Gimma all those tools...

[elli]

We just had a presentation about using a wacom, a graphic tablet and damn, it looks so good. The thing is, the last tiem I tried that I failed miserably, but that was years ago and I feel that the tablets are better now thn they used to be.

But gad, sharing a tablet with the whole company seems extreme. The thing is, the tablet we have costs 500 Euros. Which is way too much.

My question is this. Have any of you experience with a graphic tablet and can recommend one that is not quite that expensive?

Comments

[legoline.livejournal.com]

I did buy a cheaper one for 60€ once but...it really wasn't great. And I had a feeling it wasn't just my lacking skills, you really had to press the pen on the tablet, it was just awkward. It was an AIPTEK by the way, and I did hear you can work really well with those but I guess you'll have to spend a little more than 60€ then :-)(Mine's this: http://www.amazon.de/Aiptek-8000-Hyperpen-mechanisch-Kabel/dp/B000308YZU/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=ce-de&qid=1204025978&sr=8-4 ) Or maybe I was just really unlucky.

From what I've heard, Wacoms really are the way to go. Very, very expensive... but...

[elli.livejournal.com]

Do you still have it?

Just look at this: http://www.amazon.de/Wacom-INTUOS3-WIDE-TABLET-Grafiktablett/dp/B000ECWZI4/ref=sr_1_34?ie=UTF8&s=ce-de&qid=1204027287&sr=1-34

A3!!! omg..rofl.

[legoline.livejournal.com]

Yes, I do. For some reason it doesn't work properly anymore but you could try it if you want. Maybe you can fix it? :-p

WOW! A3????

[elli.livejournal.com]

That would be very cool :) We can try that together with the other sutff :)

A3! Serously!!!!

[legoline.livejournal.com]

I'd have to find the cables and everything first but I'll be trying to hunt them down ;-)

[elli.livejournal.com]

You're the bestest!!!!!!!!

[legoline.livejournal.com]

*SMISH*

[nokitas.livejournal.com]

well i have an ngs, but don't know which model it's, i'll try to look for the box if you want.
the tablet is not too bad serisouly, actually is all i need to do the things i do,and i coasted less then 100€ but i'm not sure how much cause it was a gift from dad.

=D

[elli.livejournal.com]

Cool thanks... did you have any problems using it?

[half-lit-world.livejournal.com]

I have a tiny Wacom one, I think it's a graphire 2? It's about six years old by now and I still love it to bits.
It's small, the working area is only about A6, which I was at first a bit worried about, but it works fine for me (I guess it depends on what you are planning to use it for and how you normally work, i.e. if you need a lot of space or if you're happy with a tiny corner of the paper, like me ;))
I've got no idea how expensive it was, but it was less than half of the one you have there...

[elli.livejournal.com]

You wouldn't let me try it out would you? I coul bribe with chocolate. Or something like it ;)

We have an A4 at work.. and I do know I need a broader space. But really, it's awefully expensive.

[half-lit-world.livejournal.com]

well, we could have a test session sometimes soon ;)

mm, I thought you might need a bigger one. just test the a6 one and see if that works at all for you. the good thing with the smaller one is that you don't need to move your arm so much :P *is lazy*

[elli.livejournal.com]

That would most awesome!!!!

*g* you're not lazy, but your draweing is much more tiny and cute. Mine usually looks like someone hit you with a roadblock.

[half-lit-world.livejournal.com]

:)

aww!

[elli.livejournal.com]

<3

[half-lit-world.livejournal.com]

was übrigens auch ganz wichtig ist, ist die rechenleistung von dem computer, mit dem du das tablett benutzt. ich hab immer ecken in den sachen gehabt, die ich gemalt habe, jetzt mit mehr arbeitsspeicher ist das überhaupt kein problem mehr.

[tigress35.livejournal.com]

I suppose it depends on what you want to do with it? I'd probably stick with Wacom but maybe get one of their less expensive models, which all work quite well. From what I understand, you just get more sensitivity (for brushes and detail and etc) or size from the more expensive ones. I have one that cost $100 USD (it was the tiniest, cheapest one about three years ago, I think a graphire as mentioned above) and although sometimes I wish I had a bigger one or one that is more sensitive, it does work quite well enough for what I do in layer masks and general work, since I'm not a serious, serious artist that is drawing from scratch on it or anything like that.

[elli.livejournal.com]

Yeah, as far is I know wacoms are the most reliable you can get.

And what is most important to me, is like you said, the sensitivity and the pens and size. And I'd like to try draw little things..do handwritten typo and stuff like that.

Thanks :)

[bingeling]

Ooooh I love my Wacom to death! ♥

When I first tried working with a tablet of a friend I failed miserably as well, but once you grasp the concept it's so much fun to work with!

I use mine not only for drawing/retouching but also for vectors and, well, everything else. :)

I have a Wacom Graphire Wireless, which cost around 350 Euros when I bought it but now costs only 250 Euros.
The active area is around A5, which can be a bit small, but you get used to it.

I just think one would be better off with a Graphire4 instead of a Graphire Wireless. Because I sometimes have problems with the Bluetooth, where my PC doesn't recognize my tablet or my tablet doesn't recognize my PC, which can really be rather annoying. I also had to reinstall the driver two times already.
But if you don't mind that, not having to bother with a cable is awesome. The battery lasts, like, forever, so you don't even have to take a power cable with you when you want to travel with it.

[elli.livejournal.com]

*grins* I've used one once and I had lots of trouble. But I guess the one I used was really bad.

We had some tsuff shown to use, and using it with vectors looked really aesome. And I definately don't want to use a wireless.

250 euros is manageeable I think.

[bingeling]

A Graphire 4 XL has the same size of the Wireless one (and the same sensitivity, just a slightly lower resolution) and only costs 200 Euros. So if you don't want to use a wireless, that would be the way to go.

Of course the Intuos series has better quality, I initially wanted to buy an Intuous, but it was just too expensive for me. :/
Depends really on how much you want to spend...

But so far the detail and sensitivity of my Graphire was more than I needed, so all is well. ;)

[nokitas.livejournal.com]

no i don't and i have it fo almost a year already.
you're welcome.

[elli.livejournal.com]

:)

[newkidfan.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm very satisfied with mine and I've had it for years. It's a Wacom Intuos2 A5 (http://www.wacom-europe.com/uk/products/intuos2/intuos_a5.asp#oben). For what I do, it suits my need perfectly. Since it's an old model, you can't find it in the wacom shop anymore as Intuos3 came out since then.

Of course, price aside, my dream tablet is the cintiq 21UX (http://www.wacom-europe.com/int/products/cintiq/index.asp?lang=en). God. Me wants. Bad. I lust (http://newkidfan.livejournal.com/170953.html). Watch this and drool (http://sclipo.com/video/cintiq-in-action). Give me a few yers... when it won't cost 2500euros anymore.

[elli.livejournal.com]

Now you made me curiois. Do you use it for handwritten stuff and such? aybe for the paintings you make?

2500??? wtf!!!! But wow.. it's a wacom and a Ligthbox all in one!

[newkidfan.livejournal.com]

Yes, I do. I use the pen for everything that is hand-written, for digital painting as well... In my icons too. ;P It's a pleasure to use the tablet in Painter, so much better than a mouse as you can play with pressure and angle. Mine is A5 so the working area can feel a bit small sometimes but you get used to it --besides you can put it in mouse mode and it will feel significantly bigger than in pen mode. The tablet fits in my laptop case so I carry it around with me very easily.

Yes, 2500 dollars, but OMG, it's the best thing ever.

[lapetite-kiki.livejournal.com]

I have a Wacom Graphire.4 4x5 and I'm very happy with it! It was around 100$.

[elli.livejournal.com]

That seemsa a fair price :)Thanks hon!
do you use it for your manips a lot?

[lapetite-kiki.livejournal.com]

Yep, I only use my tablet when I manip now. I wouldn't go back to a mouse, I really like the feeling and control that I have with the pen.

[another-trauma.livejournal.com]

I got a wacom bamboo fun tablet
it comes with 2 software programs
wacom bamboo without the software is 100euros
size is 280*235*11mm (work space: 217*135mm) I think that's A5?
i only got it recently, i haven't worked with it much but I love it!
The saleguy recommended me a wacom tablet, the cheaper ones (like Trust)usually don't work that good

[girlandetc.livejournal.com]

i got a wacom for work. its a bigger one, but honestly, you could get one of the really small ones and probably be fine. i would get a wacom though, as they are much nicer than the cheap-y brands. :)

[cpt-untouchable.livejournal.com]

Hey, Elli. Here from newkidfan's post to toss in my (quickly devaluing) two cents. I have a dirt cheap Super Pen tablet (http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/input/5ede/) that's served me well for a couple of years, now. I'm drooling like mad over the Cintiq, but as far as reliable tablets go? My super basic tablet is surprisingly great. I use it instead of a mouse, for handwriting recognition, as well as for graphics. It's fabulous for vectoring and painting, but I can't draw very well with it. I think that's my deficiency, though, rather than the tablet's. ;)

[tinny]

technically, the main difference between wacom and the others is that wacom holds the patent on battery-free pens. So all the others have a battery inside the pen, which makes them really bulky. ;(

I chose a wacom graphire 3 when I bought mine, it has decent sensitivity and a5 size. I use it mostly for cutting out people for manips and for writing text. I can't draw with it very well, but i really like the tablet.