Which graphics tablet?

[u8myufo]

I am looking to buy a graphics tablet as a surprise gift for my stepson. He is well into art and he is working for a local Tattooist where he submits new designs as well as doing the Tattoos. At the moment he does all of his work on paper, I have not delved too much into it but I will dig for some info later and ask him if having one would help him out and make life a lot easier, after all he will have a backup of a digital design which would not get marked or damaged and he can pass it around to whoever needs a piece of artwork done. Ok, so what will I need to be looking for with respect to a decent tablet? Are there features that some have and others do not, does it come up with it`s own interface when connected to a PC or do you just use it as an extension of Photoshop or whatever PP package he uses? It seems the prices vary from around £45-£80 which is no problem, just a case of is it the more you shell out on one the better it will be? Any advise would be great.

 

[neil_g]

for that budget youll probably be looking at something like a Wacom bamboo. cheap and cheerful, also pretty small.

maybe a second hand intuos 4 would be better.

basically replaces the mouse and is pressure sensitive.

 

[Gr8Shot]

Rich I have this and love it, link there prob will be better out there but not for the money IMO

 

[ding76uk]

Another vote for Bamboo here. i hated tablets before using that. Have now upgraded to Intuos 4. He will love it I am sure

 

[u8myufo]

Cheers guys I take it then that the intuos 4 is not only a thicker pen to hold, but that you just use it on a normal surface :shrug: If that is the case that would make more sense as he could if he needed to, go over the outline of any artwork he has in his collection.

 

[FellPlodder]

I've just got my first tablet, a Wacom Fun Pen & Touch. Was a bit put off by the "fun" in the title (after all, I'm a SERIOUS artist ).

Got the medium when I saw that the small version really is small (the usuable area is much smaller than the actually tablet).

Only had it a few days, and I'm totally hooked and will never go back to using a mouse. I'll be looking at upgrading in the future (intuos?) but for now it's amazing.

(I also got the wireless extension. This is a very neat pack containing a battery and a recevier that you put inside the tablet casing (very elegant - no dongles hanging out) and it becomes wireless. Worth the extra 30 quid, it's great not to be tethered to the desk).

 

[Afgha]

Another shout for the Wacom Bamboo. I would love one of the Intous tablets but they go up fairly steeply in price from the Wacom.