[Drift Kid Runner]

Hi, this is my first post, and I have some Q's on Wacom pads. I have been wanting to get one for a while, but without a job I havent had the money to buy one. My birthday is coming up soon, so Im going to try and get one for then. I dont know much about them, so I am asking you. What size would be ideal? I mainly use photoshop, and Illustrator, and work with relatively large drawings. Please help me on this, Thanks,

Mike

[Asurfael]

well, you need a bigger tablet if you've got a huge resolution on your screen, or if you're used to drawing using your shoulders to make the moving. If you've got quite a normal resolution (on your desktop that is) and you're used to drawing with your wrist, then get a smaller one. I'd recommend going to the wacom website (choose your location at http://www.wacom.com ), and then going to the 'product specifier'. It should give you an answer. This kind of threads seem to be quite regular on art forums (if you browse this forum you should be able to find one or two of them). And they always cause a lot of discussion.

I don't think anybody can tell what size you will need. I'd recommend going for the product specifier at wacom's site (it gave me a very good answer, the tablet I bought has been ideal for me). Some people are used to working on certain manners, and they will probably just tell you to buy a tablet that's ideal for them. But what's good for one person isn't always good for another person. If you've got a chance to borrow a tablet (any kind of tablet), go for it. Or maybe they'll let you try it out in the shop. Even if the tablet you borrow is too big/small for you, at least you'll know better what you'd really need.

That's my 2 cents on this.

Edit: Oh, and your drawing resolution shouldn't affect the tablet size really. You can zoom out for the bigger lines, and zoom in when you want to do the details. Your screen resolution affects it more. Just in my opinion, of course.

[ May 31, 2002: Message edited by: Asurfael ]

[Torstein Nordstrand]

You can draw well using a tablet of any size - but there is actually an easy all-round answer to this question: get the biggest one that you can afford

You won't regret having bought a huge one, but you might regret and feel hampered having a small one. It's an investment, and you'll never want to go back to the mouse - so think big while you're at it!

I have a Graphire myself, one which I have enjoyed immensely for a year and a half now. Can't wait though for one of those Intuos babies to come within my grasp.

Happy birthday in advance!

[Socar MYLES]

I have to disagree--bigger isn't better for everyone. If you can, you should try out various sizes before you buy one. Go to a friend's house if you have to, or see if you can get an in-store demo anywhere. Some of the bigger sizes are pretty clunky, and if you have any problems with your shoulders, anything bigger than 9" X 12" is probably going to put you in a world of pain.

I have the 9" X 12" myself--recently replaced my trusty Graphire. The Graphire was good in that I could hold it in one hand and draw on it with the other, and switch hands easily. It was bad in that it was so small it gave me major wrist cramps, and I had to switch hands every half hour or so.

The larger tablet is very clumsy and has to be balanced on my knees and the edge of the desk, which isn't always that stable. However, I can use it for hours with only my right hand, which is nice--I'm much faster right-handed--and it doesn't cause wrist cramps. Also, if you like to work with large, sweeping strokes, a bigger tablet is better.

The Intuos has more pressure-sensitivity, and some useful hotkeys right on the tablet--you can switch between firm, medium, and soft pressure without opening any menu.

The Graphire is perfectly fine if you don't want to spend many dollars, though. There is NOTHING wrong with it at all. Loads of people use it without a problem.

[LoTekK]

quote:

---

Originally posted by Torstein Nordstrand:
get the biggest one that you can afford

---

i, too, disagree on that... seriously, the larger tablets (up to 12x18{!!!}) are meant more for drafting and technical drawing than for sketching and painting... of course, if you're used to working on large canvases then they might suit you just as well... i've personally found that my 6x8 intuos is the perfect size for me, in that it's not too small to give wrist cramps, yet not too big for me to put on my lap comfortably... remember that 9x12 is just the active area... the actual size of the hardware itself is somewhere around 12x15, or thereabouts... so think about what kind of real estate you want to sacrifice...

and like socar mentioned, the graphire is still a damned good tablet, especially if you don't want to shell out too much money for one...

cheers, and happy birthday...

[convoyrider]

Get the 6X8, I think that's the perfect size. I've got a 9x12 and its great for me, but the 6x8 i reckon is ideal for everyone.

[zak]

bigger is probably gonna be better but id suppose as a first tablet a 6x8 will do just fine + they are a hellload cheaper aswell. id recommend the intous two. you dont belive how nice it draws, i got used to it instantly. its really really good