posted
Been thinking of getting one of these for ever and haven't yet. Anyone recommend a certain size or model over another? I thought bigger was better, but since I don't know how they work I don't know if bigger is better!
Thanks All,
-------------------- Chuck Gallagher Pro Graphics Signs by Design Cabool, MO 417.962.3291 "I grew up in Letterville" Posts: 776 | From: Cabool, Mo. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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-------------------- Chuck Gallagher Pro Graphics Signs by Design Cabool, MO 417.962.3291 "I grew up in Letterville" Posts: 776 | From: Cabool, Mo. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
I bought myself a 9" x 12" Wacom a while back. In all honesty I haven't used it nearly as much as I thought I would, but one reason is because I have far too many irons in the fire. It takes a while to get used to using the pen instead of a mouse, although I've ben told that once I make than transition I will love it. My feelings at this point in time are: I wish I had gone for a smaller model - this one is too big for any computer bag or briefcase and I do a lot of back and forth between home and here. I also find it takes up a lot of desk space and seems too big an area to work on. When I'm at work and in a hurry, I don't feel like I have the time to mess with it. I find the whole setup rather cumbersome and as a result I just don't use it like I would like to be doing. That being said the physical dimensions of the 12"x12" are smaller than those of the 9"x12" - go figure.... My advice would be to go for a smaller size until you get used to it, but I know some will disagree.
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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I have two... there's the smaller 6 X 9 which I use with my laptop. It works great and is perfect for on my lap when I am reclining in my lazyboy or on the road. It fits into the laptop carrying bag without difficulty.
I use my desktop one so much daily I literally wore one out ... the plasic started cracking and the surface got very rough. But it lasted over 8 years of hard use. It was a 12 X 12 which I found a little big.
My current model which I've been using about two years is my 9 X 12 which I use with my desktop. It's a Wacom Intuos 2 and I recommend it highly.
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8740 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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I have a 6x9 Intuos, the ones before there was an Intuos2 or Intuos3.
I think it's the perfect size.. it fits into the laptop bag if I ever want to take it with me and it's not so big that I have to move my arm around much, which means less fatigue and higher efficiency.
The newest model is the Intuos3 family. If you can locate an Intuos2 model, the prices on those SHOULD be dropping since they are no longer manufactured.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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Mine is a 6"x8". (not sure what part you guys are measuring, but that's my actual drawing size area, ... the entire platform is about 9.5"x13". Dave bought it for me as a gift over a year ago, but it has still not become a daily part of my work day. I don't use it much for the sheer reason that I have not made myself get used to it. Like Kelly says, once I do I'm sure I'll love it too. Especially for drawing stuff!
In fact, this post has inspired me to pull it out and use it today!
posted
9 X 12 Intous 2 with a 19 inch monitor is what I found to be the best. Also you must be willing to loose some speed working in the beginning training yourself with the pen and tablet. Like Kelley said if you have too many irons in the fire you may not have time to retrain yourself for the new way to work.
-------------------- Steve Eisenreich Dezine Signs PO BOX 6052 Stn Forces Cold Lake, Alberta T9M 2C5 Posts: 774 | From: Cold Lake | Registered: Mar 2000
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-------------------- Chuck Gallagher Pro Graphics Signs by Design Cabool, MO 417.962.3291 "I grew up in Letterville" Posts: 776 | From: Cabool, Mo. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Chuck, Unlike the others, I like the SMALLER real estate. I have an older Wacom tablet with a 4" x 5" drawing area. I actually divide that into quarters (the software allows you to designate the area you want to work in).I use the upper left-hand quarter and I don't have to move much more than my wrist. I never liked moving my mouse around the pad and the same holds true for the tablet. It really does NOT take a long time to adapt. Like anything else, it will take practice, but you can dive in quickly and be proficient enough to get work done. The benefits outweigh the negatives. It is a fun tool. In case you need to revert, it also comes with a mouse that you can use on the tablet, for those operations that are too intensive or complicated for the pen (right mouse clicking isn't always fun).
-------------------- Gene Golden Gettysburg Signs Gettysburg PA 17325 717-334-0200 genegolden@gettysburgsigns.com
"Art is knowing when to stop." Posts: 1578 | From: Gettysburg, PA | Registered: Jun 2003
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I use a 6 x 8 Intuos everyday and have for 5+ years. I love the options available to set it up just the way you want it, though once it was set I never changed anything again.
That being said, since my office is my home it is hooked up to the home computer...and my wife HATES it. I keep telling her to try it for a week and she'd love it.
Like Gene I also find times when a mouse works better so we have one of the high zoot MS ones hooked up also. Can use either the Wacom or the mouse at any time. Helps to be a lefty on the pad and a righty on the mouse!
There is a definite learning curve to using it but it is very worth the work.
Mark
-------------------- Mark Sheflo Renton, Washington A-Squared Signs, LLC Posts: 145 | From: Renton, Washington | Registered: Feb 2003
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I've got two 6x8' wacoms. Dan, there's a couple things you can do for that old tablet. One, you can cut the plastic protector off with an exactor and a straightedge, then flip it over and stick back to the tablet with double sided tape. You can also purchase new plastic protectors for around $10.
I had the same problem with my tablet gettin scratched up, and did the 'flip over' trick.
posted
Thanks you guys. Having not ever "used" one I wondered if bigger was really better! I can see using the smaller one for less movement, but then didn't know what the trade off would for "not" having a bigger one.
-------------------- Chuck Gallagher Pro Graphics Signs by Design Cabool, MO 417.962.3291 "I grew up in Letterville" Posts: 776 | From: Cabool, Mo. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Good idea Don. But in my case it wasn't just the top plastic that was worn out. The case itself was getting fatigue cracks. That puppy just had waaaaay TOO MANY miles on it.
I was ready to upgrade to USB as well and so passed the old beater on to my brother and got a shiney new one.
For those folks having a bit of a tough time getting used to them... that's normal. The positioning is virtual and not like a mouse... where your pen is your curser is as well. The pressure features are soemting to get used to as well.
It takes a little getting used to looking at the screen and working without looking at where your pen is, but with a little practice it beconmes second nature.
Once you are past the learning curve they are AWESOME tools!
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8740 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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Dan, At least on my 6x8 I can set it to either emulate a mouse or use virtual positioning. Can't stand it when I use a friend's which is set to mouse. But that is part of the joy of having/using the pad, set it how you like to use it!
Mark
-------------------- Mark Sheflo Renton, Washington A-Squared Signs, LLC Posts: 145 | From: Renton, Washington | Registered: Feb 2003
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Mark, that's the joy of the Intuos tablets.. if it's set to "mouse", just tap the pen in the box on the tablet labeled "pen" and it changes mode on the fly for ya.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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Exactly Mike! But if your not ready for it the first thing you try and do just doesn't work though! And do not forget to change it back when working on someone elses tablet if they are not very proficient yet. Changing back and forth can drive a rookie nuts!
Mark
-------------------- Mark Sheflo Renton, Washington A-Squared Signs, LLC Posts: 145 | From: Renton, Washington | Registered: Feb 2003
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posted
Thanks for the info all, but I'm not sure what to even look for in terms of DPI line resolutions, senstivity, etc. I've seen some Aiptek and have heard they have the same specs as the Wacom but much cheaper. Anybody using these? I'm all for saving money, but a tool is only used if it helps you work not save money!
Thanks
-------------------- Chuck Gallagher Pro Graphics Signs by Design Cabool, MO 417.962.3291 "I grew up in Letterville" Posts: 776 | From: Cabool, Mo. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Chuck, you can buy just about any tablet but for the cheapest, bottom line. Other than that, don't get anything under 6x9. Relolution on the wacom 6x9 will work perfect for what we do. Get a larger one if you can budget it.
As far as a tool, just think of it as a pen shaped mouse. Use it just like you would do with a mouse, but enjoy that it works like a pen...you don't have to slide it from one side of the monitor to the other like a mouse, and it's pressure sentitive for applications like corelpaint and coreldraw and photoshop. You will have the ability to finesse.
posted
Hey Chuck, they sell a brand-new Wacom 9 x 12 in the latest MacMall catalog for $399. So, $380 on Ebay is not that great of a deal especially if it keeps going higher.
posted
Chuck, cheaper hardware usually comes with lousy software and drivers (lock-ups, not as functional, etc.) but I've never used an Aiptek so I don't know about them.
My only experiences with tablets involve my 6x8 Wacom for graphics, and extensive CAD use with a 24"x24" Summagraphics and a 44"x60" Calcomp. Those experiences were always flawless.
The resolution and sensitivity specs of the tablets are kind of a moot point. Yeah the better the numbers the better the performance but realistically you probably wont notice much difference between 512, 1028 or 2056 levels of pressure sensitivity or 2540 vs 5080lpi resolution.
-------------------- "If I share all my wisdom I won't have any left for myself."
Mike Pipes stickerpimp.com Lake Havasu, AZ mike@stickerpimp.com Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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posted
Mine is a 5 X 7 Cross. I've used many different kinds and many larger ones, but prefer the size I have. You don't have to move so far to do things.
-------------------- Rove Gratz Gratz Signs 342 Walden Station Drive Macon, GA 31216 rovegratz@aol.com Home Page: http://rove-342.tripod.com Posts: 861 | From: Macon, GA 31216 | Registered: Jan 2004
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I use the aiptek 9x12 here and have no complaints,...The price is right,...works great in all my software,.....and haven't had any problems to date in over two years of steady daily use,....So it ain't a "Brand Name" but after three or four tablets worn out here in the past decade (all expensive "Name Brands")it gets my vote for the money,...
-------------------- fly low...timi/NC is, Tim Barrow Barrow Art Signs Winston-Salem,NC Posts: 2224 | From: Winston-Salem,NC,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Mind if I ask how you guys are using these tablets?
Are you drawing over artwork you've scanned in?
If so, is this cleaner results than a trace program? (must be).
-------------------- James Donahue Donahue Sign Arts 1851 E. Union Valley Rd. Seymour TN. (865) 577-3365 brushman@nxs.net
Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what's for lunch, Benjamin Franklin Posts: 2057 | From: 1033 W. Union Valley Rd. | Registered: Feb 2003
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Wow! More great responses. Brian Diver turned me on to the Aiptek. His research showed all the same specs and China label as the Wacom at about half price!
quote: Mark, that's the joy of the Intuos tablets.. if it's set to "mouse", just tap the pen in the box on the tablet labeled "pen" and it changes mode on the fly for ya.
Hey Timi,
Can you switch back and fourth between mouse and pen? Not having used one I don't even know the right questions to ask yet!
Thanks everyone
-------------------- Chuck Gallagher Pro Graphics Signs by Design Cabool, MO 417.962.3291 "I grew up in Letterville" Posts: 776 | From: Cabool, Mo. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Occasionally I will draw over something taped to my tablet, but most of the time I draw over a bitmap that I have scanned or imported from somewhere.
If you are using CorelDraw, make sure you right click on the image and "lock object".
This will prevent the bipmap from moving while you are doing your work over it.
After you have your bipmap traced you can right click again to unlock object before you delete it.
[ January 20, 2005, 09:32 AM: Message edited by: Rovelle W. Gratz ]
-------------------- Rove Gratz Gratz Signs 342 Walden Station Drive Macon, GA 31216 rovegratz@aol.com Home Page: http://rove-342.tripod.com Posts: 861 | From: Macon, GA 31216 | Registered: Jan 2004
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Chuck,...yes you have several controls with which adjust the settings to your preferences,and several programable commands along the top edge that can be programed to execute many commands and keyboard shortcuts,.....
It comes with both a mouse and a pen stylus either of which will switch back and forth by putting one down and starting to use the other.You can have different settings for each tool.
-------------------- fly low...timi/NC is, Tim Barrow Barrow Art Signs Winston-Salem,NC Posts: 2224 | From: Winston-Salem,NC,USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Cool! Thanks a bunch Timi. Sounds like it's worth trying then.
Appreciate all the help everyone.
Ya gotta love Letterville!!!
See ya
-------------------- Chuck Gallagher Pro Graphics Signs by Design Cabool, MO 417.962.3291 "I grew up in Letterville" Posts: 776 | From: Cabool, Mo. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
I just looked around at Ebay and there's a ton of Wacom's for sale if anyone is shopping.
-------------------- Chuck Gallagher Pro Graphics Signs by Design Cabool, MO 417.962.3291 "I grew up in Letterville" Posts: 776 | From: Cabool, Mo. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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