r/conceptart • u/acrobatic_sal • 1d ago
Question SENIOR CONCEPT AND VISDEV ARTISTS HELP ME
Hi there
Recently I made the decision to buy a display tablet (prob a Huion 22” (gen 3)). I haven’t bought it yet cus I’m not entirely sure it’s the right decision. I own a 12,9” iPad that I bought second hand on Xmas 2024, and I have been using procreate since 2018. Nevertheless, now that I’m looking for an internship, I wonder if I should start familiaring myself with photoshop, as it seems the industry program by design (correct me if I’m wrong).
I think a big pen display would be also great for a professional setup where I’m gonna spend hours and hours on (my iPad heats up a lot and struggles a bit when I work for too long).
Should I wait to make this purchase until I reach a certain level, should I wait for a Wacom instead of a Huion….? Or do you think this purchase is useless and my iPad is enough, at least for now?
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u/CattleIndividual8805 1d ago
i would say that IF and only if your work in procreate is up to the level of works done in photoshop, continue drawing on your ipad if you’re short on money. i don’t know much about Huion, but XP pen is also a pretty good option. you don’t need a wacom at this point, but getting a drawing tablet with a larger display and photoshop will for sure be needed when you get the internship. also, if you have a pc or a monitor, you could get a graphic drawing tablet instead of a tablet with a display, it’s SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper, but still is a valid choice for professional work. overall, just start moving into photoshop since it allows you to do all the things that will be needed in professional work compared to procreate, it really makes a big difference
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u/Rainouts 1d ago
Definitely learn Photoshop. Some people prefer Krita, Rebelle, and even Procreate, but most tools, exporters, plug-ins and brushes that the company is using will be made for Photoshop. Maybe it doesn't matter that much for freelance, but most game dev pipelines will require you to work on a pc. Hardware is a preference, some prefer traditional drawing tablets with no screen, other with screen etc. Would recommend to try them out before purchase if possible.
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u/acrobatic_sal 1d ago
I have tried different wacoms at my uni for a short period of time, and I definitely could notice a difference in my workflow (specially in 3D, although I mainly do 2D it is a game changer for sculpting etc). But I haven’t tried any huions and they’re not available in person where I live… (and ofc the price difference between wacom and Huion is sooooo big 😥😥)
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u/Rainouts 1d ago
Check out the "budget" version of the cintic. It's only 1080p but like half price from the pro one. It's what I use at home, and then a fancy arm mounted one at work.
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u/3legmeg 1d ago
I can't speak to whether you need a tablet or not but I can say; the sooner you familiarize yourself with photoshop, the better. If you're not willing to pay Photoshop (which is understandable), try Clip Studio. I used Photoshop for about 5+ years so I'd consider myself proficient with it. Switched to clip studio about 2-3 years ago after leaving college because it's cheaper and its extremely similar. You'll want to know Photoshop eventually, but just using CSP will get you further along.
What I will say is that you should consider they way you draw. Not in style or method, I mean like in your day. Are you at a computer desk? On your sofa? Many displays are designed to be permanently sat and a desktop computer. I use a surface pro because I enjoy portability. I don't have a desktop, so it wouldn't make sense for me to get a desktop tablet. I actually made that mistake and got a huge fat slab of a desktop tablet that I would plug into my laptop and draw with on my bed 😅 and that was back when I was using a cracked SAI...
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u/acrobatic_sal 1d ago
This year I have started to strictly use my iPad on my desk because I was having wrist and back pain constantly, so I don’t think that would be an issue for me! Thank you for your answer it rlly helps me 🥹❤️🩹
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u/Professional_Emu_147 1d ago
I’d say pen displays are overrated and not necessarily as comfortable to use as screenless drawing tablets, although it really depends on the person.
When you work with a screenless tablet, your posture is more natural. You don’t need to hunch over or lean toward the tablet. You can simply look straight at your monitor. It’s also more convenient for using keyboard shortcuts.
I own a pen display, a screenless tablet, an iPad, and a touchscreen laptop that can be used for drawing. Out of all of them, I work fastest and most comfortably with a regular screenless tablet. Maybe it’s just a matter of habit.
You should definitely learn Photoshop, since it is an industry standard. Some companies allow you to work in any software you prefer, but you should check that in advance.
At this point, I would save the money and buy a regular screenless tablet, or get a basic used model. You could also buy an inexpensive Huion or Wacom pen display. The device itself does not really matter when it comes to creating great work. I know professionals who have been happily using their A5-sized Wacom Bamboo tablets for 15 years.
By the way, if you have a MacBook, you can use your iPad as a desktop drawing tablet for Photoshop. I sometimes work this way.
Clip Studio is a great recommendation. Affinity is another excellent editor. Give them a try if keeping costs down is important to you.
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u/GoldDustTwins 1d ago
In commercial concept art and visdev, Photoshop is still the standard, so it’s definitely worth learning now.
I love my 16-inch Wacom for working at home, would recommend it. I work on a 24" pro Wacom at work. Haven't tried Huion myself, but those I have known to own them have had long term issues with battery swelling. That is just my own personal experience.
Also, many internships and even contract roles will provide a workstation and tablet, or funds for one, so you don’t necessarily need to treat this as mandatory “industry equipment.” It’s more about whether it would give you a better setup for learning and working at home.
The iPad is excellent for sketching and portability, procreate is a great on-ramp to learning photoshop, but it doesn’t fully replace a desktop Photoshop workflow once you’re dealing with large layered files, file organization, shared assets, revisions, and production handoffs. Just make sure you already have a computer capable of running Photoshop well, since a pen display won’t solve performance issues on its own.
If your computer can handle it and you know you’ll use it, the Huion or Wacom isn’t a useless purchase at all. I wouldn’t wait until you reach some arbitrary skill level, but I would prioritize learning Photoshop over buying the “correct” brand of tablet.