Wacoms

[steelsky]

Howdi,

I have a cheapy wacom, have done for a while, but seldom use it - obviously ill need to change this habbit if i do more with mud lol.

This is a general question to you all, what wacom do you use, how do you find it? do you wish you could use a bigger or smaller model etc. And also how do you have it set up? pen mode mouse mode etc? Any niggles and work around?

Like wayne says in his videos his arm works differently, one setup may work for him and not for someone elses. However, I do find it usefull to experiment with other peoples methods.

I dont want this to turn into a 'my setup is best' thread, its just for experimentation really - and it may help other beginers.

[cali3d]

Personally I like my wacom big - I have the A4 intous 2. I use it in pen mode and almost the whole area. I do some sketching aswell, and I love freedom of movement that the big wacom gives, to make huge soft strokes (kinda starting to sound something from a certain genre of home movies) - not on purpose!

After a while you will be able to put the pen down in the tablet almost to the point where you want to, just takes some hours of use.

I dont know how I ever have been able to live without a wacom. Besides, its a nice change from the mouse aswell. I even use it in Maya alot.

[Arathrax]

I have Intuos 3 at home and the Cintiq 18"SX at work. I love them both and have no problem using either.
The Cintiq tends to get a bit warm. Wish I had one of the new ones but it's still great.

[irobert]

I use a Intuos 3 6x8 at home, and pretty much every place I have worked at has this model. While sometimes it's a bit strange when running multiple large widescreens due to the extreme aspect ratio, you get use to it. I use it in pen mode, and have the pen buttons near the index finger setup as middle and right click. I prefer keeping the "preserve aspect ratio" off so I can use more of the tablet, just don't ask me to draw a perfect circle :P. At home I don't have a mouse even plugged into my workstation, I use the pen for everything.

[steelsky]

Cheers for the replys :)

Cali, have you always used A4, or did you start out with smaller and work up? Do you think pen mode is viable on a small a6 wacom, or is it just too small to work effectivly? Im mainly asking as I dont have mine even installed to play at the moment lol... so bad, call myself an artist haha. I have always been intregued by friends who use there wacom exlusivly, like you even in maya etc lol. Its gonna take me a while to feel so comfy.

Arthrax, Ive never had the chance to use a Cintiq, looks like a whole new experience!!.... is your intuos3 an A4? and have you used smaller or larger in the past?

irobert, im still on a couple of old CRTs here so the aspect ratio isnt an issue i dont think, but that does sound a pain lol. It would drive me nuts haha, I suppose id have to get a a5wide if i upgrade my screens at some point if it was a problem hahaha.

Do your wacoms ever break through heavy use etc? and how often do ya replace nibs? hehe saw a friend of mines the other week and it was the oddest shape hehe.

Again ta for the replys :)

[irobert]

Yeah I prefer to work on a single large display (30"), but at work I currently have 2 24's. Same dimensional Wacom for both, so going from system to system is always a bit odd for the first few minutes. I think of all the years I have been using various Wacoms, only 1 has ever broke on me. One thing I don't like about the Wacoms is that you cant have 2 of the same model next to each other, for separate Wacoms for separate systems. They interfere with each other giving your pen strokes seizures.

[RobinB]

I've got an Intuos 2 A5 (6x8 I think) at work and an older model Graphire A5 at home that I picked up cheap second hand. I find that size plenty. I wouldn't have space to handle a bigger one at either location since there's a lot of space around the active surface (and even more with the Intuos 3 as it's got buttons on the sides). And I find myself having to move my arm almost too much even at that size. My mouse speed is pretty high and I don't use anywhere near that amount of space for mousing.

Smaller than A5 is too small for me. I used to have an old Artpad 2 A6 ages ago at work and that was too small to be able to draw smoothly. I never used that for sculpting (too long ago), but it was hard work in Photoshop.

The Graphire isn't as nice to hold as the Intuos. The pen shape is slimmer and it isn't rubberised and the surface of the tablet is a lot shinier. I haven't noticed any real difference in pressure sensitivity, but I've not been using Mud for all that long yet. The pen doesn't track as far over the surface on the Graphire so I find myself losing it more often.

I understand the Bamboo tablets are much better than the Graphire ones were but I've never used one.

I'd love a Cintiq, but they're so expensive and I can't justify that.

I've never heard of a Wacom breaking. They're very sturdy and pretty much solid. Not much to break really. Closest I came was plugging in the wrong power supply and melting a small spot on the Artpad. Still worked though after I realised my mistake and ripped the power cord out. :)

I used to put paper over the old Artpad for a better feel than the raw tablet and that ate through pen nibs quite badly. I haven't needed to replace my nib for my Intuos yet and I've had it years, but I don't use it full time. They come with a little bundle of spare nibs anyway.

[ZippZopp]

i use a 6x8 Intuos 3 at both work and home. I can't complain at all. i had a 9x12 at one point, but it was just too large for me. the 6x8 is perfect. I would like to try out a cintiq at some point though, seems interesting

[Hulahuga]

I got an old wacom intous, the first one I think ,haha. The install manual was for windows 95 :P.
Well either way, Proportions are important to me. SO make sure they have the same as your screen. My wacom is A4, though I only draw with it in PS. I've actually never sculpted with a wacom, or any other drawing board for that matter, there are a lot of other good drawing boards you know ;).

[m,kearney]

thanks for all the great info :)

been toying with the idea of splashing out on one of these for a bit now.
wasn't sure if it would be worth it given my limited skill level
but using a mouse isn't helping me progress any .
and i come from a lot more conventional background ie drawing and painting .

so any suggestions for a starter tab would be great .
i do think the smaller ones may be a bad idea since im 6,4" lol
what i may do is get a book of the same size .
then tape a sheet of paper the same size as the work area to it .
try a quick 5 minute sketch to see how it feels.
that way i can see what size suits me best .
im from a small town in n,ireland so its not like i can walk in somewhere and try one out lol

[dessi]

i was same m8 but having spoken to wayne desided to get a cheap one to see how i did with it . i got a trust slimline one cheap but i find it prity good
for the job i need it for as i improve ill be looking at a wacom
if your intrested in looking at one give me a pm m8 ill gladdly send some info over


yours karl

[m,kearney]

just been looking at the "Trust Wide Screen Design Tablet TB-7300"
and i think it may be the one for me ,its a good size cheap and the reviews seem good.
will look into it a bit more but im almost tempted to get paypal on the go lol

[cali3d]

I do not recommend you anything else than a Wacom, since Wacom's pen system is not with batteries that has to be changed. This means that the pen is light and feels very nice in the hand.

The pen on Trust tablets, is awkward, heavy because of the battery that has to be changed.

My wife wanted to give me a tablet as a present, and she didn't know anything about them, so she found that nice and shiny one from Trust. And frankly - it sucked - even the software wasn't completely compatible with my OS. The Pen was awful - heavy thick and clumsy!

In my eyes it is a waste of money if you spend them on anything else than wacom. Its better to buy a smaller wacom than any other brand.

No I dont work for Wacom :P

[Wayne]

I've been on record a number of times and still belive that for purely health reasons alone any tablet is better than none at all. Long periods of sculpting using a mouse is a 1 way ticket to carpal tunnel syndrome.... I had CTS very badly indeed for over a year, so while a wacom is indeed light years ahead of anything else tablet wise, I'd never say not to get another make simply on that basis. From a prevention point of view you realy do not want to be using a mouse to sculpt for long periods of time over a number of months / years. That is not to say everyone could / will get CTS ony that surely it makes sense to cut down the risk where possible.

So if you can afford a wacom certainly buy one..if not go for something cheaper.


Wayne...

[irobert]

Totally have to agree there with Wayne on that note as well. Back when I was in school (pre mudbox and zb) I did all my modeling via mouse in Maya, and I was getting serious hand and shoulder pains after long hours/days of modeling. I soon after started to force myself to use a Wacom for all computer usage and I have not had those types of pains return, at least not anywhere to the level that using a mouse caused.

[RobinB]

Although that's not neccessarily an automatic win. I conversely find I get cramp in my hand if I clutch a pen (tablet stylus or traditional) for long periods of time. The closed up finger position puts a tension on the tendon across the palm to the thumb. So I find a nice big flat mouse is much less stressful on my hand. Intellimouse Explorers are my favourites. Very little pressure required on the buttons.

But you can't really use Mudbox with a mouse, the pressure sensitivity is too much a part of the workflow.

So I mix it up. I use the mouse for 3D stuff, windows navigation and normal mousey things and only use the tablet as required in Mud or Photoshop when painting. I have both set up at once at work with the tablet below the keyboard and the mouse mat off to the side so I can just grab the appropriate item as I want. At home I don't have space so the tablet is always being moved around. I'll have to suss out how to deal with that properly in the future.

[Wagner]

I'm kinda a freak, I use Wacom with my left and mouse/spacenav with my right hand. :) (Hopefully Mudbox supports 3DConnexion's Spacenav someday)

What comes to tablets, I've only had Wacom. Love it, it's old one, the first intuous model from Wacom, but still works like a charm. My next Wacom is hopefully Cintiq.

[Hulahuga]

I'm kinda a freak, I use Wacom with my left and mouse/spacenav with my right hand. :) (Hopefully Mudbox supports 3DConnexion's Spacenav someday)

What comes to tablets, I've only had Wacom. Love it, it's old one, the first intuous model from Wacom, but still works like a charm. My next Wacom is hopefully Cintiq.


Haha, we got the same old board :P.
Do you also have the problem with the newest drivers, where the configuration text is missing?? (hope it explains it)

[cali3d]

I've been on record a number of times and still belive that for purely health reasons alone any tablet is better than none at all. Long periods of sculpting using a mouse is a 1 way ticket to carpal tunnel syndrome.... I had CTS very badly indeed for over a year, so while a wacom is indeed light years ahead of anything else tablet wise, I'd never say not to get another make simply on that basis. From a prevention point of view you realy do not want to be using a mouse to sculpt for long periods of time over a number of months / years. That is not to say everyone could / will get CTS ony that surely it makes sense to cut down the risk where possible.

So if you can afford a wacom certainly buy one..if not go for something cheaper.


Wayne...


Of course you are right on anything is better than none.