British Comedy Guide

Graphics Tablets advice?

Been "playing" on one of these today and it was sooo nice to draw with.

I was wondering if you lot could help me out on what to look for when buying one myself? I don't know much about them, although I managed to use this one today pretty easily.

What resolutions do I look out for, is there anything I need to think about before I buy? Is there a better technology out there?

Mainly for cartoon/animation/comic book drawing but would also like to be able to do high detail.

Cheers.

:)

What sort did you try? One with a screen, or just the plastic kind?

It had a screen. It was a little laggy, I think it may have been an old one.

Bloomin' 'eck! I'd imagine there expensive. I have the plastic one.

Quote: Nil Putters @ February 26 2009, 5:41 PM GMT

Bloomin' 'eck! I'd imagine there expensive. I have the plastic one.

(I think it was nicked, but this was years ago, it seems like an old'un.)

Screw tablets. Get a Wii remote, perhaps a mini stand for the wiimote, an LED light pen, and download the free software that takes all those tools and turns any surface into a drawing tablet.
I own a drawing tablet and haven't used it since the arrival of my LED light pen.
In my opinion unless your going to pay the big bucks from Wacom than this new cheap option is the best option.

Quote: Curt @ February 26 2009, 5:47 PM GMT

Screw tablets. Get a Wii remote, perhaps a mini stand for the wiimote, an LED light pen, and download the free software that takes all those tools and turns any surface into a drawing tablet.
I own a drawing tablet and haven't used it since the arrival of my LED light pen.
In my opinion unless your going to pay the big bucks from Wacom than this new cheap option is the best option.

Let's see some video then Curty-boy. ;)

Do you have a stand? If so, where can I get one? Are you drawing onto your laptop screen? Do you have problems keeping it calibrated (laptop moving etc)?

Quote: Curt @ February 26 2009, 5:47 PM GMT

Screw tablets. Get a Wii remote, perhaps a mini stand for the wiimote, an LED light pen, and download the free software that takes all those tools and turns any surface into a drawing tablet.
I own a drawing tablet and haven't used it since the arrival of my LED light pen.
In my opinion unless your going to pay the big bucks from Wacom than this new cheap option is the best option.

Alright. How much we talking here? Easy to setup?

I don't have a video camera. Only one built into my Macbook. :(
I've been using a cheap small camera stand that I rigged to hold the wiimote by using a longer screw that I bought at a hardware store.
I point it down at the table using scotch tape to remind me where my screen ends.
I find pointing it directly at the screen gets messed up simply because I have a laptop and my screen will move back when I press at times.

Quote: Leevil @ February 26 2009, 5:51 PM GMT

Alright. How much we talking here? Easy to setup?

Wiimote is 40 bucks here in Canada so probably much cheaper where you are.
Nil payed a few bucks on Ebay for his, so I'd talk to him. Or if you know your way around a soldering gun there are tons of great tutorials online to make your own.
A small camera stand runs about 30 bucks over here. You don't need it but I like it. You could probably rig something up yourself.

Ok, cheers Curt, I'll look into it. :)

Quote: Curt @ February 26 2009, 5:56 PM GMT

I don't have a video camera. Only one built into my Macbook. :(
I've been using a cheap small camera stand that I rigged to hold the wiimote by using a longer screw that I bought at a hardware store.
I point it down at the table using scotch tape to remind me where my screen ends.
I find pointing it directly at the screen gets messed up simply because I have a laptop and my screen will move back when I press at times.

Wiimote is 40 bucks here in Canada so probably much cheaper where you are.
Nil payed a few bucks on Ebay for his, so I'd talk to him. Or if you know your way around a soldering gun there are tons of great tutorials online to make your own.
A small camera stand runs about 30 bucks over here. You don't need it but I like it. You could probably rig something up yourself.

Camera phone. ;)

Hmmm, I can't imagine that. I need video. ;)

I bought my light pen from eBay, not my WiiMote. :)

Anyway, I'm off home now. Wave

Quote: Nil Putters @ February 26 2009, 5:59 PM GMT

Camera phone. ;)

Hmmm, I can't imagine that. I need video. ;)

I bought my light pen from eBay, not my WiiMote. :)

Anyway, I'm off home now. Wave

Never thought of that. Cool when I get some time I'll video it for you. I've never successful put a video (or even a photo) from my photo to my Macbook. It's a bit of a sour point for me. I hate my phone with a passion.
I don't understand how you couldn't think it wouldn't work. Eh?

:) I'm stupid, that accounts for a lot.

Send it to your Mac via your phone's Bluetooth, that's what I did. Then upload to YouTube or something.

*goes off again*

Quote: Curt @ February 26 2009, 6:06 PM GMT

Never thought of that. Cool when I get some time I'll video it for you. I've never successful put a video (or even a photo) from my photo to my Macbook. It's a bit of a sour point for me. I hate my phone with a passion.
I don't understand how you couldn't think it wouldn't work. Eh?

You can do that Wii remote thing, but you can't figure out Bluetooth?

Image

haha good point.
My fiancee has the same phone and I was able to get her photos onto her Mac.
Meanwhile I have photos from a year ago still on my phone just because I have yet to figure out my own phone.
I got an itching feeling it's not my Mac that's the problem, and it's not the brand of phone but my actual phone.
I suck.
I was actually thinking of getting a new phone this year. Sooo many problems with my Nokia Music phone, my last Nokia phone was so good.

Share this page