Got my new Wacom

[Minnesota scroller]

If anybody is thinking of getting a graphics tablet in the near future, I can tell you I love my Wacom. Due to cost, I purchased just the 4 X 5 from Amazon.com for $90 with free shipping. I wasn't sure how this size would work but for my applications, it's ideal. Maybe it's because I'm used to my laptop touch pad. Actually, for touching up or designing a pattern it's all I need. I can get much more smoother lines and put them where I want them with this tablet. Also, the harder you press with the pen, the wider the line gets. This is quite handy too. The only thing this tablet would be restricted on is tracing. I haven't found a reason for tracing anything anyway.

To sum it up, if you are starting to design patterns and want an inexpensive and worthwhile aid, I believe it's the way to go.

[CanadianScroller]

Glad to hear. I am sure you will love it.

[workin for wood]

sounds interesting, I've been drawing my patterns with a pencil and paper. pencils are cheap, but your system probably helps alot with erasing mistakes/changes.

[CanadianScroller]

Manipulation of a bezier curve with the stylus tip really makes symmetry a snap.
I used to hate beziers when I started making patterns. Now I really enjoy having the control to smooth curves naturally.
You can do the same with a mouse but the stylus and pad is so much more user friendly.
I still sketch some things by hand but the fact I can print out a pattern modify it and reprint while still saving the original really is a joy.

[Marcel in Longueuil]

Mike,

If you can print it to fit the tablet's active area, you can easily trace with the tablet.

Just put a sheet of mica, or similar material over the item to be traced and voilà instant tracer.

They do sell sheets to use on the bigger tablets, not sure about the 4x5 though.

But as Carl said, it's a joy to use Have fun.

Regards,
Marcel

[Minnesota scroller]

Actually, the tablet did come with a sheet of hard clear plastic that detaches so you can place something underneath, reattach the plasic, and then trace. Unfortunately, my PC screen size isn't relative to the tablet size. When I try to trace something in the top inch of the tablet, it's off the screen on my PC. I don't have the problem when bringing up a photo. It's only when bringing up a blank page in Photoshop and PSP.

[ozarkhillbilly]

Congratulations on your new toy!!! And enjoy.........

[GrayBeard Phil]

Rage Vent!!!

Mike, Jeff, and Carl:

How are you able to manipulate the button on the stylus????

Mine has the buttons so sensitive sometimes, and I just cannot get my hand and fingers to work the buttons correctly. Honest, it does not act like it is anything other than a $4.99 Wal-Mart special. But you and others just rave about the Walcom tablet. I bought the middle of the road version, and I really dislike the stylus. Last time, I press the lower part of the rocker lever for left button click, and it repeated the left mouse click for about 10 or 20 times.



And as far as drawing a smooth line? forget it. half way through the line the add line function ends and the stylus is moving the just (incorrectly) drawn line across the screen. (well you get the idea)

The tablet itself is OK, and has good resolution and repeatability. But the Stylus is just plain a PIA. (grrr-r)

Phil

[Sawduster]

Mike,
Happy happy joy joy ! I'm excited for you !

Question, now that you have your hands on it....in PSP I use my mouse to left click ( and hold ) for white and right click ( and hold ) for black. Is the stylus set up this way ? It would seem from Phil's post that this would be the case and it also seems that someone with big " hams " for hands ( like me ) might have a problem with this.
Also can you move the cursor without making a line ?

I finally broke down and ordered one ...should be here by Thurs ...I can hardly wait !

[Minnesota scroller]

Actually, I haven't experienced any of the problems that Phil mentioned. I just pulled up a photo in PSP and traced around a few things for a constant 30 seconds and had no problem. I think Phil received a defective stylus.

Robert, the stylus has just 2 buttons. I use neither except for clicks and double clicks. I understand it is programmable. If I need to erase something by switching to white, I just flip the stylus upside down and use it like a pencil eraser. Also, to move the cursor without accidentally making a line, all you need to do is lift the stylus about 1/4" or so off the tablet and the tablet still detects the movement. It's an amazing little bugger.

[Sawduster]

so can u vary the line width of the " white " or eraser part as well ? Sometimes I use the white to add, not take away ( if that makes sense )

[Minnesota scroller]

Robert, just went back to PSP to find out and yes, you can. You can set the size to 30 and still make a very thin line up to the 30 size, just by adjusting the pressure you place on the stylus. You know, the more questions you ask, the more I am figuring out.

[Marcel in Longueuil]

Phil,

I have pudgy hands and I do sometimes hit the switch accidentally if I hold my stylus incorrectly, but it's not a regular thing: I just reposition it and that works for me.

In regards to the line stoppping and then moving, it's as if you had raised your stylus from the tablet and then lowered it again over the line. Don't know what to tell you except make sure you keep the stylus in contact through the whole line. I believe there is a way to continue a line from a position where you dropped it.

You can adjust the sensitivity of the stylus and mouse in the control panel.

There is definitely a learning curve to the tool, but it's worth it.
I'm not an expert, far from it. But if we talk about our frustrations, exchange, I'm sure we can all help each other out.

Regards,
Marcel

[GrayBeard Phil]

Mike:

Defective Stylus???

Hmmmm.

Let me think on that.

OH, excuse me, I need to go check on thoes 'bangers' on the thread that Gill got started.

Phil

[pedrofret]

Very interesting thread. I am actually thinking of buying one of these.

Very interesting thread. I am actually thinking of buying one of these.

I do not work with pixel graphics, but with vector graphics. Much of the work I do consists in fixing an image in the background and then tracing lines with the pen tool, in Illustrator. I was wondering if a tablet makes this task easier than the mouse.

What can you say about the suitability of the tablets for this kind of task?

Pedro.