Using a digital graphics board correctly requires combining device characteristics, software configuration, and usage scenarios. Here are detailed steps and tips:

I. Preliminary Preparation

Hardware Connection and Driver Installation

Connect the graphics board to a computer or tablet via USB or wireless (Bluetooth), ensuring a stable interface connection.

Install the official driver program (download the latest driver for the corresponding model from the brand's official website). The driver is crucial for enabling functions like pressure sensitivity and shortcut key customization; restart the device after installation for it to take effect.

Basic Device Settings

Open the driver control panel and calibrate the correspondence between the pen and the screen (to solve the "pen point offset" issue).

Adjust pressure sensitivity (set according to painting habits to make the changes in line thickness more consistent with hand feel) and shortcut keys (e.g., customize common functions like "undo" and "save" to the graphics board's buttons).

II. Core Usage Skills

Cooperating with Professional Software

Graphics boards are mainly used with pressure-sensitive creative software, such as:

Digital painting: Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint, Procreate (for tablet), Krita (free).

Vector design: Illustrator, CorelDRAW.

3D modeling: Blender (for sculpting with a drawing tablet).

After entering the software, confirm that "pressure sensitivity" is enabled in the "brush settings" (usually enabled by default; you can test whether the line thickness changes normally with the force applied).

Basic Operation Specifications

Pen-holding posture: Similar to traditional painting, avoid excessive force (the pressure sensitivity function can control line thickness through light/heavy force to reduce hand fatigue).

Drawing area: Choose "full-screen mapping" (the pen's movement range corresponds to the entire screen) or "partial mapping" (suitable for fine operations) according to needs.

Auxiliary tools: Make good use of the "eraser" function of the graphics board (flip the pen to switch, supported by some models) and the touch ring (for quick zooming/rotating the canvas).

Utilizing Advanced Functions

Pressure sensitivity levels: Mid-to-high-end graphics boards support 4096 or 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, allowing for the drawing of delicate gradient lines (such as hair strands, shadow transitions).

Tilt sensing: Some pressure-sensitive pens support tilt angle recognition, simulating the side 锋 effect of real brushes (e.g., pencil sketching, watercolor blending).

Custom shortcut keys: Assign common operations (such as switching brushes, adjusting transparency) to the physical buttons or touch areas of the graphics board to improve efficiency.

III. Maintenance and Precautions

Device Maintenance

Regularly clean the pen tip (to avoid scratches from wear) and the surface of the drawing board (wipe with a slightly damp soft cloth to prevent oil stains from affecting induction).

Avoid heavy pressure or dropping during storage; for wireless models, pay attention to battery life (remove the battery if not used for a long time).

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Loss of pressure sensitivity: Check if the driver is running normally (restart the driver or reinstall it) and if the software supports pressure sensitivity.

Cursor offset: Recalibrate the correspondence between the pen and the screen, or adjust the "mapping area" in the driver.

Delay or lag: Close programs occupying system resources in the computer background and ensure the driver is compatible with the system version (e.g., Windows 11 requires an adapted driver version).

IV. Expansion of Application Scenarios

Digital painting: Use pressure sensitivity to draw illustrations and comics, and simulate effects like oil painting and watercolor through different brushes.

Design creation: Precisely draw UI icons and logos, or add annotations with a drawing tablet in video editing software.

Handwriting input: Convert handwritten notes into text with OCR software, suitable for meeting records and formula derivation (e.g., using in OneNote).

By familiarizing yourself with device functions and software adaptation, a digital graphics board can significantly improve creative efficiency and accuracy, especially suitable for scenarios requiring delicate brush control.