Graphics Tablets
polycounter lvl 18
I was wondering if anyone here has any advice on whether a graphics tablet helps when creating textures for models. I am mainly thinking character and enivronment models for games. I use photoshop now and while I am getting better at painting textures for my models(I think) they take me forever. It seems like you could speed up the process of painting textures a whole lot with a tablet. Does having a graphics tablet speed up the process of creating textures in photoshop?
Does the size of the tablet end up being an issue a lot? I mean if I only got a 4x5, will I be constantly feeling like I run out of room?
I can draw fairly well with pencils, but have always found the mouse somewhat limiting. Does drawing with a graphics tablet feel like drawing with pencils?
Is there a large difference between the Intuos and Graphire lines?
Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer. I just need to speed up my texture creation time. I can model quickly, but my texture creation is what is keeping my demo reel from getting sent out.
Does the size of the tablet end up being an issue a lot? I mean if I only got a 4x5, will I be constantly feeling like I run out of room?
I can draw fairly well with pencils, but have always found the mouse somewhat limiting. Does drawing with a graphics tablet feel like drawing with pencils?
Is there a large difference between the Intuos and Graphire lines?
Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer. I just need to speed up my texture creation time. I can model quickly, but my texture creation is what is keeping my demo reel from getting sent out.
Replies
Basically, pressure-sensitivity is a huge bonus for painting textures - you can link it to brush stroke size, or brush opacity, enabling you to build up shading a whole lot faster. Drawing curves is also easier.
I used an original Graphire (the 4x5 one, I think) and it's perfect for a first tablet - it was only rarely that I felt like a larger tablet would be a benefit.
I do have an A4 Intuos2 now, the extra area is definitely good, gives you more freedom and ability to do detail at a higher level (don't have to zoom in so much) because there is more control.
The Intuos series have 1024 pressure levels, whereas the Graphires only have 512, but it's not a difference you're really gonna be able to feel, IMHO.
A graphire would be fine for just improving texture and digital painting speed.
I find it very hard to go back to just using a mouse in Photoshop now, it seems so imprecise, and having to control the brush size and opacity purely with hotkeys is an exercise in wasted effort...
If you can afford it, and are serious about game art or digital art in general (it seems you are), I think a graphics tablet is a must. Definitely a worthwhile investment in the long run.
Take MoP's advice and get yourself a tablet. Even a cheap one will work.
Alex
Otherwise, find someone who is gonna buy something from Circuit City anyway, and swap them the certificate for cash
but: there are quite some differences between 3rd generation and 2nd generaton models: hotkeys and scroll-strips on the tablet and an overhauled pen which allows to mount different types of nibs.
intuos1 and 2 are nearly the same just with different case colors and slightly different pens, though.
I decided Circuit City wasn't worth waiting around for. I called their online store and a local store to see if they could order the intuos3 version but they couldn't. Then when I went back to the .com site they had pulled even the 4x5 in the intuos3. So I decided to splurge and go somewhere else. Maybe I can still use my gift certificate for at CC for a future video card upgrade or something.