Graphics Tablet

Ibi

I'm interested in purchasing a budget graphics tablet, which will be mainly used to create sketches/drawings in photoshop and also to help with texturing.

I know wacom is the leading brand in this field, but what others are worth a look? What kind of features should I look out for? And would a small sized tablet (A5/A6) be sufficient?

Any help and advice would be much appreciated.

Cheers!

ericdigital

An a5/a6 would be plenty sufficient. Even wacom's bamboo line is great, they are small but are still a pretty good experience. It's really just not worth looking at any other brands, best bet is to look around and find a good deal on a wacom. Maybe even be able to find some intous 3s/2s at a good price as well.

willy-wilson

[ame]http://www.amazon.com/Wacom-Intuos3-8-Inch-Pen-Tablet/dp/B00030097G[/ame]

Disco Stu

http://www.zbrushcentral.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=154714
Done with a bamboo really no reason to buy anything else then a wacom.

willy-wilson

disco stu is right, i use a bamboo myself but im going upgrade soon because the drawing area is just to small for me now.

slipsius

dont go for the large ones right away. large isnt always better in this case. it all depends on how you draw. if you draw small usually, go for a smaller one.

ZacD

My large intuos 4 just seems to get in the way.

Sage

a 6x 8 is a pretty good size. i have an intous 2 4 x 5 and it seems a bit small.

Joshua Stubbles

I use 6x8 mainly. I had a 9x12 when I was at 5000ft Inc, which was really great. But 6x8 is just fine.

Joe Lemonade

I use an A4 Intous first generation since 8 or 9 years. Still running almost as if it was brand new. I've been working with A5 Intous at work, both 3D and Photoshop. The smaller size does the job too. However I can work better with A4 size. You need a bit of space on your desk though to be able to move your arm around.

.Murder

i have an intous 3 A5 wide, and its perfect.

Disco Stu

it is, i have it myself

Jeremy Wright

I've bought two Wacoms (Intuos3 6x11 and Intuos4 Med) that were [ame="http://www.amazon.com/INTUOS4-Medium-Bundled-Software-Downloads/dp/B0023RT0QI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1258466365&sr=8-1"]Academic version[/ame] and there is no difference between them and the regular versions; they are typically 50 cheaper.
I suggest you do this.

ZacD

8FtSpider wrote: »

I've bought two Wacoms (Intuos3 6x11 and Intuos4 Med) that were Academic version and there is no difference between them and the regular versions; they are typically 50 cheaper.
I suggest you do this.

gotta have a student ID or something to get one though.

Jeremy Wright

ZacD wrote: »

gotta have a student ID or something to get one though.

No. You don't.

Although I am a student. The link I posted to on Amazon is exactly the one I bought through Amazon, which I did not give any student ID for and (at the time) was about 50 cheaper than average price.

t4paN

I'm using a bamboo fun medium (a5 I think, the one that's one size smaller than the a4 anyway). It does the job pretty good, I'm sticking with it till I become rich at which point i'll buy a cintiq. In about 80 years I think I'll get the cintiq, yes sir.

frubes

yup, i just got myself one of these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130336670589&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT which was ridiculously cheap for a brand new wacom and im certainly no longer a student! I really like the surfaces on the new wacoms over the old ones though.

jocose

8FtSpider wrote: »

I've bought two Wacoms (Intuos3 6x11 and Intuos4 Med) that were Academic version and there is no difference between them and the regular versions; they are typically 50 cheaper.
I suggest you do this.

I just ordered that exact same one. Should be here Friday. I'm pretty excited. Does the medium work well from you lap? I hated the large ones because I couldn't move them around easily.

Karmageddon

I had a large tablet once and I hated it. It dominated my desk and it was awkward to put in my lap if I was moving it around for comfort. The smaller tablets work best for me. I normally use my Cintiq21 for stuff but for portability I've had an Intuos 3 for the last couple of years and it has done me nothing but justice.

Jeremy Wright

jocose wrote: »

I just ordered that exact same one. Should be here Friday. I'm pretty excited. Does the medium work well from you lap? I hated the large ones because I couldn't move them around easily.

The Intuos4 I bought for the wife, and haven't used it myself, but she loves it. It's fairly compact and actually smaller than the Intuos3 6x11 (which is pretty big). Much more sensitive than what she was using (Graphire).

BHJ

I use an Intuos 4 at work and an Intuos 3 at home. Just waiting for the Intuos 3 to magically and suddenly malfuntion so I can upgrade to a 4 here at home...

independ-hans

I use Tablet intous 3 A5 wide too.

I like that you can swith between 2 screens while pressing twich the "swithbutton screen".

So it´s possible you press and hold on a window´s move area, press twich that "swithbutton screen" button, release the mosue then then you have put the widows on other screen.

I use a 22 wide and a 19 screen. You can also work one top-half of the tablet without for the both screen. for me works fine this they. only drawing or texture dawing I would prefire the swith.

I used to use a wacome classic xl what have a area a5 as well, It´s cheap but I would if I have to go on lower buget go for a smaller one. I also did try a6 come intues 1.
for photoshop texture working is it very good.

Also I would ask you do you have to move this tablet?

My experinces a5 wide works well with a DJ-Bag and and 15.5 zoll notebook-protection-slip.

(first post)

ZacD

8FtSpider wrote: »

No. You don't.

Although I am a student. The link I posted to on Amazon is exactly the one I bought through Amazon, which I did not give any student ID for and (at the time) was about 50 cheaper than average price.

I got my intuos4 large for $350 (I forgot the site's name, I could look it up again) but the seller asked for an ID before they could ship it.

Jeremy Wright

ZacD wrote: »

I got my intuos4 large for $350 (I forgot the site's name, I could look it up again) but the seller asked for an ID before they could ship it.

Did you buy it from Amazon? I'm sorry to hear that. Nobody ever contacted me about an ID.

ZacD

it wasn't really a big deal, I just thought they legally had to.