Hi wise bods one and all
Has any got or use a Wacom (tablet or equivalent) with their editing programs - my youngster is pestering me for one for christmas as he is hoping to go to the Brit school specialising in Art and Design next year and I wondered how useful it would be or is it a frivalous accessory?
I have been using Wacom tablets for over a decade now. I'm still only on the second one - and that was only a upgrade, the old one still works.
I got them before I started serious image editing - I have 'mouse finger' so using a mouse for any length of time is unpleasant.
For me they are invaluable. I don't bother with the expensive versions as I am not a digital artist, but the extra control that even the base models give over editing programmes makes them well worth the little they cost IMO.
Any particular brand that you would recommend then Howard because the Wacom A4 size is quite pricy for the use it would get?
Irv,
graphics tablets are to design and graphic bods what cameras are to photographers.
Some photographers love them also and swear by them in much the same way some graphics bods will use a mouse.
Wacom is the 'defacto' brand like Photoshop is the 'defacto' graphics package.
You do not need an A4 model, i've seen a lot of people using the A5 and A6 sizes A5 being the more popular i think.
It's very much a preference thing (like Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus etc) so don't be fooled into thinking you have to get an A4 etc.
Also, i would stick to the smaller size on cost and possibly not taking the career path up.What if said youngster decides graphics is not for them?
£80 or less on a Wacom A5/6 is a considerably smaller loss than a few hundred pounds on an A4 size...
I do not recall hearing of any stigma attached to graphics tablet size - though sticking to Wacom might be appreciated.
Just stick to within your budget!
Sorry Irv, should have said - Andy is right, the A4 tablet is really a very specialist pro graphic designer device. I use an A5 widescreen Bamboo wacom. A larger pad requires commensurately larger pen movements and a lot of desk space.
I did once have a Trust pad, but it wasn't a patch on the wacom ones.
I had a wacom one a couple of years ago and totally hated it, just couldn't get on with it so gave it away in the end ::) The person I gave it too wasn't that impressed either, so I would have it's a matter of personal choice
Quote from: Zenmer on November 30, 2009, 06:16:23 PM
I had a wacom one a couple of years ago and totally hated it, just couldn't get on with it so gave it away in the end ::) The person I gave it too wasn't that impressed either, so I would have it's a matter of personal choice
That's all very well, but can you get a pressure sensitive mouse? ???
And if they've still got it, you could get them to send it to Irv. :)
I have a similar hatred of laptop touch pads, not helped by the fact that if I place a finger on one and keep perfectly still the pointer moves rapidly to one side of the screen and usually (but not always) executes a double click somewhere. Mind you my Grandfather could stop watches just by moving near to them . .
Thanks for the advice guys :tup:
I have been using a A5 tablet ( Wacom ) for years and a mouse seems very clumsy to me now. The only annoying thing is when I have to write something on paper I forget I still have the tablet pen between my fingers...then I swap to a real pen and the same in reverse happens when I go back to the tablet ........ :legit:
As you can see from the replies Irv it is either a love or hate thing. ;) I have a cheap Wacom Volito tablet which is a little smaller than A5. I do most of my editing in Lightroom but there are times when I find the accuracy of the tablet invaluable in Photoshop. I tried an A4 one and sold it as it was impractical IMHO for editing photos but this one is a keeper. Like anything you have to practice with it to become proficient, I have found the time invested in learning it worthwhile. Look at your workflow and if you find you are using the lasso tool (or similar) in Photoshop a lot you may well find one of benefit.
We're forgetting - this is not for Irv- this is for Irv Junior for higher education from next year.
If this move comes off - Irv won't have work flow, he will just takes pictures.
Irv Junior will have the work flow ;D
Quote from: picsfor on December 01, 2009, 09:08:07 AM
We're forgetting - this is not for Irv- this is for Irv Junior for higher education from next year.
If this move comes off - Irv won't have work flow, he will just takes pictures.
Irv Junior will have the work flow ;D
Your bang on Andrew the thought had crossed my mind ;) ;D
Just to give you all an update, we got this tablet for the youngster and he is well chuffed :) So a big thanks for all your advice. :beer:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wacom-Bamboo-Fun-Pen-Touch/dp/B002Q4U4B8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1262199152&sr=8-4
and is Irv Junior also chuffed with his new 'work flow'?
Glad you're all recovering by the way from Xmas colds. All the best for the new year.
Hi
Only just seen this thread so apologies for joining the party a little late but I thought I'd add my 2p worth as I use an A4 Wacom pretty much all the time. I use it for editing my photos but also use it for work too.
If Irv Junior (or anyone else) is at school\college\uni and has a .ac.uk email address he can download some of the 2D & 3D design software that we develop free of charge:
http://students.autodesk.com/
Autodesk SketchBook Pro is one of the most popular 2D sketching tools used by designers all over the world in many different industries (art, design, automotive, product design, fashion etc) to create some stunning 2D sketch designs\images with tools like Wacom tablets:
http://usa.autodesk.com/adsk/servlet/pc/index?siteID=123112&id=6848332
You can download a free 30 day trial at the above link too.
Heres a link to a Flickr gallery that has examples of images\sketches that were created using Autodesk SketchBook Mobile on the iPhone:
http://www.flickr.com/groups/sketchbookmobile/pool/
Hope this helps
Steve
Thanks for that Steve :tup: :tup:. I will save the link till he starts, assuming he gets a place - 86 spots for about 347 applicants going on last year's figures-fingers crossed