2021

 

VEIKK VK1200 Tablet Review

Welcome to possibly my last review of 2020! Although this year has been rubbish for practically everything and everybody, it's actually been a great one for Graphic Pen Tablets and Displays with some great devices being released in the last 12 months.

Is the new Veikk VK1200 a Christmas cracker or the equivalent of a stale Mince Pie? Read on... 😀

VEIKK VK1200 Pen Display in the studio © Steve B Graphics 2020

The VK1200 pen display is the latest graphics tablet from Veikk, a Chinese based manufacturer who produce a variety of devices like this for (predominantly) designers and illustrators, but of course, anyone can use one!

As far as I know, at 12” (11.6” active area), this is their smallest drawing tablet – about the size of an iPad. This isn’t a standalone device though – it needs to be plugged into a PC/Laptop or Mac and you draw on the screen!

I actually own and use a larger VK1560 tablet for various illustration work, so can vouch for their quality, but wanted something smaller and a bit more portable, for when, hopefully, we can go back to working in an office!

In the box are the tablet, 2 pens (which come in their own felt-type sleeves/protectors), 20 spare nibs, USB cable, HDMI cable, nib remover, drawing glove, driver download instructions, quick start guide and a pen holder in two parts; the bottom half is not only for storing the spare nibs, but can remove the older nib from the pen as it doubles up as a nib extractor tool! Once screwed together with the top half, the combined units become a handy pen holder.

Whilst connecting the tablet to my laptop it was quite fiddly connecting the mini HDMI connector into the tablet. It took a few attempts as I didn’t want to damage anything, but apart from that setting everything up was effortless.

This is a fully laminated HD 1920x1080 screen and out of the box with no settings tinkering, was vibrant and nice and bright. It comes with a pre-fitted Anti-Glare Screen Protector.

The pen(s) is quite light, but feels good in the hand and is a two-button job: top button is ‘Eraser/Pen’ mode whilst the bottom button acts as ‘Right Click’.

I created the illustration accompanying this review in Photoshop. Not only is the pen ‘battery-free’, it also supports 8192 levels of pressure sensitivity, which means you can vary the width of the line by pressing down a bit harder basically – perfect for the type of cartoon image presented here. Drawing felt smooth with no noticeable lagging. ‘Tilt’ is also supported which helps with shading.

VEIKK VK1200 Pen Display in the studio © Steve B Graphics 2020

Down the left side of the tablet are 6 shortcuts keys (the middle one bearing the VEIKK logo isn’t actually a button!) which provide easy shortcuts (obviously!) whilst drawing; F5 (Refresh), Zoom In, Zoom Out, Space, Increase Brush size, Decrease Brush size.

VEIKK VK1200 Pen Display in the studio © Steve B Graphics 2020

All these settings (and the for the pen) are configurable in the driver software.

This is a really cool looking, well-built tablet with its nice curved corners and metal backing and it’s only 12mm high! Flip it over and you’re presented with the four rubber feet incorporated into a kind of ‘X’ type design – very industrial looking!

VEIKK VK1200 Pen Display in the studio © Steve B Graphics 2020

Unfortunately, no stand comes with this particular model, so you’ll have to do what I did if you don’t like working ‘flat’ and that’s prop it up with a book… 😊

Here's the goodies you get in the box:

VEIKK VK1200 Pen Display in the studio © Steve B Graphics 2020

VEIKK VK1200 Pen Display in the studio © Steve B Graphics 2020

VEIKK VK1200 Pen Display in the studio © Steve B Graphics 2020

VEIKK VK1200 Pen Display in the studio © Steve B Graphics 2020

VEIKK VK1200 Pen Display in the studio © Steve B Graphics 2020

It's a fully laminated screen, which means no more little 'gaps' from the pen nib to what you see on screen, as you can see here:

VEIKK VK1200 Pen Display in the studio © Steve B Graphics 2020

VEIKK VK1200 Pen Display in the studio © Steve B Graphics 2020

VEIKK VK1200 Pen Display in the studio © Steve B Graphics 2020

This is a great little device and comes recommended whether you’re a novice or a grizzled professional and would make any creatives face light up to find this in their stocking this Christmas!

Right, where's the Sherry...? Cheers! 😁

New! VEIKK VK1200 Review Coming Soon...

Looking forward to giving this new VEIKK VK1200 a good testing here in the Steve B Graphics Studio...let's hope it's as good as it looks - it could be the ideal gift for the Creative Type this Christmas! Watch this space!

VEIKK VK1200 Pen Display in the studio © Steve B Graphics 2020

HUION Kamavs 16 (2021) Tablet Review...

Ho Ho HUION... or something! It looks like Santa has arrived earlier than usual this year and dropped off a HUION Kamvas 16 (2021) Graphic Pen Tablet for review... I must be on his 'good' list! 😀

You can read the full review here

HUION Kamvas 16 (2021) in the studio © Steve B Graphics 2020

HUION Kamvas 16 (2021) in the studio © Steve B Graphics 2020

 

 

 

 

HUION Kamvas 16 (2021) in the studio © Steve B Graphics 2020

 

HUION Kamvas 16 (2021) in the studio © Steve B Graphics 2020

HUION Kamvas 16 (2021) in the studio © Steve B Graphics 2020

As always, I shot, edited and produced the video and accompanying illustrations here:

HUION Kamvas 12 Tablet Review...

The wait is over! The moment you've all been waiting for... probably! The Steve B Graphics review of the new HUION Kamvas 12 Pen Tablet is now live and can be found over on the MyTabletGuide site.

If you're an artist, designer or even a stunt man/woman/person or just in the market for a new graphics tablet or pen display you can check out my other reviews - you're welcome! 😀

HUION Kamvas 12 in the studio © Steve B Graphics 2020

 

HUION Kamvas 12 in the studio © Steve B Graphics 2020

 

 

HUION Kamvas 12 in the studio © Steve B Graphics 2020

 

 

 You can watch the video I shot, edited and produced here:

 

 

Huion Kamvas 16 (2021) Review - coming soon...

Holy reviews! New HUION Kamvas 16 (2021) being tested in the Studio - full video review to follow soon on MyTabletGuide - watch this space!

HUION Kamvas 16 (2021) in the studio © Steve B Graphics 2020

Worth the wait...?

Got another pen tablet here in the Steve B Graphics Studio for review... this time it's the newly released HUION Kamvas 12... full review to follow in due course - watch this space!

HUION Kamvas 12 in the studio © Steve B Graphics 2020

 

Another day, another tablet for review...

New tablet review alert! This VASTKING Kingpad SA10 Android Tablet just popped through my letterbox (I have a very large letterbox!) and I'll be putting it through it's paces - expect a full review over on MyTabletGuide in due course... (watch this space - I really spoil you don't I?)😀

VASTKING Kingpad SA10 Android Tablet in the Studio © Steve B Graphics 2020

 

New Tablet Review! XP-Pen Artist 12 Pro...

New tablet review time! Check out my review of the awesome XP-PEN Artist 12 Pro pen display tablet over on MyTabletGuide...

XP-Pen Artist 12 Pro in the Studio © Steve B Graphics 2020

XP-Pen Artist 12 Pro in the Studio © Steve B Graphics 2020

XP-Pen Artist 12 Pro in the Studio © Steve B Graphics 2020

XP-Pen Artist 12 Pro in the Studio © Steve B Graphics 2020

Watch the video review I produced here:

 

It's never too early to get your Christmas Cards! New Steve B Graphics Covid card over on Redbubble on sale now!

Wear A Mask...

Hot off the press...erm... graphics tablet, is this new Steve B Graphics Lockdown 'Mask' card for sale over on Thortful - why not buy it now (along with many others!) before they find a cure... or something!

Steve B Graphics Lockdown 'Mask' Card © Steve B Graphics 2020

Just stay in bed...

Well, you can't go out here in the UK, so why not stay in bed with a new Steve B Graphics Lockdown Blanket available now on Redbubble...? I know, I spoil you... 😀

Steve B Graphics 'Lockdown' Blanket © Steve B Graphics 2020

Here we go again - another Lockdown...

Hot off the press! My new card over on Thortful - buy it now before lockdown ends - or maybe before the next one starts! 😀https://www.thortful.com/creator/steve_b_graphics

'Lockdown' Card © Steve B Graphics 2020

Boo! Happy Halloween...

Happy Halloween! 👻 Quick little animation knocked up in Adobe Illustrator and animated in Adobe After Effects - enjoy! 😀

Steve B Graphics Redbubble Goodies...

Just to let you know you can get these goodies (and many others like posters, badges, T-shirts, blankets, stickers etc!) over on my Steve B Graphics Redbubble store:

'Get Well Soon (Funerals) © Steve B Graphics 2020

'Eggy Heads' © Steve B Graphics 2020

'Spud Head' © Steve B Graphics 2020

'Monkey Head' Artwork © Steve B Graphics 2020

Christmas Lockdown Card...

Just in time for the big Christmas Lockdown! Beat the rush! Get the latest Steve B Graphics Christmas Card here:

https://thortful.com/creator/steve_b_graphics

...and feel free to purchase any of the other ones too haw haw! 😁

Parblo Ninos (M) Tablet Review...

It's another graphics tablet review! This time I've taken the Parblo Ninos (M) tablet out for a spin over on MyTabletGuide - check it out and watch the video - you're welcome!

Parblo Ninos (M) graphics tablet in the studio - photo © Steve B Graphics 2020

Parblo Ninos (M) graphics tablet in the studio - photo © Steve B Graphics 2020

As usual, here's the video review shot, edited and produced by yours truly...

This weeks Top 25 Pop Pickers...

Just thought I'd casually (*koff koff*) add this here... I've been added to the Creativepool Top 25 Influential and Inspring Digital Designers list...

XP-PEN Artist 12 Pro Review - coming soon!

Hot on the heels of my last review is this XP-PEN Artist 12 Pro (Line Friends) that just dropped through my door - hence the slight box damage on the right I guess haw haw!

Anyway, review to follow once I've had a few scribbles and a test - look out for it as usual over in my review section at MyTabletGuide - watch this space! Aww - ain't they cute! 😍

Parblo Ninos (M) Tablet Review Soon...

Another week, another tablet review! This time in the Steve B Graphics studio its the Parblo Ninos (M) graphics tablet, currently being put through its paces for MyTabletGuide... watch this space for more information! Right, where's that USB-C cable gone...? And what's that strange thing on the corner...? 😀

Parblo Ninos (M) graphics tablet in the studio - photo © Steve B Graphics 2020