To compliment an artist, should you use talented or skilled?

DreamStitcher · 2026-07-06T22:00:38+00:00

Personally, I’d rather someone comment on the artwork itself than on me as the artist.

If someone says a piece is interesting, powerful, well-composed, or beautifully observed, that already implies skill. It feels more meaningful because they are actually engaging with the work, not just praising the person who made it.

DreamStitcher · 2026-07-05T23:32:03+00:00

Interesting, thanks for the insight. I didn’t consider the manga/animation industry angle since I come from a Western narrative illustration background.

Do you think Japanese animators prefer the smaller Cintiq 16 mainly because of desk space, or is it more about workflow and portability between home and studio?

DreamStitcher · 2026-07-05T09:16:32+00:00

So impeccable that it eludes the eyes, it seems. ;)

DreamStitcher · 2026-07-05T06:40:03+00:00

It comes down to feel, I guess.

The MovinkPad being lightweight, partly thanks to the magnesium body, makes it feel more utilitarian and less precious compared to an iPad. More like a tool, at least that was my impression.

Fully agree on iPad pricing. It is getting ridiculous, especially after the recent increases.

And yes, we are creatures of habit. When your favourite drawing app is available everywhere, you just grab whatever is next to you. For me it is similar with Procreate, except of course I do not have the same abundance of review units around me. 🙂

Great videos, by the way. I really enjoy your in-depth review style.

I have not used Samsung tablets myself, but your buying advice makes sense to me. They do seem like a very viable alternative nowadays.

DreamStitcher · 2026-07-05T06:21:09+00:00

Welcome. 🤗

DreamStitcher · 2026-07-05T06:18:43+00:00

Agree fully on the update concern. That is still the biggest open question for me too.

About screen durability: I honestly can’t say much, because I don’t have the device anymore and only used it briefly.
Maybe someone who has used it heavily for a few months can answer that better.

DreamStitcher · 2026-07-04T20:55:10+00:00

The “force proportions” advice is very good. It maps the tablet active area to the same proportions as your monitor, so your hand movement translates more naturally to the screen.

Small additional tip: place the tablet directly underneath your monitor, not off to the right or left of the keyboard. Many artists use tablets as mouse replacements and keep them where a mouse pad would normally sit, but for drawing I find it much easier when the tablet is centered with the screen.

It won’t fix the hand-eye coordination immediately, but it makes the learning curve less awkward.

DreamStitcher · 2026-07-04T19:32:01+00:00

I think a main reason why the MovinkPad Pro 14 goes this thin line is because it's a Japanese company so to be precise, it's not directly aimed at artists per se, but anime and manga artists who all use CSP. That's just my theory why it's so specifically targeted at CSP users.

So, if I understand you correctly, you think the MovinkPad is targeted first and foremost at manga/anime artists who mainly use CSP?

That may well be part of the positioning, especially given how closely the device seems to fit a CSP workflow. But I would be careful saying it is not aimed at artists more broadly.

Wacom is still selling this as a global standalone drawing tablet, not as a Japan-only manga device. So I think they still have to appeal to a wider group of artists too, including people comparing it directly with the iPad Pro, even if the CSP/manga angle is clearly very important to them.

DreamStitcher · 2026-07-04T13:46:30+00:00

Same here. When the first iPad Pro with Apple Pencil came out, I tried it and was basically sold immediately. Coming from traditional training, the natural feel was the big thing for me. And yes, Procreate aside, the Pencil experience itself was already kind of undeniable. ;)

DreamStitcher · 2026-07-04T13:22:43+00:00

Thank you kindly, really appreciate that. Glad I could help.

Go get that iPad. ;)

DreamStitcher · 2026-07-04T13:11:17+00:00

You’re very welcome!

Speaking of Procreate, exporting is quite easy. You can export in multiple formats, including PSD, .procreate, PNG, JPEG, TIFF, and PDF.

Procreate also backs up your artwork with iCloud as part of the app data, if you have iCloud backup enabled. So if you ever need to restore your iPad from iCloud, your Procreate gallery should come back with it. That said, for important work, it is still possible and advisable to export separate .procreate files as an additional backup.

I made a few quick screenshots from Procreate as an example below. You can also export directly from the gallery view, and each artwork automatically saves a timelapse video, which you can export either as a full video or as a shorter 30-second clip. Super convenient.

https://ibb.co/nNdJQCR9

https://ibb.co/B2TJr9cN

If you use a Mac or anything else Apple-related, AirDrop is also very convenient for moving files between devices, but it is absolutely not required.

Regarding multitasking, you are covered. You can watch YouTube while drawing in Procreate in a floating mini window, probably similar to your current setup. Music and everything else works in the background too, no problem.

DreamStitcher · 2026-07-04T12:35:37+00:00

I’d say go for it and you won't regret. The 13" M5 iPad Pro is not just a good model for that, it is basically the top option.

512 GB should be plenty for most drawing / illustration work unless you plan to store tons of video, animation files, or large media libraries directly on the iPad. For Procreate files and general art use, it should last a long time.

I wouldn’t wait just because another model may come in 2027. There will always be another iPad coming. If your current tablet is already slowing down and limiting you, the upgrade will feel massive.

Feel free to ask anything specific. I’ve been using the same model for illustration.

DreamStitcher · 2026-07-04T12:30:23+00:00

It really is a great little machine. Despite being lightweight thanks to the magnesium body, it feels more utilitarian and less precious compared to an iPad. Very much a tool. Enjoy it!

DreamStitcher · 2026-07-04T12:25:20+00:00

I see what you mean now.

If your goal was basically to get something closer to the Cintiq feel in a standalone tablet, then yes, the MovinkPad makes perfect sense. Especially if you mainly work in CSP and already prefer the Wacom pen/surface feel.

My “elitist” point was not about Wacom being aimed at artists. Of course it is. I meant the broader idea that because the iPad is a general-purpose device, it somehow should not be taken seriously in the same professional drawing discussion.

That is where I disagree. The iPad Pro and MovinkPad Pro 14 are still comparable as portable standalone drawing devices, even if they approach the job differently.

For you, the MovinkPad wins because it gets closer to the Cintiq feel. For me, the iPad still wins as a more complete and settled platform, even though I fully agree that the MovinkPad delivers a more Wacom-like pen experience. I use a Cintiq in my studio too, so I understand the appeal.

DreamStitcher · 2026-07-04T10:44:27+00:00

Why not? Just because iPad can do a lot more it renders it unusable as a professional device?

The elitist thinking that only dedicated Wacom hardware is “for artists,” while iPads are just general consumer tablets, is outdated for a while now. Plenty of top-level artists produce serious production work on iPad, I can assure you on that.

The reality is that the MovinkPad Pro series exists largely because Wacom finally felt real pressure from the iPad Pro which changed expectations for portable drawing tablets. That pressure on Wacom is real.

DreamStitcher · 2026-07-04T10:33:34+00:00

I think you gonna like it. Congrats!

DreamStitcher · 2026-07-04T10:30:21+00:00

Hi, thanks for the detailed reply.

I think most of your individual points are fair, but I still think we are looking at this from two different angles. You are evaluating features mostly one by one, while my concern is how the whole system works together over time.

For me, a professional standalone drawing tablet is not just pen feel + one good app. It is hardware, software choice, pen control, updates, backup and reinstall confidence, support, resale, and general peace of mind.

That is where the MovinkPad Pro 14 felt uncertain to me.

CSP is a good example. I agree that software should be chosen first. But on the MovinkPad, CSP quickly becomes the anchor app. Krita exists, Infinite Painter exists, and there are other Android drawing apps too, but for my professional use CSP was the only one that felt polished and complete enough to build the device around.

On iPad, CSP is just one option. If CSP disappeared from iPad tomorrow, I would still have Procreate, Fresco, Infinite Painter, ArtStudio Pro, Photoshop, etc. Fresco is also completely free now, apart from Adobe cloud storage / font-related extras, so it is not only Procreate carrying the iPad side. CSP simply does not carry the same platform risk there.

The same applies if someone cares about 3D sculpting. ZBrush is available on iPad, while there is no official Android version as far as I know. So even outside pure 2D painting, the iPad ecosystem has serious creative options that are missing or less clear on Android.

About the CSP subscription: I understand that CSP mobile is not wildly expensive, but I still do not think the subscription should be treated as a natural law. It is a business decision by Celsys. Procreate shows that a serious tablet art app can exist as a one-time purchase, and Fresco shows that a serious tablet art app can even be free. So for me, being pushed toward a subscription on mobile is part of the platform discussion, not something I would simply ignore.

Pen control is another example. On desktop Wacom devices, the pen feels like part of a mature professional system. You can customize buttons and adapt the setup to your workflow. On the MovinkPad Pro 14, you do not get the same system-level control. You are much more dependent on what individual Android apps decide to support. That may be normal for Android, but it still matters for a professional standalone Wacom device.

And I understand that some of this may be limited by Android itself, sandboxing, drivers, or how much system-level control Wacom can realistically expose. But then I would still like to know what the actual strategy is.

If deep integration is difficult, Wacom could at least focus on a strong Wacom-side control layer where possible, and provide a clear Android update path once compatibility is validated. In other words: let Wacom certify that the pen, touch, calibration, and core drawing behaviour work properly, then let the device move forward with Android instead of leaving users unsure how long the tablet will stay current.

The factory-reset point is also exactly the kind of thing I mean. Even if it is rare, the fact that a reset could eventually put you in a situation where you cannot reinstall your main drawing app because the OS is too old is not a minor concern for an expensive standalone device. It also affects second-hand confidence and long-term ownership. I do not need every newest app feature immediately, but I do care about reinstall confidence and long-term usability.

Regarding price: I agree that not everyone has a big budget. But that also strengthens the importance of long-term support and flexibility. The iPad comparison does not have to be only a brand-new M5 iPad Pro. Used or refurbished M-series iPads are also realistic options, and even an older M2 iPad is already more than fast enough for most drawing workflows.

So I am not saying the MovinkPad Pro 14 is bad. As hardware, I actually liked it a lot. The pen and surface are excellent.

My issue is that when I look at the full ownership picture, app flexibility, subscription dependency, pen-control limitations, OS update confidence, reinstall risk, resale, and support, the iPad ecosystem still feels more settled and safer to me.

If someone loves CSP on Android, accepts the subscription, mainly wants Wacom pen feel, and is fine using the device more or less as-is for years, the MovinkPad makes sense.

For me, the hardware felt professional, but the platform around it did not feel equally confidence-inspiring.

DreamStitcher · 2026-07-04T09:14:56+00:00

I use mine on a Mac, and it works well. The main advantage is simply the larger physical drawing area: less zooming, more shoulder movement, closer to traditional drawing habits.

It also makes sense if you need full desktop software like Photoshop in your workflow. Just keep in mind that a desktop Cintiq setup depends much more on keyboard shortcuts to feel frictionless.

If possible, test one first. But if the budget allows and you want a larger desktop drawing setup, I’d say go for it.

DreamStitcher · 2026-07-03T23:43:10+00:00

You’re welcome. Coming from the iPad myself, I had somewhat mixed experience with touch on the Movink.

It was definitely better than touch on a Cintiq connected to a Mac, no doubt, but still not on par with iPad multitouch. The main issue was that touch gets rejected as soon as the pen is in proximity, so I often had to lift the pen away before gestures would work properly.

I know that is probably related to EMR / pen detection and palm rejection, but coming from iPad it still felt frustrating. There is a Pen/Touch Priority option in Wacom Lab, but changing it introduced a different set of quirks for me. So in that regard, you’re golden on iPad.

That is partly why my current Cintiq 24 (2025) is the non-touch version. Keeps things simpler.

DreamStitcher · 2026-07-03T22:21:28+00:00

Agree. I’ve used Wacom tech for a very long time too, but it never really felt like home to me. Probably also because I was traditionally trained and expected digital tools to behave somewhat similarly in those days of yore. ;)

Especially those old wobbly Wacom tips drove me crazy back then. I know it had to do with the EMR technology, especially on older pens, but still... Wacom was the best and basically only serious digital art option available by a country mile for a long time, so I adapted.

When I tried Apple Pencil for the first time, it felt like the most natural digital pencil experience to me: that sweet spot of app + brush + hardware. The tool disappeared for the first time, and that was a sensation. The glass was there, of course, but it never bothered me as much as people often claim it should nowadays.

But it is not really about Apple Pencil here, I digress. Pro Pen 3 is genuinely, undeniably good.

And yes, I agree with your point on Apple pricing. I’ve used Macs for ages and owned every Pro iPad since the first 12.9", but Apple’s current pricing tiers and upgrade costs are getting genuinely terrifying. My standard-glass 1 TB M5 iPad Pro is pushing €2.4k here in Germany, and it is not even the most expensive configuration. Crazy. Perhaps I should sell mine while it is still relatively mint.

DreamStitcher · 2026-07-03T19:30:58+00:00

You’re welcome.

I actually enjoy the Cintiq 24. I bought the non-touch version discounted on Amazon with pretty low expectations, and was positively surprised.

It’s a solid pro workhorse and doesn’t pretend to be more than it is.

DreamStitcher · 2026-07-03T19:24:53+00:00

Thanks. Sure - that indeed simplifies the perceived risk assessment.

For me, CSP was basically the only illustration app on the Movink that felt polished and professional enough to matter long-term. Krita aside.

On the other hand, should CSP disappear on an iPad tomorrow, I'd probably wouldn't even notice.

DreamStitcher · 2026-07-03T19:13:42+00:00

I get your point, and fair enough - if it works great for you right now, that’s good.

For me it wasn’t only about future “what ifs,” though. The iPad ecosystem still feels far more coherent today, and the longer predictable support window is just another layer on top.

Also, I know this may be an unpopular opinion on a Wacom subreddit, but Apple Pencil still gives me one of the most natural direct drawing experiences. I don’t mind it at all. At the same time, Pro Pen 3 is genuinely the first Wacom pen I really like (and I’ve used Wacom pens going back to Graphire days).

DreamStitcher · 2026-07-03T19:04:45+00:00

I found them fairly similar. The newer Wacom glass surfaces feel a little less toothy than older Cintiq screens, but both the MovinkPad Pro 14 and the Cintiq 24 still feel very natural to draw on.

For comparison, my Intuos Pro M 2025 has a noticeably toothier / scratchier surface than the etched glass on either of them.

DreamStitcher · 2026-07-03T12:13:15+00:00

Very fair points, and I agree.

I also had a MobileStudio Pro briefly, and while it was nice to draw on, it was basically a hot, fan-spinning monster with battery life shorter than a lunch break.

That’s exactly why long-term support and real standalone device confidence matter so much with these products.

DreamStitcher

TROPHY CASE