negligible amount of pen deviation is registered between the tip and the cursor – just ±0.4 mm – enabling hyper-nuanced creation. The difference is just ±0.8 mm at the corners.
Its natural ergonomics are further enhanced by an IAF (Initial Activation Force) of just 3g. Consequently, every line meets expectations and there’s no deviation in thickness. This is further amplified by the lack of a physical spring. Only digital transmission is used, which not only enhances accuracy but doubles the stylus’ lifespan.
If thin lines aren’t enough, the X3 Pro Stylus also supports 60° tilt recognition which enables a natural, edge-like experience when wanting to thicken the lines of your stroke, by tilting. Its special, felt nib provides the perfect amount of tactile friction that designers expect, while the eraser mimics the all-round experience of using rubber-on-paper. Everything can be stored in an Air Pod-like pen case which keeps it charged, protected and it also stores extra nibs.
There’s nothing like it on the market and, whichever tablet you use it with, your comfort, accuracy, productivity and all-round experience will be enhanced.
2. A perfect tablet pairing
The Pro version of X3 Pen also works awesomely well with the brand-new Artist Pro 14 (Gen 2) tablet – another game changer that packs new technologies and design features into an affordable package. Top of the list is the new, 14-inch, X-Nature Display which has a Full HD, 1,920 x 1,080 resolution. It also has an etched, anti-glare finish which delivers a softer picture and reduces eye fatigue by banishing glare and reducing light interference by 56 percent. This helps produce a more-natural image without using a protective film that can wear-away over time. It also has a tactile effect that apes an analogue pen-to-paper feel. It’s also perfectly laminated to banish the annoying parallax problems commonly caused by gaps between a display’s layers.
The X-Nature Display also supports 99 percent of the sRGB colour gamut with a low △E of 2.2. This can be effortlessly switched to Adobe RGB and DCI-P3 colour spaces as required. Besides its colour accuracy, there’s TÜV SÜD-certified blue-light filtering to help fend-off eye fatigue and keep you focused for longer, while an anti-fingerprint coating reduces distracting smudges on the screen’s surface.
3. Designed for artists
The Artist Pro 14 also has overhauled ergonomics and an all-round aesthetic that stops it feeling like a technological tool and more like an organic, creative pad to help keep your focus where it belongs. As such, there are no buttons or slits, it’s just a single, stunning screen with ‘unibody bezel’ and a specially designed, integrated ‘X-Edge’ wrist rest to ensure long-term comfort.
There’s also a flip-out stand at the base, to create a 19-degree incline, if that’s your preference. Plus, the rear-panel is made from metal for better heat dissipation while high-quality, non-slip, rubber feet are used for stability. Meanwhile, USB-C ports keep things looking neat and tidy while simultaneously facilitating charging and simplified connectivity – to either your PC or phone. The Artist Pro 14 can also attach to your laptop’s HDMI port. Meanwhile, brightness and power buttons are discreetly set into the side.
4. OS and app compatibility
If you’ve not heard of XPPen before, rest assured that it’s already an industry stalwart that’s been designed to work with the apps and platforms you’d expect: Windows, macOS, Android, ChromeOS and Linux. It natively supports core Adobe apps like Photoshop and Illustrator, Systemax apps, CorelDraw, GIMP, Blender, MediBang and many more.
5. Amazing accessories
All XPPen tablets are also compatible with innovative accessories like the new Bluetooth 5.0, X-Remote Control. This diminutive keypad has ten programmable keys that are laid-out in a manner (with two elongated keys) whereby you can immediately feel which button you’re pressing without looking. There’s also a dial pad with a central button for scrolling and zooming through different settings depending on which application you’re in. It’s a great productivity boon.
Unleash your creativity
So, whether you’re a seasoned professional or looking to break into the stylus-tablet CG space, X-INNOLAB has you covered with its market-leading X3 Pro Stylus and affordable Artist Pro 14 (Gen 2) tablet. Both are perfect for any level of graphic artists, whether they be illustrators, designers, animators, photographers, video editors, game designers or any other flavour of creator. Get yours by clicking here, now!
