Wacom tablets, etc...

[Gordie]

I just bought SketchBook Pro for a low price and want to jump into the digital world of drawing and am interested in what people have experienced with all the various tablets.

[DGoodhart]

Well, I'm using an older Wacom Intuous tablet, and it's still great for me, a lot of what I've done with it can be seen here:

http://bullpenbulletinspodcast.com/forum/index.php?topic=4618.0

If I can ever afford to get an iPad, Sketchbook Pro will probably be the first app purchase I make with it, I'm dying to try it out.

[the other mike]

If I can ever afford to get an iPad, Sketchbook Pro will probably be the first app purchase I make with it, I'm dying to try it out.

i recommend you buy a stylus too. i have sketchbook on my ipad and its frustrating trying to draw with just my fingers. you might have better luck if you're a painter.

====

i have a 12 inch cintiq, and its a BIG help in coloring. i still haven't gotten used to doing precision work like inking or pencilling. i can do some, but its more trouble than its worth. i want to eventually learn how, though. i'm thinking of selling my cintiq and saving up for the 21 inch model (but i'm sure it has its own pro and cons). i find the wires a little cumbersome in general.

before the cintiq, i used to have a regular cheap base model wacom. it sufficed for what i was doing at the time. i upgraded when i got into digital coloring more and more.

-mike

[ThePatheticClub]

I can't speak for how it works for illustration because it's not what I use it for but my Bamboo pen and Touch has served me very well as a production designer and in other all around design projects such as logo design and font design. The customisability of the pad and the stylus buttons is absolutely brilliant! I use pop up menus and modifier buttons all over the place. I can have multiple pop ups to configure multiple commends according to the software I use (I use several design software simultaneously). I did dabble a little bit on actual drawing and coloring in photoshop and I can see how the customisability would be useful there as well.

It's also more ergonomic to use a tablet and stylus than it is to use a mouse.

[JimN]

I use an Intuos 3 graphics tablet for all of my digital painting and it's a great tool. It takes a while to get acclimated to using the pen but once you do, it's like an extension of your hand.

Jim

[allen]

I've had the same Wacom Graphire 3x5 tablet since 2003, and it's been a workhorse.  Very reliable easy to sue.  Still, it's a little small, and I feel a desire to level up to a bigger Intuos.  But still, these little, cheap introductory models are extremely capable.

[Gordie]

Thanks guys. Since I've never used one, I guess my main question is large surface or small surface? Does the small area hinder really long strokes? How important is it to have larger surfaces, etc...

[Sampsa_G]

I'm actually interested aswell although I'm very much at the learning stages for drawing...

[JimN]

Thanks guys. Since I've never used one, I guess my main question is large surface or small surface? Does the small area hinder really long strokes? How important is it to have larger surfaces, etc...

My tablet has a surface area of approximately 6.5" x 8.25" and I've found that more than adequate. It's never been a problem. Now, if you're accustomed to doing charcoal drawings on 18" x 24" paper and "drawing from the shoulder" all the time, you might want a larger tablet or a cintiq. If you're used to drawing with a pencil, pen and ink, etc. then a smaller surface shouldn't be a problem.

Jim

[Joe Willy]

I bought a used Wacom from Craig's List a few months ago. I wanted a larger one so I went with an older model. I found a web designer who had bought one with a copy of Painter she threw in for free- she just never really got the hang of it and decided she didn't really need it. Keep an eye out and you find them pretty cheap, especially if you don't mind starting with a smaller model. You could also go with the cheaper tablet models but I figure if you're going to spend the money you might as well just get the real thing in case you DO decide you like using the tablet to draw.

My computer is kind of old and doesn't have much memory and so it drags a bit when drawing. What I like it is you can really fiddle with the pressure and sensitivity settings to get what feels best for you. Also, you can use different nibs to mimic different types of drawing.

One thing to remember is you can use a tablet in lots of ways. You can even do a pencil sketch and place the paper on the tablet and simply trace over that if you have a hard time drawing when you're not looking where your hand is, but I did a few life drawing classes in college so I got used to that. I think I still like drawing with pen and ink, scanning those and then using the tablet to do colors. I pretty much gave myself a long running case of tendinitis doing gray tones on an 8 page story using a mouse so I really like having the Wacom (I work as a production artist so I use a mouse a LOT at work and use the computer at home so once something like that flares up- good luck getting rid of it without taking a lot of time off of work).

[the other mike]

Thanks guys. Since I've never used one, I guess my main question is large surface or small surface? Does the small area hinder really long strokes? How important is it to have larger surfaces, etc...

for portability, and simple jobs go small; if you wanna do big gesture strokes, go big. you won't be able to move it around as much, though. once its parked, thats it. the problem i'm encountering with my 12" cintiq is having to constantly re-size the pic. i want a bigger one so i can have a better sense of the page.

-mike

[Sampsa_G]

Okay guys this is kind of a longshot since the brand isn't sold in the states, but anyone have anykind of comments on this Trust Widescreen Canvas
http://www.trust.com/products/product.aspx?artnr=16938

[stockmanray]

I use an Intuos 4 and love it.  It is super responsive and accurate.

[cidvicious831]

if you want something basic, i would go with the graphire 4. i love it!!

[ZeroHart]

I usean intous 4 medium, it is pretty good but drawing something that need to be neat is kind of hard thanks to my shaky hands

[Benjonesart]

I usean intous 4 medium, it is pretty good but drawing something that need to be neat is kind of hard thanks to my shaky hands

Yeah I have the same problem I use mine just to sketch out poses and layouts since they are easier to manipulate digitally than erasing and wasting paper.

[DonCardenas]

I got the Wacom Bamboo tablet for like $200 a year or so ago. I mainly use if for coloring/sketching. I cannot get a smooth line digitally to save my life. Even on the higher quality tablets I tried. That's all fine anyway, my main purpose was to use it for preliminary layouts and roughs to be printed in blue later.

Regardless of that, I am more than happy with it. Also, I LOVE sketchbook pro for sketching but usually fall back to Photoshop since I am more comfy with that. I may make the Manga Studio switch just for the additional tones/effects that would speed things up.

I hope this helps you find something you like/are satisfied with.