Graphics Tablets

How many of you use a graphics tablet ? I think it will take some time to master.

I treated myself to a Wacom Intuos 3 today (whilst I was looking for a 10-17 mm). I'm trying to use it for everything at the moment. In fact I'm using it right now with the Handwriting recognition software & how it can fathom out my spider scribble is simply amazing. I'm slowly getting used to it + hope to do some extreme photoshopping + digital art when its raining & I can't go out to take photos. (I'll apologise to the purists in advance !) It does make intricate work in Photoshop much, much easier though.
Not sure I needed the intuos over the bamboo, but wanted a 16:9 format to match my monitor.

I managed to find a fisheye in another shop, so I now have 2 toys to play with + learn to use. First attempt is my Avatar here (start small I say) 80x80 what do you think ? excusing my ugly mug of course !

That is good.I used it few times at work it is great.
It is a good replacement for the Rodent (mouse).

regards

I have the most basic Bamboo. I got it for Christmas last year, and I use it all the time. My mouse tends to gather dust nowadays, though it is still more useful than the tablet for some things.
I don't find the difference in format between the Bamboo and the monitor a problem.

Yea the mouse is a dust eater here too, it only see the light when using it for 3d shooters but that's it.

Although the difference between the mouse and tablet when doing some photoshopping isn't that great, it's mostly filters you use where you adjust sliders and that goes just as well with the both of them

My grandson is looking at tablets for graphics/animation/drawing. what difference does it make if the tablets are A6 or A5 or A4 size

How big your movements are going to be, the area of the tablet correspond with your screen.

You can compare it with actually drawing something on the size of a piece of paper.

A6 is quite small so your drawings will be smaller and less precies but you don't need to move as much with your hand.
A4 is much larger so if you use the whole paper your drawing would have more detail and be precieser if compared with the A6 (if you blow the drawing up to A4 size).
Does this make sense?

A6 is fine to replace your mouse and retouching photos, but if your really wanna draw A5 and up are much better.

Thanks Stefan. do you happen to know if thier are different resolutions in the same size tablets that would make them more precise.

Yes there are different resolutions. I don't know how much that really matter, though.
I have the Intuous3, which I believe has some number of thousand of bits per inch and 1024 levels of sensitivity on the pen.
I don't really know if the x/y resolution makes much of a difference for me. I haven't used other drawing pads before this one.

Oddly, I don't notice more than about 8 to twelve levels of sensitivity when using photoshop. I don't know if it is the pen or Photoshop, but I certainly do not have more than a dozen noticeable steps of pressure difference when drawing. Generally I don't need more than that, but the few times I need a REALLY smooth transition, it just doesn't happen.

Note you also need to deal with response rate as well... I've heard of some graphics tablets not responding as quickly. So when drawing circles, for example, you can only get polygons because the tablet cannot keep up with your movements.

Anyway, you'll need to look at resolution (x,y), steps of pressure sensitivity, and if possible response rate (sadly, the latter is not usually noted in advertising, you'll have to look up reviews to see if any mention is made of it). Argh...

Unfortunately (for us consumers) Wacom have a huge market share, but for good reason. I'd suggest he gets the best Wacom he can afford if he's serious about the hobby.

You could always make his year & buy him a Wacom Cintiq 12wx (check out Youtube, looks alot of fun, but a bit of overkill ! )

Your welcome Barrie

Well the resolution increase because the dpi(?) stays the same, so an A4 would have twice the resolution of an A5.

You can decrease the area of the tablet with the software so you could make from an A4 an A5 if you want or something in between or smaller.

I myself find it very hard not to be able to draw directly on the drawing, like what you do with paper. I find it very hard to draw the lines, colouring goes very well it's just the finer things where position and fluency is important.
For 3D animation, modelling and retouching this is just less of an issue and didn't find myself struggling.

I've tried the Cintiq 12WX once and I'm very tempting to buy one if the price wasn't that high...
hmmm maybe now that the Pound is low

edit
oops, I've readed your comment a bit wrong.
Bamboo one = 1040 dpi, pen pressure sensitivity 512 levels
Bamboo = 2540 dpi, pen 512 levels
Bamboo Fun = 2540 dpi, pen 512 levels
Intuos3 = 5080 dpi, Tilt sensitivity ± 60°, pen pressure sensitivity 1024 levels

With the Intuos3 you can use defferent pens and it has tilt, they work very pleasantly.
For a budget (beginners) solution the Bamboo Fun Medium (A5) would be great.
Don't look for other brands because the pens work on battery and make them heavier, the Wacom's are really worth there price.

Well that depends PR, for his son it probable would but if he is on an university it might be very handy.

There are really some good reasons to buy one if you draw.
You can draw the line right the first time and you can easly position it to draw the line better so it works much faster and more preciese that it saves money because of that.