July 25, 2023

In the age of technology, laptops, PCs, and 2-in-1 devices can empower you to showcase your digital art from anywhere in the world. Artists and designers have found that customizable computers make it easier to create brilliant works of art on a screen. If you’re looking to further your design career, or if want to improve your digital art skills, a versatile Surface 2-in-1 PC can be an essential tool for expanding your portfolio. Learn which Microsoft Surface features can empower designers and artists to create their best digital drawings.

What are the benefits of using a Microsoft Surface for drawing?

Using a device from Microsoft Surface’s lineup to create art and designs has many perks. You may not have your art supplies with you when a good idea comes to mind. However, you can draw and paint on your device just like you would on a canvas or other medium no matter where you are. High-quality art supplies can also be on the pricey side, so digital art tools can save you from expensive trips to a crafts store.

Computers also make it easy to make changes to your vision: If you’re not satisfied with a design, you can simply undo a pen stroke or use the eraser tool to start over.

Laptops are especially helpful for creators who like to work in different settings. The portability of laptops let you work on your projects anywhere and at any time. Upload your designs on a cloud storage platform like OneDrive and access them whenever you need to work. Save multiple versions as backups that you can refer to anytime.

What are the best Surface features for drawing and creating art?

Microsoft Surface devices come with many helpful features that can make creating easier for artists and designers. Here are some of the best Surface features for art:

Touchscreen and digital pen compatibility

Ideal for hands-on work, a touchscreen device lets you navigate your projects with your fingertips. A good 2-in-1 device like Surface Pro 9 gives you the typing power of a laptop with the flexibility of a drawing tablet so you can change between the two with ease. And by connecting a Surface Pen¹ or Surface Slim Pen 2¹ to your 2-in-1 PC, you can draw precise strokes and create delicate designs on your screen as you would on paper.

Storage space

Think of your computer as a sketchbook: if you tend to use all the pages, you might need one with more sheets. Art projects can take up a lot of space, which means it’s important to explore storage options. A Surface Laptop Studio 2 can hold up to 2TB of storage with a removable² solid-state drive (SSD), giving you plenty of room to stow your projects. And digital note-taking apps like OneNote can serve as visual boards for your next big project.

Graphics card

A computer with a dedicated graphics card is essential for many types of artists. Having a good GPU (graphics processing unit) will ensure that your projects are rendering as smoothly as possible. Surface Studio 2+ comes with a NVIDIA® GeForce RTX® 3060 graphics processor—a powerful card that works at a professional level. A large 28” PixelSense™ display and Dolby Vision® technology lets you see every detail of your creation in deep, accurate color.

Still need help deciding? Choose a Surface device based on your needs to find the best computer for your art and design.