Author Topic: Graphic Tablet - which should I get. Mind you I am on a budget (Read 15145 times)

Poncke · « **on:** January 04, 2013, 03:47 »

Hi all,

It finally hit home, I need a graphic tablet. I was thinking of getting this one Wacom CTT-460 Bamboo Touch Tablet. But since I have no clue, I was wondering what you would advice. I can spend about 100 euros on a graphic tablet.

cheers

Poncke · « **Reply #1 on:** January 04, 2013, 03:52 »

Maybe this one

Wacom Bamboo Pen Tablet - CTL-460 - Graphics

What do I need to pay attention to when it comes to graphic tablets anyway?

Poncke · « **Reply #2 on:** January 04, 2013, 03:56 »

Ok, this is a good article I think

http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/aboutgraphics/a/graphicstablets.htm

So I need to pay attention to the pen/stylus, the Pressure-sensitivity and tablet size

leaf · « **Reply #3 on:** January 04, 2013, 04:10 »

I don't think you need as large of a tablet as many people get and you can save a little money there.

When purchasing my first tablet I used the following method which I think worked well when deciding how big of a tablet I needed.

I took a regular piece of paper and pen on the desk (where I'd place the future tablet) and keeping my eyes on the screen, I looked to all the corners of the screen and moved my hand as if I was moving a cursor. Then I went diagnoal to all the corners and around again and all over many times, all the time moving my hand as if I was controlling a cursor. When you look down at the paper you'll see a rough looking square, the tablet you buy needs to be big enough to hold this square.

cidepix · « **Reply #4 on:** January 04, 2013, 04:26 »

graphic tablets are ancient history.. we are no longer in 2006.. you shouldn't pay any money for a graphic tablet..

I understand you are on a budget but instead of wasting that budget, try adding more on it (by selling your laptop maybe) and get this or something similar (not necessarily samsung):
http://www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/pc-peripherals/smart-pc/smart-pc/XE700T1C-A01UK-features

you can use the pen that comes with it, or go pro with this:
http://www.wacom.eu/index2.asp?pid=9221&lang=en&utm_source=homepage&utm_medium=a_slot_1&utm_content=en&utm_campaign=stylus2012

why not directly draw on screen? why limit yourself with ancient graphic tablets..

as a long time user of graphic tablets, I will do exactly what I said above.. just haven't decided which tablet PC yet..

shiyali · « **Reply #5 on:** January 04, 2013, 04:31 »

Quote from: Poncke on January 04, 2013, 03:52

Maybe this one

Wacom Bamboo Pen Tablet - CTL-460 - Graphics

What do I need to pay attention to when it comes to graphic tablets anyway?

That's the one I got a few months ago, it works with touch and pen. I got it because the mouse gave me wrist trouble. I have been very happy with the CTL - 460. I use it in touch mode most of the time, and it is very accurate. Works well with Linux Ubuntu too.

Poncke · « **Reply #6 on:** January 04, 2013, 04:49 »

Thanks guys. I have been reading up and I think its going to be the BAMBOO PEN & TOUCH CTH-470K-EN

Poncke · « **Reply #7 on:** January 04, 2013, 05:28 »

Yep, bamboo pen and touch in the pocket !

shiyali · « **Reply #8 on:** January 04, 2013, 09:04 »

Quote from: Poncke on January 04, 2013, 05:28

Yep, bamboo pen and touch in the pocket !

Congrats, it takes a little getting used to, but you will soon get the hang of it.

Poncke · « **Reply #9 on:** January 04, 2013, 09:06 »

Quote from: shiyali on January 04, 2013, 09:04

Quote from: Poncke on January 04, 2013, 05:28
Yep, bamboo pen and touch in the pocket !

Congrats, it takes a little getting used to, but you will soon get the hang of it.

I think so too, but for the stuff I want to start doing, a mouse is not going to cut it. Im sure I can make my money back with the stuff I am going to produce. 90 euros is easy to make back with the images I am going to create.

EmberMike · « **Reply #10 on:** January 04, 2013, 09:09 »

Quote from: cidepix on January 04, 2013, 04:26

...why not directly draw on screen? why limit yourself with ancient graphic tablets...

Are touch-screen PCs up to speed wit the graphics tablets yet? Last time I looked, there weren't any options available that had the pressure sensitivity and other features that the tablets had. Maybe that's changing though.

As for tablet recommendations, I've heard good things about this one, but haven't tried it myself yet. Supposedly it's very comparable to Wacom but at a fraction of the price.

MikLav · « **Reply #11 on:** January 04, 2013, 09:25 »

I am using Bamboo Pen & Touch myself (CTH-461 model) for photo retouching and I am very happy with it. Got a "refurbished" one from Wacom web site - was a great deal as it came in original packaging without any evidence of previous use - and with a great discount. Use it for about 1.5 years now.

(I used to use a Genius one before which has similar specs on paper but is a very different feeling - I like Wacom much better)

cidepix · « **Reply #12 on:** January 04, 2013, 09:40 »

Quote from: EmberMike on January 04, 2013, 09:09

Quote from: cidepix on January 04, 2013, 04:26
...why not directly draw on screen? why limit yourself with ancient graphic tablets...

Are touch-screen PCs up to speed wit the graphics tablets yet? Last time I looked, there weren't any options available that had the pressure sensitivity and other features that the tablets had. Maybe that's changing though.

very soon, yes.. wacom is getting ready for it

http://www.wacom.eu/index2.asp?pid=9221&spid=6&lang=en
I believe sensitivity is all about the stylus, not the screen.. windows 8 should be pretty good for it once the device is compatible..

both of these are already better than my 4 year old laptop:
http://www.sony.co.uk/product/vn-duo

http://www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/pc-peripherals/smart-pc/smart-pc/XE700T1C-A01UK-features

but I am waiting a few months more as I am expecting much better devices in the first quarter of 2013.. I should get the best one so I can use it another 4 years

I might even go for an all-in-one touchscreen desktop (tablet PC) like this one if it was just a bit more smaller:
http://www.sony.co.uk/product/vn-tap/tab/overview

there will be options.. no need to hurry and burn money now, if it's NOT too crucial for the current work-flow.. it's only a matter of "a few months"..

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #13 on:** January 04, 2013, 11:02 »

I have dual widescreen monitors and a Wacom Intuous tablet. The draw on the screen devices are nice for a sketchpad, but I wouldn't consider them for more than that. There's not enough screen real estate. If and when they make them that would be the size of my old drafting table so I can sit at an angled desktop and draw I'll reconsider.

Regarding the OP, I would strongly suggest that you get into the habit of using the pen for everything - not just for drawing. It helps with the adjustment process (not to mention being so much easier on the arms). Once you break through that period of adjustment you'll wonder how you could have used a mouse for anything like drawing or masking

Poncke · « **Reply #14 on:** January 04, 2013, 11:17 »

Quote from: jsnover on January 04, 2013, 11:02

er.

Regarding the OP, I would strongly suggest that you get into the habit of using the pen for everything - not just for drawing. It helps with the adjustment process (not to mention being so much easier on the arms). Once you break through that period of adjustment you'll wonder how you could have used a mouse for anything like drawing or masking

Thanks Jo, appreciate the input. So you mean when I am working in LR and i.e. Outlook, just use the pen instead of the mouse?

Ok, I will give that a go. Thanks for the tip. I am already imagining working with the pen to prepare for when the tablet is delivered to me.

Jo Ann Snover · « **Reply #15 on:** January 04, 2013, 13:48 »

That's exactly what I mean. I have a mouse on my desk - the Wacom tablet is on the keyboard tray. Once in a while I want to check mouse vs. tablet behavior but otherwise I never use it.

I have express keys on the sides and a touch strip. One of the four keys is mapped to the space bar so I can press that with my left hand and scroll windows up or down with my stylus - so no need for the scroll wheel. You have rocker buttons on the stylus, so that's double click and right click. Single click is a tap of the pen. The other three express keys are mapped to command, option & shift (it'd be control alt shift for a PC) - that's particularly useful for Photoshop. I don't think you have a touch strip on the Bamboo, but those are mapped to Cmd+ and Cmd- to zoom in and out.

Poncke · « **Reply #16 on:** January 04, 2013, 15:52 »

Quote from: jsnover on January 04, 2013, 13:48

That's exactly what I mean. I have a mouse on my desk - the Wacom tablet is on the keyboard tray. Once in a while I want to check mouse vs. tablet behavior but otherwise I never use it.

I have express keys on the sides and a touch strip. One of the four keys is mapped to the space bar so I can press that with my left hand and scroll windows up or down with my stylus - so no need for the scroll wheel. You have rocker buttons on the stylus, so that's double click and right click. Single click is a tap of the pen. The other three express keys are mapped to command, option & shift (it'd be control alt shift for a PC) - that's particularly useful for Photoshop. I don't think you have a touch strip on the Bamboo, but those are mapped to Cmd+ and Cmd- to zoom in and out.

Haha, that sounds like a lot of change, I really have to get used to that. For now it makes little sense to me, what you are explaining but as soon as I have the tablet I will pull your post up and read it again so I can apply it to the tablet. Thanks.

cathyslife · « **Reply #17 on:** January 04, 2013, 18:50 »

i use the pen and and touch at work for all ps work, but dont really use the touch function much.

at home i use an intuos 5. the pen has tilt functions, as well as pressure sensitivity. i wanted that because i am using painter 12. but at work that was overkill so i find the pen and touch more than adequate.

what joanne said about using it for everything. you will have a tendency to put the pen down and go back to the mouse, because its familiar. but the more you use it, the better you get. i know i had to force myself a few times!

shiyali · « **Reply #18 on:** January 04, 2013, 20:28 »

I use an Ergo Touchpad (http://www.ergonomictouchpad.com/) on my left, and a Wacom Bamboo on my right. No more mouse for me, and it's a lot easier on my wrists.

ksponsler · « **Reply #19 on:** January 05, 2013, 17:36 »

Quote from: EmberMike on January 04, 2013, 09:09

Quote from: cidepix on January 04, 2013, 04:26
...why not directly draw on screen? why limit yourself with ancient graphic tablets...

Are touch-screen PCs up to speed wit the graphics tablets yet? Last time I looked, there weren't any options available that had the pressure sensitivity and other features that the tablets had. Maybe that's changing though.

As for tablet recommendations, I've heard good things about this one [nofollow], but haven't tried it myself yet. Supposedly it's very comparable to Wacom but at a fraction of the price.

I bought a Monoprice around a year ago for about $30 and used it for less than 2 months. It wasn't that hard to get used to, but the pen felt scratchy and seemed to skip a lot. But the worst thing was, it needed a battery, which lasted no more than a week. Even when storing it as instructed. Big waste of money, just glad it wasn't much!

gillian vann · « **Reply #20 on:** January 06, 2013, 16:14 »

Quote from: cidepix on January 04, 2013, 04:26

why not directly draw on screen? why limit yourself with ancient graphic tablets..

because of the mess you make on the screen?
because it's nice to be able to watch your work without your hand in the way?

i've not evolved to a tablet yet, although it's on my gadget list (I too get wrist pains from the mouse).

Phil · « **Reply #21 on:** January 07, 2013, 08:57 »

Quote from: jsnover on January 04, 2013, 11:02

I have dual widescreen monitors and a Wacom Intuous tablet. The draw on the screen devices are nice for a sketchpad, but I wouldn't consider them for more than that. There's not enough screen real estate. If and when they make them that would be the size of my old drafting table so I can sit at an angled desktop and draw I'll reconsider.

Regarding the OP, I would strongly suggest that you get into the habit of using the pen for everything - not just for drawing. It helps with the adjustment process (not to mention being so much easier on the arms). Once you break through that period of adjustment you'll wonder how you could have used a mouse for anything like drawing or masking

need to get a nice 24" cintiq

cidepix · « **Reply #22 on:** January 07, 2013, 09:01 »

Quote from: vannphoto on January 06, 2013, 16:14

Quote from: cidepix on January 04, 2013, 04:26

why not directly draw on screen? why limit yourself with ancient graphic tablets..

because it's nice to be able to watch your work without your hand in the way?

what?

my hand was in the way long before the computer era..

remember it all started with pencil and paper and nothing is more comfortable than drawing on paper.. if anything, drawing directly on screen is more natural..

have you heard of cintiq? mother of all graphic tablets? why not draw directly on screen for much less than you would pay for a cintiq while getting a fully functional PC in the same device?

ShadySue · « **Reply #23 on:** January 07, 2013, 09:15 »

I've got whatever was the basic Wacom A6 pad (graphire?) years ago; it has outlived two pcs and is working happily with its third.
I use it for everything, and it's now second nature. Most people say put your mouse away and use it for everything and it'll take you 48 hours. In fact it took me more like 5 days. I use it for everything now, hate touch pads, don't like mice. (It came with a cordless mouse, but I don't use it.)

Just give yourself however long you need to get used to it and get your muscle memory retrained.

gillian vann · « **Reply #24 on:** January 07, 2013, 20:13 »

Quote from: cidepix on January 07, 2013, 09:01

Quote from: vannphoto on January 06, 2013, 16:14
Quote from: cidepix on January 04, 2013, 04:26

why not directly draw on screen? why limit yourself with ancient graphic tablets..

because it's nice to be able to watch your work without your hand in the way?

what?

my hand was in the way long before the computer era..

remember it all started with pencil and paper and nothing is more comfortable than drawing on paper.. if anything, drawing directly on screen is more natural..

you get all the tactile warm and fuzzies from paper, less so from a screen.

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Author Topic: Graphic Tablet - which should I get. Mind you I am on a budget (Read 15145 times)

Poncke

Poncke

Poncke

leaf

cidepix

shiyali

Poncke

Poncke

shiyali

Poncke

EmberMike

MikLav

cidepix

Jo Ann Snover

Poncke

Jo Ann Snover

Poncke

cathyslife

shiyali

ksponsler

gillian vann

Phil

cidepix

ShadySue

gillian vann

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