[JFreak]

Hi all,
I know this is my first Post and all but My Idea is that Everyone always has tips for tablets, and I thought it would be neat to create a post that will hopefully get ten posts of artists and their best tips. I'm still getting used to my Graphire 2. I've only had it for about 3 weeks. Any tips about resolution and zooming (I'm used to traditional sketching) would be nice too.

[nukee3]

One tip I could give is try putting different kinds of material over the tablet, such as rough or smooth surfaces. If your used to sketching on paper, then put some paper down, not only will it give you the feel of working on paper, it gives you more controle for line work instead of the original slippery surface. Your probably thinking "won't that ruin my pen", and yes it will, but nibs are cheap, but once the plastic protection cover on the tablet gets scratched up it can't be replaced. So in short use different material to cover the tablet for extra controle aswell as to protect it

[Asurfael]

use a large resolution if it's for printing, but a smaller one will do if the drawing's only for web use (maybe two or four times the size you're going to display it with, since zoom works smoother at 50% than at 75% for example.)

well as for tips using a tablet, the trick is really to use the tablet like you would use the tool of the chosen media. If you want to make your drawing look like pencil, try to imagine the tablet pen as a pencil. And same for the brush really. Try to work the way you'd use oil paints for example, and your pic will look like oil...

I don't have that much to say really, hope it helped at least a bit.

[Loki]

To get the pen's nib out to replace it: use your teeth

[eyewoo]

I use a white film editor's glove on my drawing hand with all the fingers cut out except for the pinkie. That way my hand slides easily and smoothly along the surface of the tablet while holding the pen. It also prevents that cold plastic surface from touching my skin...

The gloves are generally available at film equipment rental houses.

[Dr. Bang]

quote:

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Originally posted by Loki:
To get the pen's nib out to replace it: use your teeth

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I disagree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If the nibis too short, its almost impossible to get it off. The best way is to tighten the nib with scisor and pull it out. A razorblade is good too.

[Dr. Bang]

i just found this out, if you're planning to buy a new plastic surface for your tablet due to bad skratches. HOLD IT RIGHT THERE.

While the front side of the plastic surface is skratches, the other side ISNT. So turn it over and its like you're using a brand new spankin new plastic surface.

I WIN. !!!!!!

[saripol]

bah i've seems to have worn out both side of the plastic overlay.. it got scracthes all over... and those scratches seems to be eating away my pen's nib (or each other)

[kana]

i can get the nib out with my teeth no matter how short it is because my two lower front teeth were broken at the back and had to be sanded down at the dentist's. now they have a mean sharp edge on them. heh.

[Ripelly]

quote:

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Originally posted by Dr. Bang:
While the front side of the plastic surface is skratches, the other side ISNT. So turn it over and its like you're using a brand new spankin new plastic surface.

I WIN. !!!!!!

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MOCAW! (says there on my plastic cover)

i use a painting glove just like eyewoo. i made it out off an old knitted wool glove, just cut out the thumb, index and middle fingers. smooth!

[JFreak]

Thanks, So, I guess not everyone uses Paper on top. By the way. People who wear out their tablets, How often do you use them. Thanks for all the tips.

[PixelPeZ]

This brings up the question - are there changeable "nibs" for graphire2 ? even if there are I'd probably have to order them from my wacom supplier .. still - are there ?
cause I fear that I have to toss my otherwize perfectly good board away if the nib gets broken ...

[turnip]

I think all nibs are the same. Just a piece of plastic that touches the sensors, nothing special. You can make ur own substitutes, someone mentioned toothpicks work o.o

[unraveled]

I have a 9x12 intuos with a serial connection. I'm realy worried about that thin grey cord where it meets the tablet. It seems it always stressed to one side or the other. I hope it doesnt break. Anyone had this problem?

[Asurfael]

nope... how about putting some electrical or duct tape around it to a strong layer to support it?

[Zwaeback]

I've been using the same 12x9 serial tablet for 3 years, 15-75 hours a week. The film on it is fine. I can tell that its been worked on, but all-in-all its just as good as when i bought it. I've replaced the nib every 6 months with pliers. It pulls right out. If you need more nibs call wacom. From what I remember its around $3.00 per nib, although i've never had to buy one.

[Torstein Nordstrand]

Hm, does anyone her know if a tablet connected though the serial port has a higher update/transfer frequency than an Usb one? I absolutely hate those choppy Photshop lines when I go fast and wild (which Painter seems to interpolate nicely, though). Any experts out there?

Thanks,

[Frog]

As far as I know USB refreshes faster than serial. Apparently the problem is with the tablets themsleves, not the port. The problem with the choppy lines is fixed in Photoshop 7 with the "smoothing" option anyway, see my post from a few days ago (wacom + PS7 = good news).