Which do you use and why?
I tried a tablet/pen years ago and wasn't impressed, but that was YEARS ago. I am thinking of trying one again.
For what I do on a daily basis the mouse is awesome. But I've thought about getting into some more artistic drawing based work and the mouse isn't cutting it for me.
Looking for input.
But I've thought about getting into some more artistic drawing based work and the mouse isn't cutting it for me.
-- Paul McGee St. Albert, Alberta, Canada
Mike Ver Duin said: Which do you use and why? I tried a tablet/pen years ago and wasn't impressed, but that was YEARS ago. I am thinking of trying one again. For what I do on a daily basis the mouse is awesome. But I've thought about getting into some more artistic drawing based work and the mouse isn't cutting it for me. Looking for input.
I have a couple of tablets. One is a Wacom Intuos, the other is a 'Brand X' cheap unit. I love the Wacom.
If you want to get a tablet for graphics work, I would suggest obtaining a Wacom tablet and if you desire to save a few dollars, then go with the Wacom Bamboo series, as these are low cost (compared to the Intuos models) and have a wide range of function and use. The out-perform any other 'Brand-X' tablet, any day.
(Just my two cents).
I too suggest using a Wacom.
However, I use both the mouse and tablet when I'm working. Wacom for illustration and the mouse when it comes to handling text.
Hi Mike
Like you I first used a pen a number of years ago and I was seriously underwhelmed. I went back to the mouse and yes, you can achieve a lot with it. But I purchased a good pen a couple of years ago (Wacom Intous 3) and have never regretted it. Just wish I could afford their top range pruducts!
it's great for fine work - free drawing, hand tracing of scanned artwork, masking and cutout and the like - and allows for a far greater level of expression and fluidity. Still not a substitute for the humble lead pencil but vastly superior to the mouse for certain work.
However, I still use the 'bar of soap' for the majority of standard workflow as the pens are notoriously skittish. I think it's very much a case of 'horses for courses'.
Regards, Colin
Brute-Fish said:My boss asked why I would need a tablet. I asked him, "When you want to draw something, do you pick up a pencil (holding stylus) or a rock (picking up mouse)?"
I like that.... made me smile a bit there...
I guess two more general question,
Do you hold the tablet in your lap or on the desk?
Also, I've read for most uses the smaller ~6"x4" work as well as anything because you don't use the whole surface anyways (for most people)?
Mike Ver Duin said: I guess two more general question, Do you hold the tablet in your lap or on the desk? Also, I've read for most uses the smaller ~6"x4" work as well as anything because you don't use the whole surface anyways (for most people)?
Lap or desktop: Yes, to both. sometimes I sit back, in the chair, and put the tablet in my lap and work, other times I sit the tablet in front of the screen, on my desk, and work. Depends on my current mood and the task at hand.
Small, medium or large is all a personal preference. I have a small (3.5 x 5 inch work area) and a medium (5.5 x 8 inch) work area tablets, I prefer the larger work area of the two. There are others that like a very small work area, just ask Jeff and he will tell you he uses about 1.5 inches square area of his tablet area for work...
Hugh Johnson said:Do you hold the tablet in your lap or on the desk?
on the desk.
Hugh Johnson said:There are others that like a very small work area, just ask Jeff and he will tell you he uses about 1.5 inches square area of his tablet area for work...
Yes, it's about 2.25" wide and 1.5" tall. The right side of my hand stays rested on the surface. I swivel the pen with my fingers to cover the entire area mentioned.
Back in Win 95/98 days, I'd set my mice to be very fast and with mouse acceleration on, so it was fast to get around.
The big surprise of using tablet isn't for drawing - it's for navigating Windows more productively. I operate a computer about 13-16 hours every day, so it's important for me to conserve energy by avoiding tedious movements.
Well im also using Wacom tablets.. at work and at home...
Love them cannot do without :)
For me the mouse is the choice. Rarely take my hand off it. With the high speed and high acceleration movement, combined with the wheel function, it works great for me.
Currently I have a wacom intuous 2 tablet. I've used it so much the silver finish is worn off where my wrist rests on it while working!
This is my third wacom tablet.
I wouldn't go without the tablet pen for photo brushing in photopaint, and some drawing in coreldraw. Just can't get the same dexterity or nearly the brushing speed when brushing a background away from a face and such without the tablet.
In the early years I also really liked the wacom cordless/battery-less tablet mouse (4d mouse). Now however, my intuous mouse feels less sensitive than my plain logitech laser mouse so I've found myself using the mouse for more normal tasks.
Not to take this off topic, but can anyone comment on how the latest intuous 4 mouse is in comparison to current laser mice? And how ergonomic it is in terms of buttons, scroll wheel, etc?
Same here - started with a 12 x 18 wacom! Didn't use all of it. Downsized to a 9 x 12. And I still find I use only a fraction of the area. There have only been two or three times in the last 10 years when I've set the tablet to use the full area for drawing something. But my next one will be one size down. I like a few inches for the pen but only a couple for the mouse.
I have a Wacom also. I think it's 6 x 8. It's pretty old. I've never been able to bridge the disconnect of drawing on the tablet while looking at the screen. I used it a lot for air brushing art that I'd drawn elsewhere but not for drawing. I recently purchased a laptop with stylus and touch screen support. It's an HP. This makes things very different because it's much more like drawing naturally. You're drawing right on the screen in Photoshop, or whatever. The problem is that the overall quality of the machine and the whole touch experience is awful. The potential is huge, but until Apple decides to make one of these devices, I have a hard time recommending a PC version to anyone. It's really bad. Handwriting recognition is awesome in Windows though. Everything else is awful. It does get the job done though. The stylus is literally "dimestore" quality, both hardware and also the 256 levels of sensitivity. There are a couple of these made by different companies though, so one may be better than another.