Samsung Galaxy Tablet and Second Screen

This blog post is about my purchase of a Samsung Galaxy Tablet for drawing purposes - but for me, just as excitingly, the use of an app called spacedesk which allows you to duplicate your computer screen onto a tablet.  This has opened up opportunities for combining both 'traditional' drawing with a pencil and paper, with more specialist digital pen and brush tools available through companies such as Retro Supply. You can see Ted above doing an excellent job of 'helping' me use it.  For a long time, I resisted creating drawings and graphics by using a stylus and a tablet.  This was mainly because I enjoy the use of a pencil and a piece of paper so much!  However, for various reasons, I finally decided to invest in a tablet for drawing purposes.  This is primarily because I often use Adobe Photoshop Elements to finish off my drawings prior to finalising my linocut, woodcut or rubbercut designs.  One trick I often do on Photoshop is to flip my design both vertically and also horizontally.  This helps to highlight any issues with my design, particularly with size or perspective. I use the 'Transform' tool or the 'Warp' tool to resolve any issues, then I print my final design out and trace it.  For years, I have used a Wacom Tablet and pen to do most of these actions, using the set up below.

These tools are perfect for simple, repetitive actions, such as selecting an area and then using certain commands - but I have never been able to do any drawing using these tools.  I have always found there to be too much of a disconnect between the computer screen, and the tablet and pen.  However, recently, I have been wanting to experiment with different sorts of printmaking - specifically, recreating the halftone dots and hatching of comic book art - see the close up of my uni-cycling bear below.  Although I still wanted to hand draw with paper and pencil my design, to fill the area with halftone dots and hatching, this would be significantly easier and effective if done digitally. 

Here in Perth, Scotland, artists can access the facilities and equipment held by Perth Ideas Centre.  I knew they had some Apple Tablets with Photoshop loaded on them that I could experiment with.  It was incredibly helpful to be able to do this, as it narrowed my focus onto what I really wanted/needed.  I definitely wanted a tablet, as I liked the experience of drawing on a tablet - but I didn't need one as sophisticated as an Apple tablet.  However, more than anything, I realised I wanted a tablet that I could draw on directly, but still have access to all of my Photoshop Elements Tools.  I started researching options, and hit upon my current solution.  The Samsung Tablet S10 Lite 10.9 got decent reviews and the size was suitable for my purposes.  However, the primary reason I bought it was due to its 'Second Screen' function - where you have the option of duplicating your computer screen onto the tablet.  This meant that I would still have access to all my Photoshop Elements tools, and keyboard shortcuts, whilst hopefully have a more suitable drawing function.

I have had mixed success with this option.  I do like drawing on the tablet.  I find the pen smooth and responsive and fairly natural.  It will never replace paper and pencil, but I find it easy to use if I am working using layers and have a draft pencil sketch to follow.  Sadly, I was unable to get the Samsung Second Screen option to function at all.  Googling this, it seems this is frequently a problem.  There are good alternatives in place though, and I downloaded the spacedesk app instead, and now I can duplicate my screen no problem.  This set up is not completely perfect - as I only have Elements, I cannot customise the toolbars to maximise the use of tablet space, but I can get round this by using the Navigator tool.  I like the flexibility of being able to switch between using my computer keyboard and tablet.  It suits my limited requirements for drawing on a tablet, and I'm really enjoying experimenting with a new set of digital drawing tools.  Below, you can see the final copy of my unicycling bear thank you card.  This is a woodcut design based on a pencil drawing, and the coloured using hatching and halftones bought from Retro Supply, drawn into place using my Samsung tablet and pen.  I love the look of the half tones I have been able to create on the bear!