Speed is everything in modern animation production. Whether you’re creating short web animations, designing complex storyboards, or working on a full-length film, the ability to produce quality work quickly can set you apart in a competitive industry. One of the most effective tools for boosting efficiency is the animation tablet.
When used strategically, an animation tablet can cut hours from your workflow, improve precision, and make the creative process much smoother. Let’s break down the techniques, tools, and settings that can help you animate faster — and more effectively.
1. Choosing the Right Animation Tablet
Before you think about speed, you need to ensure your hardware can keep up with your creative flow. The right drawing tablet for animation should offer minimal pen latency, a responsive pressure-sensitive stylus, and a display that delivers accurate colors.
Key features to consider:
- High Pressure Sensitivity: At least 8,192 levels of pressure for smoother strokes and fewer redraws.
- Low Latency: Faster pen response means more natural drawing and fewer corrections.
- Laminated Display: Reduces parallax so your strokes match the pen tip position precisely.
- Customizable Shortcut Keys: Save time by accessing key tools instantly.
2. XPPen Artist Pro 16 (Gen 2): Built for Speed and Precision
If you want a single device that balances performance, comfort, and speed for animation, the XPPen Artist Pro 16 (Gen 2) is a strong choice. This professional animation tablet features a 16-inch, fully laminated 2.5K QHD display that delivers sharp details and 99% Adobe RGB color coverage for vibrant, true-to-life visuals.
Its X3 Pro Stylus provides an industry-leading 16,384 levels of pressure sensitivity and minimal activation force, giving you precise control over every stroke with virtually no lag. The eight customizable shortcut keys and a dual-function dial allow you to map your most-used commands, making tasks like frame navigation, zooming, or switching tools faster than ever.
Whether you’re storyboarding, animating frame-by-frame, or adding detailed shading, the Artist Pro 16 (Gen 2) is designed to help animators work more efficiently — without compromising artistic quality.
3. Optimize Your Workspace Layout
Your workspace — both physical and digital — plays a huge role in animation speed.
Physical Setup Tips:
- Position your tablet at a comfortable angle to avoid wrist strain.
- Keep your keyboard or shortcut device within reach.
- Ensure good lighting to reduce eye strain.
Digital Workspace Tips:
- Arrange your toolbars for quick access to animation essentials.
- Group and name layers logically.
- Use software workspace presets for different stages of animation.
4. Master Keyboard Shortcuts and Tablet Hotkeys
One of the easiest ways to speed up your workflow is to combine keyboard shortcuts with your drawing tablet for animation hotkeys. For example:
- Undo/Redo for quick corrections.
- Brush/Eraser Toggle to swap tools instantly.
- Frame Navigation to move along the timeline without a mouse.
- Zoom/Pan for quick navigation.
On the Artist Pro 16 (Gen 2), you can assign these to its shortcut keys and dial for instant access.
5. Use Custom Brush Presets
Switching brushes repeatedly wastes time. Instead:
- Create a clean line brush for final lines.
- Keep a sketch brush for rough frames.
- Use a shading brush for coloring and shadows.
Mapping these to shortcut keys or the dial on your animation tablet makes switching instant.
6. Leverage the Onion Skinning Effectively
Onion skinning helps align movements between frames, but too many overlays can slow you down. Keep it to essential keyframes for clarity and speed.
7. Work in Passes, Not Perfection
Instead of perfecting each frame before moving on, animate in passes:
- Rough sketches.
- Clean-up lines.
- Flat colors.
- Shading and effects.
The responsiveness of the Artist Pro 16 (Gen 2) makes each pass smoother and faster.
8. Enable Pen Pressure for Dynamic Lines
Proper pen pressure settings can save time:
- Calibrate pressure curves.
- Save profiles for different projects.
- Use consistent strokes to avoid retakes.
The X3 Pro Stylus on the Artist Pro 16 (Gen 2) ensures tapered, clean lines with minimal effort.
9. Use Layer Management Tools
Organized layers reduce wasted time:
- Group related elements.
- Use clear naming conventions.
- Lock layers you don’t need to edit.
10. Take Advantage of Reference Windows
Keep a zoomed-out reference view while working on details to avoid constant zooming. The 16-inch high-resolution display on the Artist Pro 16 (Gen 2) has enough space to manage both.
11. Automate Repetitive Tasks
Use animation software features like:
- Auto-tweening.
- Recorded macros.
- Copy-paste transforms for loops.
Map these to your tablet’s shortcut buttons for instant use.
12. Maintain Your Hardware for Peak Performance
Clean your screen, update drivers, and replace pen nibs regularly to ensure smooth operation. XPPen offers easy access to replacement parts and software updates for the Artist Pro 16 (Gen 2).
Conclusion: The Right Tablet Makes a Difference
Faster animation comes from both smart workflow habits and the right tools. The XPPen Artist Pro 16 (Gen 2) stands out as a drawing tablet for animation that combines precision, speed, and comfort. Its high-resolution laminated display, ultra-responsive pen, and customizable shortcuts give you the power to animate efficiently while maintaining professional quality.
If your goal is to produce high-quality animations quickly, this animation tablet is a worthwhile investment that will keep up with your creative ambitions.
