Is a tablet useful?

andyc · 3 Feb 2008, 02:27

the graphire works fine for everything I do...

monsterzero · 3 Feb 2008, 02:28

would a graphire tablet be ok for serious image editing?

The main difference between the models is the resolution of the tablet itself, and the range of the pen pressure. A serious photoshop user will want the higher range in both categories. Pen pressure sensitivity is something like 512 for the cheaper models, and 1024 for the higher end. Plus with the Intuos you get the grip pen which in my opinion is more comfortable than the smaller pen.

Also, it depends on what you mean by "serious image editing." If you mean that you edit photos or renderings, than the graphire might work for you. But if you do a lot of painterly editing or do hand drawn elements, than the Intuos would be better.

My recommendation - if you have a widescreen monitor, or use a dual monitor set up, get the wide screen tablet. I had bought a regular tablet (before they had the widescreen model) and it felt weird to me, because the motion is scaled across the two monitors. The movement of the pen to screen isn't as natural.

Most of the artist I work with (and I work with a lot) use the 6 inch tall range of tablets. Mostly because that's the scale they draw in if they are not on the computer, so it emulates their natural drawing motion. So if you draw or paint outside the computer, you might want to think about that as your comfort range.

@unknownuser said:

Monsterzero- nice vid, but the navigation looks odd- it seems to orbit extremely fast back and forth. Did you sped up the frame rate of that video for posting or is the response of the tablet much quicker than a mouse?

Those videos are sped up quite a bit. But I do find that using the tablet has made some actions faster. A flick of the wrist, or circular motion is more precise and is less strain on my wrist than a mouse.

If you have any issues with wrist pain, or RSS you might try a tablet.

I've tried out the Cintiq and I really want one. But I like my setup now. The one problem with the Cintiq is the screen refresh of certain programs. Because you have a direct response from your drawing to pen, you notice the lag between drawing a long arc, circle or line. You'd get used to it I'm sure. The lag is the same with a desktop tablet, but it's not as noticeable because the hand motion, and the screen results are separated.

RegH · 3 Feb 2008, 02:29

Just a reminder- My Wacom Graphire has a pen and a mouse. (I think most of the other Wacoms have both). The mouse is cordless, no battery, no ball, has a fabric bottom that is not hard to clean. It has 2 buttons and clickable scroll wheel ( I think you can program all buttons). The mouse will only work on the Wacom pad, but that has been no problem.
So in some cases, the pen and mouse can be really handy. Also, the mouse does not have a problem with my main "system" wired mouse, which rests next to the keyboard on a slide-out shelf below my desktop. Just another option.

monsterzero · 3 Feb 2008, 02:30

RegH, good point about the mouse. Mine came with one as well, and I actually don't use it. I think it's still in the box. Plenty of my artist friends still use them. I just happen to really like my current mouse.

Jackson · 3 Feb 2008, 02:31

It's ordered.... a Wacom Volito 2 is on it's way to my office- can't wait to play. Will review and report back in a week or so.

Edson · 3 Feb 2008, 02:32

strange. i looked into the wacon site and could not find the volito model! all i could find were the graphire, intuos and cintiq ones.

Jackson · 3 Feb 2008, 02:32

Edson,

Maybe it only a European model? Here's a link to the Volito page on their European site, although it doesn't give much information by which to compare with other models.

http://www.my-volito.com/volito/intro.asp?lang=en

eeva · 3 Feb 2008, 02:33

all it shows in the technical specifications is the dimensions, active area and pressure levels. but i guess that's all you need...

i hope mine is already on it's way to it's true master

Jackson · 3 Feb 2008, 02:55

@eeva said:

all it shows in the technical specifications is the dimensions, active area and pressure levels. but i guess that's all you need...

It doesn't show whether it detects pen tilt, which I'm pretty sure the Graphire does, but the Volito 2 doesn't. Also, if the Volito 2 has 1016dpi and the Graphire 2000dpi resolution, but both have an accuracy of +/- 0.5mm, what difference does the resolution make? I'm sure it does make a difference, but the accuracy figures seem a little illogical.

One thing puzzles me- I can't find replacement Wacom pen tips anywhere. I found a Wacom link for ordering them, but it was dead. Any long-term Wacom users know where to get them?

Thanks in advance.

Jackson · 3 Feb 2008, 02:56

@unknownuser said:

Plan on wearing it out?

Yep, I'm a fast worker! Actually I just asked because I read this on Renderosity's Photoshop forum: "Just remember to buy spare nibs, as you'll probably run through them quickly if you're doing lots of modeling."

not registered yet · 3 Feb 2008, 02:57

Well I've been using Wacom tablets for years and I've never worn a pen tip out - the plastic protective covers to the old tablets could get a bit hashed, but not the pen tips.

P: akzidenz

robmoors · 3 Feb 2008, 02:58

Yeah you can damage some tips which simulate fine liner, and markers and such but the good old wacom tip is pretty much bastard proof. Heck I could know I love chewing on it with my front teeth

Jackson · 3 Feb 2008, 02:59

OK, cool.... that explains why replacements are so hard to find. Thanks guys.

I'm like a kid at Christmas this week- I can't wait for the postman to deliver my new toy!

Edson · 3 Feb 2008, 03:01

jackson, just in case you need it, BH Photovideo in NY sells spare pens...

monsterzero · 3 Feb 2008, 03:01

I've been using mine for a year and haven't needed to change the tip.

Also, the Intuos comes with extra tips in the box. Not sure about the other models.

Jackson · 3 Feb 2008, 03:02

Thanks Edson, akzidenz and monsterzero.

Jackson · 3 Feb 2008, 03:03

My £34.99 Wacom Volito 2 arrived - I'm messing around with it at the moment. Surprisingly it's fairly easy to navigate around, using it to open IE, click on links in this forum, clicking and dragging text, etc is simple. There's definitely something very intuitive about holding a pen, even if like me you're used to gripping a mouse 12 hours a day. Messing around in SU is also surprisingly easy and logical, but I quickly realised the lack of a zoom scroll wheel meant I wouldn't use a tablet to work in SU, Autocad or any program where scrolling or zooming are nessesary. I know some of the high-end tablets have scroll wheels which would possibly make a mouse-less setup possible.... but not for anywhere near 35 quid.

Writing in Photoshop is a little tricky- it looks like I'm writing with my left hand, but still better than I can with a mouse so that's progress already. Accuracy is OK, but there is slight lag between pen and screen, but not as much as I expected- especially from the 2nd cheapest tablet in Wacom's range.

So far, so good, part 2 of the review to follow!

not registered yet · 3 Feb 2008, 03:04

Signature on a Wacom Intuos 3

P: akzidenz

Jackson · 3 Feb 2008, 03:06

Have we got a competition going on here?

Damn, this thing's addictive, I don't want to pick up the mouse!

Masta Squidge · 3 Feb 2008, 03:08

@monsterzero said:

You can check out my youtube videos for a glimpse at how I work with a tablet and SU.

That was you?? I must have watched those videos 100 times trying to sponge up everything i could from them.

Nice work.