Wacom Tablets
I'm working on some drawing tutorials and avoiding the whole pencil-scanning issue by using my Wacom tablet. Killing two birds with one stone, I'm also checking out the very funky Artrage2 graphics program. It's incredibly simple to use, has a great selection of mediums, uses layers, and (my favorite feature so far) creates a virtual 'workspace' - you pin up your reference photos just like you were at your easel, and when you open the 'painting' again, they are right there where you left them.
I'm not a huge fan of digital drawing, and every time I come back to the tablet, after not using it for a while, it takes a bit of ajusting to get used to the eye-hand separation. I'd love one of the new touch-screen tablets, but for now, this one does the job pretty well, and is relatively affordable. I covet a Cintiq, though it's still a little outside my budget. Last time I talked about tablets, Mike, a reader who'd headed an industrial design team, mentioned what a brilliant creative tool it they were for designers - "Drawing with the WACOM gives our designers fearlessness you can get with paper. Mistakes are easily corrected and a drawing with hours of time is not scraped by one mistake."
If you're in the market for a drawing tablet, you won't want to miss the reviews written by our resident graphics guru, Graphics Software guide Sue Chastian. Check out her top ten pressure-sensitive graphics tablets. To help you weight up the different models and features, check out her Before You Buy a Graphics Tablet, which includes a look at Wacom's Bamboo and Intuos models, as well as several competitors including DigiPro.
Image: © Wacom
Comments
what a encredible ovious sales pitch!
what a encredibly ovious sales pitch!
Actally, no. We don’t do sales pitches. If I like a product, I’ll tell you, if I don’t, I’ll say so. I don’t have any affiliate links with Wacom at this stage, though Sue probably does, I don’t benefit from them.
I’m linking to Graphics Software because I thought it might be useful for readers who are considering getting a graphics tablet, and I value Sue Chastain’s expert opinion.
Likewise, I have no affiliate links for Artrage, I just like it.
I do often review products and include an affiliate link, but I always state my honest opinion. I don’t want my readers buying products on my advice and being unhappy with their purchases.
Hi webmaster!
I have been looking into getting one of these for a while now. I have a friend who recommended them, but they are just out of my price range. Still, it is good to know which ones are recommended because I do plan to get one someday.
Thanks for telling us about it!
Helen -
Thanks for the Wacom mention. I have a minor correction to suggest. Wacom is currently distributing the Intuos3 professional pen tablet (not “4″). Additionally, the Graphire4 (not “3″) consumer pen tablet was replaced by Bamboo Fun back in September, 2007. For more information, please visit www.wacom.com. Thanks.
Doug Little
Wacom Technology Corp.
Vancouver, WA 98683
Thanks for your that, Doug. I really must learn to review the posts that I write late at night! I found a more relevant article on Sue’s website that includes the Bamboo series.
I have used a Wacom Digitizer 2 for a number of years on my PC and love it. Unfortunately now I have upgraded my computer to the new dual processor system and I can no longer run this tablet. I find this very frustrating when I am not able to continue it’s use. I think Wacom needs to find a way that I can run their product. Financially I am no longer able to upgrade to a newer model.
Frustrated.
Terry, that’s a pity. It’s very frustrating the way hardware and software keeps changing. I had to buy a new printer when I got my iMac a few years ago, as there wasn’t an OSX driver for it.
I think for most companies it isn’t worth writing drivers for older products, even despite the desire to look after their consumers.
When updating any hardware or software it’s an important factor to consider - looking at your whole system and see what will be obsolete if you update one part of it.