USB Tablet

[Winnow]

Now that I'm all geeked over Photoshop CS2 and having fun, I realize how sucky the mouse if for working on images. I'm thinking about getting a digital tablet input device.

The direct screen tablets thingies are too expensive for just screwing around. I don't want to spend 2K for non business goofing off.

For $300.00, this looks more up my alley for a pen input device.

http://reviews.cnet.com/Wacom_Intuos3_4 ... 09391.html

Does anyone have experience using tablets? I'm left handed but use my mouse in my right hand so my writing/drawing hand is free to use a tablet which should work out great as a dual input device.



Some Newegg comments:

This product literally changed our business, more specifically our creation process. Design work that previously had to be painted with oil on canvas and then photographed is now being done in photoshop with the tablet. Many painters and other professional artists despise the idea of painting or drawing with a mouse, this was the answer to our problem.

Absolutely a dream with Photoshop. It's much easier to manipulate the tools than with a mouse, not to mention the pen gives you pressure sensitivity with some of the tools. Until I got my tablet I didn't even know that Photoshop (7) had that capability.

I've stopped using mice altogether; I don't even have one plugged into my tower anymore, and I rarely touch the mouse that came with the tablet. I can do everything faster/easier/better with the pen/tablet combo.

I don't know about it replacing the mouse but it seems like a nice complement to it especially for semi ambidextrous peeps like me.

Pros: AMAZING Value. The tablet is incrediably easy to use and is EXTREMLY accurate. The software packages that come are very nice.

Cons: NONE WHAT SO EVER!

I think that last quote was from kyoukan!

[Aslanna]

Wacom has making tablets forever it seems. While I'm sure they have made a lemon or two in their time overall I don't think you can go wrong purchasing them.

[Winnow]

Wacom has making tablets forever it seems. While I'm sure they have made a lemon or two in their time overall I don't think you can go wrong purchasing them.

They seem to be the best company but I was more curious if anyone's actually used them and what their thoughts on increased productivity (in an artistic sense) were.

I was using the magnetic lasso last night to mask something and it was a chore using the mouse. Tracing an object with a pen would be more natural.

The tablets where you actually draw on the screen seem the best but super expensive. I would think drawing on a pad and looking at the screen would work sort of the same way as a mouse functions so it might not be a big deal to add a tablet as long as I could have a mouse hooked up at the same time.

[Winnow]

Here's a couple You Tube videos of direct draw tablets. Kinda neat.

This first video you can tell this guy is a master at it. I like how, if you're a freehand artist, you can just keep drawing lines and erasing them until you get the one you like. That saves a lot or erasers I bet for artists. I like how he can drag the screen around easily as well.

The image lags when he drags it but if you read the comments, the guy that made the actual video said it's his underpowered computer (it's a Mac!) was causing that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=17UIiDK5 ... ed&search=

This one is an animator demonstrating how much time a Wacom tablet saves. I like how he can spin the tablet to make drawing easier.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0LgexKDI4g&NR

Another sketch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZgUZwtd ... ed&search=

Hard to see what he's doing but looks like a detailed pencil sketch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxlSY8ch ... ed&search=

Shame those things cost 2-3K. Maybe they're due for a drop in price.

[noel]

All of the colorists at Marvel use Wacom tablets, and have for years.