Quick answer: Most artists use three things for digital art: a device to draw on (a pen tablet, pen display or a tablet like an iPad with a stylus), a computer or the tablet itself to run software, and drawing software such as Procreate, Clip Studio Paint, Photoshop or Krita. Around that core, many add accessories that make long sessions easier: a drawing glove, an adjustable stand, a matte screen protector, a shortcut remote, a color-accurate or calibrated monitor, plus brush packs, textures and reference libraries.
Scroll through any digital art community and you will see wildly different setups: a phone and a finger, a decade-old laptop with a small pen tablet, a large pen display on an arm mount in a dedicated studio. All of them produce finished art. The question is less “what is best” and more “what does each piece of the setup actually do.”
This explainer breaks digital art tools into layers: input devices, computers, software, accessories and resources. It explains what each does, typical options and who uses them, then shows sample setups at different budgets. For the accessory side specifically, our guide to the best digital painting accessories for artists compares gloves, stands, remotes and more.
The Core Digital Art Setup
| Layer | What it does | Common options |
|---|---|---|
| Input device | Translates your hand movement and pressure into strokes | Pen tablet, pen display, iPad or Android tablet with stylus, 2-in-1 laptop |
| Computer | Runs the software (unless the tablet is standalone) | Windows PC, Mac, Linux machine, laptop |
| Software | Provides brushes, layers, color and editing tools | Procreate, Clip Studio Paint, Photoshop, Krita, Affinity, MediBang |
| Display | Shows your work, ideally with accurate color | Built-in screen, external monitor, pen display |
| Accessories | Improve comfort, speed and accuracy | Glove, stand, screen protector, shortcut remote, calibrator |
| Resources | Extend what the software can do and how you learn | Brushes, textures, paper presets, references, courses |
Input Devices: What Artists Draw On
Pen tablets (screenless)
A flat, pressure-sensitive pad you draw on while looking at your monitor. They are affordable, durable and widely used by professionals, especially in illustration and concept art. The learning curve is the hand-eye disconnect, which most people adjust to in a few weeks.
Pen displays
A screen you draw on directly, connected to a computer. They feel closer to drawing on paper, which makes them popular for comics, animation and illustration. They cost more and take more desk space.
Standalone tablets
iPads with Apple Pencil, Android tablets with active styluses and similar devices run their own drawing apps. Their portability makes them a favorite for illustrators who draw anywhere. Procreate on iPad is one of the most widely used combinations in hobby and professional illustration.
2-in-1 laptops and pen computers
Laptops with touchscreens and active pens combine computer and drawing surface. They run full desktop software, which suits artists who need Photoshop or Clip Studio Paint on the go.
Mouse, trackpad or phone
Some artists, especially pixel artists and vector illustrators, work very effectively with a mouse. Phones are common for sketching and casual drawing. These options lack pressure sensitivity (or offer limited versions) but can produce excellent work in suitable styles.
Input device comparison
| Device | Typical strengths | Typical drawbacks | Common users |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pen tablet | Affordable, durable, ergonomic | Hand-eye learning curve | Students, concept artists, retouchers |
| Pen display | Natural drawing feel | Price, desk space, heat | Comic artists, animators, illustrators |
| iPad or Android tablet | Portable, all-in-one | App limits vs desktop; smaller screen | Illustrators, hobbyists, letterers |
| 2-in-1 laptop | Full desktop software, portable | Pen quality varies; can run hot | Students, traveling professionals |
| Mouse | Precise for pixel and vector work | No pressure; tiring for painting | Pixel artists, vector designers |
Computers: What Runs the Software
If you use a pen tablet or pen display, the computer matters. Digital painting is less demanding than video editing or 3D, but large canvases, many layers and heavy brushes add up.
- RAM: 16 GB is a comfortable target for most 2D painting. 8 GB can work for smaller canvases; 32 GB helps with very large files.
- Processor: a modern multi-core CPU keeps brushes responsive.
- Storage: SSDs make apps and files open quickly. Layered files can be large, so extra storage or an external drive helps.
- Graphics: a dedicated GPU benefits some apps and 3D-assisted workflows, but integrated graphics handle many 2D tasks.
- Screen: color accuracy and resolution matter more than refresh rate for illustration.
Software: What Artists Draw In
| Software | Platforms | Pricing model | Known for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Procreate | iPad | One-time purchase | Intuitive illustration and painting |
| Clip Studio Paint | Windows, Mac, iPad, Android | One-time or subscription by version | Comics, manga, line art, animation |
| Adobe Photoshop | Windows, Mac, iPad | Subscription | Industry-standard painting and editing |
| Krita | Windows, Mac, Linux | Free, open source | Painting and illustration |
| Affinity Photo / Designer | Windows, Mac, iPad | One-time purchase | Raster and vector work |
| MediBang Paint, FireAlpaca, Ibis Paint | Various | Free or freemium | Lightweight drawing and comics |
| Adobe Illustrator, Inkscape | Desktop | Subscription / free | Vector illustration |
| Aseprite | Desktop | One-time purchase | Pixel art and sprite animation |
Most artists use one main app and occasionally a second for specialized tasks, such as Photoshop for final adjustments or a vector program for logos.
Accessories: What Makes Long Sessions Comfortable
Accessories rarely change what you can draw, but they change how long and how comfortably you can draw.
- Two-finger drawing glove: reduces friction and smudges and prevents accidental touch input on screens.
- Adjustable stand or arm: tilts pen displays and tablets to a healthier angle and reduces neck strain.
- Matte or paper-texture screen protector: adds tooth to slippery glass and reduces glare.
- Shortcut remote or keypad: puts undo, brush size, zoom and rotate under your non-drawing hand.
- Replacement nibs: keep a fresh, smooth drawing surface; felt or hard nibs change the feel.
- Monitor calibrator: a colorimeter that measures and corrects screen color for consistent results across devices and in print.
- Ergonomic chair and desk setup: often overlooked, but critical for anyone drawing hours a day.
- Good lighting: soft, neutral room light reduces eye strain and avoids color-shifting reflections.
Resources: What Artists Add to Their Software
Brushes and textures
Custom brush packs recreate specific traditional media, add texture or speed up repetitive tasks such as foliage and hair. Many artists build or buy a small, curated set rather than collecting hundreds.
Digital paper and canvas textures
Paper textures applied as overlay layers or brush grain make digital work feel more tactile. Our guide to digital paper for digital painting covers textures that mimic watercolor paper, canvas and toned sketch paper.
Color palettes
Saved swatch sets help maintain consistent color across a series or a client project. Specialized fields have their own palette conventions; for example, illustrators drawing buildings often build restrained, material-based palettes, as covered in our notes on a palette for architectural illustration.
Reference libraries
Photo references, pose tools and 3D models help with anatomy, lighting and perspective. Many apps now include 3D pose models or perspective tools built in.
Education
Courses, tutorials and critique communities are part of most artists’ toolkits. Once fundamentals are in place, structured learning speeds up progress; our roundup of online classes for advanced digital painting lists options for intermediate and advanced artists.
What Artists Use by Discipline
The “right” tools shift depending on the kind of work. These are common patterns rather than rules, but they show why setups differ so much.
| Discipline | Typical input | Typical software | Accessories that matter most |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comics and manga | Pen display or iPad | Clip Studio Paint | Glove, stand, vector-friendly brushes |
| Concept art for games and film | Pen tablet or pen display | Photoshop, plus 3D tools for blocking | Shortcut remote, dual monitors |
| Children’s book illustration | iPad or pen display | Procreate, Photoshop | Texture brushes, paper overlays, calibrated monitor for print |
| 2D animation | Pen display | Clip Studio Paint, Toon Boom, Krita | Large screen, ergonomic arm mount |
| Pixel art | Mouse or small tablet | Aseprite | Good keyboard shortcuts setup |
| Hand lettering | iPad | Procreate | Matte screen protector for grip |
| Photo retouching and matte painting | Pen tablet | Photoshop | Monitor calibrator, color-accurate display |
Questions to ask before buying anything
- Where will you draw? A fixed desk favors pen tablets and displays; drawing on the couch or while traveling favors standalone tablets.
- What is the final output? Print work needs color accuracy and high resolution; social media work is more forgiving.
- Which software do you need? Some apps run only on certain platforms, so choose software and device together.
- How long are your sessions? Longer sessions make ergonomic accessories more important than specs.
What to Use for Digital Art: Sample Setups by Budget
Free to very low cost
- Existing computer or phone
- Free software: Krita, MediBang Paint, Ibis Paint
- Mouse or inexpensive capacitive stylus
- Free brush packs and tutorials
Best for: trying digital art before committing money.
Beginner budget
- Small or medium pen tablet
- Existing computer
- Free or low-cost software
- Drawing glove
Best for: students and hobbyists who want pressure sensitivity.
Mid-range
- iPad with stylus and Procreate, or an entry-level pen display
- Paid software such as Clip Studio Paint
- Stand, glove and matte screen protector
- A curated brush set
Best for: serious hobbyists and early freelancers.
Professional studio
- Large pen display or high-end pen tablet
- Powerful computer with ample RAM and storage
- Calibrated, color-accurate monitor
- Shortcut remote, ergonomic stand, backup drives
- Multiple software tools and licensed resources
Best for: full-time illustrators, concept artists and animators.
Painting Essentials: Digital Ideas for a Better Workspace
- Dual monitors: art on one, references and tutorials on the other.
- Cable management: keeps pen display cables from tugging on your setup.
- A traditional sketchbook nearby: many digital artists still thumbnail ideas on paper.
- Backup routine: automatic cloud or external drive backups of your art folder.
- Timer: reminds you to take breaks and stretch.
Upgrade Order That Usually Makes Sense
If you are building a setup gradually, spending in this order tends to give the biggest improvement for the money:
- Pressure-sensitive input if you do not have it yet. Going from a mouse to a pen changes everything about painting and line work.
- Comfort accessories such as a stand and glove, because pain and fatigue limit practice more than hardware does.
- Software that matches your discipline, once you know whether you lean toward comics, painting, animation or design.
- Display accuracy, when you begin printing work or delivering to clients.
- Computer power, when large canvases or many layers start to lag.
Common Misconceptions
- “You need an expensive pen display to be a real digital artist.” Many professionals use screenless pen tablets.
- “The software makes the art.” Fundamentals like drawing, value and composition matter far more than any app.
- “More brushes means better results.” A few well-chosen brushes usually produce more consistent work.
- “Digital art is easier or cheating.” Digital tools speed up some tasks, but skill still determines the result.
FAQs
What do most digital artists use?
Most use a pressure-sensitive pen device, either a pen tablet, pen display or an iPad with Apple Pencil, along with software such as Procreate, Clip Studio Paint, Photoshop or Krita.
What do I need to start digital art?
At minimum, a device and drawing software. A computer with a small pen tablet and free software like Krita is an affordable, capable start. A phone or tablet with a free app also works.
Is an iPad good for digital art?
Yes. An iPad with Apple Pencil and an app like Procreate or Clip Studio Paint is one of the most popular digital art setups, valued for portability and an intuitive drawing feel.
Do digital artists use a mouse?
Some do, especially pixel artists and vector illustrators. For painting and expressive line work, most prefer a pressure-sensitive pen.
What accessories do digital artists need?
Common accessories include a drawing glove, an adjustable stand, a matte screen protector, spare nibs, a shortcut remote and, for color-critical work, a monitor calibrator.
What software do professional digital artists use?
Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint and Procreate are among the most widely used, with Krita, Affinity apps and specialized tools for vector, pixel art and animation also common.
Final Thoughts
Artists use a pen device, software and a screen as the core of digital art, then layer on accessories and resources that fit their style and workload. Start with what you have, add pressure sensitivity when you can and upgrade comfort before chasing specs.
When you are ready to make long sessions easier, our roundup of digital art accessories that improve comfort and workflow is a good next stop.
