Drawing Tablets

[wiire]

<p>*****************PLEASE DELETE MY OTHER POST IN THE SIG FORUM--- THIS IS OBVIOUSLY THE BETTER FORUM TO POST THIS IN********* SORRY FOR THE DOUBLE POST**********</p><p>Does anyone use a drawing tablet to edit pics, or just plain draw?</p><p> Been thinking about getting one, I doodle once in a while but I'm too lazy to borrow a scanner to get them in my laptop to edit for fun.. I'm thinking a tablet would be much more easier and fun to use.</p><p>Also for when I'm editing pictures or sigs, I still can't figure out how to do hair well with a mouse..never turns out straight because my mouse pointer kind of shakes. And I love drawing hair by hand.. wavey beautiful lines.. soo easy by hand..</p><p> ANYWAY if you have used a tablet, or use one currently- any tips? Which do you use? I googled and got this <a rel="nofollow" href="http://direct.wacom.com/stores/5/Intuos3_6x8_P772C49.cfm" target="_blank">http://direct.wacom.com/stores/5/In...6x8_P772C49.cfm</a> $330 for one, yikes. They have another for like 100 but if I'm going to spend any money on a tablet I assume I should just get a good one right away.</p><p> What are the differences between a cheap one and a expensive one? I assume a cheap one doesnt follow your pen strokes precisely and might be a little shakey like a mouse pointer. So.. if I just get a tablet that ends up being as crappy as a mouse pointer when I try to do straight lines by freehand.. I rather just spend 300$+ on a good one.</p><p> Any input?</p>

[megaira13]

Two words: Deal HuntI picked up an intuos3 6x8 for around 200$ a couple years ago - to get it from me you'd have to pry it from my cold dead clutches.Bigger is not always better - if you're the kind of person that does long flowing lines on a paper, then yes - if you sketch in smaller short sketchy lines, then big may not suit you so well.The wacom site has a guide that'll walk you through what tablet would better suit your needs, as well.  Handy stuff. 

[Wyrmypops]

<p>I heartliy recommend graphics tablets. I love mine. It's a cheapo one from years ago, but its does everything I need one to do. I can't imagine a more expensive one doing anything I need it doing, better. Mine was £75 a few years ago (about $150). That has several grades of sensitivity and all that deviating malarky, which can be adjusted in the settings too. But just enough grades is enough, as too many could be a problem. There's only so many grades we actually press down with our pens, more grades could see a line deviate in thickness more than we might actually like. Mine does have a small user area though, about 3 by 4 inches. That's fine for me as I've ever preferred to work on A5 and A4 size illustrations. If you prefer to large A1 and A0 canvasses then perhaps a larger graphics tablet would be best. </p><p>It really is the sweeping curves where it comes into its own. For that alone it makes drawing feel more like drawing than manipulating pixels, and a true arty and organic process. </p><p>Despite that, when I first got it there was a period of adjustment. It's traditional to see the image forming behind ones pencil, and not on the monitor. It's unusual to watch the monitor and trust in the movement of ones grasp on the graphic pen. They come with exercises on the installation disc, but what I found helped me is just to keep on using it. Practice and all that. I played a lot of Spider Solittaire and Minesweeper with mine to get used to it. Can't say as even now I use the buttons on the side of the pen, those that serve as the mouse buttons left and right click. For a start I can never remember which does which, and I use a lot of the shortcuts buttons anyway so don't really need them. </p>

[Jai]

I'd marry my Wacom tablet if I could. hehe I got mine for a project two years back, and have been in love every since. The best thing to keep in mind with these is, it's an investment just as any other tech piece of equipment. You won't regret it!

[Megumiko01]

Well, I replied to your thread in the sig forum because I went there first.I recommend the Wacom series of tablets. I have had a 9 x 6 Intous2 for about 4 years now and the only thing that would be better for me would be the Cintiq. I can't tell you how much of that surface I use, but I work on paper that's 8.5 x 11 or bigger so that was a comfortable size.I use my tablet for drawing, painting and corrections of pencil line art. I do draw directly into photoshop, and for anyone into heavy duty drawing and painting, the Intous line is far more versatile than the Graphire line.Drawing with it can take some getting used to because you are no longer watching your hand they way you would with a pencil or paintbrush. Also, the surface is a little smoother than paper, but you can get things that emulate paper, like tips and whatnot.Personally, I would not try any company other Wacom if you want a serious tablet, but that's just me, and that's not based on any experience with any brand other tahn Wacom, so I could be biased. But just comparing stats, Wacom seems to be better all the way around.I paid about $500 for mine 4 years ago and the price for the Intous3 seems to be the same. Hope that helps!

[Akyashaa]

<p>Hey there!All I can do is recommend the tablets. I've used mine for years and just 6 month ago upgraded mine to a 6x11 ! I cannot tell you how much they help. Its like drawing on paper, just better. For me anyways. I'd give it a shot, you'll love it <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>Akyashaa</p>