Graphics Tablets

GarynLea

GarynLea

Suspended / Banned
Messages
2,084
Name
Gary
Edit My Images
Yes
I know nowt about them :shrug:

I've heard that Wacom are supposed to be good but what am I looking for or what to avoid?
What size is easiest to use with CS3?
Are they easily adjusted for sensitivity?

I do have 101 other questions but that'll do for a start :bonk:

Thank you in advance for any help offered :)
 
I use a Wacom Bamboo, but if you can afford it get an intuos theyre much faster
 
Bamboo user too.
Though I don't often use it - when I do it get's the job done.
 
Another Bamboo user.

I don't use it a lot, but wouldn't be without it.
 
I have Trust a4 size dont use it that much but is very handy and easy to use when i need it and at £60 by searching on-line was a bargain.
 
i think i will be picking one up to have a go. just need to find desk space first!
 
I use an Intuos A3. Took me just a day to get used to but now I absolutely love it and always pick the pen up in preference to the mouse when working on images.

Some people prefer smaller tablets (A4/A5), they allow you smaller hand movements but the trade off is less accuracy and precision. Personal preference really. A3 is perfect for me but I feel any bigger would get too cumbersome.

Flashy
 
Flashman said:
....... A3 is perfect for me but I feel any bigger would get too cumbersome.

Flashy
Click to expand...



:lol:, any bigger :shrug:, are there any bigger ones?



Back on topic, I'd suggest you'd get the Bamboo A6, which is relatively cheap and one of the smaller ones. If you find you like the idea of working with a pen & tablet and want something bigger, then you could always sell it and move to something bigger.

Bamboo comes in A6 and A5, there is a difference in size and convenience between these two sizes. The A6 Bamboo can be bought for just under £50. Any bigger and you may need to move up to the Intuos line (these are Wacom of course, other makes do exist).
 
Actually, this one is under £35!
 
That's certainly given me food for thought, thanks a lot guys for the advice and the links :)
 
Flashman said:
Oh yes! :D
Click to expand...


Thanks :)

Taking a look at that link, it seems that Wacom have a huge variety of Bamboo tablets, two sizes and each comes in four different colours (white, black, silver and blue); what's also interesting is that the site states these tablets come bundled with Adobe Elements 6 (Mac & Windows).

Can anyone verify this, and where can I order the different coloured versions? Amazon and WHE both only seem to stock the white versions.

If these do come with Elements, then they are well worth the price :shrug:
 
Thanks GarynLea, but that's not the Bamboo Fun version. Even though I've found that Fun version in black, but it's only the A6 size. I haven't been able to find it in A5, nor have I been able to find the silver or blue (in any size).

Ideally, seeing that they come in these different colours, I would like to get the A5 Bamboo Fun in blue for a friend. I was about to get the white one, but once I've seen the blue, I realised that's the colour that I ought to get.
 
I bought a Wacom Bamboo A6 Wide Tablet (MTE-450) the other month, would have loved to get an Intuos but couldn't justify the cash having never used one.

I love it for retouching pics, much more controllable than a mouse. Programmable buttons are good too.

I have even seen me using it for general surfing if my mouse hand gets a bit tired.
 
Anyone buying a graphics tablet right now would be mad to not consider the Genius G-Pen M712 tablet.

  • Widescreen (30.5 x 18.4cm drawing surface)
  • 34 user-programmable buttons and 2 scroll wheels (versus the Intuos3's 10 and 0)
  • Drawing resolution of 4,00lpi (as opposed to the A3 Intuos3's 5,081 lines per inch)
  • 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity (same as the Intuos3)
In fact all it doesn't have is the pen angle sensitivity and eraser-tipped pen that the Intous offers. But for under £100 against the £280 of the Intous3 I don't think you can argue.
 
glitch said:
Anyone buying a graphics tablet right now would be mad to not consider the Genius G-Pen M712 tablet.

  • Widescreen (30.5 x 18.4cm drawing surface)
  • 34 user-programmable buttons and 2 scroll wheels (versus the Intuos3's 10 and 0)
  • Drawing resolution of 4,00lpi (as opposed to the A3 Intuos3's 5,081 lines per inch)
  • 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity (same as the Intuos3)
In fact all it doesn't have is the pen angle sensitivity and eraser-tipped pen that the Intous offers. But for under £100 against the £280 of the Intous3 I don't think you can argue.
Click to expand...

do you find the tablet too big for normal use?
 
I haven't got it yet as my little friend at Misco is still sorting me out a price, but I'll let you know when I do.

Although it might be the case that what I find acceptable wouldn't work for you. I edit on a 24" widescreen and have enough space on my desk for this tablet to sit happily alongside my keyboard and mouse while still retaining enough space for the all-important mug of tea.
 
In general retouchers tend to go for smaller tablets, and graphic artists tend to go for larger ones. Larger sizes can be mapped to a smaller active area so that they behave like the smaller ones, so the only real reason not to get a larger one is price.

I started off with a A6 Bamboo, and now use a Intuous A4. The larger size means that it is like holding a clipboard, which is a really confortable way to work for me when retouching.

I have always stuck to Wacom because they just work, no real need to fiddle.
 
Recenlty bought a Wacom Bamboo and im still getting used to it.
One problem i have found is that i use a duel monitor and so the bamboo splits the pad up between the monitors, where i would really like it to use the whole pad for the whole of my main monitor.
It just means now when i want to touch something up i have to switch the second one off and back on again when im done else the orientation of lines on it are slightly out.

It is a classy bit of kit though and makes drawing lines alot easier.
 
FetchMeMyTools said:
One problem i have found is that i use a duel monitor and so the bamboo splits the pad up between the monitors, where i would really like it to use the whole pad for the whole of my main monitor.
Click to expand...

I don't know if the bamboo is the same but on the Intuos you can choose the screen area (Monitor 1, Monitor 2, Full or portion). As you say, it needs to be monitor one only.

Select 'Tablet Properties'; Tool: 'Grip Pen'; 'Mapping'... then there's a drop down menu to select the screen area. Like I say, this is the Intuos menu but may be the same or similar on the bamboo?

HTH :)
 
Flashman said:
I don't know if the bamboo is the same but on the Intuos you can choose the screen area (Monitor 1, Monitor 2, Full or portion). As you say, it needs to be monitor one only.

Select 'Tablet Properties'; Tool: 'Grip Pen'; 'Mapping'... then there's a drop down menu to select the screen area. Like I say, this is the Intuos menu but may be the same or similar on the bamboo?

HTH :)
Click to expand...


I will try that later, i took all the supplied software off as it seemed to be slowing down my system bizarelly as i got quite a good PC. My running processes were filled with penTablet.exe and other stuff, so uninstalled it all and just let Vista find drivers for it.

I may put it all back on now if i can get round it. IF.... though as i got the cheap £50 version and the Intuos is alot more isnt it ?

EDIT EDIT EDIT>

OK, put the ;atest software back on and i can indeed select the one monitor - result.
Now though i got 4 processes running in background :

Pen_Tablet.exe - 8544K memory
Pen_TabletUser.exe - 768K memory
TabTip.exe - 4840K memory
TabTip.exe - 4116K memory

and i cant kill any of them.
 
I have a Trust one that I found cheapest in Asda, of all places. £25 and I think its A5. Either way it does me just fine, when I use it.
 
OK, so its not made too much of an impact on my system as it firstly did as ive stopped all handwriting recongnition in the CP.
As for the tablet, its great, used it alot to touch up. Makes CS3 alot more user friendly.
 
Yes, some of them come with a specially-designed mouse that operates with the tablet.

Wacom definitely do this for some of their range but you'd have to check the websites of the other manufacturers to see if they follow suit.

You can also 'just' use the pen to control the cursor, but that takes a fair bit of arm work.
 
glitch said:
Wacom definitely do this for some of their range ...
Click to expand...

Yeah, the Intuos has a mouse... but I really hate it! It drags way too much on the tablet... I only use it when I've forgotten to charge my Logitech!
 
I have the intruis A3, I bought it for my daughter who couldn't use it and now it is on my mac pro. It does take a lot of getting used to but it is really good when you do get used to it.
 
I highly suggest the Wacom Bamboo. May not be at a 'professional' level but is really really nice and gets the job done, especially if you're new into tablets.

I've heard the Pentagram ones are poor choices though.
 
I got one of them Aldi Medion ones that were knocking about a while back - a mate of mine clocked one when shopping at the end of Jan, rang me and bought it for me, which meant I got a fully working tablet (which is pretty good btw) for less than £20!!?? :D
 
I use an Intuos 3 fantastic feel to it, but have heard great things of the bamboo for the budget
 
Maybe I should put my Intruios 3 A3 in the for sale section too :)
 
I also use a Wacom Intuos 3. For image manipulation I never use a mouse. Great bit of kit wouldn't be without it.:)
 
Treesie said:
I also use a Wacom Intuos 3. For image manipulation I never use a mouse. Great bit of kit wouldn't be without it.:)
Click to expand...

I'm definitely tempted to put my Intuos 3 graphic tablet on the for sale section (its like new and boxed!) or swap it for a lens - seems to be plenty of interest in them. I rarely use it and certainly wouldn't actually miss it.
 
Hi, all just bought the Trust A6 tablet, I got it form Argos as I had a gift voucher but as I have just seen it is only £24 on Amazon rather than £38.99 in Argos. Im going to take it back tomorrow after work and get a refund to buy it cheaper else where as it has not been used yet.

Is the Wacom Bamboo One a better bet? Has anyone used both makes?

The Trust has a lot of button controls around the edges and the Wacom does not look to have any but if the Wacom is better then ill make do without the added functionality.

Cheers

Dean
 
i havent tried a trust one but i wager the wacom is better, i have tried a few brands through the years and never swapped, the button will hardly ever be used anyway (well thats my preference but i always forget i have em)
 
I bought the Bamboo Fun from WH Smith yesterday, yet to have a play with it but will tonight
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top