At the small rural school where I work we send vector drawings from CorelDraw to our laser cutter, which does a great job in cutting out the drawing in wood. To get the vector drawing we usually scan an image, clean it up with PhotoPaint, convert it to vector with CorelTrace using centerline, clean this vector image up with CorelDraw and then send it to the laser. The scanning, cleaning up, tracing, and cleaning up again process is cumbersome; especially the centerline tracing process that creates lots of little lines that need to be deleted, straightened, etc.
I've experimented with a couple of tablet PC's, a Gateway and an Asus, with mixed results. I put the scanned image on one layer, then on another layer I traced it using the tablet pen. When this works as I want it to I quickly get a vector image that is ready for the laser. However the Gateway was hopeless, the pen did not work well at all. The Asus was much better but not as accurate as I would like. Maybe there is a tablet PC that someone uses in this fashion with CorelDraw? I've been looking at reviews of the Toshiba 700 and the Dell Latitude but nothing in what I read addresses this question directly.
Hi,Without a doubt I would only suggest and recomend Wacom tablets.When it comes to digital tablets thats the few times when I say there is only one choice. And its Wacom tablets. A Japanes invention and company. A quality product that rocks. I have workded DIGITALLY since 1997 as an illustrator and graphic designer. And my own personal experince is that Wacom is the best. There are so many reasons for it. And I wrote about it (in English & Swedish) on my blog connected to my website twice. Latest was from the Swedish/European release of the new Wacom Intuos4 tablet. http://stefanlindblad-english.blogspot.com/2009/03/wacom-intuos4-illustrators-wet-dream.html
I useally never like when people says "there is only one business standard". But this is the time I do.Wacom is used probably to 99% by all professional illustrators working with tablets in the movie and computer game business, as well as other illustration businesses.Wacom Intuos4 is the latest version and the professional one.Wacom Intuos3 was the equivalent before it.And they come in different sizes.If you like to lower the price range, then go for the Wacom Bamboo line.WacomBambo rocks as well.All tablets are very well made. In techniqal as well as durable and a feeling of robust made. Light to carry and handle yes, but you feel that its actually well made in its chassi.
http://www.wacom.com
Thank you, Stefan, for your response - and to everyone who has taken the time to answer.
I have a Wacom tablet but for this situation I am looking for recommendations of tablet PCs.
As bones pointed out, for the task I am doing I don't need the pressure sensitivity of the Wacom.
Anyone use a tablet PC with CorelDraw that they're really happy with?