A lot of tattoo artists are now making use of digital tools to speed up their creative process. Drawing tablets can aid with sketching original ideas, stenciling portraits, and stenciling detailed designs to produce accurate designs faster.
My top pick is the Huion KAMVAS Pro 16 with an impressive 15.6″ high-definition laminated display screen that allows both casual and professional tattoo artists to display large designs accurately and work on them efficiently while being protected from potential eye damage. It is high-quality and affordable which makes it the best.
I recommend that tattoo artists use drawing tablets with display screens where details can be seen accurately and, drawing is done in real-time on the display surface.
I discuss the best drawing tablets for tattoo artists further below.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. At no cost to you, I may receive a commission if you buy through a link on this page.
1. Huion KAMVAS Pro 16
- Size: 15.6” display screen
- Display: 1920×1080 HD display paired with 120% sRGB Color Gamut.
- Pen Pressure Sensitivity: 8,192
- Check out the most recent price at Amazon by clicking here.
At the top of the list is the Huion KAMVAS Pro 16 that boasts a 15.6″ laminated display screen that displays vibrant colors and accurate designs. If you have a powerful laptop operated by macOS, Windows, or Chromebook, this device is a great option!
Its large screen is perfect when working with large tattoo designs so that you can view the entire illustration while still seeing the details. The screen is fully laminated, which means, that there is little to no gap between stylus to screen transfer which will surely benefit tattoo artists when stenciling images. It gives you the experience as if you’re drawing on paper.
It features anti-glare support and full-laminated glass technology that reduces potential eye damage. Maintaining clear eyesight is undoubtedly needed by every tattoo artist to ensure that they don’t make any permanent mistakes on their clients’ skin.
It comes with its own adjustable stand and battery-free stylus for drawing with ease. The tablet is equipped with six customizable express keys and a touch bar for extra convenience.
2. XP-Pen Artist 12 Pro
- Size: 11.6”
- Display: 1920×1080 HD display paired with 100% sRGB Color Gamut.
- Pen Pressure Sensitivity: 8,192
- Check out the most recent price at Amazon by clicking here.
The XP-Pen Artist 12 Pro is perfect for tattoo artists who might be offering home service, or for those who simply prefer a smaller and lightweight display drawing tablet. It takes up a smaller portion of your workspace and is easier to carry around.
This is perfect for casual tattoo artists, or professional tattoo artists looking for a cheap starter.
Some tattoo artists might find that an 11.6″ display screen is small compared to the other recommendations, but this is also the most affordable drawing tablet on this list.
What makes it remarkable is that the display quality is just as good as the more expensive ones so, details will still be displayed accurately.
Despite the affordable price, it features a laminated display screen that most high-end display screens use, which means there is no noticeable gap and little to no delays from the stylus to screen transfer when drawing.
It’s compatible with macOS and Windows. It has eight customizable express keys and a red dial for navigation. It includes its own stand, pen holder for the battery-free stylus pen, and three-in-one USB cable for extra convenience.
3. Wacom Cintiq 16
- Size: 15.6”
- Display: 1920×1080 HD display paired with 96% sRGB Color Gamut.
- Pen Pressure Sensitivity: 8,192
- Check out the most recent price at Amazon by clicking here.
The Wacom Cintiq 16 from arguably the most trusted drawing tablet brand is perfect for any professional tattoo artist. Its’ large 15.6″ display screen tablet is suitable when working with large and/or complex tattoo designs as it lets you see every detail of your design.
Stenciling and sketching is also an elevated experience with the reduced parallax or displacement from the stylus to screen display, anti-glare, and scratch-resistant technology.
So, you can bring it around without worrying about distracting reflections and potential scratches on the screen.
Although it doesn’t have customizable express keys on the tablet, it features a built-in stand that you can collapse and use whenever you want. The stylus pen is battery-free, and the connection cable comes in 3-in-1 which is convenient for tattoo artists.
For Professional Tattoo Artists On-the-go: Apple iPad Pro 12.9
- Size: 12.9”
- RAM: 8 GB
- Size: 128GB – 2T
- Battery: Up to 10 hours of use
- Check out the most recent price at Amazon by clicking here.
I know that we were just talking about drawing tablets, but what the iPad Pro can offer for tattoo artists is undeniably feature-worthy. It’s a standalone device, which means you can bring it around and use it on its own.
The iPad Pro is used by many tattoo artists along with the application Procreate that can be purchased on Apple smartphones and tablets. The high-definition screen can display details and vibrant colors accurately.
Designing and stenciling can be done anytime, anywhere without connecting to other devices as long as there’s battery power. Your light-bulb design ideas can be sketched immediately with ease. You can bring it everywhere without worrying about cable wires and a heavy laptop to connect it.
With its 12 MB wide camera and 10MB ultra-wide camera, you can capture your traditional sketches or drawings done on paper and import them on the application for digital tracing.
It is important to note that Apple Pencil is necessary for illustrating on the iPad. Nonetheless, this is the most convenient device on this list and is surely worth the buck considering all the other purposes it can serve.
To sum it up,
Top pick: Huion KAMVAS Pro 16. It has a large 15.6” high-definition laminated display screen that also reduces potential eye damage. It is high-quality and affordable which makes it perfect for both professional and casual tattoo artists.
The XP Pen Artist 12 Pro is another choice that displays designs accurately on an 11.6” high-definition laminated screen that is perfect for artists on the move.
The Wacom Cintiq 16 is also a great choice for professional tattoo artists who frequently work with large and/or complex tattoo designs for a large 15.6” display screen without parallax.
Apart from drawing tablets that require a laptop or desktop connection, I also recommend the Apple iPad Pro with an Apple Pencil. This will benefit you if you like sketching ideas anywhere, whether on the device or on paper since you can capture it instantly and stencil it on your iPad without connecting any other device.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. At no cost to you, I may receive a commission if you buy through a link on this page. Read more here.
