It’s pretty much a given that anybody using a computer for any serious design needs a good tablet. Selecting drawing tablets for artists can be daunting because of the many options out there.

Are you thinking of getting your first artist tablet, or perhaps upgrading? Here are some things to think about while making that big decision:

Pressure Sensitivity:

People’s preferences vary, but in general, the more sensitivity the better. You should definitely try various models out to get your own feel for this, paying special attention. If you have friends who have tablets, try them out for an hour or so and check out how you respond to their feel. Wacom is a favorite among most tablet buyers, to be honest, and these models consistently get the best reviews

Size:

This one is partially based on personal preference but really mainly based on what the tablet’s principal use will be. Applications like CAD require a bigger tablet in general, or at least having a bigger tablet is a huge advantage for CAD. Other applications may be better paired with smaller tablets which are less fragile and more portable. Obviously, how often you plan to take the tablet out of your home has a big impact on this as well.

Application:

Will the artist tablet in question be used for painting? Coloring? Editing photos? Drawing? Design? All of these applications have tablets best suited for these applications. Cintiq has tablets that specialize in drawing applications, but Wacom has recently made inroads into this market as well. Design is probably the lightest of these applications, and many designers actually prefer the mouse, but this is up to personal preference as well. Other designers definitely feel that they increase their productivity with the right tablet at hand. Only you can know what is right for you.

Consider Second Hand:

Artist tablets, especially the really good models, can be expensive, so don’t be afraid to check out the second hand market. There are some good deals to be had out there. In the case of something like an artist tablet, it is definitely recommended to meet the seller in person and take the unit for an extended “test drive” before putting your money down. Also consider using secure methods of payment such as Paypal and including a proviso for any unforseen technical issues in the first 30 days or so after buying.

A change is as good as a rest, so that proverb goes – and, indeed, if you are currently weighing up a shift of location for your business, the prospect could already be generating a lot of excitement for you. However, whether it is just a short trip across the road or a new start in a foreign country that you are mulling over for your company, there are several things that are vital to account for.

How far should your company journey?

This will depend strongly on your company’s specific requirements. You might not want a move any more ambitious than taking up an office that is slightly larger than your current one on the opposite side of the road. After all, your firm might only need more physical space for additional employees.

However, moving to a completely different town, city or possibly even country could be the better decision. In January 2013, Crowdfunder UK made the initially peculiar-looking decision to relocate from London to the much more remote South West England coastal county Cornwall.

However, the firm’s managing director Phil Geraghty explained to The Guardian that, in this setting, employees could “move their lunch breaks around with the tide so that they can go surfing.” He added that these people would return to the workplace “refreshed and ready to go”, which “beats sitting at your desk and eating a sandwich, which is what I was doing in London for many years.”

Consider how accessible your resources will be

By resources, I am referring not only to money, though that is obviously a vital one; I also mean employees, not to mention specialist equipment and services that you might need. Your access to all of these is unlikely to be seriously disrupted if your move will be within the same town or city. However, matters could get complicated if you move much further than that.

For instance, your current workers might struggle to adjust their commuting routines in reaction to the relocation. Transport links to the new location could be impractical for them to use. Also consider that, if your company heavily relies on regularly attracting customers through the doors of bricks and mortar premises, those people obviously won’t stay with you if you move too far.

It’s a different situation if much, or all, of your company’s customer base deals with your staff online. You might even make a previously impossible-looking move more palatable by shifting more operations online. Plus, while on the subject of technology, make sure that your new place will enable your business to draw upon relevant technology when necessary, as realbusiness advises.

If you currently rely on the regular use of externally provided services, you might find that these services will remain available at your new location. The rope access contractor SAS Rope and Rail, for example, can provide its services anywhere in the UK. Thus, wherever you would like them to repair or clean difficult-to-reach high-level spaces in that country, you will be covered.

Naturally, you could benefit from making a good impression in front of your boss. However, how can you do it without compromising your principles or blatantly “sucking up”? Put simply, by working as hard as you can and thinking about how you could help further fuel your company’s success. If you would prefer this put in a more thorough and informative way, here are several techniques which you can use to earn more esteem from your boss by coming across as a more professional worker.

Get the basics right

Much like you can’t expect a house to be great if it isn’t built on a strong foundation, you can’t expect to appear professional if you struggle with the basics. As you spend more and more years in the same job, bad habits, such as regularly turning up slightly late or neglecting your appearance, could creep in. Keep such habits at bay; you could help prevent the latter by spending on some new workplace-suitable clothing from Dickies Life, which stocks pristine shirts, jackets, shoes and more.

Show initiative if you have a problem

Should a major issue arise, you could initially feel the urge to ask your boss for help with tackling it. However, you might find that the problem can be solved just with a prompt search on Google or a quick look through company documents. Treat asking your boss as more of a last resort. They will be more open to providing help if you only ask for it when you seriously need it. Their usual routine might be very busy and so leave them with less patience for handling minor requests.

Consider your job description the “minimum requirements”

When you adopt this stance, you are less likely to grumble when asked to take on something that is outside your usual responsibilities. Instead, you could perceive these moments as chances to test and push yourself. By seizing those moments as exactly those, you will become reputed for reliability and adaptability, says Totaljobs. You could even volunteer to fulfil tasks beyond your department.

Exceed, not fall short of, expectations

When negotiating deadlines, keep them realistic. Regularly making promises that you then fail to keep won’t impress your boss, whereas often delivering work well ahead of the deadlines will. It will lead your boss to place greater trust in you and, should difficult circumstances ever prevent you submitting work on time, treat you with more sympathy in this situation.

Spend your own money on self-development

There might be times when your boss forgoes putting you through fresh training not because they think you wouldn’t benefit, but simply due to a tight financial situation. When that happens, you could again take the initiative – this time, by investing money of your own in this training. Buy modafinil when training has come to a halt and you need an extra boost. Unlike coffee, this really does work to increase your mental capacity.

Doing this will show that you are committed to progress in your work sector. Therefore, it will give you a more professional reputation. In tough situations, your boss will definitely appreciate having an employee who shows dedication in this manner.