Have you been sculpting on a PC and would like to try a hand with a tablet? If so, this article is for you. Read on for recommendations of the best tablets for ZBrush.
Sculpting on a tablet is fun, once you get the hang of things. However, not all tablets will be suitable for this creative task.
There are a number of features you want to consider when looking for a tablet for sculpting, whether with ZBrush, Blender, or any other 3D modeling software.
What to Look for in a ZBrush Tablet
Size
Generally, with drawing tablets, the bigger the device, the larger the drawing area. However, as the surface area increases so does the price of the tablet.
Select a tablet depending on what you want to achieve. For example, if you want to focus on details rather than large creations, get a tablet with a compact surface area.
On the other hand, if you need to make large stroker and use ZBrush selection features, you’ll want a tablet with a medium to large active work area. Ideally, the screen should be at least 8 inches.
Pressure Sensitivity
Check the pressure sensitivity level of the tablet you want to buy. For ZBrush, a decent tablet should have a pressure sensitivity level of over 1000. This level is sufficient for creating nice strokes.
If you have to choose a tablet for ZBrush, I recommend you go for either those from Wacom or Huion. The tablets from these two brands come with at least 2048 pressure sensitivity levels.
Lines Per Inch
Lines per inch (LPI) refers to the resolution of a drawing tablet. The LPI determine how well a tablet can pick accurate strokes and tiny details.
For ZBrush, you want a tablet with at least 1270 LPI. This LPI is sufficient to provide enough detail for your sculptures and illustrations. Depending on what you want, you can go for tablets with higher LPI, even reaching 5080 LPI.
Pens
Another thing you want is a tablet with a ballet-free pen. The drawing tablet pens are powered by an inductive current from the surface of the tablet. Therefore, you won’t have to worry about replacing or recharging the pen.
The pens of the best tablets are quite durable.
Wacom’s range of tablets all come with a pen. For Huion, the only tablets that come with a pen are from the KAMVAS line.
If you can get a tablet whose pen has tilt support, this is even better.
Battery
Decide on how you’d like the drawing tablet to be powered. You can go for either wireless tablets that use a rechargeable battery or wired option that have to be plugged into a computer to be charged.
Generally, if your work is desk or office-based, go for a wired model. On the other hand, if you are looking for a portable device, a wireless tablet would be ideal.
The most important features are support for hotkeys, tilt support on the pen, and ability to map the buttons for different programs.
With that said, here are the best tablets for ZBrush.
Best Tablets for ZBrush
1. Wacom Cintiq 22
The Wacom Cintiq 22 has an active drawing area measuring 19.5 x 11 inches. This tablet boasts of wide screen size, ergonomics, and provides an incredibly smooth drawing experience.
The sculpting tablet comes with the Pen Pro 2, which has an incredible 8,192 pen pressure sensitivity level. This sensitivity makes it easy to have accurate and precise animation or illustration with any program.
The tablet’s screen features an anti-glare surface that adds to the amount of drawing drag.
2. XP Pen Artist 15.6 Pro
With 8,192 levels of pressure sensitivity, it is easy to see why the XP Pen Artist is also one of the best tablets for Zbrush. This 3D modeling tablet has an active drawing surface areas of 13.54 x 7.62 inches, and a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels.
While the tablet does not boast of the preciseness and additional functionalities that Huion and Wacom tablets come with, it is still enough to get most basic tasks done. Moreover, it is on the cheaper side when compared to other tablets for Zbrush.
This is a great entry-level drawing tablet for sculpting.
3. Wacom One (2020)
Wacom has some of the best tablets on the market. However, the tablets are quite pricey. If you are a sucker for Wacom and are looking for an affordable option for Zbrush sculpting, get the Wacom One.
The Wacom One has a resolution of 1920 x 1080, and pen pressure sensitivity levels of up to 4096. This tablet also has Full HD display offering 72% NTSC color. You will love how vivid and crisp your illustrations will turn out.
The Wacom One is just 13 inches, which makes it very portable. However, the small size also means that its drawing area is quite small. With this tablet, you only get 11,6 x 6.5 inches of drawing area. This small drawing area can be an issue when you want to create more elaborate creations in Zbrush.
Save for the limited drawing area, the Wacom One is an economical and reliable tablet for Zbrush.
4. Simbans PT
If you are looking for a budget tablet for 3D modeling, the Simbans PT is for you. This Zbrush tablet has a great active stylus and its pen pressure sensitivity levels reach 8,192. The high-end tablet offers an LPI of 5080 and has an in-built microSD card where you can store your Zbrush creations.
However, the tablet has an active drawing area of just 10 x 6.25 inches. Therefore, this is not the tablet you want if you will be drawing large illustrations.
5. Huion Kamvas Pro 13
The Huion 1060 Plus is no match for Wacom’s finest. However, if you cannot afford the high price tag of Wacom tablets, the Huion Kamvas 16 is a great budget alternative.
This tablet for 3D sculpting offers 11.56 x 6.5 inches of active anti-glare drawing area. The tablet has a resolution of 5080 pixels and its pen pressure sensitivity level reaches 8192.
The Kamvas Pro13 screen offers 120% sRGB color gamut, which makes creations made using ZBrush turn out richer and more vibrant.
Which is the Best Tablet for ZBrush?
Ultimately, you’ll have to decide which tablet to go for. Here, you should consider your usage patterns as well as budget.
From my experience, here are the top 3 tablets for sculpting:
High-end Model: Wacom Cintiq 22
Mid-range Model: XP Pen Artist 15.6 Pro
Budget Option: Huion 1060 Plus
The above are the best tablets for ZBrush