Worn down tablet surface

allyx · Mar 2007

I have a old Artz II tablet I still use even though I have a Intuos 3, but the old tablet's surface is kind of bumpy. I can still work around it, but I was wonder what I could do to smooth the plastic cover or replace it without having to spend more than its worth.

Is it safe to buff the plastic surface cover? I will probably ask Wacom support, but I don't think they would recommend that solution.

My other alternative is to tape a thin plastic sheet to make it more smoother.

Does anyone even still use a Artz II?

Mark Dygert · Mar 2007

Find a good used one on ebay that is cheap and switch the plastic covers?

Or.... use the Intous3 since it doesn't suck ass?

hawken · Mar 2007

Artz II?

LOL

Sage · Mar 2007

I say take off that piece of plastic and put any smooth surface on it like say bristol paper. If it's anything like a wacom tablet in that the plastic folds up that is. I put paper and stuff on my tablet all the time and the thing still works. I can draw over the crap on the tablet and it works. Go to some place that sells plastic and make a new one. If it can't work without that then find someone you don't like very much and smash it over... wait not that good idea. Joking...

Or you can laminate it. I had actually thought of cutting off the damn plastic off my wacom because I thought it might mess with my drawing if it got worn, but I decided to wait until it happened first, if ever. Later

Alex

spitty · Mar 2007

you can buy replacement plastic sheets at wacom.com. i don't know if they still have any for artz II.

http://direct.wacom.com/stores/2/Replacement_Parts_C22.cfm

allyx · Mar 2007

I didn't see products on the Wacom site for the Artz II and assumed it is probably no longer supported except for the drivers. I would say it's not really worth investing too much money into it at this point, but it still has some use.

I will go with Sage's ideas, but omit the smashing one.

The cover looks like it is only glued down to the front. Is it safe to just pull it out without it tearing any other parts off?

spitty · Mar 2007

they have a replacement sheet for a 4x5 if you happen to have that size. about $10.

http://direct.wacom.com/stores/2/Surface_Sheet_for_ArtPad_and_A_P570C29.cfm

i don't know how an artz II works, but i just slowly pulled off the sheet on my intous and it came off fine.

Sage · Mar 2007

The way I would go about it is leave part of the plastic there and attach the material to that. I think that is the easiest way. Leave enough so you can laminate it or put tape or whatever there so you don't have to make it rocket science.

Alex

East · Mar 2007

I once left my Intuos2 unprotected in my bag along with some sculpture tools and the plastic cover got all messed up. The solution I came up with was to rip the cover off, turn it around so the damaged surface was facing down, and then tape it back on, and it was just as new,

Sure, it didn't look like new, but on the flipside every time I pull out my tablet it looks like a real pro tablet, worn out through hours and hours of hard work

BigO · Mar 2007

Didn't feel like I should start a whole new thread but my Graphire (et) pen broke and all of the pens say they're for graphire4 or graphire3 and the only one that actually states its compatible with my graphire is the 50 dollar one and I'm kinda on a budget. Sooooo my question is does anyone know if the graphire4/3 pens will work with my graphire (et)?

East · Mar 2007

Maybe this link will be of help?

BigO · Mar 2007

That helped a ton thanks man

3D-j · Mar 2007

have your tried heating up just the pad itself with a heat gun and smoothing it back out with a flat surface object?

Archanex · Apr 2007

I had this problem too actually, I mostly just ignored it till it really bothered me while, then I scratched off the rest of the enamel with the pen itself to make it all smooth again lol, hey it worked

vanilla · Apr 2007

A piece of A4 photo paper inside an ultra thin ringbinder clear file results in a surface that feels even nicer than the original wacom overlay. I have it taped on on both sides of my tablet.

The clear file sheet bunches after 2-3 months and needs to be replaced, but i have a stack of them and re-taping only takes a minute.

Worn down tablet surface

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