The short answer is no, it’s not necessary to have a screen protector especially if you are using a drawing tablet without a display screen.
Your drawing experience will not be hindered by the lack of a screen protector, and most drawing tablets are already designed to withstand its stylus pen all by itself.
However, it does have its benefits such as protection from scratches, added texture, and maybe a longer lifespan for the gadget. If you’re contemplating getting a screen protector, then this article will help you decide.
Screen Protectors For Drawing Tablets
As almost everyone knows, screen protectors are thin pieces of plastic, glass, or film that are applied on top of a screen with the promise of protection from direct damage/scratches to the screen.
For drawing tablets that are always paired with a stylus pen and drawn on as its main purpose, scratches are expected and are inevitable. For that reason, most drawing tablets are designed to withstand continuous and frequent usage of the stylus pen even by itself.
As scratches do appear as time goes by, these usually do not affect the performance of the drawing tablet and the stylus pen.
Benefits Of Using A Screen Protector For Drawing Tablets
Aside from scratch protection, screen protectors offer other benefits that digital artists might find more beneficial than non-artists:
- Anti-Glare – there are screen protectors that offer anti-glare when it is applied to the gadget. Anti-glare means that it diffuses the white reflection of bright lights on the screen that makes the display difficult to view. This is beneficial to artists who like to have a bright light around when they are drawing, or those who might be in locations where it is frequently bright.
- Texture – screen protectors can come in different textures. Some might make your screen glossier and smoother to glide your stylus pen on. Some might offer a rougher, paper-like texture that other artists prefer.
- Longer lifespan – a screen protector will make the actual display screen in pristine condition for a longer amount of time. Since the original screen is protected from scratches, replacing the screen protector when it has too many scratches is a solution that one can take as long as the drawing tablet is working.As a disclaimer, there is no proof that screen protectors make the drawing tablet last longer as there are other factors present that could affect the lifespan of the gadget.
Do Stylus Pens Work With Screen Protectors?
Yes! Screen protectors are designed to protect the screen without hindering the stylus compatibility of the display screen. Stylus pens will still work even with a screen protector present.
However, there are some slight drawbacks to using a screen protector on your drawing tablet:
- Slight loss of pen to screen accuracy – if the screen protector is a bit on the thicker side, it might cause a noticeable gap between the pen and the screen. There might also be a tendency of a slight delay from pen to display screen due to the additional barrier.
- Slight loss of touch sensitivity accuracy – For multi-touch display screens, you might find that the touch sensitivity of your drawing tablet is lessened.
- Might lessen sharpness and/or color saturation of screen – some screen protectors, mostly matte ones, might have a slight white film that makes the screen’s saturation very slightly reduced, as well as its sharpness.
How Do I Protect My Drawing Tablet?
We all value our drawing tablets and protecting it might be the main reason why you’re thinking of getting a screen protector. However, screen protectors are not guaranteed to protect your whole drawing tablet.
The screen protector is limited to protecting the screen of the drawing tablet only. It catches the inevitable scratches from the stylus pen that you can replace again and again as long as the drawing tablet is working.
Aside from using a screen protector, hare are some other tips to help protect your drawing tablet:
- Replace your stylus pen nibs when it is sharp – a sharp pen nib that has been worn out will make more noticeable scratches on your display screen. Find out more about when to change your pen nib here.
- Have a designated workspace/area for your drawing tablet – although this suggestion is a bit demanding for those with limited space, having a designated area will ensure that it doesn’t fall since it is not frequently transported from one place to another.
- Keep it away from dust, crumbs, and liquids – Ensure that the drawing tablet is not left in random spaces where dust, crumbs, and liquid could make their way onto it and damage its internal workings.
- Do not put too much pressure on the drawing tablet – do not press too hard when you are drawing as it will wear out your pen nibs faster and risk your screen having a scratch. Also, do not put heavy objects on top of the drawing tablet that can damage it internally and scratch the display screen.
