Graphics tablet is it worth, does it help?

I am not a professional designer and never use a graphics tablet before, I am just wondering how much does it help with a graphics tablet/pen for creating and editing textures in compare to just using a mouse? What is the pros and cons and is it hard to learn?

Thanks

My Wacom tablet is priceless.

From the moment I received it, I completely stopped using a mouse.

The control I have when designing textures is amazing vs. a mouse, and I also use it for building within SL.

The only con is actually merely an inconvenience as mine is 11 x 14 and when I travel (which is a lot), it doesn't fit into my laptop carrier so I have two cases to carry (but so worth it).

Hard to learn? If you have ever used a pencil or pen, you already know how to use it.

Best,
~Ari

I second this. My computer wouldn't be complete without my Wacom tablet. Nothing beats a mouse when it comes to plotting precise curves, but graphic tablets are unbeatable when it comes to illustrating and sculpting in particular. I use mine for drawing Kana and Kanji too. MS's built in software detects the strokes and converts them into characters; very useful for those with RSI because it works with latin characters too.
I've developed a peculiar habit with mine which seems to wow bystanders. When using ZBrush, I rotate the model with the mouse, and simultaneously plot on it with the Wacom pen...and I do this with incredible speed. It's the equivalent of sculpting clay with both hands; something a single pointer on the screen wouldn't normally facilitate.

This 'habit' just happened accidentally because, despite being left-handed, I've always used the computer mouse with my right. So, mouse on the right, Wacom on the left. Unusual setup apparently.

So does it mean I can use it to write Chinese characters as well with the MS (you mean Microsoft OS) built in software since Kanji is Chinese character right.. wow it sounds great.

Thanks for all the answer so far.

I've been using a Wacom tablet for years, and having a pen that is as good as the Wacom ones really is priceless. Apart from that, a wireless mouse that doesn't eat batteries is also great to have. I have the smaller, A5 size tablet, but it is still enough to work with. With the pen, I can draw as I would with a real pencil.

It's absolutely worth it, but only if you get a Wacom. There really is no comparison between Wacom and any other brand. Wacom has proprietary technology that no one else even comes close to achieving. If you ever hear from anyone that tried to use a tablet say they didn't like it, ask them if it was a Wacom; they'll always say no. Ask the other 99.9999% of tablet users what brand they have, and they'll go on and on about how much they love their Wacom, just as several of us are doing here now.

So you know, Wacom has two lines, Intuos and Graphire. Graphire is the beginner line; Intuos is the pro line. The main differences are that an Intuos generally will have double the resolution of a Graphire of the same size, and the Intuos has additional sensing capability. While the Graphire senses pen pressure only, the Intuos senses tilt in addition to pressure. Also the Intuos line has more accessories available for it, such as the 6D Art Pen, the Airbrish, and the Lens Cursor drafting mouse. The Graphire is still an excellent tablet, but the Intuos is twice as excellent, if that makes sense. You can't go wrong with either one, but if you're serious, get an Intuos.

It will take you a day or two to get used to using your new tablet, but after that you'll wonder how you ever lived without it. The biggest thing that throws most people for a loop in the very beginning is the absolute positioning of the cursor when using the pen. Experience with a mouse has gotten you used to relative positioning. To move the cursor any long distance with the mouse, you think nothing of moving the mouse a little bit, picking it up, and moving it over the same physicial spot on your desk again, and the cursor keeps going. You do this without even thinking. With the pen though, it doesn't work that way. Every spot on the tablet corresponds to an exact pixel on your screen. So if you want the cursor to go all the way across the screen, you move the pen all the way across the tablet.

For the first day or so, you'll find yourself trying to push the cursor along, mouse style, out of habit. It doesn't take long though for your brain to adjust, and then something really cool happens. Drawing on the computer becomes exactly like drawing on paper. Once it clicks, it's a pretty extraordinary sense of freedom. You'll never want to go back to drawing with a mouse again.

Another thing to consider is size. Personally, I love my 12x19" Intuos 3. I tend to draw with large sweeping strokes. Others prefer something smaller. It all comes down to personal choice. I'd recommend you get the biggest one you can afford. You can always subdivide a large tablet into a smaller active drawing area if you want to, but you can't make a small one bigger. Also, common sense dictates that the more pixels you have to work with on the tablet, the more detail with which you can draw.

I hope this has been helpful for you. I'll close by just repeating get a Wacom. Accept no substitute. If you get anything else, you'll quickly find that the answer to your initial question is no, it's not worth it. Get a Wacom, and you'll love it for years to come.

I dunno if they dropped it on the I3 line, but my I2 tablet has a spot you can tap with the pen to toggle between relative/absolute positioning.

Also, yes. Graphics tablet, if its a Wacom, is absolutely worth it.

I have two. An Intuos2 6x8 for my desktop, and a first-edition Graphire 4x6 that I keep in my laptop case. Love them both.

I just wish I could get it working right under linux, I'd like to take Windows off my laptop (It chugs compared to Linux on my old laptop).

Yes you can. Windows XP and Vista have handwriting support built into the operating system. You can change languages on the fly, and for those with alternate writing systems (Chinese, Japanese, etc.), you're only ever two clicks away from the 'IME Handwriting Pad' from which you can enter one character at a time. Once drawn, the character's ASCII equivalent is detected and sent to the open application.

Anyway, I've led us offtopic somewhat, so I'll end by reinforcing Chosen's sentiment. Don't consider anything other than a Wacom! They are the bee's knees for sure.

I think the I2 had a row of programmable buttons accross the top edge of the drawing area, right? I assume the toggle you're talking about was one of those buttons? They got rid of those with the I3. I think the story was too many people were hitting them by mistake while drawing.

There's not a dedicated spot on the tablet itself for the toggle, as it would obscure screen but it's still easy enough to toggle between absolute (pen mode) and relative (mouse mode) if you want to. You can assign that function to one of the pen buttons (but strangely not to the hard buttons on either side of the drawing area), you can put it as an option in right-click menus, or you can do it through the tablet driver GUI.

I didn't bother mentioning mode toggling in my first response since using the pen in mouse mode almost completely defeats its purpose as a drawing instrument, but for the sake of completeness, maybe I should have. I guess it's good you brought it up. My take on the modes is this: To use the pen as the most powerful drawing and painting instrument it can be, use it in Pen Mode, but if you want to use it more like a traditional mouse from time to time, that option is there.

First off, i'm not a designer of any level, so don't take my word over that of the experts here. But..... yes, yes, yes, yes, yes it's worth it!!!! No cons for me so far other than simply having to get used to it, many many pros. Oh and ..... like the experts above said: Wacom )))) i've only got a basic simple one, but it's wery cool.

I have an Adesso. I love it =P

I'm told Wacom is much better- and I can believe it, but to be truthful the difference in price made it a choice between not getting a tablet at all, and getting an off brand. (It was a budgeted present, I couldn't have justified even the one I have out of my own pocket, sadly)

Honestly I'm happy with it in all it's off brand, smallest pad (A4) glory. Really helped tremendously with improving my finite control and shading- especially since I have a background in painting and so was already familiar with drawing in absolute space. If you can afford it though, go for the Wacom. Too many people have bad stories from other brands and to be honest my pen is a bit sluggish and has a tendency to skip pixels occasionally. I'm fine with it's imperfections, but I'm not a perfectionist in any sense. =)

That's a wonderful way to explain it! It's as if I'm actually painting or drawing when creating via the tablet.

~Ari

I recommend one. I use a Wacom Intuos3 4x6. I heard all this stuff about "Make sure you get a big drawing space." But 4x6 is just fine for me, and cheaper.

I still do use my mouse alot. But when im trying to create a new clothing template the wacom does not go unused. It`s also great for shading the clothing and such.

To be honest I would never be able to make good products here without the help of the graphic tablet.

Thanks for all the answer.. I think I will go and get a Wacom!

I use my mouse the vast majority of the time, even when doing stuff in Photoshop, but there are times when nothing but a tablet will do, and I've never for a moment regretted buying my wacom. I have a large one and keep it hooked up all the time, sitting on the floor leaning against the side of my computer. When I need it I just reach down and grab it and throw it in my lap. Wacom's driver allows me to switch between mouse and tablet pen seamlessly. They really are all they're cracked up to be.

I think a bigger space would be more useful on very very detailed or precise work as would be used by illustrators artists etc. With the texture size upload limitations of SL though there's never any need to draw in a space bigger than 1024x1024 (even that with the intention of shrinking) and the amount of precision we're capable of is limited more by the game than by our mice.

That said, I don't use mine all the time- if I were using it for all my mouse functions i think I'd want a bit more space to play in. I get by with a mouse until I realize I just don't have enough control and shift over to the tablet. Even used it occasionally with a few tricky tiny prims in game to get them in place and to pick out tiny surfaces for individual textures. Pretty much any time where 5-6 pixels of screen space matters.

No regrets purchasing my Wacom Graphire.

For the most part, in Photoshop or other photographic software, I use my mouse but there are times when only a pen & tablet will do and at these moments the Wacom becomes indispensible.

In Vista Ultimate, having a tablet also opens up a host of additional functionality like hand writing recognistion (pretty impressive too!), email signing, note taking etc. Although by no means indispensible, they are kinda fun & can be used to give that little extra florish!

XxX

Oooooooo thanks for the hint/tip..... sooooo going to be trying that!

i've got an 8"w x 6"h Wacom Graphire Bluetooth(wireless) tablet, and i love it. i can put it in just about any position and never worry abotu the cord getting in the way or being too short or whatever, and it makes keeping my workspace easier to manage. i've got too many cables stretched across it as it is with digital camera, digital video camera, iphone, ipod, external hard drive, power cord for my macbook pro. etc. etc.