Does anyone here use a digital drawing tablet, and if so what kind do you use. I'm thinking about buying a Wacom Intuos 6x8 on ebay for around 160-170 dollars. And I want to know if anyone has used one and if they work very well.

Thanks

I have one but haven't really used it much. I prefer drawing manually. I have a 6x8 which I think is about all anyone needs. Any bigger size will probably be too big for your desktop and just wastes space. That price is right in line.

There are several people here who have them and use them. Just keep checking back and someone will answer your questions.

I do not have one ....I know they are harder then people think to use .. some people think well i will get a wacom and draw perfect .. but its just another tool to use some are very good at them and some are not ..it takes alot of practice to be good at a wacom ....thats only my opinion good luck ...cant wait to see what you draw with it I always love looking at art done on a wacom.

Xenrok, I have a Graphire 6x8 Wacom Tablet and it works perfectly for a beginner, but to tell you quite honestly, unless you want to spend ALOT of time practicing to make your pictures look right and learn programs (which is really time consuming) I prefer regular pencils and paper. If my hubby knew I was writting this I would be in deeeeeeeeep doodoo cause I begged for my grahics tablet until he bought it for me. Now I see it as something just sitting in my drawer. I mean don't get me wrong, it is fun to use but I got tired of constantly having to come online and look up tutorials to learn different programs. The programs in theirself are challenging as well and the only one I found semi easy and fun was Art Rage 2. Paint Shop Pro is good too and you can use it for alot of different things other than graphic art. So I guess it just depends on how much time you want to spend learning it. I see now a peice of paper and pencil are right at my finger tips and I can control them better than a stylus and correct my mistake alot easier..


Ohhh and Kim...I don't wanna hear any I told you so's either...

I was given a tablet for Christmas last year and must say that it has reawakened my interest in drawing. While it does take a bit of time to learn a programs quirks and tricks they it is worth the time invested I personally like to use the GIMP for drawing because it is what i know. Any way that is my two scents worth.

Ok thanks for the info guys. I don't mind learning the programs, I know my way around a computer reasonably well so that shouldn't be a problem. One reason I want one is that I don't really have any drawing materials other then copy paper and a mechanical pencil And I know that you can replicate many different materials with some of the programs.

Anyway, I hardly ever spend money on things I want (no ipod, no cool phone, lousy computer etc lol ), so I think I might just go ahead and pursue this

Here is a thread where they talked about it before. See if it helps.
Drawing tablets
Paulette

Well I just bought a Intuos 6x8 for 232.50 shipping included. Spent more then I planned too, but I think I got a pretty good deal since it is brand new and has all the extra goodies with it . Also the previous auction sold for around 266 altogether, so I saved about 30 bucks there and around 45 from not buying from Amazon.

I hope I like it

Venus ... no worries hun .. I have already talk to brian LOL just kidding ... I wont say i told you so because they drawings you did post were really cool ....but you are right it takes alot of work .. so when I see someone who has used a wacom to draw and the drawing is beautiful .. I have no problem saying what a great job it is .. awhile back there was a guest here and he used a wacom and somehow some people were under the idea i was against them .. they were wrong I am not against any form of art ...it takes skill to paint or use colored pencil .. and same as the wacom or any other program .
so good luck Xen ...I cant wait to see what you come up with .

I have a graphics tablet, and I use mine all the time. Here are the main two things to note, I think:

1. Your skill level doesn't change. You'll still be at the same level of skill as you are now, if not a bit worse while you learn how to use the pen without slipping all over the place. That doesn't take all that much time, though

2. You have to learn the graphics program(s) of your choice. (I recommend starting with OpenCanvas- very good program, and the old, free version can still be obtained from some places.) If you already know your way around Photoshop, or Paint Shop Pro, or Painter, or whatever you're using, this is a big plus.

^^; That's just my two cents. Like people have said, they're just tools. What's produced and how well they work is all down to you.

Good luck!

High Xenrok,

All the above advice is valid. I got into CG after my new computer took up the space I had used for various art endevors. My drafting table to be precise. That and discovering the free version of ArtRage, which may come bundled with your new Wacom. I still draw in my sketch book but I really like working on my Wacom. It's clean, cheap, and amazingly flexible. And I really enjoyed learning something new.

The 6x8 is a wise choice for the space reasons mentioned above. I bought a 9x12 as I like to work big,(see my Avatar), and this could have been a big mistake save for the fact that I still work on my drafting table and space isn't a problem. (I had to sell a guitar to afford it tho...)

I recommend ArtRage for it's ease of use and it's really great Forums. It's free or only $20 full.

A tip I learned there is if you have trouble getting used to the slickness of the stylus on the screen you can tape a sheet of drafting or tracing paper to your tablet surface. It never bothered me much but... This helped some of the forum members deal with this issue.

Good luck and have fun,

sam...

I got a Wacom graphire 6 x 8" for Christmas and I use it all the time. It makes a great mouse pad. Just kidding. It takes a little getting use to, but I love it. I have ArtRage (which I just love), Xara, Corel Draw (which comes with the tablet), and Photoshop Elements (also comes with it.) I think if you like the computer and love a challenge that you are going to be glad you bought it. Maybe we can get some tutorials going on this site for this sort of thing. I have always been a bit non-traditional and love to try new stuff. I call myself the "Techno Nana" because I own almost every piece of new technology that comes out - iPod, PDA,
wireless laptop, digital camaras, and the digital tablet.

I have a 9X12 Ituos II that I absolutely love. It's been hanging around for more than five years (had it since Fall of '01) and still going strong. Along with drawing it is very useful if you do photo-editing as well and allows you to take full advantage of the wonderful programs they have out there for drawing and photo-editing.

One program that I'm surprised no one has mentioned yet is Corel Painter. Art Rage is good and inexpensive (though my computer doesn't meet the stats for the full version...), but Painter is what I prefer to use. It is much more artist-friendly than programs like Photoshop and the tools are organized by medium (pastel, pencils, pens, conte, gouache, etc). It also allows you to select paper texture and the brushes are fairly easy to customize as well if you desire. If you're an educator or student you can purchase it through JourneyEd.com for a really reasonable price. I'm still using version 8 of the program and they recently came out with version 10.

Back to the tablet, it should last you for quite a few years. I have never had any problems with mine (knock on wood). My greatest recommendation is to remember where you put that pen! I people who have gone through a couple because they left them in a pocket and it got washed.

Keep in mind that if you use it regularly it rapidly makes up for the initial cost in the paper and media you would have used creating the same amount of art.

I would so love to see some of your guy's work from your wacom's please post them here so we can see them ..

Hmmm, Just a quick question for those who do use tablets and have for awhile, does any stylis pen work for the tablets or do you have to get the specific one that came with your tablet? I am just wondering because I am not to keen on the feel of my stylus and was wanting a new one. Not that there is anything wrong with the one I have now.

Well my tablet is coming today, should be any minute actually

And I know my skill won't improve any just because I spent alot of money I just felt that I might as well get a good one, since I wasn't going to spend the money on anything else

Anyway, thanks for all the answers.

Venus- I'm not to sure about that, I would think there are different pens for each kind of tablet, but I doubt that you could pick up any stylus pen and have it work. The Wacom website probably has different pens you can buy.

I just got it 5min ago It's a little odd because the tablet screen conforms to the computer screen, so I feel like I need to pick the pen up to move far, oh well I'm getting used to it. I'm going to install the software for it now

Xenrok, they are pretty cool if you can spend the time on them. Also another thing is watch the tutorials that come with the software they help alot as well. I like to practice the colors and such with coloring pages I have gotten off the web. Plus its also fun to color. I answered my own question I can just go to the website and buy a replacement pen though there isn't a variety to choose from like I had hoped. All well guess I will just have toi get used to the one I have with my tablet. Hope you have fun with yours and do post pictures you may complete, I look forward to seeing them. I think maybe I may start a thread for just tablet work and put up a few reference photos for people to try drawing and painting in a program of their preference to see how it goes. Anyone who reads this let me know if you like the idea or not...Thanks!!!

That would be cool Venus I think you should do it

I have used a tablet for many years.
Get as large a tablet as you can afford... if you think will probably be tilting it from the desktop , in this situation the size of your desk doesn't matter..
You don't have to learn a bunch of programs...just find the brush tool in whatever program you are using and learn that very well...then branch out to what else the program has to offer.
Approach it all with an attitude of fun and play and learning will be almost painless.
Seriously...I never used the first tutorial.

That said..I find drawing on it difficult. I am less steady while sitting at a computer desk than at my drawing table.


One thing to help with the strange feeling at first...lay a piece of paper on the surface and then do your drawing over that...it then feels less slick, and more familiar.

The only 2 drawings I've had success uploading were done in ArtRage 2. In my album at my page thingy... I'll get it figured out and send more along.

sam...

Hey Venus,

Hello fellow Michigander!!!

I believe you have a Graphire tablet, so you may have to check the Wacom site but my my Intuos stylus actually came with 3 types of "Nibs". One's slightly course perhaps more like a pencil or charcoal feel, one has a spring involved to give a brushlike feel?, and a few slick plastic ones, presumably the most popular? I'm not sure if this pen works with a Graphire too tho.

Hope this helps.

sam...

I have a 6x8 Intuos, and I love it! It's an awesome upgrade from the graphire 3 4x3 that I started with. Check out my gallery to see some stuff I've done with it, this is just learning tablet and digital painting for one year! See, it's totally possible if you practice.

Wow You are really good sandworm What program do you use for those?

I've doodled around on the pad a bit now, just figuring everything out pretty much haven't tried to draw anything yet.

Thanks a lot Xenrok,

I used photoshop for all of them, except the sketchbook ones, obviously. I really would like to learn painter, but I can whip something out so quickly with PS that whenever I try painter, I just end up switching back to PS after 15 irritating minutes

If you're looking for somewhere to start, check out the Daily Sketch Group on conceptart.org, that's where I started. They simply offer a bizarre sci-fi / fantasy topic each day, and you can draw or paint it however you want, emphasis on working up speedpainting or sketching. It's great, and it's really good practice. I did that for about a year, and here I am today. Just finishing a new one, actually, so I hope to be posting it in a few days.

.... wow Those guys are good, I was looking through the speedpainting one.... they do stuff fast and it still looks good.

Anyway thanks for the link

I received my Intuous tablet in February and am fumbling around. I agree that learning the programs takes so much time, but I will try to be patient with myself. I would love to see a thread where we can share tips and learn from each other. When I am brave enough I will post one of my creations.

Judyvan

Here is my attempt at cloning and using tracing paper, then watercolor.

Judyvan p.s. No laughing out loud!!

Looks good Judy

I drew this in about 10-15 minutes, just trying out using the eraser on a black paper... much to be desired in it, but gotta start somewhere I guess

[attachmentid=4191]

Very good, Zenrok. I will have to try that technique.

Judyvan

I used a cheap graphics tablet (£45 maybe) to do most the digital drawings on my site (see signature), and a small wacom graphire to do the rest. I find I can work just as well with my tablet as I can with paper and pencil but it did take me a bit of time to get used to it. I want to invest in a larger, better quality one.. fat chance of that happening, I can't even afford a sketchbook right now, haha

I always paint using a graphire tablet from wacom. It allows me to quickly experiment without messing up parts of the painting I don't want to lose. And when I'm done, it's instantly ready for the web or to be shared or printed. When I bought it, I thought it would be like a monitor in itself and I would draw right on it as if looking at a sketchpad. But that's only the $2000 models that do that. My 6x8 uses the computer monitor, so it was really weird learning to draw while my hand was drawing some place completely different from where my eyes were looking. I would say it took me about 2 months to finally get comfortable with the setup. And from that point, it was just like drawing on a pad (for me anyway). It's been a little more than a year now and I've done some pretty good work with this digital pad. All my gallery images are digital.

I would recommend utilizing all the buttons, both on the tablet and the pen. I have CTRL-Z programmed in (actually, I use Photoshop so much that I use the CTRL-ALT-Z convention). I use my other buttons for making the brush size smaller or bigger and also for sampling colors with the eye drop tool. That way I can draw quickly.