Xencelabs, a company that I really appreciate in the graphics tablets scene, just announced a new product: the Xencelabs Pen Display 24 Studio Series. This 24-inch graphics tablet display builds upon elements from their first generation of graphics tablets. The Quick Keys are still a prominent feature, but to stand out from the crowd, the hottest features include silent cooling and glare-free display. Xencelabs unveiled this product at the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco today. Should we take this as a hint from Xencelabs that they are marketing predominantly toward 3D modeling, or is this a tablet for all creatives?
Silent cooling
The Pen Display 24 features absolutely no fans, so the cooling is achieved in silence. The way this works comes down to the magnesium alloy housing, through which heat is dissipated. This has multiple benefits, including the ability to work in a quiet environment, which is particularly useful for educators, bloggers, and live streamers.
I’ve put a lot of thought into this feature, and it’s a concept I really think is quite special. A graphics tablet display without fans, using a silent cooling method, can benefit digital artists in several ways. First and foremost, as I already mentioned, it would eliminate the distracting noise that can be produced by fan-based cooling systems. Digital artists often work in quiet environments where the hum of a fan can be a significant distraction, especially during long work sessions. With a silent cooling method, artists can maintain a peaceful environment without sacrificing the cooling performance of their tablet display.
Additionally, a fanless graphics tablet display would reduce the risk of dust accumulation and potentially prolong the lifespan of the device. Fan-based cooling systems tend to draw in dust and debris. This can accumulate inside the device and lead to hardware damage over time. With a silent cooling method, there is less risk of dust buildup, avoiding maintenance or repairs.
A fanless graphics tablet display would also provide a more comfortable working experience for artists. Fans can produce a significant amount of heat, which can make the tablet display feel hot to the touch. A silent cooling method would allow for a more evenly distributed and controlled temperature. This could create a more comfortable working environment for digital artists.
Cooling without fans, using a silent cooling method, would provide a quieter, cleaner, and potentially cheaper system. At least, that’s my theory right now.
Anti-Glare
The Pen Display 24 delivers brilliant imagery and color performance with its ability to reproduce 1.07 billion colors accurately. The 4K Ultra-high definition resolution (up to 3840 x 2160) improves workflow by maintaining clarity and sharpness even when images are enlarged several times. This makes it an excellent tool for detailed sketches.
The Pen Display 24 supports six industry-standard color spaces. Pantone has approved the new display, meeting key performance criteria. Additionally, it is SkinTone validated, indicating that the Pen Display 24 meets Pantone’s testing criteria and can authentically reproduce the diverse set of skin tones found in the Pantone SkinTone Guide.
The display screen is optically bonded. This minimizes parallax and produces a bright, clear image that does not cause distraction or eye fatigue. The anti-glare technology eliminates the “sparkling” effect, allowing users to focus on their work for extended periods without any discomfort. The product demo by Xencelabs Training Director, Ian Sayers, during the press release, involved a bright spotlight that produced no glare on the display.
Productivity
The Xencelabs Pen Display 24 includes their Quick Keys. You can attach these keys to any side of the display, and in any orientation. This makes it easy to find a comfortable location. The Xencelabs Quick Keys allow artists to incorporate shortcut keys into their workflow through an easy-to-use interface. The OLED display integrated into the keys lets users see button assignments at a glance, making it easier to access frequently used shortcuts. Users can group up to 40 shortcuts per application into five different sets of eight keys each.
The physical dial on the display offers four function modes for zoom, rotation, brush size, and other functions. When you activate a new application with the pen, the button settings switch automatically. Users can quickly access settings through three programmable LED buttons on the top of the display. These buttons also provide a reminder that the pen buttons or Quick Key button assignments may have changed when a different application is in use by changing color.
In addition, the Pen Display 24 features a Virtual Tablet Mode that allows pen control of multiple displays. Users can easily drag or manipulate objects from one display to the other using just the pen. Boost your productivity with the Xencelabs Quick Keys and other convenient features of the Pen Display 24.
Competition
Xencelabs are putting themselves up against some tough competition. There are lots of graphics display tablets available, with various features and capabilities. Among the most popular are:
- Wacom Cintiq Pro 24: A popular brand of graphic display tablets that offers a range of models, sizes, and features suitable for professionals and beginners.
- Huion Kamvas Pro 24: Known for its affordability and excellent performance, the Huion Kamvas offers different screen sizes and a variety of features, making it a favorite among digital artists.
- XP-Pen Artist 24: The XP-Pen Artist offers a range of models with various screen sizes, features, and price points. It is a popular option for digital artists looking for an affordable and high-quality display tablet.
- Apple iPad Pro 12.9″: Apple’s iPad Pro is a popular choice for digital artists who prefer working on a mobile device. It offers a high-quality display, a stylus, and a range of apps and features suitable for creative work.
Pricing and availability
The Xencelabs Pro Display 24 certainly has some great features. The price point is a fair reflection of its performance. The Pen Display 24 will be available in the second quarter of 2023, at the following prices: $1,899, £1,850, and €2,099.
Marketing as a multi-disciplinary product, Xencelabs say they’ve conducted research amongst photographers, illustrators, 3D designers, VFX animators, and anyone else you can think of. Do you think this product fits your specialism? Are you excited to try one out?
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