Richard McCarthy Posted January 22, 2005 Share Posted January 22, 2005 Hi guys! I recently got interested in Corel Painter again and I am now looking to buy a graphic tablet. I am narrow it down to Wacom Intuos 3 Tablet, but I am torn between which size I should purchase. I have tried 9x12 (A4 size drawing area) and it is HUGE and kinda cubersome... so I an now torn between 4x5 (A6) and 6x8 (A5 size). I have read many forums, and it just seems the camp is divided evenly between those 2 size... I like 6x8's drawing area but it's kinda large, and some ppl say you get wrist strain using it larger than palm of your hand. 4x5 seems ergonomical and just the right size on my table, but the drawing area seem slightly smaller than I would prefer... sigh... I don't know which one to choose!.. any suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernest Burden III Posted January 22, 2005 Share Posted January 22, 2005 6 x 8 I bought my son a 4 x 5 and I notice he still draws mostly with the mouse. You can always define a smaller area of the tablet to map the screen, if you want. One nice thing for me is that I'm left-handed, but mouse righty like everybody else. The tablet is on th left of the keyboard and the mouse on the right. When I want to draw I grab the 'pen', can still use menus etc. with the mouse. 6 x 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lambros Posted January 22, 2005 Share Posted January 22, 2005 Well, I have the A6 version which suits me fine, and I think that a larger wacom would cause me strain. But again, you may get the A5 and define a smaller area if it suits some of your needs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaguar lover Posted January 22, 2005 Share Posted January 22, 2005 I use an Intous 2 A6 mostly for drawing/touching up images in Photoshop. Very pleased with the size of tablet. Easy to store on the desk -takes almost no place at all... /Kent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Susan Posted January 22, 2005 Share Posted January 22, 2005 I think we all tend to swear by what we have become accustomed to and can't imagine that another size, particularly a smaller size, would suffice. I have a 21" screen and a 4x5 tablet and I have never fealt that that isn't enough. You are only making strokes on the tablet that will transfer to some small area on the screen. It's not like you are using the tablet to draw out the image in full. I zoom in and out if I need to and I'm sure that goes for the 6x8 as well. My 2 cents. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Jeff Mottle Posted January 22, 2005 Administrators Share Posted January 22, 2005 I have a 9x12 at home and it's way too big I think. It's an Intuos and becuase it's so big it sits really close to my monitors and is affected by the monitors somehow. the cursor jumps arounds. I have a 4x5 at work and I like it much better. Of course the big decision is whether or not you need to make big strokes and 1:1 pen to screen motions. Then maybe a 9x12 is what you would want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richard@amdrendering.com Posted January 22, 2005 Share Posted January 22, 2005 I depends on how you plan on using the tablet. Larger tablets (we use 12 x12 wacoms) let you get your shoulder and elbow into the drawing, which I think allows for a little more expression. Smaller tablets seem to constrict your movement to mostly wrist "scratching". If you plan on doing a lot of freehand drawing go with the biggest you can fit on your desk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernest Burden III Posted January 22, 2005 Share Posted January 22, 2005 Larger tablets (we use 12 x12 wacoms) let you get your shoulder and elbow into the drawing In the early days (CG pre-history) I used a 12 x 12 Summa. But then the tablets were for digitizing in drawings more than freehabd drawing. I like the suggestion of drawing bigger. But the smaller tablet fits the work area better than the huge one did. Speaking of which, remember that a 4x5 inch Wacom really measures a little over 8" square. Now, you must be a man of considerable means, Richard, so I would suggest you instead get one of Wacom's larger 'monitor' tablets. Now those are nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trick Posted January 22, 2005 Share Posted January 22, 2005 I have been using a 9x12 since the invention of tablets for everything, and never had any problems with it. 3 Years ago I bought a 6x8 for my laptop and use it since for all my work: the area is more then enough. The 9x12 is attached to a double monitor workstation for video work which also works like a charm. In the end you can get used to whatever setup you like... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vizwhiz Posted January 23, 2005 Share Posted January 23, 2005 hi There the Principals of the company sketch on 11x17 we scan in at 11x17 full size into FotoChop etc does a less than 1 to 1 (smaller than 11x17) still work as well ?? as a Full Size Tablet, or can the smaller area Tablets handle a 11x17 Image ?? trying to get the People to spring for a Tablet someTime soon ** i end up doing as much FotoChop as VIZ and 3d Cad recently got Piranesi and soon Sketchup 4.0 etc etc ** Thanks Randy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ernest Burden III Posted January 23, 2005 Share Posted January 23, 2005 does a less than 1 to 1 (smaller than 11x17)still work as well ?? as a Full Size Tablet, or can the smaller area Tablets handle a 11x17 Image Handle it how? If you have a sketch then you can scan it. No need to 'trace' it in. Do you mean to digitize a sketch into CAD? You would load the image in as a bitmap, scale to size. Which is, I'm sure, what you are doing now. With a tablet you could draw an area of a sketch, move it, draw the next... Or have I misunderstood the question? One more thing that has been bothering me about your profile. Its 'Arizona, USA, Earth, Milky Way, Universe' The bonus question is 'what comes next?' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard McCarthy Posted January 23, 2005 Author Share Posted January 23, 2005 Thanks you guys! Looks like the 4x5 (A6 size) camp are the majority, and I think I will definitely test drive both size when I'm in the shop. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vizwhiz Posted January 24, 2005 Share Posted January 24, 2005 Richard let us know you experience which size works better for you etc Ernest actually i should have more specific i was Thinking about adding Watercoloring or Painting in a scene (11x17) using the smaller sized Tablets ** Randy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nisus Posted January 24, 2005 Share Posted January 24, 2005 Hi, Definately an A4 I'd say. Major benefit is about the same scale on screen (19-22") and on the tablet. So no tricky mind conversions necessary... also.. it's better to use the whole arm... no scratching... Personally, I'd go larger for painting-only (A3) because of the more impressive strokes and arm-moves, but an A4 fits better on the desk with a keyboard above it... I've been using an intuos2 for 2.5years (about 12-16 hours aday) and an intuos3 for the last couple of months (since the first week it was released)... Yet, I prefer the intuos2 (The buttons keep bothering me and is no match for the keyboard on top of the tablet!) rgds nisus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allen Posted January 24, 2005 Share Posted January 24, 2005 I use a 6x8 at work, a 4x5 at home. I prefer the 6x8, but it's more of a hassle to move around and takes up a lot more space than the 4x5. Keep that in mind as you select a model. If desk space is at a premium or you'll be taking with you on the road - go for no larger than a 6x8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard McCarthy Posted January 30, 2005 Author Share Posted January 30, 2005 G'day Mate! I have ordered the Wacom Intuos 3 - 6"x8" after I went into a CAMERA SHOP and found their price is a staggering $150 cheaper than EVERY computer shops I been to. So now I am just waiting patiently for my tablet to come in On the other hand, I am now looking for programs that goes with my tablet. I think the tablet itself comes with Painter Classic. But I am wondering if there are other programs that go great with the tablet. Anyone got any ideas? So far I have gather the list of program that goes great with Tablet : Adobe Suites (Photoshop, Illustrator..etc) Macromedia stuff... Painter (ofcourse) Righthemisphere Deep Paint / 3D Alias Sketchbook (might be too expensive) Autodesk Architectural Studio (discontinued ) ArtRage (freeware program) Now, in my relentless search... I found this gem : CreatureHouse Expression 3 Essentially just like Adobe Illustrator, but with Painter-eque quality. Vectorised Paint program. Now it's FREE! (Thanks to Bill Gate) http://www.microsoft.com/products/expression/ Amazing that Expression is now a freeware due to the merger with Microsoft. Go download it before Mr. Bill Gate change his mind Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nisus Posted January 30, 2005 Share Posted January 30, 2005 Hi Richard, About every program will benefit from using an intuos, even explorer or max... Expression for free??? I can hardly beleive it!!! I've read articles about it in the past (computer magazine) and i's supposed to be great... downloading at the moment!! rgds nisus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard McCarthy Posted February 24, 2005 Author Share Posted February 24, 2005 After a month of waiting, I finally got my tablet !! Now I kinda regret purchasing 6x8 haha, seems like a lot of flicking around the screen for menu and tools, it's making my arm sore......but I think I will grow into it. Painter works nicely with it, but Microsoft EXPRESSION work marvelously! It fully supports the pressure sensitivity and also zoom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vizwhiz Posted February 25, 2005 Share Posted February 25, 2005 hey Richard Expressions, is just way too cool and i only got a mouse (say cheese) cant wait to get a more-human like sketching pad Randy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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