[Mindrust]

Hey everyone! I'm new to the forums and just got a Wacom Bamboo Fun tablet from a friend as a gift. It's not a Cintiq or Intuos but its great for my beginner stuff. I was wondering if you knew any good tutorials to start to get better at drawing with it, I love drawing but not very good at it right now . So any info or help is appreciated!!!

[neff]

You just should start painting with it and experiment with the pressure sensivity to control opacity and size of yout brush.
Just do it...
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[med]

Youtube has a variety of tutorial videos, I'd start there. Look at a lot of works by professionals and noobs, you can learn from anyone's techniques.

[durgldeep]

Bumping this cuz it looks like the place for Wacom/Bamboo talk. Finally got cheesed enough (re drawing with a mouse) to get a "Pen and Touch" - not before wondering if a second hand Intuos PTZ-631W ($275 CAD; new/still in its box, supposedly) might be a better idea...

First impression of the P&T is, the nibs aren't gonna last (even with three extras); the first nib is showing wear already, after only a couple hours doodling. Is this a 'feature' with the Intuos as well? Replacement nibs? In all the googling I did, I only saw extra nibs mentioned for the Bamboo line...

Apart from the nib thing, so far so good...

Edit: good ol' Wikipedia, nib/wear is a known issue (likely known in Sijun too if only I'd read more):

Criticism...
Contrary to previous models that could use the same nib for years, some users report nib wear showing within hours and complete nib replacement necessary in a week's use due to the new paper-like surface texture... Wacom claims to be studying this issue of nib and surface wear but has yet to respond with a solution or compensation for existing customers... Users are reporting good results by replacing the textured paper with slick surfaces however it requires the use of duct tape or other adhesives that users may find irritating or may damage the tablet surface.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wacom

Excellent read for all concerned.

[durgldeep]

The petition (mentioned in the Wiki article) is here:
http://www.petitiononline.com/wacombug/petition.html

Anyone can sign the petition, whether you're partly affected by the issues described (such as nib and tablet wear) or simply support the current petitioners in their action.

I wrote:
Nib wear is also an issue in other Wacom models (seen in my first purchase, just now). While I hope Wacom will do the right thing I agree: possibly Wacom believes lowering its standards is the "right thing" (for the usual reasons). I hope a timely and substantial response from Wacom will prove me wrong.

Edit: saw another comment that also puts a few (previous) thoughts into words:
"This design flaw completely negates the purpose of being able to freely create digitally. Artists are constantly concerned about the state of their nib/surface as they work...which is the last thing that should be occupying their mind. Everyone can think of easy solutions, so why can't a "professional" design/research department?"

Nth Edit: more (useful) Sijun/tablet discussion here
http://forums.sijun.com/viewtopic.php?t=42121

And re "professional" (above), possibly Wacom has become 'more professional' (see 'built-in obsolescence', contrition games, etc.). Likewise "design flaw" is probably naive (no offense to the author). I think the redesign is a kind of cash grab, ie. 1. sell the tablet, 2. tax it via nib sales for the life of the product. Given "any publicity is good publicity", the resulting complaints, discussion and 'buzz' are free advertising? Neat little package, that.

Work around using "first aid" tape and part of a transparent cookie box:

[durgldeep]

After a bit of digging, I give you Wacom's new branding of nibs and tablet surfaces: "consumable items"; "they're like a tire on a car, they're meant to be replaced".

That's the upshot from a conversation (just now) with a Wacom "customer care" agent: "both the surface and the pen tip are consumable items".

Small consolation re nib wear: "the [tablet] surface will get smoother and smoother as you use it", thus reducing nib wear (no word on the effect of drawing on an irregularly worn surface)...

Is repeat sale of replacement parts (nibs and tablet surfaces) part of the plan? "You can actually go to our web site and purchase either one."

This person was surprised by the Wikipedia article, Wacom, including the "Criticism" section - and thought he should inform his supervisor.

Further reading:
Wacom forums (Europe): Intuos4 nibs flattening quickly
ConceptArt.org: Intuos4 vs Intuos3 nib question

[durgldeep]

Some final notes re Wacom nib/surface issue, using the forum (link above) as a random sample:

1. the forum moderator, "Wacom", sure knows what a strawman argument is - and apparently doesn't know about the nib/surface "consumable item" status (as above), ie. is promising a fix that's been mooted - which in turn makes this entire post a kind of straw man but - I'm having fun, er, Bamboo fun!
2. related to 1 (strawman), the "contrition game": 'oh, we're sorry; let us help you fix the problem that we ourselves created'
3. follow the money: the consumer pays for the product, pays again for replacement parts - the money moves in one direction only
4. promising a future fix sets up a false equation: future success = past accountability
5. if a qualified "engineer" was involved in developing the nib/surface combination, the wear dynamic would be known at the outset

Right, I'll shut my cake hole now and do some actual *drawing* with the thing. With modification (see above), the tablet handles nicely. Looking forward to comparing (when upgrade comes around): Toshiba, Lenovo/IBM, HP, Fujitsu - won't be a Wacom.

[durgldeep]

Er, the 'hush money' just arrived...