[Asurfael]

I'm using a wacom Intuos2 tablet, and i'm very satisfied with it (well not minding a few glitches I still seem to have despite the newest drivers). Anyhow, in Intuos2 series tablets, the transparent overlay designed to keep sketches on place for tracing doesn't cover the entire tablet surface. And there's this small crack between the overlay and the actual tablet. And for some reason, I seem to get my pen nib into that every now and then.

Well, it doesn't disturb drawing since this mostly happens when scrolling down fast online, but it wears the nib down at an incredible speed. I've had the tablet for a few weeks now, and the nib looks horribly worn out. The actual tablet surface is so rough.

So, I attached a paper covering almost the entire tablet so that the crack won't be feelable either (and the worn out nib won't scratch the overlay, I don't feel like changing the nib every 2 weeks).

The question is, how fast will the paper wear the nib out? If anybody's using a paper between the pen and the tablet, I'm wishing your assistance on this (i know some people put a paper there to get a more natural feeling when drawing). I'm just wondering if the paper will in the end be more harmful than the occasional wearing out of the nib and the scratches.

Any help would be really appreciated.

[Catfish]

Absolutely no idea.
However, I use paper on the tablet quite a bit, to prevent it sliding quite so much - it slows the pen down for smoother drawing - and haven't had any problems yet.

[Asurfael]

ah ok thanks. I know one guy who does that for tracing, but doesn't do it too often. He doesn't like to put drawings under the overlay... So it won't wear out too fast, good. Was just making sure... It does feel more natural for me to keep the paper there, too.

[eyewoo]

If you like the paper surface, use it... nibs are pretty cheap...

I use to use a paper surface, but got away from it and now use a partially gloved hand to control the pen on that slippery surface -- a glove with all the fingers cut out except for the pinkie finger which I use to slide smoothly across the tablet. The gloves that I use are film editors cloth gloves.

[Asurfael]

well, i wouldn't say 20 euros for 5 nibs is cheap... but on the other hand, the nibs do last for a while. so i guess it's not a problem. I just hope they keep selling those, all wacoms or wacom spare parts are hard to get in finland.

[convoyrider]

Didn't you get an extra 5 nibs when you bought the tablet? That should last you for ages

[Asurfael]

yea I did. I know some people use the same nib for like, years... Maybe I'm just being too careful.

[Impaler]

Yeah.. you are. Nibs are plentiful, and pens are replaceable. If you worry about how much you're wearing down the nib as you draw, then it couldn't possibly have any positive effects on your art.

[DickCheese]

you'll wear your nib down!

[turnip]

bad nibs leads to scratchy surface. It's kinda important to keep your nibs from sharpening up from pressure at the same point overtime. So rotate ur pen ever so often.
Using paper IMO will ruin ur nibs, not to mention the layer of paper screws up the pressure sensitivity =\, so you have to press harder anyway.

[Asurfael]

actually a layer of paper won't screw up the pressure sensitivity, since it's the pen that records the pressure, not the tablet itself.