# Using a pen display as a pen tablet

## Overview

Occasionally people want to use pen display and use if it were a pen tablet (screenless tablet).&#x20;

They have several reasons

* The display may not work in their pen display&#x20;
* They aren't happy with the colors of the display
* They love drawing on the large tablet and pen displays can be much larger than pen tablets

So, they want to use their pen display with the screen "turned off" but the pen still working.

The good news is that using a pen display like this is **almost always possible**. Depending on the specific pen display their are different options to achieving the desired effect. Each option is covered below.

## Option 1: Built-in support

Some pen displays have their **power button** configured to effect only the screen. You can power off the tablet, which will turn off the screen, but since the tablet is still connected to the computer it will essentially act just like a pen tablet.&#x20;

Not all pen displays are like this. Many have their power button set to turn off everything. So if you turn the tablet off, you wont be able to see anything on it or use the pen.

## Option 2: Disconnect the video signal via hardware

If your tablet is connected via an **HDMI cable** to the computer, you can disconnect the HDMI cable. In every pen display I know of, this will result in a blank screen but the pen can still be used with the tablet.

## Option 3: Do not send a video signal to the pen display

In your operating system, you can configure the **displays settings** to not use the screen in the pen display. This should leave you with a pen display that shows nothing and the pen should still work.

See: [Stop using a display on Windows](https://docs.thesevenpens.com/drawtab/guides/operating-systems/windows/stop-using-a-display-on-windows)

Unfortunately, MacOS does not have a feature similar to the one found in Windows.

## Usage notes

### Pointer lag

Pen tablets have low pointer lag. Pen displays tend have a bit more pointer lag. &#x20;

Here's what you might notice

* If you use a pen display even if the screen is off, you might feel like to lags a bit more than a typical pen display.
* However the lag sensation may also be reduced because you have no direct way of comparing the pointer position to the pen's location.

More here: [lag](https://docs.thesevenpens.com/drawtab/core-features/lag)
