After a profitable launch two years in the past, Xencelabs lastly introduced the most recent Pen Show 24+ (PD24+) on August 6, 2025 — this spherical with even higher function upgrades. The PD24+ is the world’s first drawing show that options Calman Prepared integration.
It is a massive deal for artistic professionals who’re doing color-critical work. Up till now, there have been no Xencelabs pen shows that help hardware-level shade calibration by way of Calman, which implies this mannequin is setting a brand new benchmark for industry-standard shade administration. In easy phrases, it’s designed to point out your work precisely because it ought to look, whether or not you’re creating for print, movie, or digital platforms. The Pen Show 24+ additionally includes a 4K UHD Superior IPS display constructed for consolation, ergonomics, and productiveness, with considerate touches like HP Anyware® and Parsec help for distant collaboration.
Past its technical leap, like each different pen show, it carries the basic benefit of permitting customers to immediately work together with their work in a approach that feels nearer to conventional portray than clicking a mouse — in the end bridging the disconnect that we often have in our artistic course of. On paper, Xencelabs is promising a world-class drawing and show expertise that helps creatives develop their creativity and improve their productiveness. I’m wanting to learn the way it performs in apply, integrating into my traditional workflow as knowledgeable photographer.
Construct High quality
The Xencelabs Pen Show 24+ is designed with a transparent give attention to delivering a world-class drawing expertise. The floor makes use of Tremendous AG Etching™ glass, which gives simply the appropriate steadiness between friction and smoothness. This, in return, provides a pure pen-on-paper really feel whereas nonetheless permitting the hand to glide comfortably throughout the display. The matte show floor has robust anti-reflective properties, which scale back glare very successfully. It makes the viewing expertise snug even at shut distances in comparison with a conventional monitor. This is essential on condition that the show is designed for drawing on high, and customers could spend plenty of time up shut with it.
Whereas I personally am not a fan of touching my display, because it often leaves smudges that have an effect on readability, I did discover the show floor of the PD24+ fairly efficient at resisting fingerprints. Even with my sweaty palms, it solely leaves minor smudges, which aren’t seen when the show is on. I’m additionally comfortable to report that the smudges might be simply cleaned off with the microfiber fabric offered by Xencelabs. As a lot as I’m a fan of the matte glass floor, I can not touch upon the sturdiness of the display, as I’ve not been utilizing it lengthy sufficient to scratch it. Whereas some could discover the vast bezel on the show unattractive, it’s really vital to offer ample hand help to cater for edge-to-edge drawing, which the PD24+ permits.
Aside from the Tremendous AG Etching™ glass show and rubber ft, your entire PD24+, together with its tilt stand, is product of stable plastic. It feels solidly constructed and doesn’t have any wobbling or creaking throughout utilization. The included tilt stand is sturdy out of the field and simply adjustable with one hand between 16° and 72°, catering to quite a lot of use instances. Do be aware that it isn’t peak adjustable, and when you need better orientation flexibility, an non-compulsory multi-axis stand is offered as a separate buy. It additionally includes a utterly fanless design geared toward offering silent operation. That is made potential with the modern warmth sink function that successfully radiates warmth out of the again of the show.
There are 3 ways of connecting the PD24+: HDMI, DisplayPort cable, or USB-C cable. Fortuitously, all of the cords offered have an angular tip for the again of the show, which is handy when you decrease the angle. I like to recommend utilizing the USB-C connection for a extra seamless expertise, however keep in mind that regardless of utilizing USB-C, it doesn’t help energy supply because the output is just too low for charging. When you join utilizing HDMI or DisplayPort, you’ll nonetheless want to attach an extra USB-C cable for pen enter, the Fast Keys distant, and contact controls. The provided energy brick is slim and small, making it very handy for transport.
On the high of the show, there are two USB-A ports constructed into the body — one supposed for the Bluetooth dongle that communicates with Fast Keys and one other for charging it. They will also be used for moveable drives and knowledge transfers. The Fast Keys are properly constructed, with eight customizable buttons, a easy scroll wheel providing 4 modes, and a small LED display that exhibits every button’s present perform. I admire the devoted display that exhibits what every mode and button does, so that you don’t need to memorize them. The indent on the rotating wheel is shallow however ample to carry the wheel whereas rotating it. The buttons present a stable haptic click on — agency however not overly deep. They are often hooked up to any nook of the show by way of a friction mount and function on battery, which helps maintain the setup uncluttered.
Xencelabs additionally contains two kinds of pens: the fatter 3 Button Pen + Eraser v2 and the Skinny Pen + Eraser v2. Each help interchangeable normal and felt nibs, permitting artists to decide on a grip and drawing really feel that fits their desire. Each the pens and nibs are available in a neat moveable case, although they’re unlikely for use a lot in a studio setting. The pens are properly made with rubberized grips which are snug to carry for lengthy hours, although I can not say the identical for the nibs as they begin carrying down after short-term utilization. There are additionally six normal positions for the pen holder across the show body. Changing nibs might be difficult, even with the offered elimination software, as they have a tendency to slide, nevertheless it will get the job carried out after a number of tries.
Options
Show and Shade Accuracy
Out of the field, the Pen Show 24+ delivers robust efficiency. The 24-inch 4K UHD Superior IPS panel helps a decision of three,840 × 2,160, producing as much as 1.07 billion colours. It covers as much as 99% of Adobe RGB, 93% of DCI-P3, and 99% of sRGB, and is Pantone® and SkinTone™ validated. For day-to-day use, this wide-gamut panel with robust consistency makes it appropriate for a variety of artistic workflows.
There are six default calibration profiles (Adobe RGB, DCI-P3, sRGB, Rec. 709, and Rec. 2020) accessible straight out of the field. Whereas the default tuning is spectacular, performing a calibration brings the show to a different degree, unlocking its full potential. Broad-gamut panels just like the PD24+ can oversaturate sRGB content material if left unchecked, inflicting reds to seem too robust and greens unnaturally vivid. With calibration, the Pen Show 24+ maps colours precisely into the supposed area, guaranteeing dependable output whether or not you might be working in print, movie, or digital. That is the place its Calman Prepared integration performs an essential function.
The Pen Show 24+ is the primary pen show with Calman Prepared constructed immediately into its firmware. This implies it’s able to hardware-level calibration utilizing Calman Studio calibration software program and supported colorimeters such because the Portrait Shows C6 HDR5000 (bought individually). As soon as calibrated, the show is aligned to {industry} requirements in the identical approach skilled reference displays are, offering confidence that the colours you see stay constant throughout manufacturing pipelines. The firmware can be designed to obtain updates, conserving the calibration system aligned with evolving requirements. Calman has streamlined the calibration course of by preloading workflow templates for the Pen Show 24+ into the Calman Final software program, making the method simple even for newcomers.
Sadly, the Calman calibration software program is presently supported solely on Home windows computer systems. Operating calibration on Mac digital machines like Parallels Desktop and VMware Fusion won’t work due to digital GPU limitations. Even when you handle to run it, errors could also be launched since calibration knowledge is managed by macOS first, then translated for the digital machine. It’s subsequently really useful to run calibration on Home windows immediately.
Word: A wholesome ΔE (Delta E) worth ought to all the time be beneath 5 for constant shade replica, and ideally beneath 2.
You will need to set your brightness degree earlier than operating calibration, as any adjustments afterward can have an effect on accuracy. A colorimeter often measures the show’s luminance at that brightness, and adjusting later can shift gamma response and even trigger shade temperature drift. A typical goal is likely to be 120 cd/m² for photograph modifying or 160–200 cd/m² for video work. To take care of consistency, it’s best to work in a managed lighting atmosphere and have a number of saved profiles for various workflows.
Common Options
Trade-first pen show with Calman Prepared inbuilt
Dimensions (W × H × D): 618.50 × 388.00 × 34.70 mm (24.4 × 15.3 × 1.4 in)
Energetic Space Dimension: 527.04 × 296.46 mm (20.75 × 11.7 in)
Show Decision: 3,840 × 2,160 pixels @ 60 Hz (4K UHD)
Weight: 6.0 kg / 13.3 lbs (6.9 kg / 15.2 lbs with tilt stand + rubber ft)
Brightness: 330 cd/m²
HP Anyware® suitable (Home windows® solely)
Parsec suitable
Tremendous AG Etching™ for distinctive glare discount
Modern warmth sink designed to radiate warmth out the again (no warmth, no followers, no noise)
1.07 billion colours, 99% Adobe RGB, 93% DCI-P3, 99% sRGB
Rec. 709 (BT 709) and Rec. 2020 (BT 2020) compliant
Pantone® and SkinTone™ validated
Digital Pill Mode™
Finely tuned strain curve
3 g preliminary activation strain
Fast Keys with OLED display and 44 customizable shortcuts per utility
Edge-to-edge seamless drawing floor
Three programmable LED button indicators with customizable shade
macOS, Home windows®, Home windows® ARM64, and Linux suitable
Kensington MicroSaver 2™ slot
What’s within the Field
1× Xencelabs Pen Show 24+ (LPH2412-A)
1× Xencelabs Tilt Stand
1× 3-Button Pen + Eraser v2 (PH35-A)
1× Skinny Pen + Eraser v2 (PH36-A)
2× Pen Clip
1× Pen Case
1× USB-A to USB-C Adapter
1× Wi-fi Dongle
6× Commonplace drawing nibs
4× Felt drawing nibs
1× Nib extractor
1× Fast Keys (K02-A)
1× Fast Keys Clip
1x AC energy adapter (L-shaped connector) and energy twine
1× 0.6 m USB-C to USB-A cable (for charging the Fast Keys)
1× 2 m USB-C to USB-C (L-shaped) cable
1× 2 m USB-C to USB-A (L-shaped) cable
1× 2 m DisplayPort to DisplayPort (L-shaped) cable
1× 2 m HDMI 2.0 to HDMI 2.0 (L-shaped) cable
1× Sticker
1× Cleansing fabric
1× Medium Drawing Glove
1× Fast Begin Information
Pen
Xencelabs contains two pens within the field, giving customers flexibility primarily based on grip desire: the fatter 3 Button Pen + Eraser v2 and the Skinny Pen + Eraser v2. Each pens are suitable with the Pen Show 24+ and the v2 Pen Tablets, making them versatile in a wider workflow. Every pen comes with interchangeable nibs — normal (black) and felt (white) — so you may select between a smoother glide or a extra paper-like resistance, nearer to conventional media.
Each pens use EMR expertise and don’t require batteries or a wired/wi-fi connection. They help 8,192 ranges of strain sensitivity, with a finely tuned strain curve that feels pure and responsive. The preliminary activation strain of simply 3 g means even the lightest strokes are registered, which is particularly helpful for sketching or element work. With 60 levels of tilt help and a decision of 5,080 LPI, shading and line variation behave predictably, very similar to working with actual pencils or brushes.
For individuals who need extra management, the strain response is absolutely adjustable. You may fine-tune the sensitivity curve and activation strain to match your fashion, whether or not you favor a feather-light contact or a heavier hand.
Fast Keys
The Fast Keys distant is included with the Pen Show 24+. Compact and light-weight at simply 142 g, it includes a 3.12-inch OLED show that exhibits the perform of every button, eliminating guesswork. The show might be rotated into 4 orientations (0°, 90°, 180°, or 360°), making it simple to place anyplace in your workspace.
The gadget affords eight customizable buttons per set, with the power to retailer as much as 5 units, giving a complete of 40 shortcuts per utility. On high of that, the built-in dial helps 4 user-defined modes with assignable colours, including flexibility for duties like zooming, rotating, scrolling, or brush dimension adjustment. In complete, that’s 44 programmable shortcuts per utility.
It additionally includes a built-in battery with as much as 53 hours of use per cost. Recharging takes about 1.5 hours. For added safety, the Fast Keys embrace a Kensington NANO® Safety Slot™ to stop theft in shared studio environments.
Actual-World Utilization Expertise
At 24 inches, the display dimension balances workspace and desk footprint properly. Personally, I discover 24 inches snug, although I might love a 27-inch model for further room. That stated, pixel density is greater at 24 inches — about 183 PPI — in comparison with 163 PPI on a 27-inch or 138 PPI on a 32-inch show. This leads to a sharper picture at 24 inches, particularly noticeable up shut.
The Xencelabs Pen Show 24+ behaves extra like a monitor with pen functionality than a conventional touchscreen pill. Because it isn’t touch-enabled, your palm and unintentional touches received’t register, making it snug to make use of with out gloves. The show panel sits near the floor, decreasing the offset between pen tip and cursor and producing little to no parallax. This makes drawing really feel pure. Not like some shows, it doesn’t create the distracting “rainbow impact” when urgent into the glass.
Whereas the Tremendous AG Etching™ matte glass floor successfully reduces glare, it does barely restrict viewing angles, presumably attributable to its thickness. Relying in your place, pictures could seem just a little “out of focus.” Switching again to a conventional monitor after prolonged PD24+ use makes normal displays seem sharper. One other trade-off is the “jello impact” when switching home windows rapidly, regardless of the 60 Hz refresh price. This doubtless occurs as a result of pen shows prioritize shade accuracy over pace, utilizing slower IPS panels with out overdrive to stop artifacts that would compromise shade constancy.
The height brightness of 330 nits is okay for indoor use however inadequate for outside work. The show is nice up shut, aiding advantageous element work with out overwhelming brightness. After prolonged use, the highest will get just a little heat, however general warmth administration is spectacular for a fanless design.
As knowledgeable photographer, integrating the Pen Show 24+ into my workflow was a game-changer. I’ve all the time struggled with the disconnect of utilizing a separate pen pill, drawing in a single place whereas watching one other display. That pushed me again to a mouse, which felt extra pure however much less exact. With this show, that barrier is gone. I can draw immediately the place I need, making the artistic course of seamless. Retouching, particularly with instruments like clone stamp or dodge and burn, feels extra refined and pleasurable.
Some pictures which are retouched on the PD24+.
The pen response is great with nearly no lag, although I needed to tweak the strain curve because the default required urgent more durable than I preferred to hit greater ranges. This would possibly in any other case trigger sooner put on on nibs or the display. Whereas glorious for artistic work, the PD24+ isn’t a full monitor substitute for leisure — it lacks built-in audio system and doesn’t have the identical port choices as a regular show.
The UI is simple, with each international and app-specific shortcut settings. The Fast Keys add actual comfort. Whereas the OLED show is useful, switching by means of profiles feels just a little sluggish because it first exhibits the profile identify earlier than updating the shortcut labels. That stated, the extra you utilize it, the extra sensible it feels. The buttons have a satisfying tactile really feel, and the dial makes brush changes intuitive and fast.
Abstract
What I Preferred
Wonderful shade accuracy (Pantone® and SkinTone™ validated, {industry} normal)
Broad shade gamut: 1.07 billion colours, 99% Adobe RGB, 93% DCI-P3, 99% sRGB
Responsive pen with no noticeable lag and minimal parallax
Fast Keys distant provides actual comfort
As much as 44 customizable shortcuts with app-specific profiles
Stable construct high quality with a sturdy multi-angle stand
Calman integration for hardware-level calibration
Matte, glare-resistant floor with a pleasing drawing really feel
Easy setup course of, fast to get operating
Fanless design, silent in use
What Might Be Improved
Add USB-C Energy Supply help
Embody built-in audio system and extra ports
Present a totally rotatable, height-adjustable stand
Allow Mac help for Calman calibration
Cut back glass thickness for sharper viewing
Enhance brightness for vibrant environments
Enhance response time to attenuate “jello impact”
Ultimate Closing Ideas
General, the PD24+ is a superb enlargement show and funding for artistic professionals who need to improve their workflow with pen interplay and a extremely calibrated, color-accurate display. I see it as a specialised gadget slightly than a substitute to your on a regular basis monitor or leisure show. It shines in color-critical work, although you have to to just accept a number of trade-offs. There may be additionally a little bit of a studying curve in calibration, however the extra you utilize it, the extra it integrates naturally into your workflow. The Xencelabs Pen Show 24+ is offered now for $1,899.
