A graphics tablet is a computer input device that allows one to hand-draw images and graphics, similar to the way one draws images with a pencil and paper.

A Graphics tablet consists of a flat surface upon which the user may "draw" an image using an attached stylus , a pen-like drawing apparatus. The image generally does not appear on the tablet itself but, rather, is displayed on the computer monitor .

Graphics tablets should not be confused with the tablet PC .

General uses

Graphics tablets, because of their stylus-based interface and (in some cases) ability to detect pressure, tilt, and other attributes of the stylus and its interaction with the tablet, are widely considered to offer a very natural way to create computer graphics , especially two-dimensional computer graphics. Indeed, many graphics packages (e.g. The GIMP , Corel Painter , Inkscape , Photoshop , Pixel image editor , Studio Artist ) are able to make use of the pressure (and, in some cases, stylus tilt) information generated by a tablet, by modifying attributes such as brush size, capacity , and color based on data received from the graphics tablet.

In East Asia , graphics tablets, or pen tablets as they are known, are widely used in conjunction with input method editor software ( IMEs ) to write Chinese, Japanese, Korean characters ( CJK ). The technology is popular and inexpensive. This technology offeres a nice methodology for interacting with the computer in a more natural manner than typing on the keyboard.

Tablets are also popular for technical drawings and CAD , as one can put a piece of paper on them without interfering with their function.

 Advantages:

•  It allows one to hand-draw images and graphics, similar to the way one draws images with a pencil and paper.

•  stylus-based interface and (in some cases) ability to detect pressure, tilt, and other attributes of the stylus and its interaction with the tablet, are widely considered to offer a very natural way to create computer graphics , especially two-dimensional computer graphics.

•  The technology is popular and inexpensive.

•  Finally, tablets are gaining popularity as a replacement for the computer mouse as a pointing device. They can be more intuitive to some users than the mouse, as the position of the pen on the tablet typically corresponds to the location of the pointer on the GUI shown on the computer screen. Those artists using the pen for graphics work will as a matter of convenience use the tablet and pen for standard computer operations rather than put down the pen and find the mouse

Disadvantages:

•  Are sometimes confused with the tablet PC .