I was wondering if
this generous group of colleagues would give me their recommendations on what
size and type of digitizing tablet and stylus to
buy. A recent bout of
Repetitive Strain Injury has inspired me
to switch from mouse to
stylus for at least some tasks. I mostly draw
freehand and scan but I do quite a
lot
of erasing, and some
mapping etc where I intend to
change to using a stylus.
I know this was discussed some time ago
but equipment seems to change model numbers very
quickly.
Will Smith
Project Officer
(Botanical Imaging)
Environmental
Sciences
Department of Environment
and Resource Management Toowong Brisbane Australia
Telephone (07)
38969508
As of 26
March 2009 the Department of Natural Resources and Water/Environmental
Protection Agency integrated to form the Department of Environment and Resource
Management
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
Think B4U
Print
1
ream of paper = 6% of a tree and 5.4kg CO2 in the atmosphere
3
sheets of A4 paper = 1 litre of water
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
________________________________________________
Need to leave or subscribe to the Sciart-L listserv? Follow the instructions
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----------
From: Ron Ruff <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Mon,
Dec 14, 2009 at 12:29 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
I use a Wacom Intuos 3. Mine is medium sized with a live area of 6 1/2 by
11.
It has a wider aspect than some, which works well for the 16x9 monitors, or
people with 2 monitors.
Warning- if you go too big, you will have shoulder and elbow problems to go
along with your wrist problems. If you go too small, you will wish you had more
room for longer brush strokes, and better details.
Mine was a couple hundred bucks a few years ago. I haven't looked at the
new ones, so I can't give you any advice on specific models, just general
thoughts about what works for me. Good luck with your search.
Ron Ruff
freelance animator.
----------
From: Mieke Roth <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Mon,
Dec 14, 2009 at 5:37 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Hi
Will,
This subject
is discussed here several times and I will give mostly the same response as I
did at those times: it depends on your needs but, if you are able, buy a large
21 inch wacom cintiq. I don’t agree with Rons remark about wrist problems for
this one, because it mimics a traditional workplace in the most extreme. So with
a cintiq you decide if your movements are wide or small, not the apparatus. I
have the large cintiq now for 3 years and I don’t want anything else. Wacom
gives you the possibility to buy several types of styluses, but until now I just
used the one that came with the cintiq. I also have the smaller 12 inch cintiq.
That is a good alternative, especially if I am doodling around, but for
continuous work I prefer a larger canvas.
The great
advantage of the cintiq above all the other wacom tablets is that you are
working directly on your monitor, which gives the most natural feeling.
As for me:
since I have the 21 inch cintiq I completely stopped working in traditional
media because the cintiq, together with the right applications like painter,
zbrush and such, could replace them all. So be careful! ;-)
Mieke
From: SciArt-L Discussion
List-for Natural Science Illustration- [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Ron Ruff
Sent: maandag 14 december 2009
6:30
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [SCIART]
----------
From: Glendon Mellow <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, Dec 14, 2009 at 5:49 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Hey
Will,
I agree with Mieke even though I haven't ever used a Cintiq.
But they're sweet.
I use a Wacom Intuos 3 like Ron, and I love it.
Mine has a smaller area (4.5x6) and it works great with my 21" monitor. I picked
mine up near the end of the life cycle for the model. Unless you find one
used, The Intuos 3 has been replaced by the Intuos 4. I believe the main
differences are greater sensitivity and more programmable keys.
They`re
a lot of fun to use.
--
Glendon Mellow
The Flying Trilobite:
http://glendonmellow.blogspot.comArt in Awe of
Science
2010 Calendar now available!
Print
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LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/glendonmellow/
----------
From: Bruce Bartrug <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Mon,
Dec 14, 2009 at 8:57 AM
To: SciArt-L Discussion List-for Natural Science
Illustration- <[log in to unmask]>
Forgive
my seemingly Luddhite knowledge of Wacom products, but both the Intuos and
Cintiq interact with one's computer monitor to create drawings, right? The
Intuos looks like a stand-alone device, which would be awesome for $300. I
would love to have something to carry with me when traveling to easily continue
with work in progress, but I'm assuming that would require a laptop plus the
Wacom product, right? Or a laptop with a pressure sensitive screen.
I've heard the latter aren't as sensitive as the Wacom devices though.
Anyone wish to help clarify my not-so-Luddhite mind?
:)b
--
Bruce Bartrug
Nobleboro, Maine,
USA
[log in to unmask]
www.brucebartrug.com
The world is a dangerous place,
not because of those who do evil, but because of those who look on and do
nothing. - Albert Einstein
----------
Hi
Bruce,
The intuos
is “just” a tablet that you can use as input device. It works as a mouse but
with a pen instead of the mouse. It is not a stand alone. The cintiq is a
monitor on which you have the ability to draw with the same sensitivity as the
intuos. I also have a tabletpc (indeed for just the thing you are asking this:
to travel around) and they are indeed less sensitive than the wacom tablets,
although I can do a lot with them. The major problem I have with my tablet is
that it has a bad pen and I can also work on it with anything else, from a
finger to a real pen if I want to. Although that seems to be cool, it isn’t
practical: I just want to use a good pen.
Rumour has
that apple is coming with a tablet computer one of these days. I really hope
that that will be something like the ipod touch but then with a pen.. that would
be the greatest thing. Right now you could also consider an e-reader with tough
possibility..
----------
From: Bruce Bartrug <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Mon,
Dec 14, 2009 at 10:30 AM
To: SciArt-L Discussion List-for Natural Science
Illustration- <[log in to unmask]>
Thanks
for the update, Mieke. The problem is I can't seem to justify the expense
and weight over a paper tablet and pencil. Especially since the latter are
very seldom stolen and also don't require batteries. However, I keep an
open mind about this sort of thing, and do wish there was a laptop that really
performed more like an Intuos.
Bruce
----------
----------
From: chris gralapp
<[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, Dec 14, 2009 at 12:58 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
I wanted to chime in with a personal
experience. I had terrible RSI (Repetive Strain Injury) in my wrist from
mousing. I turned to the trackball--which really helped a lot (the trackball
keeps our hand in a more natural position of function). I was also using a
small Wacom tablet-I switched to a large one, which completed my healing.
I consulted with ergonomists and RSI experts, and I learned that the
smaller the movements one makes while drawing, the more damage accrues.
This is because we are gripping the stylus (or mouse) so precisely over long
periods of time, and causing micro-tears in our ligaments and tendons, and the
damage mounts up until it becomes chronic.
The larger tablets are
preferable ( for me at least ) because I am able to use a fuller range of
motion--fingers, hand , wrist, shoulder, which is a more natural way to draw,
and spreads the exertion out along this chain, rather than concentrating it in
the hand or wrist and alone. Does this make sense?
For people with
a tendency to RSI, I recommend a larger tablet, frequent breaks, fatter styluses
(don't grip so tightly) and finding an ergonomic way to position your hand while
working. It is a manifold healing process--and a career threatening
problem if not addressed!
My best,
Chris
----------
From: Anne Runyon <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, Dec 14, 2009 at 1:39 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
This thread has been most interesting. I do not yet
(ever?) have one of these digital drawing pads. But appreciate the
discussion.
Chris writes:The larger tablets are preferable ( for me at least )
because I am able to use a fuller range of motion--fingers, hand , wrist,
shoulder, which is a more natural way to draw, and spreads the exertion out
along this chain, rather than concentrating it in the hand or wrist and
alone. Does this make sense?
So true. That way of drawing creates
beautiful work as well as being more healthy. Glad to learn that the
digital tools might allow for this.
Annie
----------
From: Gail Guth <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Mon, Dec 14, 2009 at 2:48 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
this sounds right to me, Chris; I tend to draw on a tablet as I do on a big
pad of paper.I bought an extra-fat pen, and I like it much better than the
smaller one that comes with the tablet; much more comfortable, as you say, I
don't seem to grip it as tightly.
I've also found that, when my wrist starts to act up after doing too much
computer work in the wrong way, a week or so wearing a wrist brace (I use my
pitiful old bowling wrist brace -- and no, it never helped my bowling, which was
as bad as my video game skills) and that seems to ease things up quite
well.
Gail Guth
Guth Illustration & Design
139 Lathrop Avenue
Battle Creek, MI 49014-5076
269-963-1311
fax: 269-969-0952
----------
From: Molly Higgins <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 12:14 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Hi all, been reading this thread with interest as I just purchased a
large Intuos4 about two weeks ago (and incidentally, if anyone is
shopping, the best retail prices I found on a reputable site were at
Amazon). I had never used one before but recently had one of those 3AM
graphic design epiphanies while fighting vector handles with my mouse, ie
"there has GOT to be a better way to do this."
Setup was really simple. There is a bank of customizable buttons on the
side "margin" of the tablet, and you can situate the tablet based
on the hand you use--you left-handed people understand just
how awesome that feature is! Software included a Corel sketchpad
program, an Autodesk sketchpad program, as well as a brush library for
photoshop. I haven't played much with either drawing program as I am
pretty consumed with Adobe CS3. Fortunately the tablet drivers integrated
themselves right into the mix, like other people have said here, the pen is
simply a mouse. The only effort on my end was to go into various preference
menus and enable pressure-sensitive options.
Then there was 3AM epiphany no 2: holy cow, this is like doing real
artwork! I've been "drawing" with a mouse all my life and only now have I
realized just how unnatural and unlike working in any artistic medium that is.
It's definitely unlocked a whole new dimension in Illustrator and Photoshop
for me.
One unexpected benefit was that it has really, and I mean really, improved
my posture. Admittedly I am a sitting duck for computer strain-related injury--I
do everything "wrong." In addition to sitting in a better position I am also
drawing and navigating in a much more fluid way--not just relying on wrist and
index finger (see above, epiphany no. 2).
OK, if you can live without cintiq, the prices on these things are not
prohibitive. Especially in terms of the benefits it offers over time to
workflow and even the creative process. Treat yourself! It IS the holidays,
after all! :) Molly
----------
From: Bruce Bartrug <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tue,
Dec 15, 2009 at 7:11 AM
To: SciArt-L Discussion List-for Natural Science
Illustration- <[log in to unmask]>
Thanks,
Molly. I was also thinking it was a great time of year to indulge oneself
with a new toy. Especially with the Intuos, as one can always justify same
as being "useful."
:)b
----------
From: Glendon Mellow <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 7:41 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Another
advantage of the Intuos is the portability in your studio: the cord is
kind of long, and you can lean back and prop it on your lap like a sketchbook.
--
Need to leave or subscribe to the Sciart-L listserv? Follow the instructions
at
----------
From: Linda Feltner <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 7:57 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Hi All:
For future archive reference,
how does one go back and search for this thread, when it is blank in the
subject.
This is a thread that I would try to find at a later date in the
archives, can't absorb the info right now. But just curious as to how to search
the archives. (especially when we are asked to delete the previous letters so
the entry will be smaller).
Best,
Lnda
_______________________
Linda M. Feltner Artist, LLC
P.O. Box
325
Hereford, AZ 85615
(520) 803-0538
www.lindafeltner.com 
