Versione in Italiano QUI
Introduction
I have never been a big fan of graphic tablets, primarily because I have always considered them as products more related to drawing than photography, and unfortunately, I am quite terrible at drawing. Nevertheless, my inner nerd forced me to at least give it a try, so in the past, I purchased a Wacom Intuos Pro: the result was dramatic, both for the plasticky feel and (most importantly) for the actual usage. It might have been my MacBook Pro at the time (I doubt it), the then-state of development of Adobe Lightroom (likely), the actual technological level of the tablet (possibly), or a mix of all these factors (very likely), but in the end, post-processing with a tablet was always a struggle for me, so much so that I even preferred doing everything with a simple trackpad and my fingers.
Time passes, I grow older, technology improves, and things change. Thanks, as always, to my good friend Phil, I discovered the existence of an alternative to Wacom. Seduced by the technology and his words, I convinced myself to try Xencelabs products, specifically the Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium, which I want to talk about in this article.
What is a Graphic Tablet?
Let’s start, as always, from the beginning. A graphic tablet is a tool designed for those who work in photo editing and digital drawing. It’s a device that allows you to use a pen to interact with your computer in a precise and natural way, simulating the experience of drawing on paper or canvas. By moving the pen across the tablet, the action is instantly (in theory…) mirrored on your computer. Compared to a mouse, a graphic tablet is designed to provide greater control, pressure sensitivity, and smoother movements, making it ideal for precision tasks like photographic post-production or artistic creation. Thanks to its direct integration with software such as Photoshop, Lightroom, or Capture One, it allows intuitive management of brushes, masks, and adjustment tools, significantly improving your workflow.
Features of the Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium
Xencelabs offers various graphic tablets as well as full-fledged graphic displays, but I ultimately opted for the Medium-sized Pen Tablet model. This choice was influenced both by Phil’s recommendation and by its price, which seemed more than fair (€270 at the time of writing).
My Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium immediately stands out for its elegant and functional design, with an impressively slim thickness of just 8mm. It is clearly designed for those seeking a balance between performance and simplicity. The active area is generously sized at 262 x 147 mm, offering ample workspace without taking up too much room on your desk. Its build is solid yet lightweight, with a minimalist look that integrates seamlessly into any setup.
One of the key features that caught my attention is the pen’s pressure sensitivity, which supports a staggering 8192 pressure levels. This provides incredible precision, impossible to replicate with a mouse or a trackpad. It allows you to control gradients, lines, and details with the utmost accuracy, which is crucial for professionals working with high-resolution images, like photographers. Additionally, the pens support an extensive tilt range (up to 60 degrees) and come with an integrated eraser function.
The tablet is compatible with both Windows and macOS and features Bluetooth connectivity to minimize cable clutter. For those who prefer a wired connection, a USB-C cable is included in the package.
A detail that impressed me is the inclusion of two pens: one thinner and lighter for detailed work, and one more robust for an experience closer to using a traditional pen. Both are customizable in terms of tip type and size and can be further configured through the software, allowing specific functions to be assigned to the pen buttons.
Among the included accessories, you’ll find a carrying case and a drawing glove (both optional with Wacom).
For those looking to maximize productivity, Xencelabs also offers the Quick Keys controller as an optional accessory or as part of the Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium Bundle. This compact device adds a series of customizable buttons and a dial for quickly adjusting parameters such as zoom, image rotation, or brush size. Although I haven’t had the chance to try it personally, I’ve read that its integration with the tablet is seamless and that using the two together significantly reduces the time needed for adjustments. This accessory will likely prove very useful if you primarily work with Photoshop. As for me, based on my personal experience, I believe that the buttons on the pen and the tablet itself are sufficient for my needs, as we’ll see later on.
Configuring the Tablet and Pen via Software
Setting up the Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium is an intuitive process, thanks to the dedicated software available for free on the official website. Once the software is installed and the tablet is connected (I use Bluetooth to avoid extra cables cluttering my workspace), you can customize every aspect of the tablet, including the colors of the active edge lighting, the function buttons, and the pen pressure profiles. The interface is simple yet powerful, allowing you to save specific settings for different software like Capture One, Photoshop, or Lightroom. The software also lets you calibrate the active area of the tablet to match the position of your hand, ensuring an ergonomic experience.
For my workflow, I configured the tablet buttons as follows for Capture One:
- Left button: H (Pan)
- Middle button: M (Show/Hide Mask)
- Right button: G (Show/Hide Grid)
A sense of control over the tablet’s smoothness. As for the pen buttons, I configured them as follows:
- Button near the tip: Right-click (perfect to quickly access to brush settings)
- Middle button: Double-click
- Button farther away: Undo
Regarding the pressure settings, I adjusted it slightly from the default balance between “Soft” and “Hard,” moving one notch toward Soft.
Impressions of Use
I must confess that using the Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium has been a surprisingly enjoyable experience from the very first moment, even though it required some significant adjustments to my workflow.
The tablet’s design is slim yet robust (none of that plasticky Wacom feel), and the active surface provides perfect feedback, especially when using the felt-tip nib. The texture simulates the sensation of drawing on paper, which I believe many will appreciate, particularly those who spend hours working on the same project.
The pen’s accuracy is impressive: every movement is captured with millimeter precision, making it effortless to work on the tiniest details. Another positive (and indispensable!) aspect is the lack of lag. The feedback is immediate, making the pen feel like a natural extension of your hand. This is especially useful when making quick adjustments or working on complex images.
That said, I had to make some small (but substantial) adjustments to my workflow. Previously, when creating manual masks using the brush tool in Capture One (or Lightroom), I would almost always set the Opacity to 100% and the Flow to 100%, except in specific cases, because it was nearly impossible to manage brush strokes in a more precise manner.
Now, things are completely different. By combining the pen’s pressure control with a reduced Flow of around 20% (while keeping the Opacity at 100%), I can control corrections as if I were truly painting on my photo.
The change, for me, has been radical (but positive). When I used a mouse or trackpad, I would first create the mask and only afterward adjust the correction using various sliders. Now, I can first think about what I actually want to achieve (for example, selectively opening shadows) and then use the brush with low flow and variable pressure to progressively and precisely achieve the desired result just where I want.
It takes a little time to get used to, but I’d say that within a maximum of ten hours, this will become a natural process, and you’ll find it frustrating to go back to the old method.
Conclusions
In conclusion, I would say that the Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium is a graphic tablet that combines excellent performance, a well-thought-out design, and a competitive price. The build quality is top-notch, and advanced features like pressure sensitivity, Bluetooth connectivity, and software customization make it an ideal choice for photographers and digital creatives.
Despite my initial skepticism, I can see that this tablet allows me to significantly improve my workflow, making the editing process not only faster but also more precise. For those who use software like Capture One, Photoshop, Lightroom, or other popular photo editing programs, I believe the Xencelabs Pen Tablet Medium is an investment worth every penny.
