I've been doing tablet setup and configuration tests for years and want to document the settings that have the most impact on drawing quality, because this information is scattered across forums.

Pressure curve: most tablets default to a linear pressure response, but for painting this is usually not ideal. I find that an S-shaped curve — more responsive at light pressure, plateauing at heavy pressure — gives me the most control. Light strokes register as light touches; I have to work to get full pressure.

Mapping the drawing area: on large screenless tablets, reducing the active area to match a central screen region improves precision. I use about 60% of a large tablet's surface mapped to my primary monitor. The unused area becomes a comfortable resting place.

Tilt calibration: if your tablet supports tilt and you use tilt-responsive brushes, calibrating the tilt axis prevents drift. I do this every six months or when I notice the tilt response feeling off.

Driver update strategy: I update tablet drivers only when I'm experiencing problems. 'Update available' is not sufficient reason. Driver updates can reset calibration settings and occasionally introduce new problems.