Xencelabs Technologies Ltd.

Modern pen displays, including the Xencelabs Pen Display 24, almost always use a 16:9 aspect ratio. This is the same format used by most monitors, televisions, and laptops. While it works well for many workflows, some artists argue that 16:10 or even 3:2 ratios would be better suited for drawing and design.

Understanding this trade-off requires looking at both industry manufacturing constraints and how artists actually use screen space.

Why 16:9 Became the Standard

The primary reason is to display manufacturing efficiency.

Most LCD panels are produced for the mass market, TVs, laptops, and consumer monitors, and those industries standardized around 16:9 years ago. Pen display manufacturers typically use panels derived from that ecosystem.

Benefits for companies include:

Lower production costs
Large-scale panel manufacturing drives down prices.

Higher availability
Replacement panels and supply chains are easier to maintain.

Compatibility with modern devices
Operating systems, GPUs, and software interfaces are optimized around widescreen formats.

Because of this, devices like the Xencelabs Pen Display 24 naturally adopt the same format.

Why 16:9 Works Well for Digital Art

Despite the manufacturing reasons, the format does provide real workflow benefits.

Space for side panels

Creative applications such as Adobe Photoshop, Clip Studio Paint, and Blender rely heavily on sidebars.

A wide display allows:

• Tool panels on one side
• Layers or properties on the other
• A centered canvas

This layout fits naturally within a horizontal widescreen workspace.

Video and media workflows

Artists who also work in video or animation benefit from a 16:9 canvas because it matches the standard video format.

Programs like:

• Adobe Premiere Pro
• DaVinci Resolve

display footage natively without letterboxing.

Consistency with other monitors

Most secondary monitors are also 16:9, so using a pen display with the same ratio keeps cursor movement and window placement intuitive.

The Downsides of 16:9 for Artists

Despite these advantages, the format has one significant limitation:

It sacrifices vertical workspace.

Artists often work on portrait-oriented artwork, including:

• Illustration
• Comic pages
• Book covers
• Posters
• Apparel

With a 16:9 display, the vertical drawing area can feel constrained.

This leads many artists to prefer slightly taller displays.

Why Some Artists Prefer 16:10

A 16:10 display is slightly taller than a 16:9 screen.

Example comparison at similar widths:

That extra height provides:

• More vertical canvas space
• Better viewing of portrait illustrations
• Reduced the need to zoom or pan

Historically, many professional monitors used 1920 x 1200 or 2560 x 1600 resolutions in this format.

For digital painting, this can feel more natural.

Why 3:2 Is Even Better for Drawing (in Theory)

A 3:2 ratio is closer to the proportions of traditional paper.

Common drawing formats:

• sketchbooks
• illustration boards
• print layouts

are often closer to this shape.

Benefits include:

More vertical drawing area
Portrait illustrations fit more comfortably.

Natural composition space
The format resembles real-world art surfaces.

Balanced UI placement
Panels can still sit on the sides without squeezing the canvas.

However, 3:2 displays are rare in pen tablets because they are uncommon in the broader monitor market.

Why Manufacturers Still Stick With 16:9

Even though artists may prefer taller displays, companies continue using 16:9 because it offers:

• Reliable panel supply chains
• Lower manufacturing costs
• Compatibility with GPUs and OS scaling
• Consistency with other monitors

For most workflows, the trade-off is acceptable—especially when combined with 4K resolution, which provides ample pixel space.

The Practical Result

On a display like the Xencelabs Pen Display 24 and Pen Display 24+, the combination of:

• 4K resolution
• 24-inch size
• 16:9 ratio

Still produces a very large effective workspace. Even though it isn’t as tall as a 16:10 or 3:2 display, the pixel density and canvas area compensate for much of the difference.

Take-A-Way

The 16:9 aspect ratio dominates pen displays because it aligns with modern display manufacturing and software interfaces, while formats like 16:10 and 3:2 offer advantages for vertical artwork and drawing ergonomics. For now, most artists adapt their workflow within the widescreen format.

If you have additional questions or would like to work with an Xencelabs agent, you can email CustomerCare@Xencelabs.com.