Huion A3 LED Light Pad Review and Starting a Drawing Commission pt. 1

[@space.tel-e-grams]

You killed me with the sheep, i don't think i've ever laughed as hysterically while watching an art video.

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Thanks STelegrams! I love those sheep.

[@victoriazartz2956]

This was so very helpful, especially because I am a watercolor artist and absolutely can't WAIT to use this!

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Have fun! I think you'll love it and find it to be an incredibly helpful time saver. Paint on!

[@dougg1075]

Man! The drawing alone is amazing! Always drop everything when I’m alerted to your videos. Thanks.

[@chammikaiser7740]

Watching you is a lot of fun. You have such a great, whacky sense of humour. This was a most interesting review. Thank you so much.

[@lifeismusicparnadonkers]

Wow that lightbox / lightpad is so cool. I wish i had one. Both of them

[@marcwheeler4406]

Thank you for your reply, I'm gonna have to just see if I can find any more light pad reviews with black paper water color paper,stay safe and again your paintings are a joy to look at....

[@kathyfrye3658]

Great video! thanks for sharing. I say it again you make art fun!

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Aw, thanks Kathy, that's kind of you to say! Draw on!!

[@charvi999]

Just the things I wanted to know about a lightpad. Art and fun togather creates heaven on earth. I absolutely love this video!

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Thanks Charvi, I sure do appreciate your feedback! Nothing worse for me than a vid that's soooo dry, lol.

[@JohnCooperWilliam]

I have the same model. I bought it about a year ago and I couldn't be happier. My 6 year old really enjoys tracing dinosaurs and it seems to help his hand-eye coordination.

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Thanks for letting us know John. It's a great tool, especially for the kids.

[@DuanaBennett]

I'm a lefty, too, but I'm definitely going to check out these light pads. I didn't realize they were so reasonably priced! Thanks for sharing!

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Hi Duana, I'm being sent a light box to review from a different company that's listened to my complaint about the location of the power button and have put theirs on the side, so no more accidental turn offs. It also can be used for up to 6-8 hours with out being plugged in when fully charged... Stay tuned!

[@lisengel2498]

I like your videos - they are very informative about how you work - and I am always curious to leRn something new. A lightpad might be very nice to transfer something precisely but normally I am drawing more freely and I am attracted to a more “breathing” and “ free moving” style but I can still learn a lot of things from you so thank you very much for your fine and also very funny tutorials

[@debranorton6434]

I had a Big Betty many years ago, and I haven't used it in so many years that she now resides in my husband's woodshop. Size was the issue, so big and bulky. I like the idea of this one you reviewed, and the demo of how and why you would use one. Thanks! I'm glad to hear you're so busy with work, but I miss your videos too!

[@glenngustafson8491]

Love your KZbins. Back when I was airbrushing, before going digital, I built a 30 x30 light box in my adjustable drawing table. Taped Strathmore over my pencil and cut friskets on it without transferring a pencil. It saved a little time. Also built a cabinet at the back of the table with 2 360 cfm exhaust fans to pull the overspray outside. I was reped by Marietta Mason in the twin cities, I wonder if we ever bid against each other. Just retired last year from com art.

[@bruceosborne1892]

Great review Steve. Have an L4S and it saves me a lot of time as well. Great tool.

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

I agree Bruce! Sounds like you like yours too. Do you ever use the clip to hold your paper that came with the tablet?

[@bruceosborne1892]

@@SteveAtkinsonFineArt Didn't get a clip with mine, so guess not.

[@PaintingWithYovette]

Being a lefty myself is a drawback for some things, but I still love the light box you are using. Could come in so handy. I love your humor, it makes watching you so much fun! Have a great day Steve!

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Hi Yovette, good to hear from you. It's a great light pad and I love it. But ya know I've gotta earn my nickname "Petty Roosevelt"... grin. Thanks for tuning in!!

[@jeffhreid]

Great video

[@lucyalyart]

Wow, I'm glad I came across your channel! I was a little hesitant on purchasing the Huion as I found myself working double on artworks. I enjoyed watching your creative process using the light pad. I too am a lefty-Lefties unite! You got yourself another subscriber. Thank you, Steve!

[@bennyboi5179]

I got this 4 years ago when i was 11 as i thought it was a drawing pad and i wanted the cheapest option today 2 days after the anniversary of me getting it i can say that that i really like it as i can draw two sketches that have nothing to do with each other and fuse them together! i love this product and believe that its really going to help my art come together

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

That's a good story Ben, best of luck on your artistic journey!!

[@carolferguson5467]

Love my light box, bottom line I just want to paint! Thanks so much for your review and the chuckles 😉❤️😂

[@karenjohnson6487]

Hey Steve. I Have the smaller Huion light pad. Have used it just once so far but am very happy with it. I have a project in mind and plan to use the light pad to save time as you mentioned. Looking forward to the next video.

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Great Karen! Let me know how you like it and if you think you'll use it more often.

[@btpuppy2]

What I really want to know is where to find a lightbox with perfectly even lighting across the surface. You can get an app for your phone that measures in lux and as you move it over the surface, the lux rating changes all over the place. Not a big deal if just tracing, but if you are scanning film negatives with a camera, that doesn't work. I haven't found info on evenness online, but the 2 different brands I tried both had a lot of variation. One $22, the other $100.

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

to scan my 120 and 35mm B&W film negatives I use the Essential Film Holder on a copy stand to get that extremely accurate focus on my Canon M50 mirrorless crop sensor camera. The light I use is the Viltrox L116T LED video light panel. It has a CRI of 95, which is what you want when you're using a camera set up to scan your negatives. Here is a link to what I use: amzn.to/3umpDjC

[@karenjohnson6487]

I will. I like the idea of drawing on a non essential piece of paper and get most of the erasing done there then transferring to the finishing paper.

[@BrassLock]

Seems like a good idea to use one of these. Your suggestions for *_South Paws_* (who are always forgotten by manufacturers) are most reasonable in my opinion.

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Thanks Dav, I think so, but there don't seem to be enough of us mutants for it to be a consideration. Though, I do think there are a larger percentage of us lefties in the art field. I appreciate you watching.

[@thegingerhedgehog273]

Love it

[@Oksana_Movchan]

Thank you so much for sucj amazing review!

[@essietangle9931]

I have looked at these and would like to have the larger one. Here is my question, being a lefty too, why cant you use it upside down and then the switch would be away from you?? As a lefty we all have to make do and m a y b e that would help. I have a smaller light box that is a little thicker and has a wonderful case it slips into when not in use. I use it all the time and I dont think there is a problem using it. There was a time a drew an old model Chevy truck for a gift. No matter how hard I worked on it, it wasn’t right. I finally put it on the light box and with a piece of paper redrew over it and made the corrections. Next question, I need to do a little research on it, they used to make tape that had the measurements on it in inches. If we find a narrow one it could be added to the light box and removed if needed. Maybe Huion could include a roll in inches with the light box at very little cost to them and the consumer. Just a thought. Look forward to the second part..thanks for your time and the video.

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Hi Essie! I can turn it upside down, but the button then is on the lower right side, just as in the way as in the upper left, maybe more so. Having it tucked into the upper right gets it out of the way. If it's on the lower right, you'll find that your right arm/hand brushes it easily! Great question though!!

[@essietangle9931]

Draw Paint Repeat well, it is a good thing to keep in mind if I look at one.

[@Pandak-Putot]

Thinking of getting one.

[@DibIrken]

For lefties, rotate the box so the switch is on the lower right

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Of course I did this, but that puts the button right where I brush it with my right hand.

[@sueweaver1419]

Great laugh but lots of learning. Thanks from NZ

[@ShanonT12]

I bought a light box from TEM you for like six dollars and it’s really nice. It’s an 8 x 11.

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Hey that's great to hear @ShanonT12. If you think about it, give us an update after about a year as to how it's holding up! Draw on!

[@frejazz2]

"We'll be right back" After Big Betty breaks Steves back

[@sandracarroll6233]

Very helpful information. Thanks

[@sunildutta2023]

In the light box you could easily replaced the tube starters with the new systen which doesn't need them.

[@baumer2504]

You're awesome. Thank you 🙏

[@ClariceAust]

I love my A4 Huion light pad & now want to buy an A3 size, for larger drawings. I live in Australia and we converted to the Decimal System way back in 1966, so everything is in 'centimetres'. Even though I was a 10 yr old kid then, I still think in inches/feet & how much I weigh in stone. Also, I'm right-handed. However, I hope Huion have addressed the issues you mention Steve, for you folks' sake.

[@marinierca]

Your are awesome! I loved your video, thank you!

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Thank you Marinierca, I appreciate your kind feedback!

[@Tugboat-R-Us]

Couldn’t you turn the pad in the opposite direction or upside down? Yes! I agree, start adding inches!

[@VixxKong2]

Can you just turn it around so you don't brush over the power botton?

[@johncollado1151]

Hi Steve.... I've seen these pads before on KZbin, they seem like the way of the future. In my traditional days I used an Artograph projector on a stand as most of my work was 24x36. My wall that I projected it on got pretty dirty over time as pencil and charcoal smudged around. But it worked for me. And yes, I built my own "Big Betty", but used incandescent bulbs with a sheet of white paper over clear glass, that got warm over time. As far as the lefty thing, how about just turning the tablet upside down, that will put the button on the lower right and since you don't use the scale, it won't be an issue. Your video has me thinking about asking Santa for one of these!

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Hi John, it's always great to hear from you, being illustration bros.! I just recently let my Artograph go since I hadn't used it in probably 25 years???? Yikes, does that make me old or what! They were always such a pain since the image I could use had to be relatively small, so I avoided when I could and used copier machines to get to the size I needed. As far as rotating the pad, I tried it and, I don't know about you, but I use both arms when drawing and since the on/off button is then in the lower right, my forearm was constantly turning it off. Sigh... no biggie, but hopefully Huion will hear from more lefties than just me and come up with a solution, but if not, it's a small irritation to have such an awesome light pad. Thanks for watching buddy!

[@johncollado1151]

@@SteveAtkinsonFineArt Yeah, come to think of it, I use my other hand as well, that would cause an issue. I'm still thinking about getting one though. Thanks for the review, they're always a good seller. Looking forward to your next video.

[@marcwheeler4406]

Thanks for making me laugh, great review...😷🎨

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Glad you enjoyed it Marc!!

[@9protocol]

Cover the on/off button with a slide on edge clip.. or blue-tac a piece of card over it. What weight of paper do you use please?... Can it take 300gm ???

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Hi Anthony, yes it can take 140lb/ 300gm watercolor paper, but the room needs to be dark.

[@tjduprey]

I use a cricut brand lightpad. I just love it. Its large and vvt, ,

[@chrissaz6977]

Huion A4 is the brightest among all the other Huion models

[@iceniwargames6347]

the left handed issue, just turn in upside down so the button is in the bottom right?

[@jackbennettsr.3792]

Great video. When you transfer drawing to canvas,what do you seal it with before painting. Thank, Jack

[@daytonagreg8765]

Would tape over the power button desensitize it?

[@dougg1075]

Can you just flip it around or upside down so the button on the other side?

[@mortennielsen9986]

Yep... I was thinking the same. And greeting from Denmark!

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

I can turn it upside down, but the button then is on the lower right side, just as in the way as in the upper left, maybe more so. Having it tucked into the upper right gets it out of the way. If it's on the lower right, you'll find that your right arm/hand brushes it easily!

[@dougg1075]

Is it worth it, let me work it, turn my light pad over and reverse it. :)

[@pastelshades2860]

@@dougg1075 this just made me lol. 😄

[@عاشقخطالثلث]

But I still love the old one 🤗🤗

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

That's really good to know Maitham, I'm glad it does everything you need =0)

[@larsvanbaelen8094]

Epic

[@corinnecowper1339]

With regard to the switch issue, why don't you just turn the pad around so the on/off switch is on the right side?

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

because this puts the on-off switch right where I hold the pad with my other hand to keep the pad from moving.

[@ap_po]

since you tested a bunch of em, is the huion still the best in terms of brightness to work on thicker watercolor paper?

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Yes, it's still my go-to light pad.

[@ap_po]

@@SteveAtkinsonFineArt thx for the answer

[@taylorvanbuskirk8040]

Having a light pad is exactly why I use my digital projector. I just download my photo onto a memory stick and plug it in my projector. I then project the photo I'm using on the canvas and trace it. Why not? Time is money, right?

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Sorry Taylor, it's a personal choice for me to not trace but rather draw my art. But I'm glad it works for you!!!

[@marcwheeler4406]

Will this light pad go thru black watercolor paper? Or gray watercolor paper?

[@lifeismusicparnadonkers]

Hello Mr Steve Atkinson Fine Art. I want to buy a light pad from amazone. Its 20,98. But they have A4 sizes..Can you please tell me what size is that in paper? Cause the paper i am using is Canson paper 270 by 390 mm. I also like to draw on academy watercolour paper pads from China. The size for that is 380 by 260. Please let me know i wanted a light pad since i was 14 years old and started to draw. I hope you have a nice day. I love you,re review on the Huion light pad. Greetings Parna Donkers from the Netherlands

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Hi Parna, from what I can gather, the A4 size is 210X310mm. Their L4S size is 228X320mm. And the A3 size is 415X330mm. If you aren't able to buy it off of Amazon, or the Netherlands equivalent to Amazon (it's what we use there in the USA), you can go directly to www.huion .com and buy it from them directly. Good luck and thanks for watching!

[@lifeismusicparnadonkers]

Hello mr Atkinson. I have found the a2 size Light pad from huion. I found it at a second hand website that is used in the netherlands. I just bougt it. Jeej i am super happy. Thanks for ansewering my previouse quesrion and thank you for this great review on the huion Light pad. Greetings parna donkers from the Netherlands

[@marcwheeler4406]

Will this light pad go thru black watercolor paper?

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Hi Marc, I honestly can't tell you. I've never seen black watercolor paper.

[@chriswhitehouse8982]

Steve, can't you just turn the pad around so that the on/off button is on your right side instead? It doesn't matter the orientation, right?

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Hi Chris, yep, I can turn it upside down, but the button then is on the lower right side, and just as in the way as in the upper left, maybe more so since I use both arms while drawing. Having it tucked into the upper right, or on the back would get out of the way. If it's on the lower right, you'll find that your right arm/hand brushes it easily! =0)

[@Anonymouthful]

I found one for quite cheap, how has it served you for the past few years?

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

It's still working great and going strong! No issues.

[@Anonymouthful]

@@SteveAtkinsonFineArt Thanks for the quick reply, I was planning to head out to get mine first thing in the morning.

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

@@Anonymouthful That's great, let me know how you like it. Draw on!

[@Anonymouthful]

@@SteveAtkinsonFineArt Seems to work just as it was intended, now Ill be busy thinking of ways to utilize it in different art projects.

[@barbaraverser1056]

It seems this is no longer available...through amazon anyway.

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Hi Barbara, thanks for the heads up. I've updated my link to take you to the current A3 offering of this light pad. They get slightly revised and updated every year. This is an affiliate link, which means I will earn a very small commission, but it won't cost you one red cent more. Here you go: A3 size amzn.to/379Z716

[@dahnke_liminal]

why wouldn’t you just turn the lightpad upside down to use it left handed?

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

I've answered this about a dozen times. It's my fault for not mentioning this in the video. If I rotate the pad so that the button is on the opposite side, it's on the bottom right side and my arm is constantly brushing the button and turning it off even more of a problem than it is on the upper left side.

[@Kenxstudios]

Why not just turn the tablet around entirely so the button is on the bottom right and your left hand doesn't accidentally switch it off? 🤔

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Hi Kenneth, I've gotten this question quite a few times now, lol. Unfortunately, that's an even worse position as my other arm brushes it since I move the tablet around as I'm drawing, or holding down the paper, or lightly wiping the excess graphite/charcoal dust off the surface. So there is no good place to have the button on the surface of the pad ( unless it were on the upper right top, but that'd make a whole lotta righties unhappy). 😡

[@deenanixon4103]

I'm impressed with your review and the light box. But I'm not so impressed with the fact that 1year after your review it now costs $78! Seems like a large increase in that length of time! :/ Thank you for your review, love the sense of humor!

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Agreed!

[@ravenshadowz2343]

Will this work with transferring the image to canvas for oil painting?

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Afraid not. Canvas is usually too thick to see through. Here's how I do it kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJbQm399iLObi7c or there's a digital projector, something like this may work for you: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08B8DKYPS/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=steveatkinson-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B08B8DKYPS&linkId=1f42d4b859efb0f25f3b066868214967

[@ravenshadowz2343]

@@SteveAtkinsonFineArt Thank you very much for the links!

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Go get 'em Raven!

[@sisoart8616]

Regarding your leftie comments, can you just turn it upside down so that the off button is in the bottom right corner?

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Hi Siso Art, I can turn it upside down, but the button then is on the lower right side, and just as in the way as in the upper left, maybe more so. Having the button tucked into the upper right or on the back gets it out of the way.

[@wandamanske8667]

I can’t find one that big

[@elisabethloxley6124]

Can you not , as a left handed’ turn the pad upside down ?

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Yes, of course I've done this... I thought, easy peasy, just turn it upside down and problem solved. Not so fast! This actually puts the button on the lower right, so that when I use my right hand to hold down the paper or move it around, my hand always brushes the button, and off it goes. This button only takes a light touch to operate. If it were a click type button it'd be a different story. Thanks for watching Elisabeth!

[@dougg1075]

None of my business by I’m gonna so anyway, at your level do you pretty much have constant work? I’m curious about the business side .

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Hi Doug, no worries. You may have noticed that I haven't been posting nearly as much as I used to, or would like to. That's because I'm swamped with work. In fact, after the next video where I finish the drawing I started in this video, I'm going to put a video up on my channel explaining that I'm going to be mostly absent for the next 6 months. Right now I'm working on the 3rd western book cover painting in a series of 5 I've contracted to do. I'm doing the Prescott Frontier Days Rodeo poster this year. I have a one-person show at my gallery in Jackson Hole the second week of June, and my other gallery in Utah has sold almost everything they have of mine and are pressuring me for new large paintings. That's in addition to the commissions and other shows I'm contracted to do.... so, yep, I'm busier than a mosquito at a nudist colony! I ain't complaining, but jeesh ;0)

[@dougg1075]

Draw Paint Repeat DANG! Busier than a one legged man in a butt kickin contest:) Thanks , I figured you we’re pretty busy being bad to the bone and all. I’m not sure if we can go six months without ya but if we gotta. Glad to hear the success. Peace

[@raysmith2940]

save yourself some of your life. 9:13 is where it begins.

[@DeeDee-yz9ku]

A4 $32. At Amazon 9/13/20

[@karenpierce1905]

Turn the pad upside down. I'm a lefty also.

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Hi Karen, I thought the same thing and tried it but that doesn't work for me because then the on-off button is on the lower right side and it gets bumped even more than when it's on the upper left side. Glad it works for you though!

[@chrisnortcliffe3663]

Hi could you help me please

[@Sick1982]

Why not just start getting used to real a real measurement system? ;)

[@SteveAtkinsonFineArt]

Bwahaahaha 😂