The drawing tablet is a great invention for artists. It has transformed the way many artists, animators and designers work. It gives you more control over your creations, allowing you to create whatever you have in your mind.

If you are used to working on a computer with a mouse, you might be confused about how drawing tablets work. Drawing tablets are super fun and easy to use. However, you shouldn’t move to a drawing tablet if you have a deadline approaching, as you need some time to adjust to the new way of working.

In this article, you will learn how to animate on a drawing tablet. We’ve put together a brief guide that covers all the basics from connecting the drawing tablet to starting to animate on it. Let’s get into it.

Connecting the Drawing Tablet to a Computer

Connecting your drawing tablet to a computer is super easy. Follow the steps below and you will be able to start using your drawing tablet immediately.

Connect via USB cable

1. Plug the USB cable into your computer and tablet.
2. Visit the tablet manufacturer’s website and download the software.
3. Make sure you are downloading the right software for your tablet.
4. Install the software and restart your computer (if using Windows). If you are using a Mac, you don’t need to restart it.

Connect via Bluetooth

1. Open the Bluetooth settings on your machine.
2. Depending on the device, you need to ensure your drawing tablet is ready to pair. Most devices have a separate Bluetooth button. If not, then long-pressing the power button activates the pairing mode.
3. When you can see the device name on your computer, click on the pair option.
4. The device is successfully connected.

How to Animate on a Drawing Tablet

Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting starting with animating on a drawing tablet.

1. Practice using the drawing tablet

If you are a beginner and have no experience of using a drawing tablet, you need to spend some time getting used to it. To get the feel of it, draw a few images, shapes or anything else with the default settings. Once you get used to it, you can visit the settings and customize them as per your requirements.

To start with, you can use the pen to open a folder location and close it. Learn how to click, drag, and right-click using the pen and tablet.

Another great way to practice is to play games using the pen and tablet. This will maintain your interest while allowing you to adjust to the drawing tablet. However, don’t try to play an advanced game using it, as this will just frustrate you. Keep it simple by playing a low-stress game.

Next, open a text document on your computer. Use the pen to highlight the text, copy, and paste it into another document.

Once you have completed this task successfully, you can go to the next stage. Try selecting a single character, copying it and moving it to another location. This will allow you to build up control over your movements.

2. Customize the Sensitivity

This step is very important in creating animations on a drawing tablet. To get better control over your sketch, you need to visit the settings and customize the sensitivity.

There aren’t any particular sensitivity settings that will suit for everyone. Every artist has to go through the experimenting phase and customize the settings as per their comfort. Keep experimenting until you are comfortable with the final settings.

3. Get a Graphics Program

If you are already working as a digital artist, you will be familiar with graphic design programs. You can choose one that meets your requirements.

However, if you have no previous experience, you can try any free, open-source program to start with. Later, you can research different paid options and get one as per your needs.

4. Start Animating

Once you are ready with everything, it’s time to create some animations. The best way is to begin with editing one of your previous creations. You can make changes to it and see how you are performing.

The next step could be opening a picture and a blank image side by side. Try to draw the picture using the pen and tablet. You can always change the brush, pen or pencil in the program to get the best possible result.

Spend at least an hour every day with your drawing tablet and create a couple of images. Over time, you will get used to the drawing tablet and start producing your best artwork.

Conclusion

Animating on a drawing tablet gives you more control over your creations. You can create anything from scratch. However, you need to learn how to create images.

Drawing with a tablet is a little difficult at the start, but you will gain more control with practice. Once you have control over your movements, you will find it easier to create images as compared to using a mouse.