Tablet/digitizer

[darkswordsman17]

I've tried the Wacom Bamboo, and it was nice but had one thing that I just plain could not get over. If the pen is close to the tablet (but not actually touching) it still makes the connection so that the cursor will move. This caused it to skip around and just made it unusable for me in regular use, let alone when trying to draw (when using pencil I hold it close to the paper and do a lot with precision, which made drawing impossible with the Wacom).

Are there any tablets that will only work when actually physical contact is made?

 

[corkyg]

Been drawing with a Wacom for more than 8 years. The stylus only moves the cursor when it is within about 1/4-in. A bit higher and it doesn't. That is not a bad thing, but takes some getting used to.

The keyword to search for is "Proximity." There apparently are digitizing pads with adjustable proximity.

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4992630.html

 

[darkswordsman17]

Thanks for the info, I'll check into that.

Its really difficult to describe it, but it just makes using it so unnatural to me that I couldn't get accustomed to it. I even tried "practicing" thinking it would just take time to adjust, but it never really got better for me. I think it was made worse by getting used to not looking directly at my hand as I was writing/drawing. I owned a tablet PC for a little while and it was easier looking directly where my hand was going, but it still suffered from the problem (and combined with the screen being not very good quality) so I got rid of it. I wasn't sure if all tablets are like that or not.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16823111029

I saw these and was interested since they seem like they might function differently. I know it has a real pen that uses ink, but since it can still do it without being connected to a computer made me wonder if maybe using it as a digitizer might do what I'm wanting.

 

[alkemyst]

what are you wanting?

Drawing with a tablet has a learning curve. It's totally different than drawing with pen or pencil.

 

[Modelworks]

I'm not quite understanding the problem. If you are drawing then you want the pen touching the tablet. That is what the pressure levels are for. If the software you are using is set up correctly the the cursor will move on screen when the pen is near it which is what it is supposed to do and then when you touch the pad will being drawing. The harder you press down the stronger the output to the software.

I think you may have some settings wrong. Make sure you tell whatever software you are using that you are using a tablet. Just using regular mouse settings in an application doesn't usually work well.


Here is a paint program that will make use of pressure levels and has tablet settings.
http://www.pixarra.com/

 

[darkswordsman17]

what are you wanting?

Drawing with a tablet has a learning curve. It's totally different than drawing with pen or pencil.

I'm not quite understanding the problem. If you are drawing then you want the pen touching the tablet. That is what the pressure levels are for. If the software you are using is set up correctly the the cursor will move on screen when the pen is near it which is what it is supposed to do and then when you touch the pad will being drawing. The harder you press down the stronger the output to the software.

I think you may have some settings wrong. Make sure you tell whatever software you are using that you are using a tablet. Just using regular mouse settings in an application doesn't usually work well.


Here is a paint program that will make use of pressure levels and has tablet settings.
http://www.pixarra.com/

Hmm, maybe it was a software issue. I tried adjusting settings and used different programs but it never functioned like I wanted it to.

Sorry, I was trying to figure out the best way to describe what I'm wanting, and didn't think of a great example. Basically, I want something that functions like the Nintendo DS touchscreen, where I can use just whatever I want for a stylus. I'd just want it to be bigger and higher resolution and better precision.

Is it possible to disable the Wacom from adjusting the cursor and only function as a pen?

Tablet PCs (something like the iPad) actually might be almost exactly what I want. Anyone have any idea about the precision of the iPad? Really there, the biggest issue would be getting used to zooming in and out to adjust the precision. Well, assuming there's good, capable drawing programs.

 

[alkemyst]

I don't use a Wacom, but you should have a setting to turn off pressure sensitivity.

What are wanting to do with all this? Take notes or draw?

 

[darkswordsman17]

I don't use a Wacom, but you should have a setting to turn off pressure sensitivity.

What are wanting to do with all this? Take notes or draw?

Yeah, just drawing/sketching/doodling, nothing real in depth for the time being. Right now its just more or less casual. I don't have any need for real note taking or handwriting recognition or anything like that.

I don't actually have the Wacom anymore, but if there is a way to get it to function like that, I'd get another one. I liked it, aside from the fact that I didn't figure out how to get it to work quite how I wanted.

I see Wacom has updated the Bamboo line, in particular this this one is appealing due to the size of the active area. The multi touch input is also interesting. I wouldn't mind being able to use it for that, and the pen for cursor control outside of when I'm using it to draw, so if I can find a program or can set it to disable the pen as cursor control just when I'm in the program that'd be exactly what I'd want.

I forgot to mention, I'm left-handed, so using the pen in the left hand while operating the mouse as cursor control with my right hand would be easy, and that's what would feel natural to me.

 

[alkemyst]

I stilll don't get it now.

You are looking to throw a ton of money at nothing.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Any of you Wacom users able to answer my question?

Is it possible to disable the Wacom from adjusting the cursor and only function as a pen?

 

[alkemyst]

depends on software.

 

[corkyg]

Without the cursor or Insertion Point, how do you know where you are and what you are doing?

BTW - the Multi-Touch Bamboo is pretty slick.

http://www.wacom.com/bamboo/bamboo_pen_touch.php?gclid=CJ67lNjQlqMCFQ4MbAodoR6pnQ

 

[gorobei]

Any of you Wacom users able to answer my question?

there is no answer. (Hint: you're doing it wrong.)

the pen is the mouse, you dont use them at the same time. It may feel natural to you, but it is anathema to the computing I/O paradigm. Lefties are the red headed bastard step child of the pc world, the only one you loves you is apple and their 1-button mice. You might as well try using a pc with 2 mice and no keyboard.

unless multitouch becomes the defacto standard of computing in the next decade, the concept of 2+ cursors will remain in the corporate sector where they allow 2 mice&kb so that people at board meetings dont have to keep sliding the I/O devices over to each other when they are marking up a powerpoint slide.



@Corky, the bamboo is interesting. I'm still waiting to see if they get the multitouch drivers working for the HP TM2t. SketchbookPro with finger gestures would be a god send.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Without the cursor or Insertion Point, how do you know where you are and what you are doing?

BTW - the Multi-Touch Bamboo is pretty slick.

http://www.wacom.com/bamboo/bamboo_pen_touch.php?gclid=CJ67lNjQlqMCFQ4MbAodoR6pnQ

The tablet space would correlate directly to the space on the display. This way I could full screen the "paper" in a drawing program, so that wherever I mark on the tablet would mark in that same spot on the display. Obviously then you'd rely on the tablet being a pretty decent size, but I can live with that.

 

[alkemyst]

most tablets I have worked with are 'screen oriented' as well. Where you place your stylus is pretty much in proportion to the monitor.

 

[corkyg]

The latest Bamboo driver control screen gives you those choices. Under Pen Mode, you select area such as Monitor or Portion. In Mouse mode you select acceleration and speed. There is also a touch amd pressure sensitivity adjustment.

Many advanced word processors use two indicators - cursor and insertion point. They are not necessarily coincident.