Ok, I think I'm about to shell out some money for a graphics tablet

[UglyCasanova]

I'm starting to really get into painting in Photoshop, and the mouse really just isn't cutting it. I've convinced myself that I need a graphics tablet, and I think I have narrowed it down to these 2:

Wacom Intuos 2 6 x 8 --- $261.99

Wacom Intuos 2 9 x 12 --- $392.00

Are there any digital artist on here that can point me in the right direction. I guess the real question I'm wondering is whether the extra real estate on the 9 x 12 is worth it. I sure as hell can't afford to go any higher (although a 12 x 18 would really make my day ). I am a graphic design major and I figure that one of these couldn't hurt, and I sure as hell plan on putting it to some good use.

Also, I seem to have limited myself to Wacom because that is the only one I've ever heard about (and they have all been good things mind you), but are there any other brands that I should check out?

I will be using this on my 15" Powerbook which has a screen resolution of 1280 x 854, and I often plan on having my 1800 fp 1280 x 1024 hooked up as well. It is saying a resolution of 2540 lpi, but wtf does that mean.

 

[thatsright]

Etch-A-Sketch!!

 

[UglyCasanova]

Originally posted by: thatsright
Etch-A-Sketch!!

Is it USB?

 

[Dug]

Get a 6x8. Best size out there. Bigger does not necessarily mean better.

 

[UglyCasanova]

Originally posted by: Dug
Get a 6x8. Best size out there. Bigger does not necessarily mean better.

Any particular reason? I want this thing to last me a while.

 

[Dug]

9x12 can get tiring to use because of the amount of space you have to cover.
If you are used to drawing by moving your arm instead of your wrist then get the 9x12.

But a majority of people use smaller strokes when drawing or touching up in Photoshop, so the 6x8 is a better match. You don't loose any features in the 6x8 and it's less fatiguing to use.

 

[UglyCasanova]

6 x 8 it is.

 

[sunase]

You might want to consider picking up an old serial interface one off ebay. I got a 12" x 12" Wacom one for under 50$ a few years ago because it was missing it's wall wart (I had a variable voltage/tip polarity one sitting around anyway that worked fine). Even complete ones are very cheap, though. Works fine with Windows XP & Photoshop 8 and the drivers/config app is very nice. The stylus is still cordless and can be detected before actually pressing and is pressure sensitive once you are and everything you'd expect.

Personally I could never use a small one, I've been doing pastels and pencil on big canvases since my first studio art class as a kid where it helped immensely. It seems to me a small tablet would make the first contour part a real pain, but details wouldn't be too bad since you could zoom in on a particular area. If you're one of those people who likes to start on paper anyway and scan in, I guess a small one would be OK. I can't even fathom doing life drawing/figures with one, though (just the thought of the warmup circles thing on a small tablet gives me chuckles, I guess you would warmup on paper...). Maybe buy a small one from a retail store and return it if you hate it. ^^

 

[UglyCasanova]

It needs to be usb because my Powerbook doesn't have a serial connection (plus, why the hell would I get serial over usb?). I am used to drawing on large surfaces as well, but when painting digitally I am wondering how I would benefit from large strokes. Fvck, I wish I had one to play around with for a little while before I bought it. A 12 x 12 is out of the question (I can't afford it for one thing), but that 9 x 12 still looks tempting. I hate making decisions.

 

[sunase]

>plus, why the hell would I get serial over usb

You made it sound the like your biggest problem with a large tablet was price. You would go serial/adb (you can generally get either, the only difference being the cable at least for my Wacom ArtZII) because an old 12x12 serial is ~150$ cheaper than the 6x8 USB you quoted. ;p

You could easily get a serial/adb->usb adapter for only a small piece of that. Wacom tablet compatibility is even listed in the specs for some adapters since it's a rather important consideration for some business purchases.

 

[Sid59]

Originally posted by: UglyCassanova

Originally posted by: thatsright
Etch-A-Sketch!!

Is it USB?

an etch-a-sketch USB would be awesome. For the true geeks who are masters at Etch-A-Sketch.

 

[Dug]

Originally posted by: sunase
>plus, why the hell would I get serial over usb

You made it sound the like your biggest problem with a large tablet was price. You would go serial/adb (you can generally get either, the only difference being the cable at least for my Wacom ArtZII) because an old 12x12 serial is ~150$ cheaper than the 6x8 USB you quoted. ;p

You could easily get a serial/adb->usb adapter for only a small piece of that. Wacom tablet compatibility is even listed in the specs for some adapters since it's a rather important consideration for some business purchases.

Serial or ADB will not work on OSX even with an adapter. This is because OSX does not support serial or adb devices that require drivers. Adapters only change the signal path, not the type of device it is. You will not get any of the features of the tablet if you go this route. Just get USB. Plus the newer tablet's have more lines per resolution, more pressure sensitivity, and oversampling that makes a big difference. The newer grip pens are worth the extra price alone.

 

[UglyCasanova]

Originally posted by: Dug

Originally posted by: sunase
>plus, why the hell would I get serial over usb

You made it sound the like your biggest problem with a large tablet was price. You would go serial/adb (you can generally get either, the only difference being the cable at least for my Wacom ArtZII) because an old 12x12 serial is ~150$ cheaper than the 6x8 USB you quoted. ;p

You could easily get a serial/adb->usb adapter for only a small piece of that. Wacom tablet compatibility is even listed in the specs for some adapters since it's a rather important consideration for some business purchases.

Serial or ADB will not work on OSX even with an adapter. This is because OSX does not support serial or adb devices that require drivers. Adapters only change the signal path, not the type of device it is. You will not get any of the features of the tablet if you go this route. Just get USB. Plus the newer tablet's have more lines per resolution, more pressure sensitivity, and oversampling that makes a big difference. The newer grip pens are worth the extra price alone.

Word.




My biggest concern is not price (although yes Virginia, that is still a concern). My biggest concern is whether to get the 6 x 8 or 9 x 12. I'm almost positive it is going to be the 6 x 8, but I'm just scared that I'm going to buy it and decide that I need a bigger one.

 

[sunase]

Wow, forcing upgrade on equipment that expensive. Oo That's worse than when I found out my friend's mac wouldn't let him use the hardware eject button on his optical drive...

 

[Kaido]

I bought a Wacom Graphire2 4x5" USB tablet a few years ago and it's been killer. I was late for work the day it came in the mail ^_^ No, it's not huge, but it has served me well. I thought the size wasn't that big, but it really doesn't matter that much, it works extremely well. It's great for portability too...I used to toss it in my laptop bag and then I could use it at school or wherever.

I'd say, if you're going to be on the go and using it with your laptop, get the smaller size - easier to carry around. Even though my tablet only has a 4x5" drawing area, it does just fine.

I want to demo the bigger ones before I invest a new one, however. My goal right now is to eventually get the 12x18" Intuos2...but I've had such a good experience with my 4x5" Graphire I wonder if all that space is really necessary (that and spending over $700 on a tablet needs real justification lol).

Make sure to get Painter 8 to go with it! Also BodyPaint 3D R2 if you're into the 3D stuff.

 

[UglyCasanova]

Yeah, I can pick up Painter 8 new (yup, I buy my software ) for $90 with my student discount. I'm thinking instead of spending $392.00 on a 9 x 12, I'll spend $351.99 for the 6 x 8 and Painter 8.

 

[Kaido]

Yeah I use Journeyed for student discounts...college is great

Painter 8 is a great piece of software...I used Painter Classic, which came bundled with my tablet, for the longest time. Painter 8 doesn't seem that much of an upgrade to me, but I haven't really learned it completely yet...I've played around with the different paints (WOW what a selection...so many different mediums it's ridiculous). Gotta finish learning Rhino 3D first hehe.

 

[UglyCasanova]

Ok, I'm about to place my order. Any last minute thought, prayers, or comment before I do?

 

[mooojojojo]

One thing to consider is that you should keep in mind the size of the screen you are going to use when picking a tablet.

Like Kaido said a 4x5" Graphire is nice, but actually it's not that good when used with a 21" incher.

This is also true for the opposite situation - I don't think your tablet should exceed the size of your screen. So if you're going to use the tablet mainly with your Powerbook without an external display attached, I'd have to say go with the 6x8". Sure you can always map a portion of the tablet to the screen, but why pay for the area if you're not going to use it?

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: mooojojojo
One thing to consider is that you should keep in mind the size of the screen you are going to use when picking a tablet.

Like Kaido said a 4x5" Graphire is nice, but actually it's not that good when used with a 21" incher.

This is also true for the opposite situation - I don't think your tablet should exceed the size of your screen. So if you're going to use the tablet mainly with your Powerbook without an external display attached, I'd have to say go with the 6x8". Sure you can always map a portion of the tablet to the screen, but why pay for the area if you're not going to use it?

I agree...the biggest monitor I own is 17" and the Graphire is adequate for that, but I'm plannning on upgrading when I buy a 21" monitor.

 

[FrustratedUser]

How does these things work. Does the cursor move on teh screen when the pen is NOT in contact with the pad? It has to right? Otherwise it would be a PITA to find 'where you are' in the picture you are doing.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
How does these things work. Does the cursor move on teh screen when the pen is NOT in contact with the pad? It has to right? Otherwise it would be a PITA to find 'where you are' in the picture you are doing.

Basically like a mouse. You have the same cursor onscreen. The "mouse" in this case is a wireless pen (no batteries needed!). You have a thing called a "tablet" which is about the size of a mousepad, in my case, with a 4x5" white box that signifies the drawing area inside. Basically that drawing area represents your screen. If you touch the pen to the top left corner of the box, the cursor will move to the top left corner of the screen. If you drag the pen tip diagonally in the box, the cursor will move diagonally on the monitor.

You can hold the pen tip above the pad and move it around, but only like a few sixteenth of an inch...it's pointless really, because you can just push the pen around inside the white box on the tablet to move it around on screen. Think of the tip of the pen as the ball of a mouse...if you put bottom of the mouse with the ball on a surface and roll it around, the cursor on the screen will move - same with the tablet - if you put the tip of the pen in the white box and move it around, the cursor on the screen will move.

Also, the harder you push, the more "ink" will come out in a painting program - it's pressure sensitive. So in Windows or in normal programs, it works just like a mouse, but in painting programs, you can set it to be pressure sensitive. If you select an airbrush tool and lightly move the pen in a line on the tablet, it will draw a thin line in the painting program (in the drawing area), but if you press harder, the line will get bigger.