Are You Looking to Buy a Graphics Tablet?

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Awesome! You got some good Art skills there Chris.

I grew up using Tablets in Highschool drafting and used it for a couple years professionally before switching to mouse. One thing about the big tablets that was awesome was the ability set only about a 6×8 space for cursor movements and set the rest of the area to do scripts of common commands that help get work done. Now building Scripts into the AutoCAD toolbars is super easy so you don’t need it so much. But it might be kinda cool to make some global command scripts n stuff in the digitizer/tablet. I think I’m gonna try and find a used one on Ebay now and try em out again.

Tablets can increase productivity for animators and sometimes video editors or motion graphic artists by a huge percentage. You just have to get through that comfort curve.

Of course, the sensitive monitors you could use as a tablet, drawing right on them, were supposed to take over tablets but what happened was artists like the ability to see all of the screen, not have their hand in the way…So those did not take off so well.

I own a Lenovo ThinkPad X61T, and I love it. It allows me to produce quality content, and to compose mathematical formulas for my studies. These are some great tips, and you are very right that it takes time to use these things. I still can’t draw! :D

J

Excellent blog here chris,
I was meaning to get an graphic tablet because im extending my knowledge on graphic design and also i have an great interest in this particular tablet. In fact, I was already learning graphic design in my high school, i became inspired by many of my teachers and family to further my education in this field of design and im happy i did!. I was looking at the tips you gave about the size of the graphic tablet and still havent thought of the right size for me yet but never the less i’ll find the one i need some day but in the mean time college applications are due so i would like to thank you chris for the amazing post and i would definitely recommend this to anyone thinking about buying an graphic tablet.

Thank You again.

Michael.

I have used a whole plethora of tablets in my time since I love to draw on the computer. I would never use it for anything other then drawing though, way too annoying. The reason being is because I can’t stand using those tiny ones, they just don’t easily allow you to create small details as easily as the big ones do. I will usually have one about the size of my screen. If I don’t have a decent one handy though, a good old sketch then scan works great too if I bring it into freehand after and give it its shape in a clean digital form and color it in photoshop.

Thanks for the list, Chris! I am in the market for a tablet, so these tips are very useful. For any other people looking for their first tablet, Wacom makes some nice beginner’s tablets with their Bamboo line, the Bamboo Fun and the Bamboo, and they’re $99 & $79 respectively. I’m sure you could get them cheaper elsewhere online, too.

I’ve been using a tablet at work for about 2 years now, I believe it’s a graphire, i think, I don’t know which one it is, i didn’t buy the thing. It’s VERY comfortable for photoshop, and I dont use it for drawing as much as doing things like cutting backgrounds away from people, placing logos, and other news graphics related stuff. (Woo, who TV13 in des moines!)

I use the Bambo Tablet from Wacom, I have used it for the last year and a half and it has never once failed me. I like the Bamboo becauseit is a small tablt and just the right size for me. I love the software that come with it. It is very userfriendly and it is pretty rugged. I have droped this thing twice from 4 feet up and it hasn’t cracked or been dammaged at all. Also I like how is works with Vista.

Wow!, Great Advice i was looking to buying one this really helped me with choosing the right one

I would be looking to buy one right now if my high school teacher didn’t sell me a Wacom Graphire4 4×5 a few months ago. It does its job well, and I paid less than half the cost of a new Bamboo Fun. The only possible issue with it is if you want tilt sensitivity or the ability to use an airbrush pen, in which case you’ll have to step up to the much more expensive Intuos3 line, or perhaps the even more expensive Cintiq series if you prefer your digitizer integrated with the screen.

Also, when it comes to buying tablets, I’d look into Wacom first. They’ve been quite established in the tablet market for years, and many apps take advantage of pressure sensitivity with their tablets with little fuss (Photoshop, Windows Journal, etc.). Furthermore, Wacom pens don’t require batteries-they get their power from the tablet itself. OS support is also very good, as they support Windows 2000, XP, Vista (32-and-64-bit for the latter two), Mac OS X, and Linux. Older tablets even have Windows 98 SE drivers if you still have to deal with that OS for whatever reason. They tend to be a bit more expensive than competing products, though.

There are also Tablet PCs, which tend to be like laptops with screens that double as drawing tablets (the convertible models, anyway; there are also slate models that do not have keyboards at all and tend to resemble oversized PDAs more). You could look at it like a Cintiq, only that it acts as a portable computer in and of itself rather than being a monitor with an integrated drawing tablet. However, there is one particular downside compared to the Intuos3 and Cintiq lines-no pen tilt support. Pressure sensitivity is still present, however.

My roommate has a wacom cintiq which actually has a monitor built into the tablet. It was very expensive but he absolutely loves it and I don’t think he will ever regret the purchase even with such a high cost.

I had a hard time with tablets. I first bought a full size aiptek. It was pretty awful, and you seriously do not need that much space to work with. A 4×5 is more than enough space to work with, and it simplifies things. You can zoom in and out to give you control over the area you need to work in.

I then bought one of the $99 wacom (before the bamboo series) and it was beautiful. After I got used to it, I started wishing I had one of the more expensive ones, because the pressure system wasn’t enough for all the details I wanted to do in Photoshop and the other painting programs.

I recommend sticking with Wacom, both of my tablets are wacom and I have had no problems so far. Even if starting out a 4 by 5 can become frustrating as its easy to draw off the recognition area and then it wont read. I recommend 6X8 or 9X12, but your budget may not suite. If you buy one new expect to pay a lot. You may want to try ebay first. I got my 12X18 Intuos 2 for around $200 , and , well Its WAY too big. you probably wont need to go past 12X12. Now if you like to see what you are drawing on, there is a way to do that. It consist of buying another monitor and putting the graphics tablet behind , so you can see what you are drawing. I had fun with that project and it cost me about 30$.

I was into Wacom tablets using CAD software about 12 years ago. When the CAD software got better at using a mouse for input, I got away from the tablet.

I recently decided I wanted to get back into the tablet world for personal reasons (to produce digital art). I just bought a Wacom Bamboo Fun tablet about three weeks ago. So far it’s tough getting back into it, but I haven’t had more than a few hours to play. I expect to have a lot of fun as soon as I get back into the grove. I would highly recommend Wacom products! They’re great!

As soon as I learn to use the tablet efficiently, I plan to teach a digital art segment in a local private school I have connections with. Which leads me to this. Anyone wanting to get into a tablet for a relatively low price can go to http://www.PCmall.com. They offer a small refurb Wacom for $39.99 (includes software). I’m buying a few for my art class.

hey yeah my cousin owned a tablet i liked it alot.. ide love to own one but dont know wich one to buy.

Thinkgeek sells a mouse pad thing that is similar to a tablet. I think you plug it in via usb but I’m not too certain. You guys should check under the computing gadgets.

I think Think geek has something similar to a tablet. Although due to the fact that is looks like a small mouse pad I wouldn’t recommend it. However I think it would come in handy if you need to do something small like say a signature.

Hey Chris! Thanks for doing the video on the graphics tablet! i have a wacom bamboo tablet and i really like it. i sent you an email a couple weeks telling you to do a show on tablets, and you did! haha, i’m sure i’m not that one that inspired you to do them, but good video Chris!

E.switch
- Lucas

Great video. I didn’t know that much about them till now. I am definitely goint to get one.

The one I want the most is the one by Wacom. I don’t have the name handy but, it doubles as a screen that makes it easier for you to draw, color, and edit.

Graphics tablet are very useful especially if you always use photoshop.

Using photoshop on a laptop isn’t that fun

I’ve always wanted to get one of those modbooks that axiotron makes if they weren’t so expensive. But rumor has it that Apple will be releasing their own tablet mac, and if I had the cash I would seriously consider getting it.

i think i would you this for my school because we have alot of artists in my class. and i do not want to spend my time digitizing them into the mac

Hey, are you probably gonna do a giveaway for that Intuos 3 tablet? im looking at trying to get a bigger tablet rather than sticking to my 4×5 tablet.

Looks cool! I’ve never used a graphics tablet, but it sure does look like something I could use in the future if I were to pursue something in graphic design :)

Though, I would love to have a giant pad to do it on, as if I were painting a giant canvas!

Cheers!

Michael :D

Yes, I am currently looking to buy a graphics tablet.

My wife has a 15″ notebook/tablet hybrid. It really is a great option for graphics design. She uses it for website design and layout.

For as much as I hate to admit it, One Note is an AMAZING tool when coupled with a Tablet PC

I really love my Wacom Bamboo – It’s really useful when I’m doing graphics for work. Cheap, accurate, the really well designed. The tip is a bit cheap, but I bought a pack on 3 for like $5. Each tip lasts about a month of heavy use.

I really love my Wacom Bamboo tablet, although the tips are a bit week. I upgraded to better tips, and now my $80 tablet works better than my $250 tablet. Great design too!

I really love my Wacom Bamboo tablet, although the tips are a bit week. I upgraded to better tips, and now my $80 tablet works better than my $250 tablet. Great design too!

man i wish i seen this i got the worst one ever

Hey thanks for the tips looking at buying one.

I’ve been using a graphics tablet for almost two years. It’s a wacom graphire4 4″X5″.

That may seem small, but the unit is pretty much the size of a standard mouse pad, so it doesn’t take up any extra desk space.

I haven’t used a standard mouse in this time either, as the wacom kit came with a mouse as well as the standard stylus…very handy indeed.

So, the two bits of advise I would give when getting a tablet, is get one that comes with a mouse & go wacom!

My sister uses photoshop and cad a lot and is looking into buying a tablet and I found that info VERY helpful.
I’ll send this to her.
My laptop supports pen use but does not have pressure/tilt sensitivity.
I have not yet found a tablet that has all the things I would need. but is also portable.

My sister uses photoshop and cad a lot and is looking into buying a tablet and I found that info VERY helpful.
I’ll send this to her.
My laptop supports pen use but does not have pressure/tilt sensitivity.
I have not yet found a tablet that has all the things I would need. but is also portable.

That may seem small, but the unit is pretty much the size of a standard mouse pad, so it doesn’t take up any extra desk space.

I haven’t used a standard mouse in this time either, as the wacom kit came with a mouse as well as the standard stylus…very handy indeed.

So, the two bits of advise I would give when getting a tablet, is get one that comes with a mouse & go wacom!

My sister uses photoshop and cad a lot and is looking into buying a tablet and I found that info VERY helpful.
I’ll send this to her.
My laptop supports pen use but does not have pressure/tilt sensitivity.

Loved the video Chris! I have a graphics wacom tablet myself, it’s not very fancy. (it’s about 2 years old) It’s a 6×8 I think, and it’s a graphire 3.

Anyways, It’s served me well, I love how responsive it is. I’ve been drawing all my life and I can say this, “wacom is as close as you can get to paper!” No doubt about it…

Thanks Chris!

J

I don’t know if I would ever personally buy one, but I would like to see what Apple would do with a tablic PC or graphics Tablet.

A must-have for doing persnickety Photoshop work. I bought a Bamboo recently (less expensive on Amazon.com) and it’s really quickened my work flow.

I NEED a cintique!!!

I’ve had an Intous for a couple years and love it. But it’s time to upgrade!

I’ve had an Intous for a couple years and love it. But it’s time to upgrade!

Thanks for the info. You spelled practice wrong.