Anyone here use a Wacom tablet?

[Dark Raven]

Anyone here use a Wacom tablet? Is it any good to use and does it make creating computer art much easier? What's the advantage of using it to just drawing your art freehand on paper and then scanning it in?

Any particular models/ makes people might recommend?

Thanks.

 

[ComicChick]

many of our artists in the Fan Art section use them and could offer some great advice.

I have an old wacom tablet. One definite advantage is that you can draw onto the screen and don't have to scan it in. You can also erase much easier than on paper.

 

[Midnyte_Sun]

I bought one a few years ago. Used it once, and now it's collecting dust. It worked great, but you really have to match it to nice art software that I never got into learning. One day I'll get back into it.

 

[DorkyFresh]

tablets are great for digital graphics regardless of what you're doing. even if you're just using it to point and click, it beats using a mouse because using a pen puts your hand in a more natural position versus using a mouse...especially for extended periods of time. you don't get the same kind of control you get if you draw on paper then scan the image in, but if you want a clean look or if you're working with vector graphics then tablets help a ton.

as for which type to get, it depends on what you're trying to do. if you intend on drawing at ALL the Intuos is preferred. a Graphire is more for regular graphic arts, while an Intuos is made more for drawing and digital painting. the Bamboo is a good beginner tablet. you don't necessarily need the latest one, but you'll certainly want at least the prior version of the most recent tablet you plan on getting. any earlier models are a bit rudimentary.

 

[Ness]

I use a Wacom Tablet. It's an Intuos 4. It's great. It even comes with a mouse which I'm using on the tablet at the moment, but that's just a bonus. As for what you can do with it, it's really up to the user. I use mine to practice digital painting and vector art in Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. I also draw a lot, and am more of the traditional sort.

Keep in mind that just because one has a Wacom tablet, doesn't mean they have to give up drawing traditionally. A lot of people do both, as a matter of fact I'd say it's more common than choosing just one now and days. Especially if you want to use your skills to get a job. I like drawing traditionally, but those skills have helped me in Photoshop.

As for the pen itself, it's vital. Using the mouse is pretty much out of the question...unless you're doing vector art. But if you're painting in programs like Corel Painter and Photoshop, it's practically impossible to get the dexterity with a mouse that comes with a pen...which you can adjust to your desired pen pressure.

Oh and a lot of people, like me, draw freehand and scan their images in and paint them digitally. Some people choose to just start out in Photoshop. Doesn't really matter. Regardless, you need a pen and a tablet to do the actual painting. Really, what would one do once they scan the artwork in? Paint with the mouse? No, you need a pen.

I have the smallest tablet available and I think it's the best. I don't need to reach across the other side of the tablet just to get to the other side of the screen. And it doesn't take up that much space on my desk. And I think it's cheaper. Some folks like the bigger tablets, but I don't prefer them. It's up to the user.

If you're really serious about art, or think you might want to pursue an art career, you may want to consider purchasing a tablet and experimenting in Photoshop (assuming you have the money). There are a bunch of free tutorials and sites everywhere online that can really help you. I can recommend a couple of good ones if you're interested. You can always return the tablet too if you don't think it's what you want.

 

[Dark Raven]

Thanks for the all the advice and suggestions. I already use Photoshop a lot and plan to get more into Illustrator and Corel Painter (I have the programs but haven't taken the time to explore them properly yet). The tablet would definitely be to get more serious about art. I'm pretty adept with drawing/painting with a mouse as I've had to get used to that skill over the years, but it does take a lot longer than drawing freehand with a pen.

I'm sure I'd still stick to traditional drawing too, but definitely want to have a tool that allows me to draw on the screen. Using a mouse to, say, outline something in photoshop takes several goes sometimes and can often be not that accurate. I'll definitely want to look into investing in a tablet.

Some people mentioned the Bamboo and the Intuos. Are there some things the Bamboo doesn't have that the Intuos does have? I don't really want to just get something that I'll outgrow quite quickly, but I am conscious of a budget too.

BTW does the pen always come with the tablet or do you have to buy that separately?

 

[Ness]

Thanks for the all the advice and suggestions. I already use Photoshop a lot and plan to get more into Illustrator and Corel Painter (I have the programs but haven't taken the time to explore them properly yet). The tablet would definitely be to get more serious about art. I'm pretty adept with drawing/painting with a mouse as I've had to get used to that skill over the years, but it does take a lot longer than drawing freehand with a pen.

I'm sure I'd still stick to traditional drawing too, but definitely want to have a tool that allows me to draw on the screen. Using a mouse to, say, outline something in photoshop takes several goes sometimes and can often be not that accurate. I'll definitely want to look into investing in a tablet.

Some people mentioned the Bamboo and the Intuos. Are there some things the Bamboo doesn't have that the Intuos does have? I don't really want to just get something that I'll outgrow quite quickly, but I am conscious of a budget too.

BTW does the pen always come with the tablet or do you have to buy that separately?

When you buy the tablet it comes with a pen.

From what I've heard the Intuos offered a lot more dexterity with the pen than the Bamboo does. Plus you can upgrade features (use different pens/nibs) that you can't do with a bamboo. I've heard if you're drawing it would be like comparing a crayon (Bamboo) to a fine tipped marker (Intuos). It feels a lot better and is loads more smooth. If you're going to spend a good amount of money anyways, I'd save up and get something that is going to last you a while. My girlfriend still uses her Intuos 3 and has been for a while and it's practically new...and she uses it a lot. I'm sure there are a bunch of people out there still using Intuos 1.

 

[Golgo-13]

I have a Bamboo Wacom tablet. Used it a few times with Abode Illustrator but found it was a little hard to control the flow of the ink; don't use it that much anymore.

 

[Anita18]

You NEED a tablet if you're going to be painting digitally. There's no way around it. The sensitivity is a necessity.

You don't need one if you're going to be working with vector files. I've moved into doing graphic design, logos, and other vector-y stuff that don't involve sensitivity and I find that having a pen and tablet isn't necessary.

You can buy used tablets on Craigslist. I have an 6x8 Intuos2 that I got used from an art student who was upgrading to a larger size. The 6x8 is a good size for me. It's starting to die though, the tablet no longer senses the pen. I need to test whether it's my computer's USB ports not drawing enough power or whether I finally need to retire the Intuos2.

 

[Dark Raven]

I think I'm going to invest in one of these.What's the ideal size to work on? And what is just too small? 6x8 could seem a bit small. Is that large enough to draw a proper picture? I see an A5 sized Intuos 4 (which doesn't seem all that big) on Amazon for about £284. Is that about the usual price? How large is the "large" size? A4?

Also, does the digital image appear on the tablet when you're drawing on it/painting digitally (eg in Photoshop)? If not, how can you see where you're drawing so that it corresponds with what is on your laptop screen?

Thanks.

 

[Anita18]

I think I'm going to invest in one of these.What's the ideal size to work on? And what is just too small? 6x8 could seem a bit small. Is that large enough to draw a proper picture? I see an A5 sized Intuos 4 (which doesn't seem all that big) on Amazon for about £284. Is that about the usual price? How large is the "large" size? A4?

Also, does the digital image appear on the tablet when you're drawing on it/painting digitally (eg in Photoshop)? If not, how can you see where you're drawing so that it corresponds with what is on your laptop screen?

Thanks.

It really depends on what you're used to. I don't tend to draw big unless I'm sitting on a drawing horse, so 6x8 was a perfect size for me. The footprint's already pretty big at that size so you have to consider if you have enough room on your desk to have one bigger.

Just looked it up, they go to 8x12 and 12x18 (jeebus!). This is in inches, I know, heathen Americans At that point it's like having a giant scanner on your desk 24/7. Keep in mind that the pen corresponds to a specific point on your screen, so if you have a big tablet, that just means more work for you to cover the entire space.

IIRC the 6x8 Intuos tablets go for $350 or so new. Amazon always has pretty good prices, so I'd use them as a gauge.

No, the image does not appear on the tablet. (For that, you need to shell out for the uber$$$ Cintiq.) You can see the cursor move on the screen so you eventually get used to just watching the screen and not the tablet. It's kind of like touch typing, or sight reading if you play piano like I do. You just don't look at your hands while you're doing it.

 

[Dark Raven]

Ah I see, thanks. It sounds a bit like using a mouse. I use a mouse to draw/ paint digitally and don't even look at my hand, as I've gotten so used to it that there is no disconnect for me between the screen and the mouse. I guess that means that I could go for the 6 x 8 size, if the pen just corresponds to a specific point on the screen. A mousemat, for example, is not much bigger in terms of dimensions and that is plenty enough to use a mouse to draw on. I definitely don't want anything like a giant scanner on my desk permanently. Also, it would mean it would be cheaper than going for A4 (11.7" x 8.3").

How do you like your Intuos 2? I could go for an Intuos 3 if that is cheaper than a 4. Is there a great deal of difference between each upgrade?

 

[Anita18]

Ah I see, thanks. It sounds a bit like using a mouse. I use a mouse to draw/ paint digitally and don't even look at my hand, as I've gotten so used to it that there is no disconnect for me between the screen and the mouse. I guess that means that I could go for the 6 x 8 size, if the pen just corresponds to a specific point on the screen. A mousemat, for example, is not much bigger in terms of dimensions and that is plenty enough to use a mouse to draw on. I definitely don't want anything like a giant scanner on my desk permanently. Also, it would mean it would be cheaper than going for A4 (11.7" x 8.3").

How do you like your Intuos 2? I could go for an Intuos 3 if that is cheaper than a 4. Is there a great deal of difference between each upgrade?

The Intuos3 I think was a big jump from the 2, so you could go for that if you wanted. My Intuos2 doesn't come with the thumb buttons or whatever they are. I haven't done a lot of research since I bought mine and it's about 5 years old.

I think they're all pretty much the same on the basic level, but I wonder if they improved on the power-drawing technology. I need a pretty high-powered USB port for my tablet and both my computers are not making the grade as of late. I should remember to test the tablet on my bf's new Macbook Pro to see if it's really my ports at fault or whether I need to upgrade the tablet. Since I've been doing more graphic design stuff, I haven't been using the tablet as often.

 

[Aa241010]

I have a Fujitsu T5010, a convertible table/laptop. I use it in conjunction with sketchbook pro, and it has been fantastic. I use to use the desktop + wacom cintiq combo, but found myself too 'anchored' to one spot. The Fujitsu is about 95-98 percent of the accuracy as the cintiq (use to own a 12wx) but the portability outweighed the other 5-3 percent deficiency.

One thing to keep in mind is that the intuos and bambo types feel more paper like (to me atleast). As opposed to the laptop or cintiq, it feels like drawing on glass, which requires a bit more control. Otherwise, any sort of tablet is the way to go with digital painting.

Oh and btw I was able to get my T5010 13.3" wacom digitizer online from ebay (direct from fujitsu) for about $700. Well worth it to me.

Did this work on my T5010
http://aa241010.deviantart.com/gallery/?catpath=scraps#/d3hmr9z

Thanks,

Al

 

[Dark Raven]

Ok, I'm resurrecting this old thread because I'm looking once again to buy a Wacom tablet in the next few days. I didn't end up getting one before because of particular circumstances at the time. I think, since I last posted, there seems to be the Intuos 5 that has come out.

What's the difference between one which says "Intuos Pen" and "Intuos Pen and Touch"? What's the advantage of the "Touch" feature and how necessary is it? The "Pen and Touch" tablets seem to be more expensive than a standard "Pen" tablet.

Also, if you sit with the tablet on your lap to draw, does it get quite hot? Is it better to leave it on the desk?

 

[deragoku]

You do not get similar control you if you draw on paper, and then scan the image, but if you want a clean look, or if you work with HP 97 vector graphics, and then help a ton of film.

 

[StrainedEyes]

Ok, I'm resurrecting this old thread because I'm looking once again to buy a Wacom tablet in the next few days. I didn't end up getting one before because of particular circumstances at the time. I think, since I last posted, there seems to be the Intuos 5 that has come out.

What's the difference between one which says "Intuos Pen" and "Intuos Pen and Touch"? What's the advantage of the "Touch" feature and how necessary is it? The "Pen and Touch" tablets seem to be more expensive than a standard "Pen" tablet.

Also, if you sit with the tablet on your lap to draw, does it get quite hot? Is it better to leave it on the desk?

Touch tablets have gestures. Like pinching or swiping, similar to an iPhone. I don't think it's really needed.

The tablet does not get hot, there's nothing inside that can heat up.

 

[Obi-Ron]

Protip: It's pronounced "Woccum," not "WAY-com." Doesn't make sense to me either, but I once called tech support on the phone and that is apparently how it's pronounced.

 

[Dark Raven]

This might sound a bit of a silly question, but I just noticed tiny scratches on the surface of my tablet from where I've drawn on it with my pen. Is it supposed to make those little scratches or should I be using either a protective film or is the nib of the pen too blunt (or perhaps even too sharp)? Is this something unavoidable through use?

 

[TheAQU4M4N]

One of my friends as these, creates tat designs on it. He's incredible.

 

[Anita18]

This might sound a bit of a silly question, but I just noticed tiny scratches on the surface of my tablet from where I've drawn on it with my pen. Is it supposed to make those little scratches or should I be using either a protective film or is the nib of the pen too blunt (or perhaps even too sharp)? Is this something unavoidable through use?

My old one had some scratches too. I think it's pretty inevitable, but it helps to have a light touch. You can adjust the sensitivity.

 

[Spider-Who?]

This might sound a bit of a silly question, but I just noticed tiny scratches on the surface of my tablet from where I've drawn on it with my pen. Is it supposed to make those little scratches or should I be using either a protective film or is the nib of the pen too blunt (or perhaps even too sharp)? Is this something unavoidable through use?

I guess it depends on how deep these scratches are. I've used the same Intuos 3 tablet for 6 years and if you were to look at the drawing surface, you would see that there's quite a number of superficial marks on it, but nothing you could actually feel with your hand. What model do you have?

On a similar note, I'm currently saving up for one of these bad boys:

http://www.amazon.com/Wacom-Cintiq-Graphic-Monitor-CINTIQ24HD/dp/B007UNMLBG

 

[The Epic Beyond]

I've been using my Wacom Tablet to work on my webcomic. Once i got it improved my artwork significantly and made its production much quicker. It's very naturalistic to use. My only complaint is that I should have bought the larger more expensive one when i initially got it

 

[Dark Raven]

I guess it depends on how deep these scratches are. I've used the same Intuos 3 tablet for 6 years and if you were to look at the drawing surface, you would see that there's quite a number of superficial marks on it, but nothing you could actually feel with your hand. What model do you have?

On a similar note, I'm currently saving up for one of these bad boys:

http://www.amazon.com/Wacom-Cintiq-Graphic-Monitor-CINTIQ24HD/dp/B007UNMLBG

I'm using the Intuos 5. There are only superficial marks and not deep scratches or anything you can feel. I just wondered whether those were inevitable or not.

 

[Spider-Who?]

Ok, then yeah, you're good. The pen's sensitivity is remarkable (and can be adjusted to your liking), so you never need to really press down hard, but even still, you are dragging a pointed object against a flat surface, so you are going to get marks at one point or another.