Using Tablets to Create Clothing in SL

It would appear to me that using a tablet is the way to go as far as designing clothing in Second Life. I'm not asking you guys for your clothing secrets, but do many of you take the tablet approach as opposed to using just a mouse? Does it give you alot more freedom, as it appears to?

I'm so fed up with my mouse and trying to draw with it that today I am going to buy a Wacom tablet. If it works any better than designing with a mouse, I will be pleased. After much research, I hear that Wacom is definately the way to go.

I don't design clothing textures ... yet ... but when I do, my old Wacom will get plugged in, count on it.

ok just learning this stuff. How many designers out there use Wacom tablets? hmmm maybe a poll is in order for this
mouse versus wacom

/me raises hand


Not entirely a fair question. The tablet doesn't replace the mouse by any means. It works along side it. As good as the tablet is for drawing and painting, the mouse is still better for many things.

Wacom tablets are VERY popular, and for good reason. I have one myself, and it works great. I switch back and forth between the pen with tablet and a three button mouse, depending on what I am doing. For selecting areas and doing initial flood fills, I use the mouse. It's more precise as I use a lasso select to choose a complex area to alter. For painting folds, shadows and highlights, definitely the tablet. It has finer control over the painting, with its pressure sensitivity.

I just have a small, 5x7 inch, under $100 USD Wacom Graphire tablet, which came with a pressure sensitive pen and a cordless three button mouse. Wouldn't give it up for the world.

never use one personally

I use a Wacom tablet all the time; but I also use a five-button mouse.

As others have said, it's another tool, not a replacement. What you use will depend on what you're doing.

I use the tablet for anything that is remotely like drawing (lasso selection, paths, painting, erasing ... all that kind of stuff.) I also work, always, with one hand on the keyboard and one on the pen, because the keyboard shortcuts and modifiers are so quick and easy, and save so much time.

I use the mouse for things that are simple point-and-click, because of convenience, mostly.
My pen is every bit as accurate as my mouse; but in order to use it I have to rearrange the stuff on my desk (pull the tablet out of its cubby, push the keyboard back, and grab the pen holder.) So, unless I've already done that, I use the mouse for menu selections, layer manipulation, and stuff like that. Everything that isn't drawing, really.

Except when I'm not in a graphics program. Then I use the mouse for everything, of course.

I used to achieve the hand-drawn/tablet look and feel with my mouse. I had a wacom sitting in my closet for 2 years but I was too lazy and scared to use it. Then someone kicked me in the butt. At first it was horrible and I wanted to return to my mouse, because it was a habit... But if you pass over the uglyness of the 1st few shots, then you suddenly realize it's an awesome tool, and how you'd never go back to mouse (cept maybe for straoght lines) and your wrist/fingers suffer way more.

My point is, you CAN achieve a lot with a mouse, I won't say it's impossible... BUT!

To save yourself time, and for a more crisp finish, it IS great to use a Wacom (I don't know about other kinds).

As far as my thread start, what I meant was to use it for drawing and things like that. I didn't even realize that the pen could be substituted for a mouse. After playing around with the one I got tonight, the Intuos 3, I am very pleased! It is very easy to use and does great for what I wanted it for

I'm a Wacom Junkie (on my third one). It can't be beat for painting and drawing on screen, but I don't use it for panning and zooming. Things can go a little wrong doing that in some 3D applications. A mouse or track-ball is much smoother.