Wacom Graphic Tablet

[Elliot]

Hello,

 

I am about to start a new project. I have taken a lot of pictures with a new Nikon digital camera. These photos have to be re-touched as they are going to a color glossy brochure. The re-touching process was slow and tedious. This afternoon I couldn't take more and took a break and ended up in a computer store. I bought a small Wacom Graphire tablet to try it..... an inexpensive one. I purchased the Graphire series, 4 x 5 with 512 gradient.

 

I am absolutely impressed with this gadget. I can't wait until tomorrow, I am going back to the store a change it for the big one. There is a big one call Graphire but there is another series they called the Intous 2. They claim the Intous 2 is their profesional version.

 

Does anybody has any experience with these gadgets.... Is the Intous 2 a lot better that the Graphire series?

 

They also have like a 1,600 monitor that is pressure sensitive and you can work straight on the monitor instead of having to use the tablet. Is this any good?

 

I am impressed. I whished I had discovered this thing before... Is that the same experience with any of you....?

 

Thanks

Elliot

[Iain Denby]

The Intuous 2 is the way to go...brilliant!

That monitor thing...mmm, not so sure, I think there is a 'lag' between you making a mark and it appearing on the screen. Rediculously expensive too.

[Elliot]

Iain,

 

Thanks...... I was up until 4:40 am playing with the WACOM.... Hi Hi I am just waiting for the computer store to open... Hi HI

 

Thanks

Elliot

[Elliot]

Hello,

 

I got the Intuos 2 and it is a little bit better than the Graphire. Is there any add-on's for this tablet. I noticed they have an "Air Brush" Is that a sales gimmick or is it worthwhile?

 

Thanks

ELliot

[DennisB]

I've used a Wacom UD1212 (12"12") for 10 years now. Can't understand how anyone could work with PS, Painter or other image editor without one.

 

If you have the budget and workspace, a larger tablet will feel more comfortable/naturalistic over time.

 

The bigger tablets, and I'm not up on all of the newer tablets and features, have programmable buttons (record 1, 2, 3 key strokes/combinations). Those pen touch shortcuts can really speed production with repetitive tasks. The real benefit comes from working with a pressure sensitive stylus, however.

[Elliot]

Dennis,

 

Last night I purchased the small 4 x 5 amateur series Graphire just to try it. Iwas just impressed. I couldn't wait this morning for CompUSA to open so I could exchange it for the Intuos 2 12" by 12". I found the size a little bit overwhelming, but I still think is a great tool. I may go and buy the small one too. I do a lot of traveling and this could be usefull during my trips.

 

All day long I have been taking pictures of my 6 year old daughter and modifying them. Simply.... Wao.....

 

Thanks for the information on the air brushes. I saw a forum from the UK where they display a faboulous gallery of images made with 3D Max 6 and touch up the renderings with a Wacom. I know this is mortal sin on this forum, "Touching Up" an image..... Hi Hi. However, what I saw in the British site was impressive. Unfortunately I didn't save the site and now I can not find it again..... They claimed using the airbrush tool.

 

Thanks

Elliot

[DennisB]

I'm jealous The new tablets have many more levels of pressure sensitivity, and a faster connection too. I imagine there's any number of other features I'm not aware of as well.

 

The distinction between bigger and smaller surface areas is in the swath of your stroke. The big tablets take a bigger stroke to traverse the display/image, mainly because the ratio of tablet area to screen area is nearer 1:1. The benefit applies to small strokes as well because they should be more controllable. The only downside is the big tablets are more cumbersome.

 

Have fun.

 

Dennis@DigArts

[Elliot]

Dennis,

 

Thanks for your information. I don't know if I will get adapted to the big table. I am on a business trip and brought the tablet with me.... Tablet Fever.... It is a great tool.

 

Thanks

Elliot

[nisus]

Hi,

 

I'm a tablet-user too... Got my intuos over one year now, and I allready feel like DennisB: don't know how to use ps or painter without it!

As an extra advantage, it's faster than a regular mouse too ,-)

 

rgds

 

nisus

[G]

I interested in how the wacom tablet would go with Autocad. I know in progs like photoshop and corelPhoto you can use it to its most with the brush tools,but how does it go being used as a pointing device?

 

i was looking at the graphire range,cant stretch the budget to the intuos range.

 

Thanks for any feedback.

 

G

[mtutaj]

I've been using Wacom tablets since the artpad's with autocad.. just like anything else. it took a little time to get used to. I still use a mouse as well. but am glad I started using it. Wacom has saved my wrists..

 

Mike

[nisus]

I don't use it for autocad because I don't do autocad anymore, but I use it for everything else, i.e. I don't use a mouse anymore because the pen is faster ,-)

 

rgds

 

nisus

[G]

Cool,thanx for the info. i will have to check them out further.

 

G

[Poco]

I love my Wacom and cant live without it BUT imho there is a downside if you are using it with a dual monitor setup. Let me explain: mapping the whole tablet to both displays reduces the per-screen horizontal resolution (and hence the precision) and also distorts the aspect ratio of the screen/tablet relationship (shapes appear squashed horizontally). Thats the only thing that bothers me.

 

Anyway, my 2 eurocents

[jucaro]

I love my Wacom and cant live without it BUT imho there is a downside if you are using it with a dual monitor setup. Let me explain: mapping the whole tablet to both displays reduces the per-screen horizontal resolution (and hence the precision) and also distorts the aspect ratio of the screen/tablet relationship (shapes appear squashed horizontally). Thats the only thing that bothers me.

 

Its really annoying.

 

Has anyone here used the Cintique series? How is its overall usability?

[vizwhiz]

hi There Elliot

 

sounds like you are having some hardware Fun after all of your hardware Fun and Games recently

 

i use a mouse left-handed (long story had to write ALL the contradictory Info from my two former "owners" 15 years ago)

 

i am right-handed (reverse dyslexic)

 

so my question is, can you use a Mouse and a Intuous Tablet hooked up to the computer at the same Time??

 

lately i have been doing more FotoChop work more than autocad or VIZ-ing

This maybe changing sometime rather soon but right now having a Tablet would

 

be sooooo nice

 

any Info how to hook both of these up would be greatly appreciated

i am (not holding my breath) waiting for the dual 2.8 ghz with 8 gb ram

 

(now it is due in Next Week which is what i was Told last week)

 

**

 

[i have a 48" x 36" Calcomp Drawing Board II at home] not hooked up since release 14

i used to do area calculations for Golf Courses for seeding and etc Information purposes

 

 

Thanks

 

Randy

[nisus]

so my question is, can you use a Mouse and a Intuous Tablet hooked up to the computer at the same Time??

Well, I do have a mouse next to me, but I just don't use it... There is no problem at all connecting both.

 

Ow, and wacom also has a 5-button mouse that can be used on the tablet to... So basicly you can have a wacom-mouse and a pen (together too!!! one for extra buttons, one for pointing) + an additional mouse... so if you have three hands, you'd do great too!!! ,-)))

 

rgds

 

nisus

[nisus]

ow, and with a special avocent (switchbox) you can use ON tablet on FOUR computers like I do ,-))) Most wonderful!!!

 

rgds

 

nisus

[steve_stafford]

Has anyone here used the Cintique series? How is its overall usability?

I've been using the Cintiq 18sx for two months now. I love it! It provides a very nice interaction with your design work. I use it primarily with Autodesk Revit (cadd) but I use it for everything else as well. You could use a mouse with it as well...but I don't.

 

Most folks who see me use it react negatively to having to put your hand to the screen, hold your arm up. I happen to use it at the extreme angle like a regular monitor so I reach up to the screen. It can be nearly flat in the stand (13 degrees) but I found it awkward and I ended up with a pain in my neck, literally.

 

This is a demo and if I get to keep it I would probably undertake making a stand for it so I could actually use it flat...in my lap sort of...with a keyboard holding arm at the top of the screen. Imagine a camera tripod mount (so the pitch, yaw and rotation can be adjusted) with a heavy base like a microphone stand (but heavier and a bit larger for stability). Or imagine a musician's keyboard stand...

 

The max resolution is 1280x1024 and I'd really be happier with 1600x1200 but I've adjusted to it pretty easily. The price has come down a lot but it's still $2500! If you get a chance to try one, do it...but be prepared for the consequences... (oh, it's a lot easier to adjust to using it if you have already been using a pen tablet, I have been for a little over a year now.)