First time Wacom user

[Xiti]

So in light of this totally sweet new site my wife said I could buy a Wacom Tablet. I so happened to start out cheap with a Wacom Bamboo with a 5.8 x 3.7 drawing surface. Anyway I haven't drawn in about 6 years, let alone ever on a digital canvas. My futile trying at making anything realizable was a bit of a stretch, but being that this new site seems like it's made for sharing...

[The Sleeping Dog]

So in light of this totally sweet new site my wife said I could buy a Wacom Tablet. I so happened to start out cheap with a Wacom Bamboo with a 5.8 x 3.7 drawing surface. Anyway I haven't drawn in about 6 years, let alone ever on a digital canvas. My futile trying at making anything realizable was a bit of a stretch, but being that this new site seems like it's made for sharing...

congrats on the Bamboo..woohooo. the surface area is small but it get's the job done...if your tired of finger prints on the bamboo check my site out!..I've PM'd you

Cheers

[Sodonn]

I think that should be your avatar!

[Xiti]

Why's that? To always remember that we had to start somewhere?

[JVogel]

Looks like your going to have some fun now...:tu:

[Xiti]

Anyone have an idea as to why all the sudden Photoshop won't recognize a lighter pen stroke? I'm getting a bit frustrated with it because I lightly touch the wacom as I was and now it's pushing hard pen strokes in lightwave, but yet I'm not pushing hard on the drawing surface? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

[Sodonn]

Why's that? To always remember that we had to start somewhere?

Sure...why not.

Anyone have an idea as to why all the sudden Photoshop won't recognize a lighter pen stroke? I'm getting a bit frustrated with it because I lightly touch the wacom as I was and now it's pushing hard pen strokes in lightwave, but yet I'm not pushing hard on the drawing surface? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

In PS in the individual brush settings....you can set them to tablet or pen I believe.

[BillS]

I ran into this and had to go into the wacom util and reset the pen pressure that I was using in there. Then PS was fine.

[Xiti]

Okay...so I've figured the problem out...however...The Sleeping Dog...I never received a PM...Not sure if you sent it to wrong name or what? Never received though??

[Prologic9]

I took a look at the new Bamboo line and have to say I'm disappointed. They took a lot of the functionality out of the Graphire (their old starting line) and still charge the same retail price? Bad move Wacom. :mad:

[Josh2481]

Thinking of getting one myself but I can't afford much so probably will have to get one of the cheaper ones( think there was one for $75). Don't know though.

[Zizi]

Nicking along into advice and technique...

There's an exercise Wacom devised that I recommend to all tablet owners, especially new ones, that helps develop the elusive "tablet hand". It was in the Intuos 2 manual, but I don't know if they still keep up with it.

It's very simple, takes maybe a couple of minutes.

1. Create a nice, clean grid in Photoshop or whatever 10x10 lines or so, maybe an inch apart... it should cover most of the screen, more or less. You can make it denser for finer control development if you want to. Save a clean copy for later, so you only have to set it up once.

2. At each line intersection, use the tablet to make a dot. Like you're writing a period.

3. Go back over each dot/intersection, and stroke an X over it.

4. Go back over it again, and circle each X/dot/intersection.

Do it once or twice a day for a while in addition to regular drawing, and you'll see your control over the tablet improve a lot.

[Gordon Robb]

Nice one, might try that.

[BillS]

hee hee hee. I remember when I first got mine. The fruitless slide to the upper right corner, Lift the pen and back to center. Slide to the corner. I'd usually do it once or twice before figuring out that its NOT a mouse and that won't re-orient the pointer position :) I still do it now and then when I haven't used my tablet for a while. I just sort a naturally go back into mouse mode.

[Matt]

That's one of the main issues I have about getting one and trying to use it... it's not a mouse and I've been mastering the use of mice for over two decades... it's going to be a hard habit to break ;)

[Xiti]

I've been trying my hand at a bit more on the 2D side of the artistic world. Moderately pleased with the process so far. Hope you guys enjoy it as much as I do ;)

http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/studio/2007/12/73-12-492448_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/studio/2007/12/73-12-492448.jpg)

[Matt]

Not too bad... certainly better than what I could do I'm sure. The green doesn't really place well there though IMO and some more knarlyness could be put on the trunk but otherwise I like :)

[Drell-7]

Nicking along into advice and technique...

There's an exercise Wacom devised that I recommend to all tablet owners, especially new ones, that helps develop the elusive "tablet hand". It was in the Intuos 2 manual, but I don't know if they still keep up with it.

It's very simple, takes maybe a couple of minutes.

1. Create a nice, clean grid in Photoshop or whatever 10x10 lines or so, maybe an inch apart... it should cover most of the screen, more or less. You can make it denser for finer control development if you want to. Save a clean copy for later, so you only have to set it up once.

2. At each line intersection, use the tablet to make a dot. Like you're writing a period.

3. Go back over each dot/intersection, and stroke an X over it.

4. Go back over it again, and circle each X/dot/intersection.

Do it once or twice a day for a while in addition to regular drawing, and you'll see your control over the tablet improve a lot.

This is a great exercise, I highly reccommend it. When i first started using a Tablet, I had to master it quickly, so I disconnected my mouse and used the tablet and pen for all my navigation. I ended up with fine control pretty quickly. The only problem was, when the IT guys came to work on my machine, they couldn't get around at all.(this was one of the huge old SCSI models, it took up every inch of desk space in front of the monitor) One of the guys finally started bringing a mouse whenever he had to do somthing on my machine.:p

[BillS]

That would be different... The worst that I had was a couple with those thumb ball mouse THINGS! They should all be nuked!

[Tovette]

When people draw on paper for a long time and then first try out a tablet for the first time the dichotomy between the relatively rough paper and smooth surface of the tablet can make things akward. Try putting a sheet of paper over the tablet as you draw to help ween yourself from the experience with the paper.

[dfidler]

Not too bad... certainly better than what I could do I'm sure.

MattMan,

It's surprising as to how quickly you get used to the tablet. My first forays into tablet land were disappointing. I got a 9x12 table for xmas 2 years ago (jeez, wow) and I remember tearing the box open and plugging it in only to find that I couldn't even draw a straight line.

It took a few days to get "used" to it but now I use it for anything that requires fine control (mostly retouching photos now-a-days; not much time for 3D), but I still do the odd digital painting for practice and I honestly can't see living without my wacam now.

@Xiti, long-and-short of it is that tablets suck when you first start and you might just hate it at first (like I did) but keep going; the results are sooooo worth it. :)

Dave.

[JackN]

That would be different... The worst that I had was a couple with those thumb ball mouse THINGS! They should all be nuked!

I beg your pardon...?!?! I use one daily for everything...

:confused:

[ranger]

i use an cordless optical trackman (ball to the upper right side, with scroll wheel)

also im thinking of saving up for the

Cintiq 21UX
http://www.wacom.com/cintiq/21UX_tech_specs.cfm

[kpoche]

There is definately a learning curve with a tablet - keep at it.

[JackDeL]

Yes keep at it, you'll have it mastered before you know it. When I started out I could barely write my name legibly. Now I draw 100% of my webcomic in Illustrator CS3 using my Wacom.

[Xiti]

I've been a long time gone, currently searching out work. Either way, I sat down today and dusted off the old Tablet. Tossed down some digital ink to a mighty fine canvas of black. Hope somebody enjoys this kind of drawing as much as I do.

http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/studio/2008/07/73-30-403502_tn.jpg (http://www.foundation3d.com/uploads/studio/2008/07/73-30-403502.jpg)