Pen tablets

Creating this for those who wants to discus them.

Oh, and you guys know if Trust Slimline Graphic Table is good?

In my experience, the only tablets worth their cost are made by Wacom. I definitely didn't care for the Fine Point tablet-screen on my Laptop, for example.

I find them rather bothersome.

I'd probably be decent if the pen-thing for those worked directly on the screen, though.

If people learned from their mistakes, there wouldn't be this thing called bad habits.

^^Yeah, I have heard about Wacom's quality... But my dad bought it even though of that =P Now I would like to know how good it is since I can't find reviews from the google...

I can't tell with that tablet. I've never even heard of it. Anyone who has, here?

Meanwhile, the one I keep around is a Bamboo Pen & Touch. I rarely if ever use the touch capabilities of the thing, but the pen side makes digital coloring and free-hand sketching a lot easier. If I had the money for it and thought I'd actually use it, I'd probably go for a Cintiq.

Sakamoto demands an explanation for this shit.

Oops...

Spelled it wrong, its Trust Slimline Design Tablet...

...I hope that clears stuff up ^^;

The only tablet I've ever used is a 9"x12" Wacom Intuos 2. I bought it on eBay for $320 about six years ago, and it has worked reliably ever since. It takes some practice to get used to not making marks directly on a surface, but it becomes second nature eventually.

As far as that goes, Cintiqs are pretty amazing, but it's hard to justify the cost unless you're really serious about drawing. I love mine to pieces and don't regret buying it for a second, but I can't honestly recommend it to someone who isn't either trying to make a career of art or at least who spends a big chunk of their free time drawing.

It takes some practice to get used to a tablet, even if it does have a screen on it. But one thing is that the size really makes a difference, especially on the ones without screens. I never got very good at using my 5x3" Graphire, but when I switched up to an 8x5", it made a huge difference in usability. Were you using a tiny one?

edited 17th Oct '10 1:23:12 AM by Shadowtext

I'm using one about half the size of printer paper.

If people learned from their mistakes, there wouldn't be this thing called bad habits.

Oh well, I guess I should at least try the pen table since nobody seems to know anything about it xD(if it even does work... Manual only mentions Windows XP and Vista...)

Hmm, funny, official site says it its Slimline ''Sketch'' Tablet while manual says its design tablet... Anyway, manual recommends downloading latest drivers from the Internet, and I already did it through the cd(and I don't know how to uninstall it ^^;) How do I know if one in the Internet is newer?

edited 18th Oct '10 1:14:52 AM by SpookyMask

I am currently saving up for a Cintiq because I am coming down with massive amounts of DO WANT

Couple questions— the Bamboo Pen tablet. Good? Bad? Ugly?

(Found most of the answers, actually, so now I'm just looking for general thoughts)

edited 24th Oct '10 9:00:03 PM by DaeBrayk

1. Good. It's Wacom, you can't expect any less.

2. I have a 4x5 one, but you can get bigger ones, I think a friend has a 6x8 one or something. Honestly though, I find I have no problems with a small drawing surface. I've had 6x8 tablets before (albei they weren't Wacom and in general they were terrible to work with because I had to move my hand so much further to make a stroke. If I need to make a small stroke, the trick is too zoom in in the drawing program.

3. The programs that come bundled are usually very limited, enough to do some painting, for sure, but don't expect anything amazing.

4. You can, but...why would you want to...? I can't even begin to tell you how unnatural it is to draw without it. Imagine picking a brush and then having to change the size of it for every little adjustment you want to make? uuurgh. :p

EDIT: Argh, ninja'd. :p

edited 24th Oct '10 9:05:59 PM by Nika-senpai

Shine

As for the last one- solid lines. Using it like a ballpoint pen, not a paintbrush. And that's all very good to know even though I edited the questions, so I'm glad you crossed off instead of erasing ^.^

Hehe, np :D

Well, from my experience, unless you do really quick strokes, your lines are bound to come out a little wobbly, which doesn't look good. I tend to go by the "scribble like you're on crack and then erase to reduce the mess" method, which seems slightly easier. XD

Shine

So yeah, I now got this to work, but I don't have any programs to use it with xD(It doesn't work with gimp and art weaver is annoying)

Don't know if you're still having problems, but GIMP may support your tablet. It supports the tablet I use (Wacom Graphire4) but I have to start GIMP, then close it, then start it again, every time I plug in the tablet. >_<

Myexperience: Thicker lines = smoother lines. As you adjust your brush smaller, zoom in.

| DA Page | Sketchbook |

HELLS YES I GOT A CINTIQ FOR CHRISTMAS

I just got the Intuos 4. It says medium size, but it's fucking huge.

Hell yeah.

"True story, I came when I read Scrye's story, and so did everyone within five miles." —OOZE

So... my bamboo pen and touch decided to stop working? Just as I scanned in twenty-seven pages for inking too -.-. Anyway there I was, drawin stuff. Saved my project, took a break, and then there was an error message apologizing for my tablet's failure and now when I touch the tablet with the pen, the light turns red and the cursor doesn't move properly.

=/

Unplugging/replugging and restarting my computer hasn't worked, which is honeslty the extent of my technical knowlege.

Wait, I jut tried again....the light's still red, but the cursor's moving.

?

The first and obvious thing you can do is reinstall all drivers.

EDIT: Don't use the drivers from the CD, they may be outdated. Get them straight from the Wacom website.

If that doesn't help, try contacting tech support. I've never really tried it, but it's worth a shot, I guess?

In a side note, I had a Graphire 3 for three or four years before getting a Bamboo, and while the tablet itself was fully functional until I tossed it, it was the pen that broke, twice. I was pissed because a new pen for the Graphire was something like $70, and then the Bamboo came out at $90. Why even bother? lol. So if nothing else works, maybe replace the pen?

edited 4th Jan '11 5:48:12 PM by Nika-senpai

Shine

Erm, what drawing software do you guys use? I just started using Paint Tool SAI, but I feel that it's not too compatible with my tablet. Any suggestions?

edited 2nd Jan '11 7:08:19 AM by SilverBlack

Photo Shop.

"True story, I came when I read Scrye's story, and so did everyone within five miles." —OOZE

Same.

(specifically, adobe photoshop elements 7.0. It came with my tablet.)