Review: Sensu Brush

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Tablet manufacturers make a lot of noise about how cool it is to draw, sketch and create on digital tablets which are 'just like paper'. The problem is that most tablets don't come with the required digitizer and stylus technology to enable accurate artistic creation.

Some that offer styli sadly enable them to be used only on proprietary software which is okay for basic sketching but won't get real artists excited because they wont work with third party apps.  Here's where the Sensu Brush might be a game changer.

I own both the iPad and the Microsoft Surface RT and have amassed a number of cool drawing, sketching and painting apps, but using my fingers or a capacitive stylus gives one a limited range of creative possibilities. The biggest problem is that capacitive styli (and human thumbs), don't feel as good as pen, pencil or a brush specially when drawing details.

Sensu offers a capacitive stylus, which users can use to draw and write but it also has a capacitive brush with real hairs that give a more natural feeling even on a multi-touch display.

Sensu won't turn you tablet into a Wacom enabled tablet but it will give you better range and more natural looking artwork. Painting with a brush with natural brush strokes renders good to great results, even calligraphy and shading feel more seamless.

What makes Sensu Brush work so well, here's what the company says.

"In our search for the right conductive hair, we tested various metal and metallic fibers. None had the true feel of a real artist brush. An old brush-making friend in Japan introduced us to a brand new hair technology being developed for the cosmetic industry. Traditional synthetic brush hair was being infused with conductive properties to help fine powder release from make-up brushes as they came in contact with skin. This synthetic hair could be made in the diameters and tapers we required for Sensu to feel just right."

The Sensu Brush is a thing of beauty, made out of shiny metal, it feels premium and even when you pull the cover apart to convert it from stylus into a brush, it feels very well designed and put together. They also have a matte black version which is equally attractive.

When matched with apps like Sketchbook Pro or Paper, these tablets do become viable creative tools. You won't be getting the range of pressure control that you'd get with a much more expensive tablets with Wacom digitizers but it is a far better experience than using just your fingers.

In the hands of even intermediate artists or colourists and the right companion apps, the Sensu Brush can create some stunning and very natural looking and organic artwork. There's a certain character and nuance that a usiing a brush brings to an art work and while limited to the canvas oferred by these tablets, the Sensu is a great and convenient extension of the artist's hands.

At $39.99, Sensu Brush is a must have for anyone who can doodle, draw or paint and who has a tablet, phablet or smartphone. It simply is one of  the best ways to accurately replicate the look and feel of painting and drawing on traditional media.

Rating: 5 out of 5