Graphics Tablets

mloc

does any one here own or use one? I keep getting them recommended to me, especially for photoshop art stuff. The Wacom brand seem to dominate the field.

440Hz

Use one and love it, I've had it for years. Solid investment for anyone interested in graphics. No need to go too fancy, big prices differences!

mloc

I was looking at the Wacom Graphire XL, its under €200 and looks good. The intuos stuff looks nice but is disproportionately expensive.

440Hz

Mine is a Wacom, has lasted years and very happy with it... yeah Id go with that one. Enjoy

5uspect

Yeah I've been thinking of getting a tablet too...
I've always been put off by hefty price, but now ye've tempted me again...
I see one of the guys on photoshop TV used a wacom a lot - wonder how it works with the pen tool?

440Hz

5uspect wrote:

wonder how it works with the pen tool?

Well, tis great! I mean you feel like you are drawing something, and obviously you can adjust the sensitivity and all that just as you would with a mouse. If you like your graphics just go for it, you wont regret the spend. Only reason I dont use mine so much anymore is that I hate carry extras around with the laptop, but got it hooked up to the G5 (desktop) at home and most of the time use it instead of the mouse.

5uspect

440Hz wrote:

Well, tis great! I mean you feel like you are drawing something, and obviously you can adjust the sensitivity and all that just as you would with a mouse. If you like your graphics just go for it, you wont regret the spend. Only reason I dont use mine so much anymore is that I hate carry extras around with the laptop, but got it hooked up to the G5 (desktop) at home and most of the time use it instead of the mouse.

Sorry I meant the pen tool in photoshop/illustrator etc,
But thanks for the great info, it does sound fanstatic. I'll probably cart it to work and back between machines.
Can you get the wacom without the extra coral software - I've already got all the CS2 apps so all I need is the hardware and a driver CD? Yes I'm a cheapskate!!!

440Hz

5uspect wrote:

Sorry I meant the pen tool in photoshop/illustrator etc,
But thanks for the great info, it does sound fanstatic. I'll probably cart it to work and back between machines.
Can you get the wacom without the extra coral software - I've already got all the CS2 apps so all I need is the hardware and a driver CD? Yes I'm a cheapskate!!!

Well when I bought mine that was all you got in the package, just the tablet, pen and driver.. presume it is still the same

5uspect

440Hz wrote:

Well when I bought mine that was all you got in the package, just the tablet, pen and driver.. presume it is still the same

I comes with Corel Painter Essentials or PS elements for a few quid more. I doubt it really affects the price too much anyway.

5uspect

fec it i think i'll just head down to PC World at lunch time and get one

440Hz

Super... let us know how you get on with it

5uspect

Will do!

sameoldname

got a wacom A6 pen partner many years ago (still works perfectly after 7/8 years of abuse!)

Bit the bullet and upgraded to the A5 intuos a few months ago which is a much more accurate tablet (also been watching the photoshop guys podcast too much lately).

I'd consider getting the smallest cheapest model first to see what you think and then upgrade to a larger model.

A6 and A5 gives quite a surprising amount of room to sweep the pen around. A4 tablets are actually quite hard work to use - you need to move your arm around alot.

5uspect

So i picked up the graphire4, 4" x 6" tablet in PC world for €110. Saw it on Komplett for €90 + €10 postage so the price wasn't too bad.

Its really nice, I can imagine it can take some time to adjust to. I'm a lefty so it sits well on that side of the keyboard with the mouse on the right. The other folks in the office had fun playing with it too!

sameoldname

5uspect wrote:

So i picked up the graphire4, 4" x 6" tablet in PC world for €110. Saw it on Komplett for €90 + €10 postage so the price wasn't too bad.

Its really nice, I can imagine it can take some time to adjust to. I'm a lefty so it sits well on that side of the keyboard with the mouse on the right. The other folks in the office had fun playing with it too!

Lefties FTW!
I have the exact same setup on my desk. It can get a bit crazy doing a selection with the mouse while holding the pen simulataneously to paint over the selection mask LOL

5uspect

So I've had a couple of days to play with this tablet and I really love it. I'm still wondering about the best set up for the programmable buttons tho...

mloc, I'd highly recommend a tablet if you're into photoshop/illistrator etc.

311

I've always wanted to get one of them ,
Does it interface easily with photoshop? ,can you use it as the mouse aswell for menus and stuff?
Might get one tomorrow myself ,nice one.

Fionn

hey
I ordered one a couple of days ago from Wacom themselves been threatening to get one for ages, I use Corel Draw a good bit and i'm sure this will come in handy.
I went for this one clicky
it cost a bit more than the PC world one but anyway i'm hoping it aint too used!!!

5uspect

Yeah it works great. As i mentioned I'm a lefty and I use the mouse with my right hand so I'm using both at the moment for different things. But as I'm getting more used to it I find myself being able to easily navigate with it (quite similar to a laptop touchpad only the entire area of the tablet is scaled to fit the screen)

Its really well integrated with PS. There is an eraser on the top like a real pencil that automatically selects the eraser tool when used (but this can be changed). The nib of the pen works with what ever tool you have selected. Currently I've set the two programmable buttons on the pen to select either the brush or the pen tool. However there are no batteries in the pen so it has to be in the "active range" of the tablet for them to work. You can hold it about 5mm above the surface for the buttons and tracking to work. (I'm guessing its magnetic or something)

The pressure sensitivity works really well in PS. You set the max brush size you want with the [ ] keys and you can control the brush size perfectly up to this limit by applying pressure.

The tablet has two more programmable buttions and a scroll wheel. The drivers come with a handy control panel where you can tweak everything from sensitivety to button assignments, to the working size of the tablet and the monitor.

Also there is a clear plastic cover which sits over the tablet. You can pop a sheet of paper or a photograph under it for tracing, or as a guide, or just for fun.

I think thats about everthing you shoud know!

5uspect

Fionn wrote:

hey
I ordered one a couple of days ago from Wacom themselves been threatening to get one for ages, I use Corel Draw a good bit and i'm sure this will come in handy.
I went for this one clicky
it cost a bit more than the PC world one but anyway i'm hoping it aint too used!!!

Like I said to _brian_ there is a tough clear plastic cover over the table surface so that seems to make it very durable. The pen seems solid too. I doubt there'll be any sign of wear in it. Hope it works out for you.