Wacom graphics tablets

[SusanV]

Hi,
Can anyone please educate me about graphics tablets?
I would like to get one, but am wondering if I really
need the latest-greatest-high end version. I just
want to be able to dodge and burn and draw selection
outlines with a pen instead of a mouse ( that's killing
my shoulder).


What do you use and/or recommend?

thanks a lot!
Susan
www.dalyvoss.com

 

[colivet]

I had the cheaper version for the last 5 years and never felt the need for more. Does a great job.

 

[gr82bart]

For those of you that don't know Wacon tablets can be found here at: http://www.wacom.com/

I have the older Intuos 3 model as well and am pretty happy with it. What I found difficult to get use to and still do actually, is the pen device. Once I mastered that, the tablet really shines! Now I switch 'seemlessly' between mouse and pen.

The larger the tablet surface, the more accurate you can get of course with your editing. I have a 4x5 size tablet, but I know many graphic artists/illustrators that use much larger sizes.

Best Buy had specials of the older model before Christmas, as my GF said she wanted to get one for me until she realized I already had one.

Regards, Art.

 

[donbga]

Hi,
Can anyone please educate me about graphics tablets?
I would like to get one, but am wondering if I really
need the latest-greatest-high end version. I just
want to be able to dodge and burn and draw selection
outlines with a pen instead of a mouse ( that's killing
my shoulder).


What do you use and/or recommend?

thanks a lot!
Susan
www.dalyvoss.com

Susan,

I have the Graphire 3 6x8 and love it. I've had it for about 3 years and use it primarily for dodging and burning and painting with the history brush.

Don Bryant

 

[SusanV]

OK this is all good news, thanks. I don't want to spend the money to get a top o' the line tablet if I'm not going to use all the features, and I wondered if a simple, older model would be sufficient. Don, glad to hear the Graphire model works well, too. I may go that route.

susan

 

[Baxter Bradford]

Suffering from rapid onset of RSI 2 years ago, I was advised to get the A4 model. With full screen mapping, it is very slow to move around the screen. However the ability to have two zones, one fine movement, the other course works very well.

Concur with Art, there are some functions better suited to pen and mouse. Programming the buttons and touchstrips makes modifying/editing a breeze. I have one of latter for scrolling, other for brush size. Buttons, are save, undo (most used!) page up, page down, Full page zoom and 100% zoom.

Not sure that the A4 is necessary it does take up a lot of dask space, but makes a good albeit rather expensive hand rest for the keyboard!

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I've been thinking about getting one of these, and I spoke to my sister who is an animator and does computer graphics all the time for a living. She loves the Wacom, but finds it more efficient to work with a medium sized pad (6X8 I think) than the largest one. I'd imagine this is something that varies from person to person, so it's probably worth trying them out and seeing what feels comfortable.

 

[catem]

I have the Intuos3 6x8 which I got mainly for photo 'restoration' work with photoshop. I would say definitely don't go bigger - you will find you lose desk space unnecessarily. As it is I find I don't use nearly all the space on mine - it's very unlikely you'd need a larger 'reach' than this. I find when I'm working on something close I zoom in with photoshop anyway - so I still have more than enough room to manouvre using a small space on the tablet. And in any case the larger space you have to cover with your hand, corresponding to what's on the monitor, the harder & more tiring it is on your wrist/fingers etc., so from that point of view a smaller reach is preferable.

I found the pen harder to use at first than I thought I would, & I still need to work out some of the best ways of using it. I do know one or two people who have never got used to it. The mouse though is way more comfortable and efficient than any mouse I've used before, and the tablet is extremely comfortable, so be sure to get one that includes the mouse - I think some come only with a pen and some only with a mouse.

See if you can try one out as it's always better, and I think you would tell very quickly the size that would suit you best, and whether it might suit you as a way of working.

 

[Lee L]

My family gave me a Graphire 4 in early December. I use it under ubuntu linux and really like it a lot. (And if I ever boot Windows XP again, or install Vista, it's already got drivers in place.) Given my experience, I'd say the 6x8 size would be a nice compromise on drawing space and size. With the 4x5 size I have to scroll a bit more than would be optimal, especially if I were constantly using it in a production environment. Being able to switch out the Wacom mouse and pen is very nice. (And in my environment, my existing Logitech Marble Mouse works seamlessly with the Wacom inputs.) I find the pen is much better than the mouse for fine drawing control and smooth curves, and I've been using mice for a very long time.

Oh, and I really like the Graphire 4 for CADD drawing as well. Much faster than the mouse.

Lee

 

[blansky]

I have the Graphire 3 4x5.

Works fine.



Michael

 

[SusanV]

Good info, all of it. Thanks a lot to each of you.

I was thinking I needed one of the larger sizes, but now I'm down to the 6x8. True Cate, that when I work on detail I also zoom in, so the larger size is maybe not so necessary after all.

David... I was glad to hear your sister's opinion, too. Since she uses it a lot, that's a solid recommendation. (by the way, you know my husband, from APUG.. Jovo, John Voss ... so hello )

When in college as an art major, we often drew what were called contour drawings. Never looking at the paper we had to draw a slow, detailed line for every edge we saw on our model. It's an exercise in observation AND a way to develop the connection between the eye and the hand, not letting the brain jump in too much and mess things up. I often smile in appreciation of those days when I'm drawing a selection edge with a mouse... my eye following a contour onscreen, and my hand off to the side with the mouse. Very similar feeling. I look forward to a tablet making that much more comfortable.

 

[artonic]

We use Wacom Intuos-GD 9x12 inch, and could not do without one! Wacom support (driver updates) has been excellent even for this very old tablet.

 

[SusanV]

I wanted to report back about this. About a month after this discussion I
got a Wacom UD 9x12 tablet used on 'bay. Paid about $100 for it all
together. I am SO happy I didn't spend $400 on the newest, greatest
version. This model is fairly old, but in great shape, and it does what I
need it to do. All the new technology is so tempting sometimes, but it's
good to stop and think about if you REALLY need a gazillion levels of touch
sensitivity, or if half a gazillion is actually plenty. In this case, it's plenty.
I also realize that I could have gotten the 6x8 size and it would have been fine...
this one was simply available and the right price.
Thanks again for the advice

Susan

 

[artonic]

Mine is Intuos GD 12x9 circa 2000. It is indispensible! The nice thing about Wacom is their great support for Mac OS, as they continue to provide updates even for an old tablet like this one.

 

[Ram]

Intuos3 A5 Wide Special Edition Tablet c/w airbrush pen is amazing, excellent results for retouching. Cost approx $600. Download the latest driver from the US site though as they update regularly.

Regards