Wacom 4x5...too small???

I'm lookin at this. Is the 4x5 going to be too small? If so, what size do you suggest? I have an old cheapy graphics tablet, so old that it doesn't support WinXP very well. I'm looking for a good reliable upgrade.

I have one of that, and I really dont think its small. I like to use when drawing or brushing pictures, and I never had any stroke bigger than the tablet. I used to have a bigger tablet (other brand) before, but its resolution wasn´t good. The wacon one accepts a large range of pression and even pen angle.

Now if you plan to use that silly mouse, I never used it because for the mouse the tablet area is too small

NOOO MICE!!! I have a laptop and I take that thing everywhere. I mean EVERYWHERE! There's not always room for a mouse (even though my bluetooth mouse seems to work on about everything ). Besides that, clothing design is soo much easier with a tablet. I could even tell that from using my old cheap one.

Whether or not a tablet is too small (or too big) is entirely up to the artist. I use a 4x5 right now, but I'm dying to upgrade to the new Intuos3 12x19. I just haven't been able to scrouncge together $700 for it.

Personally, I prefer a large drawing surface, but I can get by on a small one. I know other artists who hate large tablets and insist on small ones. It's all about individual preference.

If this is your first tablet, it's probably a good place to start, but $147 seems a bit high to me for an Intuos 2 when you can get an Intuos 3 for just $50 more. If price is a factor though, and that's the reason for you're wanting the Intuos 2, you might want to consider that there's another one at auction with just a day left on it, and it's only up to $63 as of now. Either way, you'll be getting a great tablet, but if it were me, I'd spend the extra couple twenties and a ten for the Intuos 3.

What is the difference between the 2 and 3?

The 3 has double the resolution of the 2. Also, the 2 has those "soft buttons" above the drawing area, which are pretty easy to hit by mistake. On the 3, those have been replaced by finger buttons and a touch strip off to the side. The 3 also has much cooler accessories than the 2, and you'll also have an easier time finding 3-accessories when you want to add on than you will 2-accessories. Wacom still keeps an accessories and replacement parts page on their website for older products, but it's hit & miss. They might have what you need when you need it; they might not.

Again, either one will work great though.

I have a 4x5, and I love it ... To be fair, I haven't used anything larger.

I used a Graphire (first-gen) 4x5 previously, and found it too small for me personally. I currently have an Intuos3 6x8 and am very happy with it. Not the largest, but for a budding artist like mahself, it'll do.

I use an old Wacom 4x5. I actually prefer the smaller pad to the larger ones, because I don't need to move my entire arm, just my fingertips. (I have excellent finger dexterity, not so good for larger movements)

I also can't make decent looking clothes, but that has nothing to my equipment and more to be with my artistic skills.

I have a 4 x 5 and I feel it is too small for me. I think even just one size up would be great.

-Sun

HeatherDawn, I have an older Graphire 4x5 (about 6-7 years old) and love it. However, I have wanted to replace it with a larger version from the day I got it. As Chosen mentioned $147 seems a bit high for this item, you might want to hold off for a while and keep your eye out for a 6X8. I can't claim any great knowledge of E-bay, but it seems reasonable to think that you will come across one for about the same price. Check out microcenter.com, I have not checked but the newest 4x5 is, I think, cheaper than that. If you offered me $75 for mine, I would sell it in a heartbeat, but I would feel like I had taken advantage of you!

BTW- google up Project Dogwaffle - there is a free version, and it and any size tablet will put a smile on your face!

There are two different questions -- size and type of tablet. I've had a Graphire 2 4x5 and now a Graphire 3 6x8. I've also used an Intuos 2 6x8 at work.

In terms of type, Graphire tablets miss out on extra pen options and tilt control compared to Intuos, but I found I rarely used them (in retouching) anyway. You also get some extra buttons on the newer Intuos tablets, but I'm not convinced I'd find them that helpful; my left hand lives on the keyboard already. Fine artists might notice different pen nibs plus tilt sensitivity if they take care to set up special Photoshop brushes. Importantly, the Graphire is much cheaper than the Intuos.

For size, I *wouldn't* necessarily go as big as you can afford. I'd go for a 6x8, and the Graphire is pretty similar to the Intuos these days in terms of tablet resolution. If you've got a huge screen, you might find you need a larger tablet, which means an Intuos. However, those tablets can be a bit of a handful, in simple terms of moving your hands around them, and in terms of portability with a laptop.

Certainly I've found my Graphire 3 6x8 far more useful than my old Graphire 2 4x5, but there are diminishing returns in going much larger than that.

Best of luck.

You might think "bigger is better", but I have had an Intuos 12 x 12 for several years, and I've been wanting to get a smaller tablet for most of that time.

1. It's awkward to put it in your lap if you use a lot of keyboard shortcuts; the blasted tablet is always getting in the way.
   
2. It takes up a LOT of space, and I've yet to see a desk arrangement that is anything other than a literal pain in the neck ... and I have a fairly spacious desk.
   
3. It's not very portable if you want to take a laptop or whatever and draw somewhere away from your desk.
   
4. And if you work like me, you will probably wind up using only an 8 x 11 inch portion of the tablet most of the time (similar aspect ratio to your monitor).

The nine inch Intuos is the largest I'd consider now.

I went and got a small (4 X 5) tablet when I decided I really needed a tablet. Clicking on PS and reaching for the tablet is now almost second nature - including yesterday when I needed the keyboard FAR more because it was a text heavy design (for which in general the mouse + keyboard is more useful in my opinion).

I've got a 19" display and even with that the 4X5 tablet is just fine. I guess, as some of the earlier posters said, it depends on your drawing style. Owing to shoulder injuries over the years I tend to keep my shoulders pretty still, my elbows can rotate in my normal work position but I pretty much draw from the wrist and fingers - my "art" training was biological drawing of what you see down a microscope. A small tablet works just fine for me. If you're a big canvas painter you'll hate a small one and might find 12 X 12 too small.

Do you happen to know anyone around that's got a tablet that would let you play? It's probably the best bet.

Hi HeatherDawn!

I use a 6x8, and I'm very happy with it. My first tablet was huge (I don't remember the size, sorry, but it was considerably larger than my little Mac keyboard. I used to put the keyboard on the top of it when I worked with it.)

I moved to a smaller tablet as soon as I could afford it, because the large one was really too big for my desk, and required me to Draw Large, when I really prefer to draw small.

Fortunately, there is a way to find out if you prefer to draw large or small, without spending any money.

Just take a piece of paper, and fold (or cut) it to 4" x 5". If your hand/arm feel cramped and uncomfortable drawing on it, then they are likely to feel the same way on the small tablet. (Hand/arm, mind you, not the picture you are drawing. That won't be limited by tablet size, remember, so don't pay attention to that. Pay attention to your movement only.)

If that feels comfortable to you, then you will probably feel comfortable on the small tablet, too.

Because it really all depends on how much arm movement you like to have while drawing. Some people get better results using their whole arm, some don't. That's so personal that only you can tell.

(I will say, though, that if you're comfortable drawing small, a small tablet is a whole lot more convenient to store, carry, and generally lug around than a large one, not to mention that it takes a lot less real estate on your desk, as several posters have already pointed out. )

Hope this helps!

Robin, that is a good idea. After doing that I tihnk I'm going to go for the 4x5. The cheap one I have now is a 6x8 (I think) and even that was kind of a pain to haul around. Now, on to my next step...earn enough L$'s to pay for my new shiny toy.

Thanks for all your input, guys. It's been more than helpful.

HDC

Hey girl, I use a Wacom Graphire.3
AWESOME comes with pen and mouse easy to install and use. Not too expensive either. less than 100 at Best Buy.

Thanks for asking this question, and thanks to everyone who responded as well. I'm looking at the Graphire 3 4x5 as well and this thread was extremely helpful.

Now my only question is whether to get it on eBay for half price, or run out to Best Buy and get it tonight!

Thanks everyone, and especially to the always-helpful Robin for the tip about testing the drawing area on paper.