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The Xencelabs PD24+ marks a shift for this Wacom various, however it additionally looks like not a month goes by with out one firm or one other releasing a brand new pen show for digital artists and graphic designers. You would be forgiven for considering that was all easy advertising and a method to seize as many client purchases as doable, however I believe there’s extra to it.
Only a few quick years in the past, Wacom dominated the market, and competitors was minimal, if not nonexistent. Lately, nevertheless, a handful of latest corporations have emerged, difficult one another to create higher merchandise at extra enticing costs. To attain this, they’ve needed to push their choices to the restrict. Xencelabs is one such firm, and with the Xencelabs PD24+, this revered model, which made the wonderful Pen Show 24 and Pen Show Medium, is aiming squarely on the top-end, professional artwork person, promising some spectacular options, together with built-in Calman software program.
I’ve been utilizing pen shows and tablets for the reason that early 90s and have examined greater than I care to rely, owned many, and have quite a lot of expertise, so it’s at all times attention-grabbing to see what is going on at any degree. For reference, my every day driver is without doubt one of the greatest drawing tablets, the Wacom Cintiq Professional 22, which I take advantage of for nearly every little thing, from every day admin duties to 3D artwork, video modifying, and photograph retouching. I used to be very to see if the Xencelabs additional couple of inches, plus a couple of additional options, may come shut, and I’ve blended emotions.
Xencelabs PD24+: what’s within the field?
You get all you want within the field, it doesn’t matter what your setup. (Picture credit score: Rob Redman)
The packaging right here is slim and minimal, however boy, do they pack lots into it. Not solely do you get the pen show, with stand, however the Fast Keys distant and holder, US and UK energy provides, a beautiful case for the twin pens and spare nibs, an enormous variety of cables, a few pen clamps for the aspect of the show, and a big fast begin information.
That’s quite a lot of stuff, and a few of it you received’t use, as they provide every little thing you want, irrespective of your setup. For instance, you get DisplayPort, HDMI, USB-C, and energy cables. For me, utilizing a MacBook Professional, all I wanted was energy and the USB-C cable. The remaining can keep stashed.
Xencelabs PD24+: setup and construct
The fast begin information is nice however for a lot of a single cable is all that is wanted. (Picture credit score: Rob Redman)
I can solely choose the setup based mostly on my use case, however it was a breeze. I plugged within the energy and the USB-C cable (by way of my Ugreen hub), and it fired up immediately, as did the Fast Keys distant, which didn’t require pairing or some other setup. It merely displayed a message to obtain the drivers, which I did, and that was it.
The PD24+ truly labored wonderful with out the drivers, however it’s greatest to put in them, so that you get full entry to options, like the flexibility to map buttons to capabilities, which might be completed per software program, which is at all times welcome.
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Construct high quality is usually excellent. There are a couple of barely brittle and cheaper-feeling plastics right here and there, however it all feels sturdy and safe. There are slots on the highest and aspect of the show the place you may insert pen holders. I a lot favor these to the chonky screw in factor on the Wacom.
The flip aspect of that is the stand. My Wacom stand is clean, infinitely adjustable, takes quite a lot of lengthy periods of me leaning on it, and is usually constructed like a tank. The Xencelabs feels a bit feeble compared. That stated, it nonetheless does a fantastic job, with good variability from 16-72 levels, so discovering the fitting place is simple, however I’m not a fan of the protruding rubber toes on the entrance edge. They do a fantastic job at stopping slippage, however they don’t look good.
The opposite draw back to this stand is the shortage of top adjustment. I like dropping my pen show off the sting of the desk, however that simply isn’t an choice right here. What I do love is that you could modify the stand with one hand. Hook a finger over the again, depress a paddle, modify, then let go. That simple.
Pens might be saved shut handy on this clips. (Picture credit score: Rob Redman)
Previously, after I’ve used pen shows with pucks and button pads, I haven’t loved the expertise. They’re wonderful, however I like a tidy workspace, they usually have a tendency to maneuver round, get knocked, and I favor buttons on the principle system, ideally on the sting, or underside, retaining a clear look. So I used to be apprehensive about utilizing the Xencelans’ distant.
Nonetheless, I bought on nicely with the Fast Keys distant. The little field presents quite a lot of customisation, with beautiful, clear labeling on the central OLED display and a pleasant rotary encoder. I used to be going to say on the prime, however you may set this to be oriented in any path, so when you favor to make use of it at 90 levels, you may, and the holder that it sits in will work simply wonderful wherever on the show, good for left-handed use, or to suit a decent area.
Wanting on the photographs, you may spot the three illuminated circles on the prime proper of the display. These aren’t bodily buttons however are contact delicate and might be set to open / shut varied issues. I just like the default settings / pen settings / shows personally.
The pen case may be very good, with area for each the usual and slim pens. I a lot favor the usual pen, however I believe that’s a pressure of behavior, having used a similar-sized pen for many years. I did, nevertheless, swap to a felt nib inside minutes. Once more, it is a private choice. I simply actually like a barely extra paperlike really feel, however I do know many favor a smoother interplay.
The case holds a variety of each nib varieties, in addition to the elimination instrument and a USB dongle for the fast keys, must you want it. I preserve the case close by however not often delve into it, selecting as an alternative to retailer my pen in one of many clips, on the fitting aspect of the show.
So, aside from a few small niggles, I’m very impressed by the construct high quality of the PD24+. It’s sturdy, feels good to make use of, and, aside from the rubber toes, appears to be like the half too.
Xencelabs PD24+: efficiency
These contact delicate buttons are customisable (Picture credit score: Rob Redman)
Whereas that stand might not be one of the best in school, it’s sturdy, permitting me to lean my weight on it for prolonged drawing or 3D modeling periods. As a lot as they don’t look nice, these rubber toes maintain it in place.
There’s loads of room on the entrance face of the PD24+, across the precise display, which I’m a giant fan of. All of us appear to try for minimal bezels on screens, however with a pen show, a bigger bezel is fascinating, as you aren’t blocking elements of the display whereas working, particularly if you’re a leaner, like me. This additionally means there’s room for the fast choose buttons and the Fast Keys distant in its holder.
I discovered the interplay with the PD24+ to be very pleasant, in addition to mishap-free. I by no means as soon as had a glitch or a problem. No button presses went unregistered and, better of all, there was no lag within the pen. This could be partially as a result of pc used, so preserve that in thoughts. I’m on a 2025 M4 Professional, which you’d hope would have wonderful efficiency.
Now on to the precise display. This sits behind a laminated glass prime that’s, in flip, lined by an excellent antiglare coating. I’ve to say this is without doubt one of the greatest anti-glare coatings I’ve used. For those who take a look at the photograph, you may see this sits slightly below my essential monitor, and sure angles may trigger some glare, however I didn’t face this difficulty in any respect right here, so props to Xencelabs for that.
The display is a 4K (3840 x 2160) show, and it runs at 60Hz, at 330cd/m2, which is lots vibrant and quick sufficient for many artwork and design wants.
Dock it to the show, maintain it or put wherever, the fast keys is actually helpful. (Picture credit score: Rob Redman)
The PD24+ additionally has wonderful color accuracy, with 99% Adobe RGB, REC.709, and 93% DCI-P3 protection, which is excellent for a pen show. You additionally get Pantone and Skintone certification. That is good for any person anticipating to see correct color, however important for photograph finishers and colourists.
On prime of this, there may be Calman Auto calibration, completed by way of Calman’s software program, which provides you the easiest color accuracy, by way of software program and the Studio 24+ firmware. For those who work in video modifying or colouring, animation, texture portray, or different colour-critical fields, this very welcome addition.
It is value noting that some pen shows like XPPen’s Artist Professional 24 (Gen2) 4K are Calman verified, the PD24+ has Calman software program inbuilt, so it talks on to Xencelabs, permitting computerized calibration of your pen show, protecting color replica as correct as doable.
I stated earlier how I favor the usual pen, however for individuals who favor a sleeker, slimmer one, it really works simply as nicely. Nib adjustments are similar, button layouts match too, and each are battery-free. They do use completely different clips, so be sure to preserve them each for instances once you wish to swap.
The precise drawing expertise is excellent right here. Whichever pen, nib combo you select, the response to strain is phenomenal, with none of these odd begin factors or stroke tails you will get on some gadgets. Parallax is minimal, too. It looks like you might be drawing instantly on the pixels, not like some pen shows the place there is usually a seen hole between nib and ‘paper’.
All of the strain curves, button layouts, and so forth are very simple to regulate in case your venture leans towards needing a heavier or lighter hand. Simply press the settings button up on the prime proper, and you may make swift adjustments with out having to depart your artistic software.
I like how the Fast Keys distant holder might be slid across the perimeter of the display, too. I’m a keyboard shortcut form of person for lots of duties, however discovered myself utilizing this extra incessantly as I spent extra time with it, reducing it for some tasks and pushing it up and out of the best way at different instances. Nice design.
Xencelabs PD24+: purchase it if
- Color accuracy is a should
- You need a big vibrant show
Xencelabs PD24+: do not buy it if
- You don’t have quite a lot of desktop area
Xencelabs PD24+: Worth Comparability
