Graphic Tablets

[b00sk]

Apologies if this is the wrong place for this thread, but do people find it easier to apply their graphics to PhotoShop with a mouse or a graphics tablet? I am currently using a tremendously mediocre optical mouse - from Tesco, that cost around 7 quid. I would like to know if it is easier (as I assume it is) to apply free-hand shapes / lines to PhotoShop using a tablet. If it is a good idea to get a tablet (or a better mouse) then does anyone know which one to get (and where to get one from in the UK).

As always, any help much appreciated

[kokopedal]

Not sure what a quid is but tryNewegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, Digital Cameras and more!You can buy a tablet there for around $100-300 dollars. Personaly I use a wacom and am very happy with it.

[tamlin]

kokopedal: a "quid" is a slang term for a Pound Sterling - similar to using the term "buck" for a dollar.

b00sk: Basically, anything you would do comfortably with a pen and paper - such as drawing curves, handwriting or precise colouring - will benefit from a graphics tablet in Photoshop (or similar applications). As to which to get - well, that depends very much on your budget. Wacom are the industry standard, but are also pretty expensive. Personally, I use a Trust TB-2100, which works fine for me:

Amazon.co.uk: TRUST TB-2100 WIRELESS TABLET: Electronics & Photo: Trust

Amazon.co.uk: Wacom Bamboo One Graphics Tablet: Electronics & Photo

[b00sk]

Thanks chaps,

Apologies for the slang, my new laptop is setup differently to my old one and the '£' key gives me a " and i've not got round to changing it yet.

[yusreey]

i heard about this tablets before..i think i want to buy it (around 300 Ringgit Malaysia)..but my friend said that it will low my art value because i take an easy way to produce art or design..if anybody can convince me that this tablets or wacom has more to offer than art value..then i buy it...sometimes i dunno which is right and which is wrong..

[tamlin]

No offence yusreey, but I think your friend is talking crap. I believe that you'll find that most serious digital artists and/or designers use a graphics tablet for at least some (if not all) of their work. I certainly know I'd be lost without mine when it comes to photo retouching and/or manipulation.

[DanielM]

All that is required to transfer to a tablet is patience the learnig curve is not that steep since you already now how to use a pencil, once you crack the interface you are golden.Remember your mouse is not pressurre sensitive your tablet is ,big bonus for shading and brushes.So sit down take a breath and go for it.Regards

[unleash]

Yusree,

artvalue isn't determined by the amount of work put into it....(picasso) but by the emotion put in it. And art value is always determined by those who look/ watch and not by those who make the artwork!

just my 2 cent

Anyway, I got myself a wacom the other day(they became cheaper(how do you call that) they where cheaper for a month....) So I started and I noticed that it indeed is very handy...but Im still having some problems with the absolute positioning, like the left corner of the tablet is the left corner of the screen. And my mouse doesn't have a scrollweel Do your mouse have scrollweel or what?

[supertackyman]

if i could only get an old 16 button puck mouse like i had when i went to school for autocad in the early 90's, i would be as happy at that proverbial pig. i could program each of the buttons for a certain task and then almost put the tools and many other screen hogs away. and yes i know about keyboard shortcuts, but my left hand wont let go of my coffee/rockstar.
speaking of left hands, that kinda brings me to my point/question. any lefties out there that have tabs? before i even consider investing i wanna know if theyre compatable.
any southpaw thats ever tried to use a clipboard understands, i'm sure.

cant use a mouse left handed to save my life. cant use a pen right handed the same way. go figure.

[yusreey]

you guys is right...i think my friend is so jealous to me because i show some smudge painting to him last week..he dont really care because he is lead designer in my office and i`m working under he's surveillance...well..i`m going to buy this tablet and learn how to use it..hope its help to improve my artwork..im getting tired smudging with my mouse..

[unleash]

Originally Posted by supertackyman

if i could only get an old 16 button puck mouse like i had when i went to school for autocad in the early 90's, i would be as happy at that proverbial pig.

I'm not sure what you mean by "puck mouse" (I was born in the 90' )but there are some pretty decent mouses with a lot of buttons, logitech has some...I think there laser mouses have 11 buttons or so.

Yusreey,

Good decision

[supertackyman]

a puck mouse is what our school called it. it was a mouse that had a set of crosshairs in a clear lens at the top end. surronded by some sort of induction coil that was used on a special pad and sensed its location. this was the early 90's....
it has 16 macro programable buttons. i believe the pad/tablet could also be used with a pen, but we didnt have such luxury there.
remember this was pre windows. (no pull down menus or tool bars) all the commands had to be typed in, so a mouse that did that for ya was real handy.

[Queen]

i use both..a wacom tablet and my mouse..i find that they are equally as useful for different things..i like the pressure sensitivity of the tablet when im drawing..but i work much faster using my mouse for things that need a steady hand or dont require pressure work.

Q

[yusreey]

last saturday when i`m doing the smudge painting for my favourite prison break actress, my left click mouse function not response..i know its because i overused my mouse for smudge..then i decide to buy one more mouse..and of course the tablet's..i went to the pc store and i`m so surprise...graphic tablet is tag for RM1200!..its woacom..i forget the size..but its so expensive..i cannot afford to buy it..then the salesgirl recommend me with smaller size tablets..its BAMBOO..made in taiwan..no warranty...and its only rm400..finally i decide to buy only acer mouse..i`m so sad..why tablets is so expensive?..how about you guys..is it expensive too in your country?..start from today i have to buy more instant noodles for my kitchen..of course its for dinner and lunch..otherwise...i cannot use wacom tablet's forever...

p/s: RM 3.80 = EURO 1.00

[tamlin]

The standard Wacom tablets are expensive because they're classed as "professional" tools. Don't be put off by the relative inexpensiveness of the Bamboo, though - it's Wacom's attempt to corner the amateur/semi-professional end of the graphics tablet market. Bamboos have received some good reviews:

Wacom Bamboo Graphics Tablet - TrustedReviews
Wacom Bamboo - Review - Tech.co.uk
Wacom Bamboo Review - PhotographyBLOG

If you simply must have a Wacom (and still have money left for food), then I think the Bamboo is definitely worth thinking about. On the other hand, Wacom aren't the only manufacturers of tablets. As I mentioned above, I use a Trust TB-2100. It's about half the price of a Bamboo and probably lacks some of its fancy features but it does everything I need it to.