Drawing Tablets (Suggestions Please)

[Solium]

I'm sure a lot of you use a drawing tablet? I need suggestions on a starter tablet.

Short term goal is to learn how to use a drawing tablet. (Never used one)
Long term goal, create illustrations and backgrounds digitally.

Wacom Bamboo Pen Tablet seem to be what most people say is a good starter tablet. However I hear its really limited in sensitivity. But the price cant be beat.

Intuos 4 seems to be very popular product for the experienced tablet user, but a bit more than I would like to spend right now.

Any suggestions on best tablet vs price for the beginner? Also would you get anything less than a medium size tablet?

Suggestions appreciated! :)

[Johnny]

I use a Bamboo Fun. One thing I like about it is that the nib part can be replaced so you don't have to buy a whole new drawing pen [around 20 to 40 dollars each - which is usally cheaper to buy a new tablet] (and it comes with extra nibs-least wise the bamboo fun I got had them- I think I paid 79.00 or 89.00 for it at best buy)- bearing down on the nib seems to be the first thing as a newbie I did, so having a few around is cool until you learn using a tablet.
However I hear its really limited in sensitivity.
I think that also depends on the software your using. I noticed in ZBrush that you can set the movement rate and a few other things and the pressure works good in that program - I have noticed in some freeware graphics programs it isn't as sensitive.
Just my thought on this.

If you a tech wiz here's a link on how to build a Cintqi like tablet
http://www.bongofish.co.uk/wacom/wacom_pt1.html


:)

[Solium]

Johnny thanks for the reply. I will be using Photoshop with the pen and tablet at first. I may get "Painter" down the road as I hear many use it for coloring and creating backgrounds. Great advice about the nibs!

[Johnny]

Solium Painter is cool I haven't used Painter 11 but have used an earlier ver.
I know a lot of people think ZBrush is a 3d program but they also have a free plugin called PaintStop
Check this out from start to finish
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I don't know if you have heard of Art Rage 3 kinda like painter but for about 40 dollars
here are some free mags on art rage http://www.artrageus.net/Archives.html
196

[themonster]

intuos 3 or 4 the best product, the best wacom tablet...

[Solium]

intuos 3 or 4 the best product, the best wacom tablet...

I'm sure that's what I will need to get at some point. I was hoping for something that could do almost the same thing for a bit less. At until I get used to the pen and tablet.

[themonster]

bamboo fun!
I started with a bamboo and after that I bought a intuos......
there are others:

genius:
http://www.geniusnetusa.com/wSite/lp?ctNode=174&CtUnit=156&BaseDSD=10&mp=1

digipro:
http://www.geeks.com/pix/2006/GEEKPEN.html?cm_mmc=geekmail-_-newarrivals_html-_-15july06-_-bannerGEEKPEN

uc-logic:
http://www.uc-logic.com/en/index.php?ParentMenuID=2

in amazon you have different models:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=drawing+tablet&x=0&y=0

but I don't know about the quality of those......

[Johnny]

Solium here's a link at amazon for the one I have (black) an older ver.
http://www.amazon.com/Bamboo-Small-Tablet-Graphics-Software/dp/B000V9NU2A/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1288051945&sr=1-4
What's in the Box

* Bamboo Fun pen tablet
* Bamboo Fun mouse
* Bamboo Fun pen
* Pen stand
* USB cable
* Quick start guide
* Installation CD (includes tablet driver and electronic user manual)
* Software DVD that includes: Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0 Win/4.0 Mac, Corel Painter Essentials 4.0, and Nik Color Efex Pro 2.0 GE
* Package of 3 replacement pen nibs


the newer ver seems to have a different pen and does not say it has extra nibs for it or that they can be gotten for the pen which means that you would have to by a new pen went the nib wears down.http://www.amazon.com/Wacom-CTH661-Bamboo-Fun-Tablet/dp/B002OOWC4C/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1288051175&sr=8-3
Wacom did something like this for there grahpire tablet some time ago - released one then released another that wasn't as good. The write ups for this newer version seems to say it's a stiffer pen and has to be at certain levels to work right. I don't know - the one I have works no matter how you tilt the pen. If you have a best buy near you I would go in asked to try it out.

I did some looking around t wacom and could not find out if the newer models will allow the nibs to be replaced and listed pens for 29+ dollars. However on the older model they had this https://direct.wacom.com/stores/5/Bamboo_Fun_Replacement_Pen_Nib_P1557C157.cfm which is 5 nibs for 4.95

And after reading the info on bamboo pen and bamboo pen fun if I where to buy one now I would buy the bamboo pen and not the bamboo pen fun just mho.

[Solium]

@ Themonster: Thanks a lot for the links and suggestions. I will look closer at each one. I will most certainly get an intuos when its financially viable. ;)

@ Johnny: Thanks again as well for your analytical and detailed write up.
Why would you get Bamboo Pen and not Bamboo Fun? What is the distinction?
Bamboo Pen appears to be a lot cheaper too. :confused:

[Johnny]

Check this link for the bamboo pen http://www.wacom.com/bamboo/bamboo_pen.php and click play video (it's not long)

Then check this link for the bamboo fun http://www.wacom.com/bamboo/bamboo_fun.php and click play video (it's a little longer)

The touch part of the new Bamboo fun is not needed and in fact I would find it distracting. If I am already drawing I would just use the pen to move around in windows (or mac). It's not needed (the touch) for doing art - so I see it as wasted money spent for it imho. The Bamboo fun I got does not have touch.


LOL I meant to show this vid - yes he is really using a paint brush to paint with ( a different kind of touch screen in use than the bamboo pen fun I think) - I might go this route if the tech develpoes more natural than the tablets.
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[Solium]

Ah thanks! I see what you are saying now. I agree, not sure I need the touch since that is not what I will be using it for. Its amazing what they can do these days. I bet it makes Don very happy to see artists can draw and paint once again with their own bare hands, even with the aid of the computer.

[DNethery]

It's more expensive , but in the long run you're going to have a much more useful tool if you get the Intous 4 , medium or large size.

Or look on eBay to find a good used or re-conditioned Intous 3.

Bamboo is ok , but not as sensitive as Intous 3 or Intous 4 .

[DNethery]

Johnny thanks for the reply. I will be using Photoshop with the pen and tablet at first. I may get "Painter" down the road as I hear many use it for coloring and creating backgrounds. Great advice about the nibs!

Since you already have Photoshop you may want to consider getting TVP Animation (http://www.tvpaint.com/v2/content/article/home/index.php) instead of Painter , unless your main area of interest is in still illustrations , but since you're posting on an animation forum I assume you are interested in doing animation .

TVP Animation has various "natural media" brushes like Painter, that is brushes which accurately simulate watercolor or oil and various textured paper effects, but the difference is that TVP Animation has a timeline with frames set up to make animation and it has a camera function (including multi-plane camera) . Think of TVP Animation as "like Photoshop or Painter, but specifically set up to make animation" , not just still illustrations like PS or Painter .

Examples of animation made with TVP:

http://paperless-animation.blogspot.com (http://paperless-animation.blogspot.com)

TVP Gallery:

http://www.tvpaint.com/v2/content/article/community/gallery.php

And the added benefit that besides making animation sequences with TVP you can use it for regular still illustrations and paintings . Here's a piece by Sandra Fierlinger, painted in TVP:

http://static.tvpaint.com/community/gallery/content/paul_fleurs.jpg

[Solium]

@DNethery- Thanks for the suggestions. After some thought I decided to spend a little extra and get a Intous 4. However I could only afford the small tablet at this time. But I figured if I am going to learn the medium use the best tool.

I'm not going to run out and get Painter. I believe a downloadable freeware version comes with the package.

As far as animation? Its really my second goal not my first. Yes I love animation but its not the best financial direction to go into right now.

Love that short Le Royaume! That was totally awesome and a real joy to watch. Certainly inspiring. :D

Edit: There are actually a lot of great shorts on that page.

[arif]

Thank you so much Dnethery for posting about TVP animation...it is soooo nice.......i will be looking for this software.....thanks again ..

Regards,
Arif

[Solium]

Well while switching out a pen nip, it went flying across the room, probably never to be found again! :rolleyes:

[Solium]

Update. Ok, I have my pen and Tablet. Got the Intuos4.

At first I felt no pressure sensitivity at all. Finally called customer service and got it set up correctly for Photoshop. While it is pressure sensitive, (I can draw a thin then thick line in one motion) I just don't feel a wide range of sensitivity. I know there should be so perhaps I am just not "getting it".

But my bigger question is tutorials. I am having a hard time finding tutorials on painting with the Intous4. Or any pen and tablet in general. Most of the stuff on YouTube are "speed" painting videos. These tell you nothing on the techniques used in going from a sketch to a fully realized painting.

From what I see artists still use a lot of general Photoshop tricks like the smudge tool, blur etc. So its not just painting with the Pen. Also do most artists paint in layers? Face on one layer, eyes on another, and hair on yet another? Or do they paint all on one layer like a real canvas?

Can anyone recommend online tutorials or books that explain more precisely how to work with a pen and tablet?

[Juan Maestas]

Hey Solium-

Try adjusting the pressure sensitivity within the wacom control panel. You're not really going to "feel" the sensitivity in the pen itself physically, but more the cause and effect of what you see on screen. Thicks and thins are the most noticeable application of the tool- so if you're using a large diameter brush when you lightly apply pressure you'll get a thin line, then as you apply more pressure it will increase to the diameter size of the brush. Sensitivity also can be adjusted to how light or heavy handed you are with the stylus, more pressure, thicker the line/output. Also remember opacity.

I like to equate the photoshop/wacom usage to using a real-life airbrush, substituting pressure with pulling back on the paint lever.

Like any new tool, it takes time to learn to use it and learn techniques. As for tutorials, I'd suggest looking at how people paint with natural media instead of photoshop and the like. Many that I know of (myself included) will sketch a line drawing, paint in greyscale to get the correct tonal values and lighting, then use an overlay of colors to get the right hue. Though I also paint right on the image and use other color modes to get desired effects... a foundation in using natural media had helped me.

I hope this helped!

[Solium]

Thanks Juan! Good ideas. Ive seen ppl paint in grey scale first as you suggested then add color later. In fact I worked in a place where an artist did just that for video game backgrounds.

One thing I expected that I cannot seem to accomplish is control over "opacity". I assumed the lighter I touched the pen to tablet the less "pigment" (color) would go down and if I pressed harder more "pigment" would go down. Sort of mimicking using a real paint brush.

But all I can accomplish with touch sensitivity is thin to thick line strokes.

If I should be able to adjust pigment opacity with the pen then I am not doing something right.

Ive played with the sensitivity settings before but I can look at those again as well..

[Juan Maestas]

Sure thing!

You know, I'm not sure if pressure regulates the opacity- or rather I have a different way of working- I usually adjust the opacity (on the airbrush tool pallette) down to a lower percentage and will go over the area a few times until I get the desired opacity. It's a lot like glazing in acrylics or oils.

But yeah- play around with it- you'll figure it out fast as you become familiar with it.

[Solium]

I see then I guess "pressure" does not control opacity with the pens. I will try your approach and lower the opacity in the airbrush tools setting. ;-)

[Solium]

Just an update for those interested. I found a major bug with the tablet and Photoshop CS4. For quite some time Photoshops cropping tool and selection tools would not work correctly. They would constrain to unknown proportions and move about the screen erratically. (While using the table and mouse)

I did a lot of surfing for answers. At first it appeared to be a preference issue. But this did not fix it for long. Resetting all preferences did not work either as I would have to do that each time I opened Photoshop.

What I found is the mouse that came with the tablet "was" the problem. If I discarded the mouse and used the pen tool for cropping and selections the problem would not replicate and it worked as it should.

[joedorsey]

I know you've already got a tablet. But, I found this cool Asus tablet/computer coming out soon. The nice thing is it has a wacom digitizer. It would be nice to see this baby in action.

ASUS Eee Slate EP121 (http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/04/asus-eee-slate-ep121-officially-unveiled-ips-display-core-i5-a/)