Let’s take a look at your drawing tablet. Can you see a scratch on the surface of the tablet? Does it look oily from the outside?
Like any other tool, your drawing tablet needs regular maintenance to stay in good condition. I’m not just talking about cleaning it.
With proper care and attention, you can extend the life of your tablet, maintain optimal performance, and enhance your digital art experience.
I will explain how to properly take care of your drawing tablet.
Table of Contents
Vulnerable Parts of Drawing Tablet
Knowing which parts of your drawing tablet are vulnerable to damage can help you understand the importance of proper care.
Screen
The screen is the most important part of a graphic tablet. It’s why artists buy a graphic tablet instead of a pen tablet.
Graphic tablet screens can break easily, just like those on laptops or TVs.
What’s more, it’s harder to repair a graphic tablet screen. Not many people know how to fix them properly. A screen protector is a good idea to keep your graphic tablet safe.
A graphic tablet from a top brand like Wacom usually has a good-quality screen. For more information, check out Top Drawing Tablet Brands Ranked.
Stylus
The stylus or the pens of your drawing tablet is not as strong as you think it is. One or two drops can easily break your stylus.
The reason why the stylus is easy to break is because there are digitizers that process the data to your drawing tablet.
If it’s broken, then your drawing tablet won’t respond to your stylus.
Buttons and Controls
Some pen tablets and graphic tablets feature multiple buttons to assist artists with shortcuts while drawing.
They can become unresponsive over time, especially if not pressed carefully. Moreover, dirt and dust can seep in between the buttons, eventually causing some to stop working.
Connection Ports
The USB or other connection ports on your drawing tablet are essential for connecting your device to a computer.
With repeated plugging and unplugging, these ports can wear out or become loose.
Ensure you plug cables in carefully and avoid putting excessive pressure on the port, which will help maintain its condition.
Surface Material
Your drawing tablet’s outer surface or casing might not directly affect its performance, but it’s still vulnerable to scratches, dents, or cracks if it is dropped or handled roughly.
While aesthetic damages might not concern everyone, severe dents can harm internal components.
Vents and Cooling
If your drawing tablet has vents for cooling, these can become clogged with dust and debris over time.
A clogged vent can lead to overheating, affecting the tablet’s performance over time. Regularly checking and cleaning these vents can prevent such issues.
How to Properly Maintain Your Drawing Tablet
1. Regularly Clean your Drawing Tablet
Your drawing tablet can quickly accumulate dust, dirt, and oils. If you don’t regularly clean your drawing tablet, the dust will gather in the pens and inside the tablet.
Clean your drawing tablet with a microfiber cloth. Do not use water or detergent to clean your drawing tablet. Use rubbing alcohol (75 percent isopropyl alcohol) instead.
If you’re just a professional artist, cleaning your drawing tablet before and after drawing is something you should do.
Doing a weekly and monthly cleaning is recommended if you’re busy.
To learn more, head into this article about How to Clean Your Drawing Tablet (Wacom, Huion, and XP-Pen).
2. Place your Drawing Tablet in a Safe Place
You should place your drawing tablet safely, away from any harm.
Pen tablets are more durable than graphic tablets. Perhaps if you accidentally drop a pen tablet, nothing will happen because there are almost no weak components inside it.
But if you drop a graphic tablet, the screen may shatter, and the battery can be damaged.
Not only that, the stylus, along with its nibs, is particularly susceptible to damage.
A direct impact on the stylus, especially if it hits the nib directly, can impair its internal components, causing malfunctions or complete failure. Always handle it with care and store it securely to prolong its lifespan.
When storing, always remember:
- Store in cool, dry places
- Avoid direct sunlight
- Use padded bags or covers for added protection
- Avoid placing heavy items on top of the device
- If you have pets, don’t let them reach your drawing tablet.
- Do not place your drawing tablet near the edge of tables or high surfaces. There’s always a risk of it being accidentally bumped or knocked off.
3. Avoid Getting your Drawing Tablet or Pen Wet
Keep liquid away from your drawing tablet and stylus.
Water damage can permanently impair your device, and no drawing tablets on the market are water-resistant or waterproof.
If you get them wet, consult this guide for dealing with potential liquid damage: What to do if your drawing tablet gets wet.
4. Carefully handle the Stylus nibs
Regularly inspect your stylus nibs, as they tend to wear down with frequent use. Drawing tablets like the Wacom Intuos Pro and Huion Inspiroy often have a textured surface that can accelerate this wear.
Don’t forget to replace your nibs. Nibs that are worn down can end up scratching your drawing tablet. This is important if you have a graphic tablet; you wouldn’t want scratches on its screen.
5. Keeping Your Drawing Tablet Warranty Intact
Warranty is important, especially to retain the resale value of your drawing tablet. If you plan to sell your tablet, maintaining its warranty can lead to a faster sale at a better price rather than facing long waits and possible price cuts.
When shopping for used drawing tablets, many artists prefer ones with warranties because they feel safer.
For more details about your drawing tablet’s warranty, you can visit the following links:
Wacom’s Warranty Information: https://www.wacom.com/en-id/warranty
Huion’s Warranty Information: https://www.huion.com/warranty
XP-Pen’s Warranty Information: https://www.xp-pen.com/page/warranty-repairs.html
Avoid doing any of these things that can void your drawing tablet warranty:
- Disassembling the tablet and the stylus
- Deliberately damaging the tablet (such as using a knife to scratch it)
- Exposing it to fire and liquid damage (whether it’s intentional or not)
6. Avoid overcharging the drawing tablet’s battery
Managing battery health is vital if your drawing tablet is equipped with one:
- Once fully charged, unplug it rather than leaving it connected.
- Occasionally, charge the battery from 0% to 100%.
Note that your tablet’s battery may only last under an hour after years of constant use. You’ll then need to keep it connected to a power source for continuous drawing.
7. Use a Drawing Glove when drawing on your tablet
A drawing glove is a useful tool to prevent sweat from touching your drawing tablet. It’s cheap and lets you glide your arm quickly on your drawing tablet.
