I was thinking of buying a drawing tablet to replace my mouse for drawing on the computer. I have never bought one, does anybody know of a good kind or something.
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Drawing tablets are very beneficial to creating digital artwork. I would definitely go with one from Wacom. They are pretty much the best. There are several other companies out there that have tablets but I've yet to run into anyone who works digitally that uses anything other than a Wacom tablet.
Starting out I would recommend one of the new Wacom Bamboos. They are relatively inexpensive compared to Wacom's professional level tablets (Intuous & Cintiq). There are two different sizes of Bamboo tablets so depending on how large or small you draw on paper I would go with the size that you feel more comfortable with.
Some make a big deal out of the additional levels of sensitivity the professional tablets offer over the Bamboos (1024 vs 2048) but I don't think its necessary. Certainly not starting out. I've created a lot of work using a 6 year old Wacom Graphire3 tablet with only 512 levels of sensitivity (same as the Bamboo Pen currently available) and I'm confident that I probably wouldn't notice or need four times that. The first generation Cintiqs only have 1024 levels which is where most the new Bamboo tablets are now.
I will caution you that it may take some time getting use to drawing/inking/painting with a tablet but stick with it. Its worth it.
Wow this is exactly what I needed to know, I'm definatly gonna get the bamboo pen, looks like just what I need.
70$ is'nt bad either, can't wait to get one.
Do they sell at like wallmart/raidioshack/bestbuy?
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Yes. I've seen the Bamboos at Best Buy and Staples. The Staples in my area actually had a few display models out that you could look at. BestBuy.com will be able to tell you if they have it in stock at the store(s) in your area.
//EDIT: Walmart.com has the Bamboo Pen available for online purchase for only $56 and you can get free site-to-store shipping to a local store in you're area if you're willing to wait.
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I definitely agree, I think the bamboo drawing pad is awesome. I seems like a great price, and we shelled out to get my sister one for her birthday. She's really into graphic art and stuff, so she loved it and uses it all the time. I think it's a great one for starting out!
I bought a bit more expensive Wacom tablet (an graphire) because I know I will be using them often and it's already been more useful than I would've thought for school projects and just for fun. I really enjoy having one
Sorry to necro this but I finally got the drawing tablet it took a while for me to find some money for it but I got it.
Any tips to get started with this?
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Sorry to necro this but I finally got the drawing tablet it took a while for me to find some money for it but I got it.
Any tips to get started with this?
If you it is a small tablet, finding some way to anchor it without damaging it is a good idea. (An upside-down mouse pad under it will do the trick.) I used to turn my graphire accidentally with my wrist. It would slowly turn over time, and I would adjust to it. Then I would notice one day, tilt it back, and be totally disoriented and drawing at a 45 degree angle.
With bigger tablets, it's not a problem.
Depending on the model, I'd also recommend turning off any tablet buttons. I just end up bumping them and they drive me nuts. (God, I must sound clumsy.)
I'd also recommend turning the sensitivity on the tablet up, so that you don't have to press hardly at all. Make the first move in the life-long battle between artists and hand/wrist problems. (For serious.) In the short term, you'll also be able to sit down and draw for a lot longer in one sitting if you do this.
Other than that, just practice. If you bought it for doing painterly work, you should get the hang of it in about a day. If you bought it to do inkwork and line art... that can take a while, depending.
I recommend starting out with scanning in your sketches, pencils, inks, etc, and using the tablet in addition to them. It takes a while for drawing straight on a tablet to look good.
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I'll be sad if people don't start calling The Chain Veil "Fleetwood Mac."
The buttons on the side can make your life easier if you program it correctly. The best options to have is "Mirror Canvas" and "Eye Droplet" This way you can select colors from a different source and never worry about constantly going back and forth and selecting colors manually.
with the bamboo you only have one set of buttons anyways, so you should be fine with not accidentally hitting them.
Unlike the intouse or cintiq which carry buttons on both sides.
If you are using the tablet with GIMP make sure to install the proper additional software so that it works properly with GIMP. all the Adobe software are pre-compatible with the hardware.
all others you tend to program just a slight bit.
I would recommend the following software:
Sketchbook
Sketch Pad
Manga Studio
Corel Painter X (newer the better)
All those software are ment to be used with the tablet as actual drawing spaces. While you are not limited in Photoshop you will find that these particular software have been made to function a bit more linear as opposed to Photoshop.
Edit:
Here's something i came up with in a few minutes using Corel Sketch Pad.
If you draw, definitely worth it. I've used either a XP-Pen Artist 12 or Deco 01 digital drawing tablet for many years, and recommend either one highly. IMO, if you want something that lasts for years and years, you can't go wrong with either of these.
If you create elements in drawing/paint programs (i.e, Photoshop, Krita, Illustrator,) a tablet will become your best friend. If you put time and work, you will get better! So if you want to go digital, you just have to be persistent and keep practicing.
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Avatar by Xenoninja thanks a ton. Sig by me(Last Updated: 11/17/12)
Realm of the Bug, the best shop for awesome sigs and avatars.
Come here to come support our weekly banner contests, and voice your opinion on any of the work there
Starting out I would recommend one of the new Wacom Bamboos. They are relatively inexpensive compared to Wacom's professional level tablets (Intuous & Cintiq). There are two different sizes of Bamboo tablets so depending on how large or small you draw on paper I would go with the size that you feel more comfortable with.
Some make a big deal out of the additional levels of sensitivity the professional tablets offer over the Bamboos (1024 vs 2048) but I don't think its necessary. Certainly not starting out. I've created a lot of work using a 6 year old Wacom Graphire3 tablet with only 512 levels of sensitivity (same as the Bamboo Pen currently available) and I'm confident that I probably wouldn't notice or need four times that. The first generation Cintiqs only have 1024 levels which is where most the new Bamboo tablets are now.
I will caution you that it may take some time getting use to drawing/inking/painting with a tablet but stick with it. Its worth it.
70$ is'nt bad either, can't wait to get one.
Do they sell at like wallmart/raidioshack/bestbuy?
Avatar by Xenoninja thanks a ton. Sig by me(Last Updated: 11/17/12)
Realm of the Bug, the best shop for awesome sigs and avatars.
Come here to come support our weekly banner contests, and voice your opinion on any of the work there
//EDIT: Walmart.com has the Bamboo Pen available for online purchase for only $56 and you can get free site-to-store shipping to a local store in you're area if you're willing to wait.
Avatar by Xenoninja thanks a ton. Sig by me(Last Updated: 11/17/12)
Realm of the Bug, the best shop for awesome sigs and avatars.
Come here to come support our weekly banner contests, and voice your opinion on any of the work there
I bought a bit more expensive Wacom tablet (an graphire) because I know I will be using them often and it's already been more useful than I would've thought for school projects and just for fun. I really enjoy having one
Any tips to get started with this?
Avatar by Xenoninja thanks a ton. Sig by me(Last Updated: 11/17/12)
Realm of the Bug, the best shop for awesome sigs and avatars.
Come here to come support our weekly banner contests, and voice your opinion on any of the work there
If you it is a small tablet, finding some way to anchor it without damaging it is a good idea. (An upside-down mouse pad under it will do the trick.) I used to turn my graphire accidentally with my wrist. It would slowly turn over time, and I would adjust to it. Then I would notice one day, tilt it back, and be totally disoriented and drawing at a 45 degree angle.
With bigger tablets, it's not a problem.
Depending on the model, I'd also recommend turning off any tablet buttons. I just end up bumping them and they drive me nuts. (God, I must sound clumsy.)
I'd also recommend turning the sensitivity on the tablet up, so that you don't have to press hardly at all. Make the first move in the life-long battle between artists and hand/wrist problems. (For serious.) In the short term, you'll also be able to sit down and draw for a lot longer in one sitting if you do this.
Other than that, just practice. If you bought it for doing painterly work, you should get the hang of it in about a day. If you bought it to do inkwork and line art... that can take a while, depending.
I recommend starting out with scanning in your sketches, pencils, inks, etc, and using the tablet in addition to them. It takes a while for drawing straight on a tablet to look good.
with the bamboo you only have one set of buttons anyways, so you should be fine with not accidentally hitting them.
Unlike the intouse or cintiq which carry buttons on both sides.
If you are using the tablet with GIMP make sure to install the proper additional software so that it works properly with GIMP. all the Adobe software are pre-compatible with the hardware.
all others you tend to program just a slight bit.
I would recommend the following software:
Sketchbook
Sketch Pad
Manga Studio
Corel Painter X (newer the better)
All those software are ment to be used with the tablet as actual drawing spaces. While you are not limited in Photoshop you will find that these particular software have been made to function a bit more linear as opposed to Photoshop.
Edit:
Here's something i came up with in a few minutes using Corel Sketch Pad.
If you create elements in drawing/paint programs (i.e, Photoshop, Krita, Illustrator,) a tablet will become your best friend. If you put time and work, you will get better! So if you want to go digital, you just have to be persistent and keep practicing.